Paid Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 3)

by Morgan Kelley

  Chris got it.

  That was all he had to hear.

  “I’ll handle him.”

  He patted him on the back.

  “Then I’ll handle this.”

  The two men split up, and they headed off to each handle a Croft. When he knocked on her door, Emma didn’t answer.

  “Emma?”

  Nothing.

  When Dimitri went inside, he looked for her, but she wasn’t in her room.

  He really hoped she didn’t sneak out. As he thought about it, he was pretty sure he knew where she’d be. It was reminiscent of what he’d done. He’d been wounded, and he went to the one place he felt safe.

  Emma would go to the one place she felt safe. To her, Greyson and Chris had betrayed her.

  He hadn’t.

  Leaving her room, he headed down the hall toward his bedroom. When he opened the door, she was sitting on his bed, and she looked beat down.

  Broken.

  Horrible.

  “Emma.”

  “I need a favor,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I need your help.”

  He suspected what she was going to ask, and like he’d told Greyson, he would kill the man. That had been his plan from the start.

  “What?” he asked, sitting beside her.

  “I need you to teach me how to kill him. I need you to show me so I can do it. I have to kill him for my brother. He’s spilled blood, and I’m going to pay him back.”

  Okay, that was NOT what he was expecting, and it horrified him that she thought he’d ever let her do that.

  Emma wasn’t going to cross that line—not while he was alive, and certainly not while her husband was either.

  He sighed. “Emma.”

  “Just show me. I’ll pull the trigger. I’ll do it. He deserves to die.”

  “Come here,” he said, opening his arms to her.

  Emma didn’t hesitate. She went to him, and Dimitri simply held her. The tears came again, and he tried to comfort her as she wept. Her whole body shook.

  “I have you.”

  She sobbed even harder.

  Dimitri rested on the bed and took Emma with him. She immediately curled into his body, and he protected her with his own.

  It reminded him of what she’d done for him. When the storm hit, she held it back.

  It was the least he could do.

  She buried her face in his throat and sobbed as the storm raged around her.

  Dimitri did what he always did when his sisters woke from a nightmare, or they were hurt. He let them feel. He knew she’d stop crying at some point, and that’s when he’d help her.

  “It’s okay. This will be okay,” Dimitri said, holding her against him.

  “He had a hit put out on my brother. I have no one because of him.”

  He knew how to get her to focus.

  Dimitri lifted her chin so she was staring into his eyes. “So everything you said to me last night was lies? I’m no one to you? I’m just someone to teach you to kill?”

  She sniffled.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t. You have three men who would go kill him for you, and then we don’t because we respect you and your choices, and you get mad at us.”

  Here came his version of tough love. There was no doubt in his mind that it would work.

  “I’m not mad at you.”

  He stared into her eyes.

  “I just hurt.”

  He got that.

  She tucked her face back into his neck, and she held onto him. While she did, she felt better.

  “You smell like him.”

  “Who?” he asked.

  “My brother.”

  He let her talk. Emma was a rational, smart woman. She’d work her way through it using logic. Dimitri would always bet on her to pull through.

  “I remember when I would have days so hard I didn’t think I could pull it off, and he’d hold me like this. He’d tell me he loved me, and it would be okay. You wear the same cologne, and when I close my eyes, I can still hold onto him. I know it’s silly, but it’s all I have left of him—memories.”

  He knew it wasn’t silly at all.

  Dimitri knew that sometimes, you needed anything to get you through the moment. That’s exactly why he gravitated toward her. She got him through his pain.

  So, he offered her some of the peace she’d given him.

  “Out of the millions of colognes in the world, that’s a wonderful thing. Maybe, if there is something past this, Emma, he’s trying to give you a sign. He’s offering you that connection to him through me.”

  She held onto him for dear life.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered. “It’s so damn hard. Vegas is overwhelming me.”

  He was well aware. The place was a sucking mire that could pull you under at any second.

  Still…

  “If you leave, I’ll follow. You’re mine, too, Emma. It’s a two-way street. You said a lot of things last night, and now it’s my turn. I love you. There are days when you’re the mother I never had, and then there are days when you’re the sister who takes the time to protect me. When I was hurt, or sick, or bleeding, there was no one. I watch you hold my sisters, telling them it’s okay as you shield them from the harshness of the world. No one has ever protected me, but then there was you. You’re loved. If you leave, we’ll follow. All you have to do is decide.”

  She sobbed.

  Dimitri held her tighter, and she went with him. Her hand went beneath his shirt to his abs.

  It gave them both peace.

  That little touch of skin to skin was calming. There was nothing sexual about the way she ran her hand up and down his flesh. It was more a way to connect.

  This was the deepest essence of love between them, and it felt perfect.

  “Close your eyes and rest. I’ll watch over you tonight.”

  She didn’t fight.

