HPDBC Chapter 168 Status
Chapter 168 Status
The squad car rolled up to the station in the dead of night, the faint hum of fluorescent lights casting a pale glow over the cracked asphalt. Parker sat in the back, cuffed but relaxed, his expression cool and unreadable. The officers hadn't manhandled him; there was no need. He didn't resist, didn't fight. Hell, he barely spoke. He moved with the kind of quiet confidence that made people second-guess themselves, like he was the one letting them escort him, not the other way around.
Inside, they ran the usual protocol. Prints. Photos. A quick database check. That's when things got sticky.
"Uh, you might wanna take a look at this," one of the officers muttered, pointing at the screen. Parker Black. Legal ward of the Blackwood family. Recently tied to a whirlwind of scandals. The air in the room shifted, a weird cocktail of tension and unease.
"Shit," someone whispered.
For a second, no one knew what to do. This wasn't just some random rich kid with an attitude problem. This was him—Someone related to Robert Blackwood. And if they screwed this up? Yeah, their jobs weren't worth that gamble.
They placed Parker in a stark room with a metal table and two cheap chairs, the kind of place meant to make you sweat. But he didn't look nervous. If anything, he looked bored, drumming his fingers lightly against the table.@@@@
"I'd like to contact my legal team," Parker said, his tone polite but sharp enough to cut.
The officer across from him nodded stiffly. "Of course."
****
The call was brief. Ava Klein, sharp as a razor, picked up immediately despite the time. "Parker," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I heard, that Tessa girl has called me. Don't worry. Someone's already on their way to make sure you don't spend a single night there."
Parker raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the chair. "Efficient as always, Ava. But what about you?"
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"I'm in New York," she replied. "I'll be on the first flight out. Sit tight, don't say anything stupid, and let them handle it. By morning, this whole mess will be over."
****
Tessa was already outside, her thin cardigan doing nothing to shield her from the biting cold. As soon as the car slowed to a stop, she bolted toward it, wrenching the door open before it had fully parked.
"Parker!" she cried, her voice cracking as she threw herself into his arms.
He caught her, his hands steady against her trembling frame. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, her words tumbling out in broken gasps. "I—I was so worried. I thought—I thought—"
"Shh," Parker murmured, one hand gently stroking her hair. "It's fine. I'm fine."
But she just kept crying, her tears soaking into his shirt. "It's my fault," she choked out. "I'm so stupid. If I wasn't so—"
"Enough," Parker cut her off, his tone soft but firm. "This wasn't your fault. Not even close."
Her body went slack against him, her energy completely spent. With a sigh, Parker bent down, hooking his arm under her legs and lifting her effortlessly.
The doors opened automatically as Parker stepped inside, Tessa cradled in his arms. Elena and Naomi were waiting in the foyer, their expressions a mix of concern and relief. Ere trailed behind them, her tail flicking lazily as she hopped onto the nearest couch.
{I did it, master. Whenever you're ready,} Ere's voice purred in his mind, her tone smug and satisfied.
Parker didn't respond, his focus entirely on Tessa as he carried her upstairs. Naomi moved to follow, but Parker shot her a look that stopped her in her tracks.
"She needs rest," he said simply, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The lawyer lingered by the door, her phone already out as she wrapped up the remaining formalities. "Ms. Klein will be here first thing tomorrow," she said, her tone clipped and professional.
Parker didn't respond. As far as he was concerned, the night was over. For now, all that mattered was getting Tessa to bed.
"Stay!"