Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(117)

“Just out of curiosity, why don’t you get along?” Knowing full well curiosity killed the cat, I still continued to question it, swatting away the sane part of my brain that was telling me not to dabble.


His smirk was bordering malicious. “Wade is a very complex man, Evelyn. But he forgets, he wouldn’t be where he is today if it wasn’t for me. You have to push your kids in the right direction. You see—” He sighed out a deep breath before taking a seat on the barstool, then nudging to the one opposite, prompting me to take it. I took the invitation, if only to stop him looking at my legs.

“I used tough love on my children. If I didn’t, neither of them would have success like they have today. Wade doesn’t see it like that. He likes to ignore what I did for him.”

“Wade accomplished so much on his own, though.” Of course I was going to stick up for Parks. Never would I allow anyone to talk little of him. Not even his own father.

“But who put him at the top to begin with?” He tipped back the rest of his wine and poured another, thankfully oblivious to my un-sipped glass.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Evelyn. Yes, you are below what was expected for my son, but what you see in him is beyond me. He will drag you down. Blame you for his faults. I should know. I’ve been there.”

Clinton was serving me severe whiplash. In one sentence he was telling me I wasn’t good enough for his son, then he was warning me of his actions. Actions I didn’t believe for one minute.

“It’s his fault we don’t have a relationship. Now he’s built up his own empire, he wants to shun me. He thinks he’s above his own father. Above his family. When his purpose for you expires, Evelyn, he will throw you aside. Drop you. Wade is emotionless. Hard. Heartless. His work is his life. You will never be.”

Clinton telling me I would never mean as much to Parks as his work did cause a vague pain to hit a nerve. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“It’s the truth.” He shrugged, his facial expression coming off as menacing. I glanced down at the wine I was holding, and suddenly everything felt wrong. Clinton was trying to persuade me to leave Parks. Why? To hurt him? Parks was right. I should have stayed away from him. About to tip out the glass and throw Clinton out, my intentions were suddenly halted.

“Evelyn!” Parks’s bad-tempered tone cracked through the air, making my heart leap of its socket and bones out of my skin. His raging, darkened gaze darted towards the wine I held in my hand. Too shocked to move, to speak, I watched him march his way towards me. He snatched the glass out of my hand and slammed it down onto the top so violently, it splintered the glass, sending pieces smashing across the top. Immobilised from shock, my throat remained motionless, unable to form words.

“What the f*ck is going on?” His glare batted between his father and I.

“Wade. I was just…” My hesitation was cloaked by Clinton getting to his feet, his expression showing clouded content towards his son’s anger.

“We were just getting to know each other over a drink.”

“No,” I disagreed with Clinton, my eyes pleading with Parks. “I didn’t touch it.”

“I saw it with my own f*cking eyes,” Parks raged, waving his hand over the glass he’d just smashed. Then he turned to his father. “And what the f*ck are you doing here? Didn’t I warn to you stay away from Evelyn?”

Clinton’s mouth crept up a grin. “Evelyn invited me around for dinner. How could I decline an offer like that?”

I watched on in horror as Parks grimaced under his father’s words, his complexion pale. Then he turned to me, his eyes burning into my soul. “You would deceive me and meet my father behind my back? Even drink with him?”

My body winced under his scrutiny. “I… I invited him around for you. I didn’t know you were working late. I tried to cancel, but he wouldn’t answer his phone.”

“You think I believe that?” he barked.

My body took an automatic step back. “What?”

“You see, Evelyn,” Clinton went on, his voice soft but holding a whole load of mischief. “When Wade’s temper comes out, you get to see the real him.”

“You.” Parks pointed to his father vehemently. “Get the f*ck out of my apartment.”

“You need to calm down, son.” He smirked, loving every ounce of the drama he was causing. Loving that he was goading him. “You’re showing Evelyn your true colours.”

Parks lost it and reared back, punching his father in the jaw. Clinton stumbled back from the blow, almost losing balance. “Get out,” he yelled so viciously his body shook.

Clinton gently touched his blooded lip. “Fine. Evelyn, call me if you need anything.” He winked at me.

“You motherf*cker.” Parks turned completely insane. He laid into his father, pounding punch after punch. Clinton wouldn’t even defend himself. I was screaming, crying, and pleading for Parks to calm down, but he wouldn’t. He was like a crazed animal. “Why can’t you just stay out of my f*cking life?” Parks roared. The cracking of bones, the blood, and the feral sounds coming from both men gave me no choice but to bash a button that called security.


“He’s a f*cking lunatic, Evelyn,” Clinton yelled, getting beat up but still goading Parks.