Parker's Passion

by York, Sabrina

  They had clam chowder and crackers and watched as Lily played with Boomer and Brandy on the floor. It was delightful seeing the little girl laugh and romp with the kittens. Eventually Kaitlin’s heartbeat slowed.

  “Well,” Susan gusted, taking a sip of the hot chocolate Kaitlin had made. It was creamy and comforting and restorative. At least to Kaitlin. She’d also eaten an entire bar of chocolate, though she had shared some with Lily. “This has been an eventful day.”

  Kaitlin smiled at her. She’d come to really like the woman. She was so brave and courageous in the face of monumental troubles. Kaitlin hoped she would be as strong if she ever had to face adversity. Not only was Susan dealing with a divorce from a very unpleasant man, she was facing poverty and homelessness. But still, she kept her chin up.

  “It has been. But everything is okay now.” It didn’t feel okay—Kaitlin still had that tingle of dread coursing through her—but she felt the lie was forgivable. And it paid off, because Susan laughed. It was the first time Kaitlin had seen her relax enough to do so. She had a lovely laugh. “Tomorrow we’ll move you to one of the other shelters. Maybe one out of town. We have a couple up north.”

  “Away from the city?” Susan’s eyes brightened. “I’d like that.”

  “And I have a couple friends I’d like you to meet.” Lucy, for one. Emily. They’d both done lots of work at the shelter and believed in what they were doing there. And they had resources. Maybe they could help Susan find a job. “We’ll work it out. I’m…sorry about Parker.”

  A shadow crossed Susan’s expression. “That’s okay.”

  “I had no idea his firm was representing your husband. But he gave me some other contacts.”

  Susan nodded. “I understand.” She took another sip of her cocoa, a desperate sip, as though the chocolate could solve all her problems. Kaitlin could relate to the hope. She took a sip as well and then laughed as a pouf of whipped cream clung to her nose. Lily and Susan giggled as well.

  They all watched as Boomer stalked Brandy around the legs of the coffee table, and then pounced. Lily shrieked with amusement as the two rolled, clenched together in a feline battle.

  Kaitlin loved the way Lily’s eyes danced. The way the darkness lifted. The way she seemed, once again, like a little girl delighted by the wonders of the world.

  How wonderful it would be to have a child. A child to hold and adore and protect. She set her hand on her belly and thought of Parker. Parker’s child. What would that be like? A great thrill welled in her chest.

  He was—

  A pounding at the door scuttled her thoughts. A roiling angst rushed in, filling her mind. Dread churned in her gut. She shot a look at Susan and Lily. They’d both gone preternaturally still.

  “Susan!” A bitter snarl resonated through the flimsy barrier. Kaitlin’s blood went cold. As cold as the fury in his voice.

  “Oh God,” Susan whispered.

  “Hide,” she hissed, pushing Susan and Lily through the kitchen and up the back stairs toward the bedroom.

  “Where?”

  “My bedroom. The closet. It has a false wall.” Kaitlin rushed into the room and whipped open the closet door, and pulled off the false wall some previous owner had installed. Downstairs the pounding and yelling continued. It seemed as though the entire house shook.

  Just as she closed the door on Susan and Lily’s hunched and trembling forms, a crash sounded downstairs. Kaitlin whirled and ran through the hall, then tore down the stairs. Her stained glass window lay smashed on the foyer floor, her beautiful purple flowers in shattered shards. A hand pushed through, feeling for the lock.

  Oh lord!

  She cast around for a weapon of some kind. A jacket on the hall tree… An umbrella… She ran into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. She didn’t think she had the nerve to use it, but it was something.

  He burst into the house as she returned to the hall, a huge, muscled man with a blunt nose and a snarl curling his entire face. “Where the fuck is my wife?” he bellowed.

  Kaitlin attempted to calm her battering heart. She tipped up her chin. “I have no idea who you’re talking about,” she said.

  “Bullshit.” He swung out his fist in a rage and punched a hole in the drywall. Kaitlin stared at it. “My man followed you here from the shelter. All of you. Where is my wife?” He was big. Muscled. Furious.

