“Uhm.” He drew a deep breath, but words eluded him, so he shook his head.
Shawn spoke up. “There is nothing to say. As far as Zeke is concerned, and his hooligans, it was self-defense. And considering the asshole shoved a gun in my mouth a month ago, I have no tears for him. He can have all the seats in hell to himself.”
Ghost looked to his guys. “And where were you two?”
“We hung back. I guess we were a little too far back. Sorry, boss.”
Kadir’s gaze remained locked on Abrianna, who was doing all she could to avoid his. “How are you feeling?”
She crossed her arms as a weak barrier of defense. “I don’t know.”
“You have no thoughts on all the stuff you learned about T4S, Craig Avery, and your friend Charlie?”
“Well, he certainly isn’t a friend anymore, is he?”
Kadir pushed away from the wall and walked over and took her by the hand and proceeded to lead her out of the living room. “We’ll be back.”
The group said nothing, but watched them leave.
Kadir led her to the bedroom they’d once shared and shut the door. “There. Now you can talk.”
Her arms folded back across her body again. “There’s not much really to say.”
“You had to have suspected something for a while, right?”
She shrugged. “I guess. Maybe I didn’t really want to know.”
“You never thought you should get help?”
“Help from who? Is there a specialist that can help me with my genetically modified body? You think after Avery I wanted to be poked and prodded like some alien? Even knowing what I know, I still don’t want that. It is what is and I am what am now.”
“True. But you and Tomi must be a gold mine to T4S. I can’t imagine them letting you guys walk away. And now that you’re under the spotlight, at least until we know what the justice department is going to do about President Walker, you’re not going to be able to disappear.”
“Well, I could, especially if we go on that show The Filibuster. They’re offering a cool million to interview the two of us. We could take that money and fly off to the French Riviera—sun in our faces and sand beneath our feet.”
“We?”
“I mean, if you wanted to come, I wouldn’t stop you.”
“You are . . . a handful of trouble.”
“I’ve been told that.” She grinned.
He chuckled.
“So . . . you’re not weirded out about my . . . ability?”
“I am. I’m keeping it all inside at the moment. Plus, you’re too pretty to break up over it. I do have one request, though.”
“What’s that?”
“That you promise not to use that stuff on me—like putting me through walls and shit.”
Abrianna laughed and nodded. “All right. I promise.”
“Good.” He walked over and pulled her into his arms. “Then we’ll take the rest of this one day at a time.”
* * *
Castillo spent a week reviewing the information Tomi had brought her about Dr. Zacher. She shared it with Dennis, who also didn’t know what to make of any of it or what they were supposed to do about it. The Avery case was long closed, and the connections between the two doctors were tenuous at best and hard to prove.
Today, Lovely Belfleur was going home, and her mother had requested that Castillo be there when Children’s Protective Service brought her that day. Castillo was honored that the mother had even made the request. Since she was in desperate need of some good news for once, she went.
She was welcomed into the Belfleur home with open arms, squeezed so tight by Penny Belfleur that by the time she was released, they streamed matching tears.
At the sound of another vehicle pulling up into the driveway, the waiting family members vibrated with excited nervousness.
Penny opened the door and led the crowd out onto the porch to watch the CPS workers help Lovely out of the car.
The waterworks went on full-blast when mother and daughter’s gazes connected for the first time in a year. Castillo’s heart exploded with joy at seeing the little girl race into her mother’s arms. It was a good day.
* * *
Abrianna and Kadir were shown onto the set of The Filibuster. The swelling had gone down on Kadir’s face and makeup covered up the rest. Everyone at the studio put them as ease. Abrianna was relaxed, but Kadir was nervous. Neither really wanted to be on the show, but the million-dollar payday wasn’t something either one of them could walk away from.
Standing off set, Tomi and Shawn gave them encouraging thumbs up.
Abrianna smiled, and when she saw Kadir’s right leg bouncing, she reached over and squeezed his hand. “You’re going to be fine.”
He covered her hand and winked.
Joy Walton settled into her chair and introduced herself. She put them at ease while being powdered and buffed. “You two make a good looking couple,” she observed.
They smiled.
“We’re on in five,” someone shouted.
The host held up the okay sign and then returned her attention to her guests. “You two have been on one hell of a ride these past two months.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Kadir chuckled.
They engaged in small talk until the producer in their earphone counted them down, and then the show went live.
* * *
The Parker Estate
Cargill Parker threw his bourbon, glass and all, at the television. It hit the screen and bounced off to shatter on the floor. His inability to break the offending smart TV enraged him.
At seeing Abrianna’s smug and self-satisfied image on the screen, he itched to wrap his hands around her neck. Who the fuck did she think she was? Did the bitch really believe that she was free of him? Did she think that he wouldn’t beat these fucking charges? She must’ve forgotten who he was. He owned politicians, judges, and cops. The few that weren’t on his payroll didn’t have enough power to make a speeding ticket go away.
Needing another drink, Cargill pushed out of his leather armchair and stomped to the wet bar. Outside the window, protesters were still at it. He growled, “When in the fuck are those people leaving?”
