Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
P arker released a slow breath as the guys of Atlanta’s Finest stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.
They were spread out around Mason’s home office. Kenton and Angelo lounged on the long sofa, while Laz, Myles, and Hamilton sat at the round table near the desk. Mason sat behind his desk while Parker perched on the corner of it. The only people on the team who weren’t in attendance was Ashton, Nelson, and Connor.
“Damn, man. Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Angelo asked.
There was no doubt the former DEA undercover officer had heard of Wolf. Criminals like Parker’s father were one of many reasons why Angelo had left the agency. No matter how many drug dealers or leaders of organized crime they got off the street, more popped up. The heartless bastards multiplied faster than the DEA could get them and their products off the street.
“Why are you telling us now? Has something happened?” Myles, who they often referred to as a ghost, asked. The former spy was the quietest of all of them and the most observant. Nothing got past him, and he was like a walking, talking encyclopedia when it came to strategizing. He was one of the biggest assets to their team. Hell, they all were incredible, and Parker was honored to call them friends.
“Nothing’s happened yet,” Parker said, and then he told them about how the media had gotten a picture of him. Though he probably didn’t have to explain, he told them that he feared that Wolf would one day see the photo. Though Parker had some work done on his face, anyone who’d once known him might still recognize him.
“I’m also bringing this up now because I’m planning to go after Wolf. I can’t keep looking over my shoulder, hoping he won’t discover I’m alive. As long as he thinks I’m dead, I’m fine, but I don’t want to keep taking that chance.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Kenton ground out. “You’re the son of a gangster who tried to kill you, and you’ve been hiding from him. Now you’re dating my sister, pulling her into your bullshit life. You need to break things off with her…now!”
“That’s not going to happen,” Parker said. He didn’t bother telling Kenton that he had already tried that.
“If you love her—”
“There’s no if about it!” Parker snapped. “Kenton you might as well get this through your thick skull. I’m in love with your sister. No matter how you try to deny it, it’s a fact. She’s the main reason I need to deal with Wolf once and for all, because I’m planning to spend the rest of my life with Chelsey.”
Kenton balled his hands into fists at his sides, but he didn’t move from the sofa. “How can you claim to love her and risk her life like this?” There was so much emotion behind his words, and Parker understood his concern. Hell, he was concerned, too, but he either needed to destroy Wolf, or plan to hide out for the rest of his life.
He looked Kenton in the eyes. “I considered disappearing, but if I do, I’m taking Chelsey with me.”
Kenton leaped to his feet. For a big man, he had the agility of a tiger. “The hell you will! No way you’re taking her on the run with you. Besides, she’d never go.”
“You sure about that?” Parker said calmly. If he raised his voice and argued with Kenton, they might end up back where they were hours ago rolling around on the floor throwing punches.
Breathing hard, Kenton stared him down, and Parker could imagine what the man wanted to do to him. He hoped his and Chelsey’s relationship wouldn’t ruin his friendship with Kenton, but if he had to choose between being with her or being friends with Kenton, he’d choose his woman every time.
“How can we help?” Hamilton asked, ignoring Parker and Kenton’s exchange.
Parker ran a hand down his chin as he organized his thoughts. He’d prefer to go after Wolf alone, but he knew that wasn’t realistic. His father wouldn’t go down without a fight, and Parker wouldn’t fool himself into thinking that he could be successful alone.
“I’d first like to brainstorm ideas on how I can take down Wolf’s operations.”
Angelo released a long whistle. “I haven’t personally dealt with the Kingz, but I know they are formidable adversaries.”
Parker nodded. “I know.”
“What do you know about Wolf and what he has going on these days?” Myles asked.
“Wolf’s territory has tripled since I left California, and he owns several businesses in various sizes. I know of ten of them, but there might be more. I’m not sure if they’re all above board, but I’d be surprised if they aren’t set up to clean money.”
There was no doubt in Parker’s mind that his father was involved in money laundering. He’d done it when Parker was a kid. Now, he’d probably taken operations to the next level.
“I also heard he’s in the process of partnering with a gun trafficker.” Laz had been the one to share that information with him, and Parker knew his friend’s contacts were solid.
“To take him down, you’re going to have to hit him from all sides at once,” Angelo said. “The moment Wolf notices any changes with his products, distribution, or if his businesses are getting unwanted attention, he’s going to disappear. Or he’s going to come out fighting. And as organized as the Kingz are, I’m sure there’s an escape plan.”
Parker had thought about all of that; he just hadn’t come up with a solid plan to address each area. But as the guys, including Kenton, tossed ideas around, he felt more encouraged. He wasn’t in this alone.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think we should reach out to Rock,” Angelo said of his brother-in-law, Monty “Rock” Rockwell.
Zenobia’s half-brother was once the biggest drug lord in Miami, and maybe even on the east coast. Supposedly, over the last couple of years, he had cleaned up his act and had gone legit.
Though it wasn’t impossible to do, Parker would be surprised if everything Rock was involved in was legitimate. These days, many considered him a smart, savvy businessman. No one, specifically law enforcement and maybe even the government, seemed to care that the multimillionaire once made his money illegally.
But who knew? Maybe the guy really was walking on the right side of the law.
Angelo and Rock had met many years ago before Angelo even knew Zenobia existed. To say this world was small was an understatement. Years ago, while undercover, Angelo had infiltrated Rock’s organization. During the op, when Angelo thought he’d finally play a role in taking Rock down, the operation went horribly wrong. Not only did some of Angelo’s fellow DEA agents lose their lives, but Angelo almost died, too. The worst part of the situation was that the DEA abandoned him, and he almost spent the rest of his life in prison.
