Edge (Parker Reed #2) (20 page)

MY FATHER was alive. After all of this time. And I had no idea until now. I didn’t know why Devin felt the need to keep him a secret from me. But the fact that Devin let me go in the first place, it all made sense now. I just never clued in. I was so excited to leave the God-awful town, thanks to Troy, that I didn’t think twice about looking back.

“Baby girl, we need to leave.”

I frowned at the incessant badgering of my best friend. “Troy, it’s fine. Devin’s in jail, remember?”

“Yeah, but…” Troy looked around my small bedroom like he thought Devin would pop up from the darkest corners.

I sighed. The only corners that he would be coming out of would be in my nightmares. “It’s fine.” I patted Troy’s hand lightly and continued packing my bags.

“Are your parents okay with this?”

“If it was with any other person, no, they wouldn’t be okay.” I wrapped my arms around his slender waist. “But they love you and trust you. They know that you’re good for me.” I poked him in the middle. “If only I had the right plumbing.”

He laughed, rubbing the spot where I had jabbed my finger. “If I was straight, you would be the first girl that I would date.”

I grimaced. “That would be like dating your sister.”

His cheeks reddened. “Um…ew.”

Sitting up in the makeshift bed, I smiled at the happy memories I had shared with Troy. Although a lot of the times we had together were difficult, we always came out stronger in the end. But I wasn’t so sure what would come out of this after betraying his trust.

I took a couple deep breaths. My dad. What would my mom think of all of this? Did my dad know that Devin had abused me? Were they aware of the relationship that I had with him?

A soft growl sounded from beside me. Chewing my bottom lip, I glanced down at Parker. His breathing was even as he slept soundly. His tattooed back rose and fell, the muscles rippling under his skin.

After finding out my father was still alive, the breakdown that I had tore through me. It left me an empty shell. My body ached in places I never knew could ache just from emotional trauma. I hurt. God, did I ever hurt.

Parker had helped me through the shock. Giving me the therapy that only he could provide.

“Breathe for me, pet.”

His words had soothed me, bringing me to that high of ultimate bliss with him.

Every time that I flew for him, it was never the same as the time before. Each moment was different. Each moment powerful.

Rising to my feet, I got dressed and quietly opened the door. Looking back at Parker, I took a breath, swallowing past the guilt that had threatened to take over my body. When he didn’t stir, I left the sanctuary of the room.

The house was quiet that morning, except for the thunderous rain that beat against the exterior.

Grabbing Parker’s keys off the table, I braced myself for him to come barreling up the stairs, demanding for me to tell him what I was doing. I didn’t know. I felt that I had lost a piece of myself since talking to Devin the night before. He was the only one that could make me feel worthless. Like I was never good enough. He forced me to build up these walls that Parker tried so hard to bring down. Did he ever succeed? I wasn’t sure.

Tears welled in my eyes. I didn’t want to leave like this. Maybe it was stupid of me. But I needed some time alone before meeting with Agent Cross that afternoon. The tiny voice inside of me screamed, begging for me to stay, but my feet moved of their own accord. I couldn’t control my body as I left the confines of Jones’ and Colin’s cottage.

Stepping outside, I closed the front door behind me and left the safety of the porch.

As soon as I made my way to the gravel driveway, the sky opened up and the rain came down harder. The icy cold drops of water stung my skin, soaking right through my clothes. The chill in the air was so deep it ran right down to my bones.

“If you wanted to be alone, all you had to do was let me know.”

I jumped, spinning on my heel. My gaze landed on a pissed off Parker standing on the porch. He was leaning against a beam, his arms crossed under his chest and his eyes were dark as night.

My stomach sunk at the cold look.

“You running away, angel?”

I swallowed hard and backed up. “I just…I need…”

“What? Tell me what you want or need,” his voice was eerily calm as he came out from under the awning. “I’ll tell you what I think you want and need. First, you want to be alone. You haven’t been alone in months. Fine. I get that. Sometimes a person just needs the sound of silence. But,” his jaw clenched. “You need me. You need me to help you get to that safe place. To help you fly.”

“Sex doesn’t solve everything,” I mumbled and turned around. Pressing the key fob, the alarm sounded, the locks unlocking on Parker’s black car.

“No. It doesn’t. But in your case, you need it as much as I need to give it. You need to submit. And I need to dominate. Or did you forget?”

Tears rolled freely down my cheeks, mixing with the rain that beat against my body. “How could I forget, Parker? But I just…I need to do this on my own.”

“Is that so? I seem to recall you demanding me to come with you to see the good agent. Were you lying to me, Keely?”

I swallowed hard and shook my head. “No. But I’m not going to see him. He can wait.”

Parker chuckled. “As much as I would like to make Cross wait, especially when he eye fucks you every chance he can, we need to meet with him.”

“Why?” My brows narrowed as I turned back to him.

“Because he could help us.”

“You want his help?” I laughed. “Since when, Parker?”

“Watch it, pet,” he said, his voice filling with warning as he took a step towards me.

I moved around the car and opened the driver’s side door.

“Get in the car, Keely, and you’ll see how mad I can really get.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you threatening me, my love?”

“Are you mocking me?” He came around the car and closed the distance between us. Shutting the door, he pinched my chin. “I understand that you’re upset. I get that—”

“No.” I shoved my head from his grip. “You don’t understand anything, Parker. My dad is alive. My ex-husband has been holding him captive after all of this time doing who knows what to him.” My body shook as my mind conjured up images of my father being tortured and held against his will.

“Keely.”

“Don’t patronize me, Parker. I’m not stupid. I know they’re not playing video games and hanging out. I know Devin better than anyone.” Even though Devin liked to think that I didn’t, I knew that there was a part of him that he kept under lock and key. The part that allowed him to feel. After all of this time, I still didn’t know his complete story and I honestly didn’t care to know.