Drink in hand, Cargill moved to the window and glared at their ridiculous signs. He’d love to grab an assault weapon and mow them down. He’d already had to step up security after a few of those crazy lefties climbed the iron gate and attempted to break into the house. Even now, he entertained having the damn gate electrified.
Abrianna laughed and recaptured his attention.
Cargill faced the television and at seeing Abrianna’s smile, his chest tightened and his cock hardened. This time he couldn’t pull his gaze away. She glowed. Then he realized why; the Arab guy sitting next to her. There was something between them.
The guy winked at Abrianna, and she blushed.
They’re fucking. His glass exploded. Its sharp shards sliced open his hand, but he ignored it. He only had eyes for his daughter. He had to get her back by any means necessary.
* * *
“And we’re clear,” the producer declared. The cameras’ red lights shut off.
Abrianna relaxed. She’d been more nervous than she’d realized while Kadir turned out to be as cool as a cucumber.
“You two were great,” Walton praised, leaning and offering her hand. “I’m telling you. The camera loves you two.”
“Thanks,” they said in unison and then shared smiles.
Walton studied them. “Do I see love in the air?”
Abrianna and Kadir ignored the question while removing their microphone packs.
“Got it,” Walton said. “It’s none of my business.” She winked and stood. “Well, thanks again for coming on the show.”
“It’s been our pleasure,” Kadir said. They engaged in a final round of handshakes.
Kadir gestured for Abrianna to take the lead while placing his hand on the small of her back. Together, they maneuvered around
cameras and stepped over large cable and cords while exiting the set.
A sharp-dressed man in a navy blue suit smiled and cut off their path. “She’s right, you know. You two are naturals on camera.”
“Thanks,” Abrianna said and waited for him to move.
He didn’t.
“Is there something that we can help you with?” Kadir asked.
“Actually, yes. There is.” He produced a business card. “I’m—”
“Melvin Kellerman,” Kadir said, his expression stony.
Kellerman nodded. “Ah. So you do remember me.”
“It’s hard to forget the people who put you behind bars,” Kadir said.
Abrianna asked, “Another one?”
Kellerman chuckled. “Unfortunately, we don’t make too many friends down at the U.S. attorney’s office.”
He pressed the business card into her hand. “You’re a hard woman to locate, Ms. Parker. We’d like for you to come into the office for an interview.”
She accepted the card. “Only me?” She glanced over at Kadir.
“Yes. I’m sorry. This isn’t about President Walker, but about your father, Cargill Parker.”
She stiffened.
“Things are moving rather quickly, but we’d like to—”
“I haven’t talked to my father in years.” She attempted to hand back the business card.
Kellerman refused to take it back and instead shoved his hands into his pockets. “I understand that this may be difficult for you. But I implore you to think about the children we rescued from the Lynnwood Club. I’ve met most of them. They are scared—traumatized. They deserve justice. With your help, I know that we can get it for them.”
Guilt engulfed her as she lowered her hands to her side.
Kadir’s arm drifted around her hips and pulled her close.
Kellerman coughed and softened his voice. “At least think about it. I know that the media is making it sound like it’s a slam-dunk case, but the truth is that we’re dealing with some powerful and well-connected people who are lawyering up faster than the former president. To be frank with you—we can lose. Your father could walk. We didn’t catch anybody in the act—and the children are either too scared or too traumatized to give us more than finger paintings that a first year law student could get thrown out of court. Hell, we’re even having a hard time finding out who these children are and where they came from. We have a small—and I do mean small—window of opportunity—but it’s closing fast. Think it over—but don’t take too long.” He nodded at Kadir and turned and walked away.
49
Lying in bed, Abrianna stared up at the ceiling while Kadir slept like a baby by her side. For two days, she couldn’t get “Your father could walk” to stop looping in her head. The idea stressed her to the point her nerves felt like they were latched to a megavolt battery. The knots in her stomach multiplied.
You have to do something.
She cringed while resentment argued back. Why do I have to do anything?
Because it’s the right thing to do.
“Aaargh.” She threw off the covers and perched on the edge of the bed.
Kadir woke. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m . . . hot. It’s hot in here.”
“It’s like fifty degrees. It’s freezing.”
It was. And nearly zero degrees outside.
“Well . . . I’m hot.” She climbed out of bed and marched out of the room to check the thermostat. It read fifty-two degrees. Grumpy, she jabbed at the buttons, not sure which was doing what or why the damn thing kept beeping back.
Kadir leaned against the bedroom door’s archway and crossed his arms. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “What? You think I don’t know how to work a damn thermostat? I’m not stupid.”
Kadir lifted a brow and watched her stab the buttons some more.
Abrianna gave up. “I’m going to fix some coffee,” she grumbled and marched to the kitchen.
Kadir followed, resuming the same position against the refrigerator while she opened and slammed cabinet doors.
“Where in the hell is the damn coffee?” she snapped, checking under the kitchen sink.
When he didn’t respond, she glared. “Well?”