  She trusted him enough to listen.

  As she slipped into sleep, he did something he’d never done for any woman before. He slipped away, took off his shirt, tucked it over her, and then wrapped her in blankets so she’d have comfort.

  He grabbed a new shirt, and headed out.

  He had to stop a murder.

  For her.

  For a woman he loved.

  * * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *

  Sky Villa

  Late-Afternoon

  She was ready for his return. She had planned everything out, and it was going to be perfect. She owed Paris a nice evening, since he’d worked all day.

  He’d also tried so hard the last few weeks, and she’d been difficult every step of the way.

  Tessa regretted that.

  So now, she was going to repay him for his kindness, patience, and love.

  As Tessa set everything up, she waited for him. When security called her, like she’d planned, it was time to light the candles on the roof.

  She was going to have a romantic date for them.

  Just them.

  And it was a long time coming.

  When Paris rolled into their home, she wasn’t there. There was no trace of Tessa to be found.

  Immediately, his heart began pounding in his chest. He’d lost his temper with her, and he shouldn’t have. They were both under a huge amount of stress.

  She was struggling, and instead of being kind, he’d flipped out and told her to ‘fuck off’.

  That was bad.

  What the hell kind of husband was he?

  Who did that?

  He was going to find her, apologize, and see if they could re-approach this issue with calmer heads prevailing.

  If she wanted a baby, he’d do anything. Maybe there was some Chinese medicine to increase sperm counts. All he knew was that all day, he was sorry that he’d talked to her that way. It wasn’t the man he was or the one he wanted to be. Paris was writing it off as a simple crack in his resolve, and it wouldn’t happen again.

  As he rolled around
, he became more worried with each passing minute.

  Tessa wasn’t home, and there was nothing done. Maybe she had left him.

  That scared him to the point he began calling her on her cell, but they went to voicemail.

  Then he saw it.

  Her phone.

  It was on their bed beside his pool towel and swim trunks.

  No note.

  Just that.

  He assumed his wife was leaving him a message, and he prayed that was the case. Maybe she’d gone to the roof to relax, and wanted company.

  He could only hope.

  So, trying to give his wife what she wanted, Paris stripped out of his clothes, and he pulled on the swim trunks.

  As he looked at his cane, he figured he could pull it off. He’d sat all day, and he could use the exercise.

  Standing up, he slowly walked to the door, and then the elevator. He prayed when he got upstairs it wouldn’t be a fight.

  He couldn’t do it anymore.

  He was losing her, and Paris needed Tessa to live.

  As the door to the upper deck opened, he stepped out. There was only one cabana being used.

  “Tessa?” he called, but there was no reply. As the sun was setting across Vegas, he had to hope his wife was okay.

  He moved closer.

  Maybe she was sleeping.

  She wouldn’t hurt herself, would she?

  All these questions were racing through his mind.

  When he was in front of the bright and sunny cabana, he opened the curtain. There, on the large cushion were rose petals in a heart with their initials in it.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, stepping out from behind it. “I thought that we could have a picnic,” she offered.

  They’d done this once before.

  He’d blown it.

  “Tessie, I’m sorry I spoke to you that way. I lost my cool. Please forgive me.”

  “If you forgive me for being miserable. I’m sorry I’ve dumped this on you.”

  He sat down. “I love you.”

  She sat beside him. “I called Greyson and took him up on his offer of donating. He wants to see us tomorrow to discuss it.”

  He stared at her.

  Was she serious?

  “It was kind of him to do that, and it was really special for you to do it. Only, I was only thinking about me. I didn’t think how all of this would make you feel. You would have to live with knowing he donated. I want you to decide if this is something you can handle.”

  The complete turnaround surprised him.

  “Tessa, I can’t have a baby with you, and that kills me. I would give my life to give you my child. I would die for that one moment to see you happy.”

  “And I am happy. I know you’d do that for me. I want this to be about us. Can we live with what might happen?”

  He moved back on the big seat, and she followed. When he tucked his legs beneath him, she handed him a sandwich.

  “Are you asking if I would love this child less because I didn’t supply the DNA?”

  “Yes. I don’t want to have a baby if you can’t honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you will be this child’s father in every possible way.”

  He loved his wife so much.

  Why had he doubted she’d turn this around? Here was that tough woman he fell in love with as his partner.

  “I can love this child with all of me, Tessie.”

  She prayed he meant it.

  “I dream of holding a little girl with your smile, or having a little boy climb into my lap. I’m not able to make our child, but I get the blessing of picking a man I respect to give my child the traits I respect most. Children are products of our environment. So, no, the baby wouldn’t look like me, but he or she would be mine. You aren’t biologically part of me, but you’re mine.”

  She kissed him.

  “I think we should do it. I wouldn’t have gone to him had I not wanted a child with you, Tessa. It’s not like he’s going to have sex with you. He isn’t, right?” he teased.