The moment Angelo had been able to clear his name, he left the organization and never looked back. At least not until a couple of years ago when he provided personal security for Zenobia when she had a stalker. Angelo had fallen hard for the pop singer, but then he learned that she was Rock’s half-sister. Shit hit the fan, and it had turned into one of the most dangerous assignments for all of them. But in the end, Angelo got the girl, and he and Rock were at least cordial. They would probably never be good friends—too much bad blood—but for Zenobia’s sake, they tried not to kill each other.
“What do you think Rock could offer to the situation?” Mason asked, and everyone, except Parker, probably was thinking the same thing.
Parker already knew. That phrase game recognizes game would be the best way to explain it. Rock knew the drug game. Hell, he probably invented some of the rules. He’d also dealt with and destroyed plenty of leaders like Wolf.
Though Parker’s father was successful in the crime syndicate world, he wasn’t at Rock’s level and may never be. Zenobia’s brother had already been where Wolf was trying to go. The man could cause more damage to Wolf’s empire than Parker could ever dream of doing.
Yeah, if he could get Rock’s help in this, it would be game over before Wolf even knew what hit him.
As Angelo explained that to the group and what a value Rock could be, Parker wanted Angelo to make the call. They needed all the help they could get—especially Rock’s type of help.
“If he says yes, and if our bosses will give me and Parker some time off,” Angelo said, glancing at Mason and Hamilton pointedly, a mischievous gleam in his eye, “we can fly to Miami next weekend with Zenobia. She already has plans to visit him for the weekend.”
That meant flying on Rock’s private jet. He always offered it up to his sister whenever she wanted to visit Miami; or go anywhere, for that matter. Or whenever he wanted to see her, the twins, and his mother who lived with Angelo and Zenobia.
If Parker could get Rock as an ally, there would be no doubt in his mind that they could take Wolf down. Not only that, but they might also be able to do it without Parker having to come face to face with his father.
That was something he’d been thinking about. The anger he had toward Wolf ran deep, and Parker feared that if they ever came face to face, he would kill his father. The bastard had almost killed him, and though he’d moved on with his life, Parker hadn’t been able to move past that.
Yeah, more than anything, he hoped Rock would help. But what would it cost Parker if he did? Rock was a businessman, plain and simple, and from what Parker had heard, a shrewd one at that. Would the former gangster be willing to lend a hand for nothing in return?
Only one way to find out.
They met for a few minutes longer and settled on an initial gameplan. When everyone else filed out of the office, Hamilton asked Parker to hang back.
“I forgot to tell you that we got a hit back on the guy from the fundraiser,” Hamilton said.
Parker was slipping. With everything else on his mind, he had forgotten that he’d asked them to look into him.
“His name is Sean Thompson. He’s originally from Oakland, California, but he’s been living in Georgia for the last twenty years. He’s an electrician by day and a DJ by night.”
“Criminal record?”
“When he was twenty, years before moving here, he was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Outside of receiving a fine, he’d gotten off without any jail time since it was a first offense. Other than that, he’s clean.”
Hamilton handed him an electronic tablet with the man’s photo and personal information. Divorced. Two kids. Lives in Loganville, Georgia. Most of his family lived on the West Coast, except for two of his brothers and a couple of cousins. The documentation also included his current employer, job history, and even the man’s credit report.
He glanced at the photo again. Nothing stood out. The guy still wasn’t familiar.
“Thanks for this,” he said and handed the tablet back to Hamilton.
“Any particular reason why you wanted him checked out?” Mason asked.
Parker told them about the exchange at the fundraiser, and how he’d wanted to make sure that he hadn’t met the guy before.
The three of them talked for a few minutes longer about how they thought the meeting with Atlanta’s Finest went. All agreed it went well, and Parker promised to keep them abreast of everything.
When he finally left Mason’s home office, Kenton was waiting for him in the hallway.
“You know you were wrong, right?” Kenton said. He was leaning against a nearby wall, his usual easygoing demeanor back in place. Parker knew what he was referring to.
“I do, and I’m sorry for how you found out about me and Chelsey, but Kenton, man, I love her. I don’t know how many times you’ll need to hear it. I’ll keep saying it over and over again until you understand that she’s it for me. Of course, I’d prefer to have your blessings, but if not…” Parker shrugged, “…that won’t change my feelings for her. I’m planning to spend the rest of my life with your sister.”
Kenton didn’t respond, just kept staring at Parker as if trying to determine if he was serious. He’d soon learn that he was dead serious, and not him or anyone else was going to keep him from Chelsey.
When Kenton pushed away from the wall, Parker braced himself. If the man wanted to go another round with him, fine. He wouldn’t back down, and he sure as hell wouldn’t hold back on his punches this time.
Instead, Kenton stuck out his hand.
Parker stared at it for a second before grabbing hold of it.
“I’m sorry,” his friend said. “I was way out of line earlier. I’ve been my sister’s protector since the day my parents brought her home from the hospital. Some habits die hard. You and her together caught me off guard, and I reacted before thinking. All I ask is that you treat her right.”
“I will. Chelsey is my heart. So you don’t have to worry about that.”
They pulled each other in for a handshake-hug, pounding each other on the back in the process.
“Good,” Kenton said. “As for the situation with your father, let me know what I can do to help.”
“Will do. Thanks, man.”
Now that Parker had his guys onboard, all he needed to do was talk Rock into lending a hand. Hopefully, that meeting would go as easy as this one, but Parker kind of doubted it would.
Still, he had to try.