Kadir pushed from the refrigerator and strolled to the cabinet above the coffeemaker and removed the coffee and a package of filters. “Do you need me to get you a mug, too?”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“Oh? I’m being the ass?” He chuckled.
Abrianna hip-bumped him out of the way.
As he watched her prepare the coffee, his amusement morphed into concern. “Since it looks like we’re going to be up for a while, do you want to talk?”
“About what?”
“Well, we already covered the weather. Why don’t we talk about your going down to the U.S. attorney’s office to talk about your father’s case?”
“My adopted father.”
Kadir cocked his head. He wasn’t about to chase her around the rabbit hole.
Abrianna punched the brew button.
“Look, I’ll support whatever you decide to do. But after all you told me about that asshole, I don’t see what the conflict is here.”
“Of course you don’t,” she grumbled.
“I get that it’s hard, especially since you slammed the door on the past years ago, or at least you’ve tried.” Kadir closed the distance between them and pulled her stiff body into his arm. “But, baby, this shit is much bigger than you. It’s about those kids. Even if you walk away now, and don’t get me wrong, I’ll support you if you do, but if you walk way and that monster goes free, there will be more victims. His sickness will spread. Can you live with that?”
Abrianna couldn’t lift her gaze any higher than his chest while she considered lying. She wanted to do the right thing. She wasn’t horrible or evil, as Marion had accused. Bree was . . . scared. Couldn’t she admit that she was fucking scared? All of her life, Cargill Parker was all the horrible monsters that lived beneath children’s beds and in closets rolled into one. Fear was a part of her foundation, if not embedded into her DNA. For years, he’d told her that she would never escape and that he would kill her if she ever dared to try. Returning home after the Avery nightmare was never an option.
“He’s only a man—flesh and blood. We can take him down,” Kadir said.
She looked up into his dark gaze. “We?”
Kadir smiled. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you. We’re in this together.” He kissed the top of her head. “Every step of the way.”
* * *
Abrianna marched into the lion’s den of the U.S. attorney’s office in Alexandria, Virginia, with strength harnessed from Kadir through their braided hands. Her head screamed how much she didn’t want to do this, but for once her heart ran the show. This was for those children who had been found and the thousands of children that the department knew nothing about.
The brick building off Jamison Avenue wasn’t much to look at, but it still intimidated with its clean and almost minimalist décor.
A smiling, fresh-faced attorney greeted them and introduced himself as Grant Adams. A cluster of carbon-copy looking attorneys surrounded him. Where was Kellerman?
“We’re glad that you decided to come,” he said and then led them to a conference room where a buffet of baked goods and bottled drinks was offered.
Kadir whispered, “Their case must be really falling apart. In a minute they are going to offer us champagne and personal masseuses.”
“I can always go for a massage,” Abrianna whispered back.
Once everyone settled into chairs, the door flew open and an attractive and sharp African-American woman entered and strode to the head of the table with Kellerman trailing behind her.
“Ms. Abrianna Parker,” the woman greeted, extending a hand. “It’s great to meet you. I’m Attorney General Jaclyn Randall. You’ve already met the
U.S. Attorney Melvin Kellerman.”
“Yes. We’ve met.” She accepted their handshakes and watched them take their seats, making it seven attorneys now in the room.
“I appreciate you coming in.” Randall’s gaze swept to include Kadir. “I know you’ve been quite busy with your press tour on the president scandal. You two are just good ole American heroes doing your civic duty, huh?”
A frost settled over the room.
Abrianna glanced to Kellerman and then back to Randall. “I was asked to come. I wasn’t in the neighborhood.”
Kellerman appeared uncomfortable as he shifted in his chair.
“You did want my help, didn’t you?”
“Your help?” Randall said, venom dripping off each syllable. “You take down one president and now you’re Nancy Drew?”
“You know what, lady? Fuck you.” Abrianna pushed up from her chair. “I don’t need this shit.”
A confused Kadir followed Abrianna.
The other attorneys looked stricken.
Kellerman bolted to his feet and blocked their march toward the door. “Wait. No. Let’s all take a deep breath and start over. We have clearly started on the wrong foot.”
“We?” Abrianna countered. “Talk to Ms. Attorney General Bitch over there.”
Randall spun in her chair, her smile a thin line.
“The fault is mine. I’m sorry,” Kellerman said. “I failed to tell Mrs. Randall that you were coming in this morning and . . . again, I apologize. At the end of the day we all want the same thing, and that’s to put Cargill Parker and his friends behind bars for a very long time.”
Abrianna glared. “Then I wish you luck.” She stepped around him.
“I apologize, too, Ms. Parker,” Randall announced.
Abrianna kept walking.
“I was unprofessional and out of line,” Randall added.
Abrianna stopped.
“Melvin is right. At the end of the day, we all want to put Cargill Parker and his secret society clan away. It has become increasingly clear that we’re going to need all the help that we can get.”
Abrianna lingered, waiting for the magic word.
“Please,” Randall said.
Abrianna turned and assessed the woman’s folded arms and stiff body language and knew what that apology had cost her. “I don’t want to hear any more of that Nancy Drew shit.”
Collusion Page 25