“Don’t remind me,” Parker growled. “Now get in the house. It’s cold.”

I stormed away, my breath huffing and puffing as it left my lips. The cold felt good against the angry trembling of my skin.

“Keely.”

As much as I wanted to turn around and go to him, I couldn’t. I felt like I was being pulled in two, my soul being ripped in half. I walked around the side of the cottage, not wanting the warmth from inside just yet. My chest constricted, my body craving the bite of the cold. If only it could freeze the pain in my heart. A sob shook through me and my knees gave out. Mud soaked through my pants, my shoulders shaking.

Heavy arms wrapped around my middle, holding me tight against a hard body. “Let me in, Keely,” Parker whispered in my ear. “Do not shut me out. Please, angel.”

And that was when I broke. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m not strong enough.”

“You are strong. You are the strongest person that I know. Let me help you. Let me take away your pain. Even just for a moment.”

“No.” I shoved out of his grip and started crawling away. Mud and grass stuck to my hands and knees, dirtying my already torn body. “I want to be alone. I need…I…”

“Stop this!” Parker shouted, flipping me onto my back. “This is not just about you. It’s all of us. Stop trying to fight this on your own.”

“But—”

“Tell me the real reason. Tell me why you now don’t want me to go.” His fingers caressed down the side of my face. So soft. Soothing. “Why do you feel the need to do this on your own?”

“Because I can’t lose you,” I snapped, pushing him off of me. I rolled over onto my stomach and rose to all fours when my ankles were pulled out from under me.

“Tell me more,” he growled and covered my body with his. The heat radiating off of him enveloped us.

My heart jumped, beating hard against my ribs when he leaned into me. “It would kill me if something happened to you. Something already happened to my dad because of me. I can’t…I can’t have that guilt on my conscience again if you get hurt.” A lump formed in my throat.

“It’s not your fault. None of this is,” he breathed against my nape.

“Parker.”

“It’s not. Please stop blaming yourself.” He brushed the wet hair off the back of my neck. “Please, angel.”

A sob escaped me.

“Shhh.” He grazed his hand up and down my arm before linking our fingers. “Let me take you inside and get you cleaned up.”

“No. Just…” I arched under him. “Not yet.”

A soft snarl erupted from his chest. “You keep doing that and I’ll take you right here, pet.”

A breath left me and I lifted my head. The rain was coming down harder, soaking us to the very bone. I was muddy and dirty but I didn’t care at the moment. “Do it,” I demanded softly.

“It’s cold,” he said, his voice husky.

“I need your heat.” God, I felt like I was arguing with myself. Having an internal battle. “Please. Sir.” All thoughts of should I or shouldn’t I forced their way into my mind. It wasn’t the right time. We had so much shit to deal with first before sex was even a consideration but this wouldn’t be just sex. It would be a moment where we connected as one. Dominant and submissive. Giving and taking. We would be pouring the strength into the depths of our love. “Please.” I arched under him again, rubbing my rear against the thickness between his legs.

My pants were pulled down to my ankles when a light swat landed on my ass. I moaned.

“I don’t give into begging.” A zipper lowered, sending a shiver down my spine. “But I’m sick of you tormenting yourself over this.” His hot breath caressed my ear. “Spread your legs. Let me in. Allow me to be that light in your darkness.”

I did as he said and cried out when he thrust into me hard. Not giving me the chance to get used to his size, he pumped his length into me deeper and deeper.

“Feel the sting of the cold air. Embrace the pain of my cock giving you the pleasure that you so desperately need.” His hips hit my rear in rough strokes, bringing me over the brink of ecstasy.

His name left my lips on a scream.

“That’s it. Shut off that beautiful mind for me.” He grunted. “Let me in. Let me make you fly.”

“Please, Sir,” I whimpered.

“I’m going to come for you.” He kissed the side of my neck, placing nips and bites on the sensitive skin under my ear. “And then I’m going to bring you inside and wash away your pain.”

I lifted my hips, hinting.

His fingers dug into the cheeks of my rear. “Come with me.”

And I did. Over and over again.

“YOU WILL not hurt her,” Ex said, storming into the house.

“No. We just want to talk.” I sat at the table and waited.

“I can’t stay long.”

When the female voice finally entered the room, I turned to the sound. She was in no way what I was expecting. I didn’t really know how I thought she would look but tall, blond, and pretty was not it. Devin was a good-looking guy but I figured Sherry would be average. I was informed that she had a drug addiction and that Ex was trying to clean her up. A part of me felt sorry for her. An even bigger part hoped that she stayed as far away from Devin as possible.

“Sherry,” I said, rising to my feet.

The woman’s brown eyes landed on me. “And you are?”

“Keely Price.” I nodded and held out my hand. “I had no idea that Devin had a cousin.”

She returned my handshake and scoffed. “I wish I wasn’t his cousin. Ex tells me that you guys don’t trust him now because I was too honest in being related to the fucker.”

I glanced at Greyson, his jaw clenched. “Well, I’m not those guys. I just wanted to talk to you to see if you could tell me anything about him. Anything at all,” I said, sitting on the couch.

Sherry sat beside me and crossed her arms under her chest. “He’s a douche. But you already know that given that you were married to him. Why did you marry him anyways?”

“Because I was young and naïve. He promised me riches and a happy life. Little did I know that it would come at the price of his fist,” I said quickly, ignoring the way Parker shifted on his feet behind me.

“Well…” She looked at Parker and then back at me. “Stay with the man you have now. Don’t you ever let Devin get his teeth in you again.”

I winced at how true that statement had been in the past. “I won’t. Now tell me, do you see him? Have you talked to him at all? Does he have an alternate name that he goes by?”