Edge (Parker Reed #2) (30 page)

“Everything alright?” my dad asked me after I let him into the large penthouse suite.

“It’s getting there,” I answered, following him to the couch. “How are you doing?”

He shrugged, playing with a loose string on his jeans.

My stomach twisted with anxiety and I inched closer to him. Hooking my arm around his, I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Don’t let guilt consume you.”

He let out a shaky breath, grabbing my hand in his. “I know we’ve talked. I know we’ve talked to the police. But I…I just feel like you and I haven’t talked like we should.”

I looked up at him, frowning. “What do you mean? You’ve already told me how sorry you are.”

“But it’s not enough,” he snapped.

My back bristled and I pulled away.

“I’m so sorry, sweet pea.” He scrubbed a hand down his face before meeting my gaze. “They’re only words. God, Keely…my darling daughter.”

Tears burned my eyes, threatening to escape. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I coughed a couple of times, forcing back the impending sob fest. “Daddy, please stop blaming yourself.”

He glanced away. “Parker told me everything. He told me what Devin did to you.” He turned to me, his eyes cold and swirling with a rage I had never seen in him before. “Keely, if I would have known…” He swallowed hard.

I shook my head. “You couldn’t have done anything. Both you and Parker need to remember that. Devin is a monster. He is the sole reason for all of my nightmares.” I grabbed my dad’s hand, squeezing it tight. “But with the help from Parker and now you, I will heal. We all will.”

“But it’s not enough. I should have been there for you. I should have known. You were a little girl, wrapped up in the clutches of an evil man. God, he was just a kid too!” A lonely tear rolled down my dad’s cheek.

“I should have come to you and mom but I didn’t know how.” A sob escaped me, crashing into me like a tidal wave. “But…” I hiccupped. “Devin scared me. He still does. He said he would hurt you. I believed him. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

My dad pulled me into his arms, hugging me tight again him.

We sat there, huddled together for what felt like hours. No words were said. No movement between either of us. We just held each other like we needed to. If only my mom was there. If only she was alive. She would make this better. She was always the head strong one. She was always the one to take care of us.

“I miss your mother,” he said softly, taking the thought right out of my mind.

“I do too.” I wiped the tears from under my eyes, sniffling and crying some more. The pain seared its way into my heart. Everything that had happened over the past couple of months, finally hitting me like a ton of bricks. The guilt. Shame. Agony. All of it threatened to control us. To take over our lives.

“I’m sorry about Troy’s boyfriend,” my dad finally said, breaking the heavy silence.

“Same here.” I took a couple deep cleansing breaths and sat back. “But he has Colin and Jones. They’ll help him.” And they had been. Troy was finally starting to smile. Even though his eyes still showed the dark pain of losing his love, he was slowly starting to come back. He would forever miss Patrick and would love him unconditionally until it was his time, but with Colin’s help, he could heal.

“I heard you and Troy got in a fight.”

I scoffed. That was an understatement. “We’re good now. With time, we’ll be even better.” Looked like we all had some guilt to get over.

“Thank you,” my dad said. “For being you. For being strong. For not hating me.”

“I could never hate you. I’m just glad that you are alive after all of this time. I never…I never thought I would see you again so I guess Devin did something right.” I cringed at those words.

My dad grunted. “He kept me alive only to make me hack for him.” He swore under his breath. “I’m just glad that Agent Cross was able to wipe away my records.”

I nodded. “So am I.” The good agent, although a dick at times, did as we had requested of him. After the showdown at Devin’s hotel, we had spent many hours of talking to the police, Cross, and everyone else it felt like. It took a week for them to get all of our statements. Cross was much nicer, not like in the beginning. Parker had wanted to let his wife know about the special treatment Cross’ informants received but I put a stop to that.

“So now what?” my dad asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Well…” I sighed. “We move on. We heal. We spend as much time together as possible without driving each other insane.”

He laughed, a full on belly laugh that made me smile. “I like that idea.”

“Me too, daddy.”

“I love you, sweet pea,” he said, his voice thick.

“I love you, too,” I whispered. Fresh tears stung my eyes but this time, it was because I was in fact happy. I had my father. My best friend back. And my love. I couldn’t be happier if I tried.

“SIR, THE jet is fueled and ready for takeoff. We’re just now waiting for you and Miss Price,” the friendly voice of Captain Giroux buzzed through the speakers of the rental car.

“Good. Thank you, Captain. And thank you for doing this for us on such short notice.” Parker gripped my inner thigh. “We’re half an hour away. Please have a bucket of ice, some healthy snacks, and a couple bottles of red wine on hand.”

The captain laughed. “Long night?”