  She laughed. “He’s not my type.”

  “What is your type?” he asked.

  “Men who are sweet, gentle, smart, and who would die to protect me and my heart.”

  He slid his hand into her hair and tugged her mouth to his.

  “I love you, Tessie. Let’s have a baby. I want to be a father. I want you to be a mother.”

  “Then we’ll have to see him tomorrow. It’s probably to be sure that we’re okay. He’s compassionate like that.”

  Paris smiled. “And that’s why I went to him. He’s a good man, and if our kid ends up like him, we didn’t lose.”

  He was right.

  They’d certainly won.

  Chapter Eleven

  LVPD

  Sunday

  Evening

  W hen he called his captain, they immediately wanted to see him. He rushed back to the precinct and waited in the man’s office. It didn’t take long before Thomas Christ came in, along with the commissioner. As they sat, Lester began feeling guilty for what he’d done.

  They looked like wolves hunting prey. Lester began thinking he’d made a huge mistake when he called him to report his partner.

  “What did you see?” Christ asked. “We need every detail, so leave nothing out.”

  “My partner didn’t feel well, and he rushed out. I suggested he go home, and then I began wondering.”

  “About?”

  “He’s been getting sick a lot lately, or a dentist, or…”

  Christ glanced over at Commissioner Raye. They were hunting for a rat in the ranks for the last month, and they may have just found who Croft had on the inside.

  Perfect.

  “You followed him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where did he go?” the Commissioner asked.

  “He drove straight to that attorney’s office. The one who represents the Crofts.”

  What a coincidence.

  They’d been talking about her at the same time. Someone was eavesdropping and spilling his guts to the mob man.

  “Then what?”

  “He carried her out over her shoulder, like some caveman, and then drove to her home. They were inside, and I could see them through the window, sir.”

  “And?”

  “They were having an intimate moment.”

  “An intimate moment?” Thomas Christ asked.

  “They were having sex, sir.”

  Yeah, he felt bad about the whole thing. He’d just ratted his partner out.

  “What then?” Commissioner Raye asked.

  “I followed him to the Croft’s home, and I left. There are all those vans there, and I figured the FBI had it under control.”

  They were aware.

  “Thank you. You should head home for the night. Tomorrow, we’ll discipline him for taking leave when he wasn’t sick.”

  The man relaxed. “Okay. He’s not fired, right? I mean, I know with all the shit going on with Heath, I don’t want him to get in trouble for dating a woman. It’s not his fault he’s seeing the Croft’s attorney. For all I know, he could have been with her for a long time, right?”

  His boss smiled.

  Was this guy clueless?

  “Oh, no worries. You know what?” Thomas said. “I’m not even going to put this in his record. I’m going to approach him quietly. Your name won’t even come up. I’ll tell him I saw him.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, forget you saw it. I know you were just looking out for your partner. I’m not mad he’s dating that woman. We’ll let that go. She’s hot. I can’t blame him. I’d hit that too,” Christ said.

  During the conversation, he realized something. This man didn’t know what they’d talked about in his office. He really was just ratting his partner out for leaving work.

  This could work for them.

  “I’d appreciate that, sir. I like Riley. He’s smart, and he’s good at his job.”

  Yeah, they were aware. Th
ey’d never even suspected that he could be the asshole Croft had on the inside.

  He was a straight arrow, and their last possible suspect.

  Now they knew he was too good at his job. Detective Riley Henderson was on to them, and that was an issue.

  The man headed out, closing the door behind them. They’d just learned a valuable lesson.

  Thomas Christ scribbled a note on the note pad, just in case their office was bugged.

  ‘He has to die. I’m going to go to Lester’s home and kill him. We can frame his partner. Get some guy to say he saw him leaving.’

  The commissioner read it.

  ‘Perfect. I don’t care how you handle it, but get it done. I don’t want a rat in my house. This is it. We are cutting the head off this snake.’

  Christ read it.

  ‘Meanwhile, we can have something unfortunate happen to Henderson. If he turns up dead, that will be even better. Someone is going to wish he never messed with us.’

  The commissioner grinned.

  Now, this was why he hired this man. He was ruthless.

  ‘Handle it!’

  He gave his boss the thumbs up. Well, he wasn’t going to be heading to the house of the smoking hot babe to rape and kill her, but he’d take out a stupid cop.

  It wasn’t like it would be the first time.

  Or his last.

  * * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *

  Terrace Glen

  Greyson was getting ready in his room. He was preparing for his little side mission when he noticed that Chris was standing in his doorway.

  “What do you want?”

  “You’re not doing this.”

  “Yes, I am. I was going to handle it before, but someone talked me out of it. I should have gone with Dimitri and my gut. The man has to die for what he did to my wife and her brother. I have to protect her heart.”