Chapter18
Knight
More had happened in the last week of my life than had happened in the past year combined. I had flown across the ocean for my father’s funeral. I had taken the reins as the head of the Corban organization. I had learned my sister was likely going to get us all killed with her affair. I had sabotaged the love of my life. Then, won her back. I had learned the horrors of the past five years. Stopping to have lunch with my best friend hadn’t been on the agenda. But where I could make business intersect I did.
Parker was late for lunch as usual.
“Hey, man.” He stopped in front of the table. I stood to shake his hand and give him a slap on the back. “Glad you called me.”
“Me too. Sit. Sit.” I motioned for Parker to join me.
“I haven’t heard from you since the funeral.” He took a big gulp of water. “What are we drinking?”
“Anything you want, friend.” I grinned.
“I’ll follow your lead. Whatever you’re having.”
I waved our waitress over to the table and ordered two bourbons.
Parker laughed. “Thank God. I need one of those.”
“You and me both.”
Within a few minutes we had our drinks. I looked at my old friend. “How are things at home?” I asked. “The kids?”
“Good. Pre-school and learning how to walk. So, you know it’s really busy there. You know just everything is about the kids.” He hung his head. “I guess you don’t know. Lucky bastard, you still aren’t married.” He slung the bourbon back.
“I don’t know if that makes me lucky.” Although, I was glad I wasn’t in Parker’s situation. He had made the most of it. Chelsea had found her place in the organization. She liked being a mobster’s wife.
“No one in Paris?” he asked. “I didn’t see anyone with you at the funeral. Single life or what?”
I wasn’t ready to tell anyone about Kennedy yet. It was too new. The last time we had gone public, we were torn from each other in ways that were still tattered and raw. I’d keep this to myself for a while.
“Not really,” I answered. “Not anyone worth mentioning.”
“Too bad. I heard the women in Paris all look like models.”
I chuckled. “Well, that part’s true.” I winked over my bourbon.
“How’s your mom doing?” he asked. “She holding up okay?”
“One never knows with Felicia. It’s either grief that she’s no longer the ruling matriarch, or fear that she’s no longer the ruling matriarch. I don’t think she misses my dad for one second.”
“Ouch.”
“No shit. I’ve got to get a handle on her. She’s liable to do something stupid.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re back then. Sounds like a lot of people need you here and not in France.”
“You have no idea, my friend.” I paused when the waitress returned to take our orders. I waited for her to clear the menus. “Listen, I’m sure you’ve heard some things about the Corban organization.”
“A little here and there,” he admitted.
“My dad took some shitty deals while I was gone. He took out massive loans and it’s going to hurt to pay them all back. I’m in the red.”
“You’re talking about Kennedy, aren’t you?”
“No.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to drag her into this conversation. “She’s only one of the players in my dad’s bad decisions.”