Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
C helsey’s pulse pounded loudly in her ears as she ducked behind a minivan while keeping her attention on Parker.
What the hell was happening here? Who are those guys?
One thing had been clear, Parker hadn’t wanted her to approach. Even from a distance, she’d been able to read it in his eyes. Then there was that slight shake of his head, and the firm set of his mouth, that told her to back up.
But what was going on? At first glance, it looked like three buddies in a quiet discussion. Yet, after a closer look, she could tell right away something was off. She didn’t recognize either of them. And no way would Parker let anyone but her stand that close to him the way the men were doing. Which meant they probably had a gun on him.
And how was it that, with all the people milling about, no one seem to notice something was up with those guys?
Chelsey’s heart was beating so hard, she was sure it would leave an imprint on the inside of her chest. As a former cop, she’d been in her share of uncomfortable situations that made her palms sweat and her pulse beat erratically.
Yet, this was different. This was Parker.
She needed to call for help.
Kenton. She’d call him.
She dug into the back pocket of her jeans for her phone, but it wasn’t there. Hell, it wasn’t in either pocket. A growl rumbled through her body as she unzipped her small crossbody bag, frantically looking through it. Her cell wasn’t in the compartment where she normally kept it.
Oh no! No. No. No! Had she left it on the charger at home?
God! Please let it be in the car.
A peek back at Parker, and her heart sank. They were on the move. He was going with them. Why? He wouldn’t walk away with them on his own accord, especially knowing she was there.
They were heading up an aisle, a few rows over, and Chelsey moved with them, careful to stay low in case someone else was watching. It helped that the sun had practically disappeared, and the parking lot lights, as well as twilight cast a subtle glow. She could track them while also staying in the shadows.
Nothing was making sense. Even if they had a gun on Parker, he could easily disarm two guys without breaking a sweat. No way would he let them lead him away…unless…
Had they seen her? Were they threatening to do something to her if he didn’t cooperate?
Chelsey wasn’t sure, but she needed to take action. Her car was only a few parking spots away. She could get it, but then what? She had to keep eyes on them. They were moving a little faster and seemed to be heading to a huge black SUV with dark tinted windows.
When they were a few feet away from it, Parker whirled around, catching the two men and Chelsey off guard.
Yes! Handle them, baby, she thought as she inched toward them, still staying low. Parker drew his arm back and slammed his fist into the tall guy’s jaw, successfully knocking him to the ground.
Surely someone would call the cops if they were witnessing this, but no one was in the vicinity.
Parker swung at the other guy, but the man was ready. He punched Parker in the chin, sending his head snapping back, but Parker managed to land a few punches.
Chelsey didn’t want to do anything that would distract him, but she had to help.
As she moved closer, the back door of the SUV burst open. She gasped quietly and ducked. She could still hear Parker and one of the thugs scuffling, and when she peeked around an old Buick, she saw a big guy leap out of the SUV.
She almost screamed Parker’s name, but he saw the guy. Still, it was too late. With the help of the first thug, they grabbed him.
“Hey! What’s going on over there?” she yelled in her deepest voice while staying out of sight, hoping to distract them. But when she looked over the hood of a car, they had managed to get him into the SUV.
Oh, damn!
Chelsey sprinted to her car, still trying to stay out of sight. She barely got in and started it when the SUV took off toward the exit. Thankfully, there were cars lined up in front of them. That gave her time.
She pulled out of her parking spot and headed for the same exit, glad another car was between her and the SUV.
While she waited, she checked her cupholder, the passenger seat, between the seats, and even the floor, for her cell phone. Nothing. She wanted to scream, but she didn’t have time to freak out. She had to keep her shit together and keep an eye on that SUV.
They pulled out into traffic, and she was careful to keep a couple of cars between them. Slapping a hand to her chest, she willed her heartbeat to stop racing.
Breathe, girl. Breathe.
She couldn’t ever remember being as scared as she was in this moment.
“What am I going to do?” she whispered.
Even if she followed them to wherever they were taking Parker, then what?
She didn’t have her cell phone, she didn’t have time to stop somewhere to find a phone, and she had no clue who she was dealing with.
But at least she had her gun and a switchblade in her glove compartment.
Still, it would help if she knew who the guys were and what they wanted with Parker.
No soon as the thought entered her mind, a sinking feeling engulfed her.
James and Debby—they had to be connected somehow. Or had Wolf found him? Had he somehow found out about the raids that were being set up to take down his empire?
Chelsey needed answers, and the only way that was going to happen was if she kept up with the guys who had kidnapped Parker.
When the SUV pulled onto the Downtown Connector in Atlanta, Chelsey slammed her hand against the steering wheel and cursed whoever was driving that SUV. Of course, they had to get on the most congested highway in the country. Damn them!