  “You-you must be mistaken. Please leave.”

  “The fuck.” He punched the wall again and Kaitlin flinched. She held the knife before her like a shield. Somewhere in the mists of her mind, she wondered why she hadn’t grabbed a larger one. “I want my wife, and I want her now.” His low growl rumbled through her. She refused to be cowed. He stepped closer. She lifted the knife.

  “Leave now. I’m calling the police.”

  “Fuck the police.” It was a surprise when he hit her. No one had ever hit her before. That probably stunned her more than the blow itself. His fist was enormous and it caught her on the cheek. Shock washed through her along with a blazing pain as her neck snapped back. She reeled and fell against the table.

  He followed her, stalking her like a beast. “Where is she?”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  “God damn it!” His eyes bulged. The veins on his neck stood out. His face was red and sheened with sweat. “Tell me!” He put his fingers around her throat and squeezed. Lights danced.

  Please God, she prayed. Let someone hear. Let someone come.

  But no one did.

  She scratched at his hands. He tightened his hold and a wave of nausea swept through her.

  She was aware of the room, the stillness of the air. The patter of Boomer and Brandy’s little feet as they ran from this threat. The scents of cocoa and clam chowder. The ticking of her clock. She fought for breath, but couldn’t draw it in.

  Her vision blurred. Her muscles went slack. She fell to the floor, a limp pile, barely aware of Tucker stepping over her and storming up the stairs, bellowing, “Susan! Susan! Where the fuck are you, bitch?”

  And then, everything went black.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Parker’s breath caught as he swerved to miss another car. After Gilley’s call, giving him an update on Susan Tucker’s location, he’d changed course and driven to Kaitlin’s house like a mad man.

  His heart had clenched when Gilley had given him the address. Her address. His mouth had filled with a bitter taste. Sweat prickled his brow. He had to get to her in time. He had to.

  He’d broken the law as he veered wildly through traffic, something he swore he’d never do. But there was no time to pull over and call the police, so he dialed 9-1-1 and barked Kaitlin’s address, even as he ran a red light.

  He screeched to a halt before Kaitlin’s house, leaped out and ran up the stairs. A snarl of horror curled through him when he saw the front door, wide open, the stained glass window, smashed. He hoped to hell he was on time.

  Something deep inside, a dark voice, told him he was not.

  He ran inside and looked around wildly.

  A flash of red caught his attention.

  His blood went cold.

  He rounded the corner and saw her, lying on the floor. Still.

  Kaitlin.

  God. He couldn’t…he couldn’t… he couldn’t live without her.

  A scorching pain raged through him. He pushed it away and rushed to her side. “Kaitlin? Kaitlin, baby?”

  Her lips were blue.

  Fuck.

  He felt for a pulse. It was there, but faint. But she wasn’t breathing.

  The fingerprints marring her skin made his vision blur as fury and fear warred within him.

  Scrambling to remember first aid classes from God knows when, he put his hand on her forehead and tipped back her head. He pinched her nose and covered her mouth with his, breathing in gently.

  Her chest rose, but other than that, there was no response.

  Oh, where the hell was 9-1-1?

  He breathe
d in again and again. Each puff more panicked than the last.

  He’d lost her. He’d lost her.

  God. No.

  One more manic puff…and her lashes fluttered.

  Relief scudded through him. He picked up her head and cradled her close. “Oh baby. Baby…”

  “P-Parker. P-please?”

  “What baby? What do you want?”

  “Save her.” With a trembling hand, Kaitlin pointed to the ceiling, just as a loud thump and a shrill scream rocketed through the house.

  Save her?

  Fuck it.

  He would save them both.

  Grabbing a pillow from the sofa, he gently settled Kaitlin’s head before racing up the stairs.

  He knew what drove him. Knew it. Felt it. Tasted it.

  Not revenge.

  Vengeance.

  And not just for what Tucker had done to Kaitlin.

  Vengeance for all victims.

