Page 8 of Shadows Redeemed
“All right. My team’s here to help, but you need to know I’m not covering for your brother.” She gripped the arms of her chair as she stared over at him. “If he did what they claim he did, I’m handing him over. I’m only here to make sure he doesn’t get killed before he gets a fair shake.”
“Sage, he didn’t do it.” Parker slid forward in his seat, rubbing his palms along his thighs as he stared at her, his face a mask of insistence. ”My brother wouldn’t get involved in drugs, and he definitely wouldn’t kill another cop.”
She shrugged. “Then he shouldn’t have anything to worry about. My team has connections. We can make sure he gets protection.” She then leaned forward, clasping her hands together, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’ll help, but Parker, this is a onetime deal. I’ll help get your brother in safely, but that’s it. No more favors, no more involvement in Jacob’s bullshit. This is the last time you use my number.”
He stared at her for a moment, and she knew he wanted to argue with her, but instead, he simply gave a curt nod.
“Good. Now, do you know where he is?”
He squirmed in his seat, rubbing his palms on his thighs once more, and she could tell he didn’t want to answer her question. Of course, that told her exactly where Jacob was hiding.
She sighed as she fell back in her seat. “He’s out at that stupid cabin, isn’t he?”
“It was the only safe place we could think of.” He leaned forward, intertwining his fingers as he rested his elbows on his knees.
“Why didn’t you just take him to the FBI?”
Parker shrugged, his lips twisted in a grimace, which made the dimple on his left cheek stand out. She had to admit, if only to herself, that he was the hotter of the two brothers, even though it was his brother who had captured her heart a few years ago. He was also the bad boy of the two, and at the time, she needed that.
She took a quick glance around the lobby, noticing the plainclothes cop in the corner doing his best not to be noticed, which of course, only drew attention to him. At least hers.
Turning back to Parker, she let a soft smile toy at her lips. “You’re being followed.”
She had to give him credit for not looking around. “Yeah, he’s been on me since I left the Bayou Bar. I assume it’s some flunky Sullivan sicced on me.”
“Good to know you haven’t lost your edge.”
His grin grew as he settled back in his seat. “I learned a few things between you and my brother. I even visited that old investigator friend of yours. The one who trained you.”
“Bryce? He’s still around?” She shook her head as a soft laugh bubbled out of her as she thought about the man who had takenher in and trained her to be a private investigator. “I thought for sure he’d retire by now.”
Parker chuckled. “Not with his spending habits. The man needs to work just to keep eating. And drinking.”
She sighed. “Still on the bottle?”
“Even more so, it seems. Still, he trained me in what I needed to fill in the gaps of what I learned from watching Jacob and you.”
“Sorry to hear that. Maybe I’ll look him up while I’m here.”
He cocked his head as he studied her. “And what about your family? You saw them yet?”
She gave a slow shake of her head. “No. I went straight to you. But I will. If I don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
He laughed, bobbing his head. “True. True. Give them my best when you see them.”
She felt the smile toying at the corners of her mouth. “I will. Now, let’s go up so you can meet the team and get them caught up.”
As she stood, she let her gaze drift once more over the hotel lobby, watching the ebb and flow of activity. As she stared once more at the man tailing Parker, she wondered if she was making the right decision by getting involved with Jacob again. However, for better or worse, she was in it now, and she knew there was no turning back. She just hoped Parker could play by her rules. Otherwise, she was gone.
When they entered the adjoining suites, the living section was already full of her team bustling around, setting up laptops and monitors, making phone calls, and, of course, Elvis sitting in the corner, listening to Presley songs on his phone. Sage entered, Parker right on her heel, and headed over to where Dane and Gage sat at the table, hands wrapped around coffee mugs. A quick glance of the room revealed Marissa and Melinda must have been getting their own rooms situated.
“Everyone, meet Parker Franklin. Again.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “It’s his brother’s ass we’re trying to pull out of the frying pan.”
They all greeted the newcomer, Dane turning in his seat as he raked Parker with an appraising gaze. “So, what do we know so far?”
She walked over to the cabinet, pulling out two coffee mugs and filling them. “You’re up, Parker. Tell them everything you know, and maybe we’ll figure out how we’re going to save your brother.” She turned, cocking a brow as she held a mug out to him. “Again.”
He took the cup from her as he took a deep breath and moved to a chair around the small kitchen table.