Parker winked at me. Cupping the back of my throat, his thumb grazed over the black collar that had my neck bound. “It’s been a long couple of months.”

“Anything else you need?”

“No. Just that. Thank you.” The call disconnected and Parker turned to me. “Ready to have a somewhat normal trip?”

“Will anything ever be normal again?” Chewing my bottom lip, I glanced out the window.

“Was anything ever normal, angel?”

“I guess not.” I sighed, kissing the back of his hand.

It was the day after my dad had come over. I was so excited and happy that things were starting to feel back to normal, that I bombarded Parker with our conversation as soon as he got home. He had only smiled, listening intently to what I had to say.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him. “As long as we are together, that’s enough normal for me.”

HERE ARE we?” I asked. On Parker’s private jet, I never really had the need to pay attention to where he was taking me. He could have left it a surprise, build up anticipation like he felt the need to do time and time again. When he didn’t and told me that we were going to Germany, I squealed with delight, throwing myself in his arms. Now, hours later and we were standing in front of a large black brick mansion. The bricks were so dark that when the sun hit them the right way, I swore they glistened red. Like blood. A shiver trembled over my body. This place was creepy but hinted at an eerie calm. It messed with you head in a way that I could only imagine was intentional.

“We needed to get away. From everything and everyone. And because I planned this little trip last minute, everywhere that I wanted to take you was booked.”

“So you took me to Germany?” I asked in awe.

Parker chuckled. “Never underestimate me, pet. Just because I couldn’t take you to New York again or even somewhere warm, I knew I could always find a way.”

“But you’re Parker Reed. Don’t they have penthouses and stuff open for you constantly?” I asked, poking him in the chest playfully.

He grabbed my hand and kissed my each of my fingers. “You should know by now that I’m not your typical rich guy.” He nipped the pad of my thumb sending a heat washing over my skin. “Hotels have offered to keep a penthouse open for me whenever I need it but with my…other job…I had to remain as inconspicuous as possible.”

“Makes sense. Having a private jet is noticeable enough as it is. Just don’t get rid of it, please.”

He chuckled. “Never. Not since I’ve been able to make sweet love to your delicious body in it,” he said, kissing my neck. Besides, I also allow the hotels to rent out those rooms.” He moved behind me. “I’m not that much of an asshole, Keely.” His breath caressed my year, sending goose bumps over my skin.

“So who owns this place?” I swallowed hard when the door to the castle type building opened.

“You’ll see. I met him on my last business trip.” Parker grabbed my hand, leading me up the steps.

“Is he nice?” The closer we got to the inside of the house, the faster my heart raced. I had no idea why, but this place really bothered me in a way that I couldn’t understand.

“Parker Reed.” The deepest voice I had ever heard came from a tall man now standing at the entrance to the doorway.

“Vade Moreau.” Parker greeted him, shaking his hand before turning to me. He cupped my nape and kissed my head. “Keely, this is Vade. Under different circumstances, you’d be required to call him
Master
.”

“What kind of circumstances?” I asked, my voice small.

Parker grinned. “If you were alone or didn’t know any better. Vade, meet Keely Price.”

Vade looked down at me. His amber eyes bore into my soul like he was seeing all of my deepest, darkest secrets. His jet-black hair was longer in the front but gelled back in a fancy style. He looked like any normal man dressed in black dress pants with a burgundy dress shirt. The only thing odd that I noticed was the intricate design of a tattoo on the side of his neck.

“It’s nice to meet you, Keely.” His deep voice jarred me from my thoughts, distracting me from the tattoo that marked his skin.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Sir,” I said softly.

His eyes flashed with warmth. “Everything is all ready for you,” he told Parker, stepping aside to make room for us to enter the beautiful home.

“This is the first step of your training,” Parker whispered in my ear. “Don’t embarrass me, pet.”

I fought back a smart retort and nodded. “I won’t.”

“Good girl.” Parker brushed his thumb over my bottom lip and placed a soft peck on the swollen tender part. “Even though I know that you’re thinking about.”

I laughed, my cheeks heating. “You know me well.”

He tapped my rear. “Remember what I can do when your mouth gets out of line. I don’t think your ass can take another round quite yet.”

My muscles clenched, a slight burn spreading over my skin. Memories of Parker consuming my body in ways that I never thought was possible reigned in my mind. As delicious and tempting as it sounded, he was right.

“You guys have a rough night?” Vade asked, closing the door behind us.

“You could say that.” Parker held onto my hand tight. Things had been tense between us until we were alone on the plane. It was like we had both been holding our breath until we were finally away from everyone and everything. I had taken care of his cuts, wrapped his waist in gauze, and kissed away his pain. It would be a slow process, but we would both eventually heal.