  He bowled up the stairs, taking them two at a time. It wasn’t difficult to find Tucker. He followed the screams. They haunted him. He burst into Kaitlin’s bedroom, a place that, until now, had held only the most beautiful memories.

  Susan was lying in a disjointed heap by the window, her face bloodied, her body broken. As he watched, Tucker whipped a squirming little girl up into his arms. She must have been three. The tiny cast on her arm scored him.

  “No, Daddy, no!” she cried.

  No, Daddy, no.

  A shiver ran through him. His muscles locked. A little boy’s voice echoed in his brain. No, Daddy, no.

  But he didn’t listen. He advanced into the bathroom, holding the gun high, pointed at his wife, Parker’s mother. She dropped the towel she was using to dry her son and stepped between her child and this threat.

  “Austin. For God’s sake—”

  A shot. Loud. Sharp. Hideous.

  And she fell.

  Parker stared at her body. Watched the blood pool from beneath her. His gaze wrenched to his father. A manic fervor lit his eyes. He turned the gun toward Parker.

  “No, Daddy, no!”

  But he didn’t listen.

  Another shot. A blazing pain. And Parker crumpled.

  The next memory he had was of the smell of gasoline. The cold splashes on his chest and arms. And then flames. Scoring, scorching flames, consuming him. Agony.

  It was all he could do to crawl back to the tub, trying desperately to pull his mother behind him. But she was too heavy for a little boy. Too much. And the flames were so hot.

  The need to stop the torturous heat overcame him and he released her, released her to the conflagration, and threw himself back into the cooling waters just before he passed out. The darkness was a mercy.

  “No, Daddy, no.”

  That was what would happen to this precious little girl. That was what men like this did.

  Resolve settled in his chest. Parker pushed up his sleeves, made fists of his hands. “Put her down.” Clear. Cold. Indomitable. A tone he’d never heard in his own voice.

  Tucker gaped at him, the rage in his eyes flickering for a moment, and then it flamed to the fore once more. “Rieth? What the hell are you doing here?”

  “You’re not taking her.”

  “The fuck I’m not. Get out of my way.”

  No. Fucking. Way. Parker set himself in the doorway, blocking his path. “You’re not taking her. You’re not hurting her.”

  Tucker was bigger than Parker, a great bull of a man. He tried to shove past, but Parker pushed back. “Put her down.”

  “Fine.” Tucker tossed the girl onto the bed. She let out a wail, but Parker ignored her and focused on his opponent. He’d had hundreds in his life—all in the courtroom.

  But this was going to be the fight of his life.

  He did not expect the blow to his belly. Or maybe he did. He just didn’t expect it to be so hard, to stagger him as it did. Tucker landed another punch, and then another, but Parker got in a good one, right in Tucker’s midsection.

  The bear just laughed and swung at Parker again.

  He ducked and the meaty fist swished over his head. But a second followed and hit Parker in the chest, right where it hurt the most. Right where his father had put a bullet into him.

  Strangely enough, the pain did not defeat him. It gave him strength, power, determination.

  He hauled back and landed a fist right on Tucker’s smirking face. Right on his nose.

  Blood splattered everywhere. The little girl screamed.

  Tucker fell. He fell like a tree with a loud thud.

  Parker stood over him, rage boiling in his gut.

  Rage, and bone-deep vindication.

  In the miasma of emotion, he heard the sirens and he knew, he knew it was over.

  He crossed to the little girl who cowered behind the bed. “Are you okay, honey?” he asked.

  She threw herself into his arms and wrapped herself around him like a limpet. He carried her over to Susan and bent to check for a pulse. She stirred. Thank God. Thank God, she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open.

  “Can you walk?”

  She moved. Winced. Then struggled to her feet.

  They stepped over Tucker’s prone form and made their way downstairs.

  Kaitlin, still pale and shaking, met them in the foyer, even as police flooded into the house.