It didn’t matter the time of day; traffic was always ridiculous along that stretch of highway. And now it was dark as hell outside as she merged into the bumper-to-bumper traffic. At least the driver probably wouldn’t notice her following them.
Now…all she had to do was stay calm so she could be a help to Parker.
Hang on, baby. I’m right behind you.
Wolf had just gotten home and poured himself a glass of whiskey when he heard his phone ringing in the living room. Instead of rushing to it, he leaned against the kitchen counter and sipped his drink.
It had been another chaotic day, and for the first time in a long time, he was exhausted. Mentally and physically, he didn’t want to do another thing today. He especially didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Pushing away from the counter, he carried his drink into the living room and settled into his leather recliner.
Peace.
Calm.
Silence.
This was exactly what he needed to get his mind to settle down.
He took another sip of his drink before setting it on the table next to him. When he leaned his head back, he closed his eyes and reflected on the day.
Life had gone fairly easy for him over the last few years. Business was great. He’d made some powerful connections having a few politicians and cops on his payroll. He also had more money than he could spend in a lifetime.
But over the last month, business had been kicking his ass. It wasn’t all bad, but it was getting harder to keep up.
Sure, after gliding through life, it was probably his turn to experience some chaos. That was the best way he could describe all that had been going on lately. He lifted his glass for another sip but stopped when his phone rang again.
When he didn’t pick it up, it signaled that he had a text message.
It could be important, he thought and stood to grab it from the coffee table. When he saw he’d missed several calls, a voice message, and a text from Elder, he called him back.
“Man, where the hell have you been?” Elder barked. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I’ve been busy,” he said returning to his recliner. “What’s so important?”
“We have Parker Wilcox. We got him over an hour ago.”
“Okayyy,” Wolf said slowly. “Exactly what do you mean you have him? What have you done?”
“We snatched him up,” Elder said. “I have him in an abandoned warehouse, bound, and—”
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Wolf roared. “You kidnapped some guy who you think looks like my dead son? At least tell me you idiots had your faces covered.”
Silence filled the line, and Wolf wanted to throw his glass across the room. Elder was smarter than this. Or at least he should’ve been, but apparently not.
“By your silence I’m assuming that’s a no . So let me make sure I have this right.” Wolf stood and started pacing. “You flew to Atlanta because of a feeling that some guy was Junior. You snatch him off the street and tied him up so you could question him.
“What’s the plan for when you find out he’s not Junior? I shouldn’t have ever agreed to any of this nonsense. What are you going to do with him, seeing that he can identify you stupid jerks? What? You’re planning to kill an innocent man? We don’t need this type of bullshit right now!”
“It’s him,” Elder shouted. “I’m telling you he’s alive.”
“But he isn’t! You stupid—”
“Be careful, man,” Elder growled. “I just told your ass that your son is alive. Listen. To. Me. Junior is alive.”
Wolf stopped in the middle of the floor. His mind was going a million miles a minute as he tried to process what he was hearing.
“He’s alive,” Elder said again.
Wolf staggered and gripped the arm of the chair before sitting back down, shock radiating through his body. “How’s that possible?”
“I don’t know, but I think it has something to do with Luis. After you and I talked, I called him and Shred, but I only heard back from Shred. He said that night, he left Junior’s dead body with Luis for him to take care of.”
“ What? ” Wolf growled.
“Yeah, he said he got sick and was throwing up, and Luis told him to go home. That Junior was a lightweight, and that he’d be able to lift him into the incinerator. He said he’d handle it. Shred assumed he did.”
“But he wasn’t dead,” Wolf said more to himself, shocked by that revelation. “It’s been over fifteen years. If Shred is telling the truth, Luis had to know Junior was…is…alive.”
“Yeah, if only we could find him. He’s not answering his phone, and no one has seen him today. Also, no one is at his house. It’s like he’s disappeared. But we’re going to have to think about that later. I need to know what you want me to do about Junior. At some point, people around here are going to start looking for him. How do you want to handle this?”
Wolf stood and placed his hand on his chest. His heart was beating so hard, like it was trying to leap from his body. Still shocked, he tried to wrap his brain around the news. He believed Elder, but he wouldn’t fully believe him until he was able to look this Parker Wilcox in the eyes.
“Don’t touch him,” he said and headed down the hallway to his bedroom. “He’s mine.”
He had a plane and a pilot at his disposal, but it was going to take at least four hours to fly to Atlanta. That would put him there around two or three in the morning.
“In the meantime,” he said to Elder, “I’m going to need you to gather up supplies for me. The usual.”
And by the usual, he meant torture equipment.
The timing was perfect. Wolf would be able to take out his frustrations on this guy by beating the shit out of him.
Not just any guy. His son.
Junior was alive.
“I’ll have everything here when you arrive,” Elder said.
“Good. Also, while I’m in Atlanta, have Slick find Luis. I want him hanging from the rafters by his wrists when I return to San Diego.”
Luis was a dead man.