  “He’s upstairs,” Parker barked. The officers nodded and two of them bounded up the stairs. He shifted the little girl on his hip and looped his free arm around Kaitlin and hugged her close, willing his pulse to still. “It’s okay, baby,” he breathed into her hair. He ran his hand up and down her spine, soothing her. Soothing himself. He’d almost lost her. He’d almost lost her. But he hadn’t. “It’s all over now. You’re safe.”

  Though his knees shook and his body ached, a great tranquility descended over him. He had Kaitlin in his arms and finally, finally, he had exorcized a ghost that had haunted him for years.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Dodging a herd of rambunctious children, Kaitlin carried the last platter of cake pops to the buffet table and settled it in place. She swiped back an escaped curl and looked out over the lawn at the party Emily had created. It was a charity event—Emily loved them—but this one was special. It was for Fostering the Future, the organization that had embraced Parker as a child and made a huge difference in his life.

  When Emily had asked her to help, there was no way Kaitlin would say no. The event, a luau, held on the beach of their island home, was a huge success. Tiki torches burned along the surf line and the smell of barbecue rode on the breeze. The evening was cool and clear. Stars sparkled in the sky and the sounds of music and laughter tangled with the low thrum of conversations.

  Drew was there, over on the far side of the beach teaching the boys how to build a fire—raising future arsonists, perhaps. In the past month he’d come to accept the truth about Kaitlin and Parker, though he still needled Parker occasionally. But they’d become friends…after a fashion. Drew had even taken them to meet his father so Parker could personally thank the man who had saved his life.

  It had been an emotional meeting, but cathartic for Parker. The last stones in the wall he’d built had come tumbling down. He was now, truly, a free man.

  Jamie was there too, over with the girls, playing one last desperate game of balloon volleyball before it became too dark. Lane and Cam were giving rides on the boat.

  Other children, all kids like Parker, who were growing up in foster care, sat around in small groups eating and chatting with potential mentors. It was Emily’s goal to find each child a special someone who could help them navigate the crazy world they lived in, the way Adam Bristol had helped Parker.

  She glanced at Parker, sitting against a tree near the beach, talking to a young boy. His expression was somber. He pulled down the neck of his tee shirt and showed the boy his scars. The boy nodded.

  Kaitlin smiled at the sight. Parker, with a little boy. She set her hand on her belly and turned to go bac
k to the house to start cleaning up. The fireworks would begin soon and when those were over, all the children would be heading back to the house and, after all the cooking and preparation, the kitchen was a disaster.

  “Kaitlin.” Emily sidled up next to her and gave her a hug. “What do you think?”

  “I think it was a huge success, Em. I am so happy for you.”

  Emily beamed. “It did go well, didn’t it?”

  “I know Parker appreciates it. So much.”

  “I was happy to do it.” She selected a pickle and popped it into her mouth. “How are you two doing?”

  She tried for a casual response, but failed. The elation welling up within her would not allow it. “Wonderful.”

  “I am so happy for you.”

  “I’m happy for you.” Emily and Ash’s relationship was moving along as well. And now that she knew him better, Kaitlin adored him as much as she loved her friend.

  “Has Parker found a job yet?”

  “Not yet.” Kaitlin glanced back over at him as he stood and solemnly shook the boy’s hand. “He’s had some offers but…they just didn’t feel right.” She shrugged. “I don’t care. I love having him at home.”

  Emily stilled. “At…home?”

  “Oh, didn’t I mention? He moved in with me.”

  “He…moved in?”

  “It didn’t make sense for him to keep the lease on his apartment. And we were spending every night together anyway.” Every night. All night. It had been glorious.

  “I, ah, see. Well, I hope he finds something soon.”

  Kaitlin shot her friend a knowing smile. “He will.”

  “Of course he will.” Emily said. Then she made a face and put her palm on her belly.

  “Are you okay?”

  “My…stomach’s been upset lately.”

  “Really?” All right, perhaps the sarcasm was not necessary. But Emily knew her better than that.

  Indeed, she flushed. “Okay. I might be a little…pregnant.”

  “Only a little?”

  Emily laughed. “Only a little. But enough to make me queasy. Are you shocked? Because my mother will be. When she finds out.”