Watching the news all day, there was a sense of entertainment and enthrallment. Seeing the FBI director nearly getting his brains blown out had their attention. Granted, they had been laying low the last few weeks, simply observing their adversary.
Now those who wanted Vegas back, were beginning to lay the groundwork to strike at the man. It was all because he was hell bent on interfering with the dirty dealings of the city. It wasn’t quite the right moment, but in the near future, there would be another blow to the law.
A deep, powerful one.
One might call it their biggest move yet.
For weeks, they’d gone under, praying that with Thomas Booker’s killing, they would stay safe and unseen. After all, you didn't just walk up to the police commissioner, pull the trigger, and expect to escape unscathed.
When Detective Emma Croft was given the case, there was alarm and fear. Would she figure it all out?
Or would she fail?
Up to that moment, they believed it could go either way. Then, the tides appeared to be changing in their favor. This could very well be the moment they were waiting for.
It appeared the Crofts were distracted, and that meant their guard was finally down. It was time to take back Vegas from law and order, returning it to those who were capitalizing on the seedy underbelly. This was ‘Sin city’, and if you wanted to do a deal, make some cash, or hit it big, this was the place to do it.
Weeks had gone by. Questions had been asked and hopefully left unanswered. There was panic when Thomas Booker figured it all out. Then came the realization that he had to be eliminated.
It was for their own good.
He was appalled and shocked that his ‘pristine’ name was aligned with people who were so corrupt. Could the man be more of an idiot?
Fortunately, he never saw it coming, as death stared him in the face, stealing his life.
Sometimes, you had to cut off the cancerous part of the beast to save the rest of it. They knew he was a festering wound, ready to do the right thing. His greatest sin was being honorable in the end, seeing the error of his ways and wanting to repent.
Apparently, he forgot where he lived.
This was Vegas, baby.
Here, dirty was acceptable and expected.
Now, the Crofts were back on the prowl, and their watchdog, Randall Mason, needed to be contained. It wasn’t going to be easy. The man had more security than Jesus himself.
But now it didn't matter.
They found someone to take care of that. It was going to be costly, but in the end, they would have control. Once Randall Mason was six feet under, the new power would emerge and the city would be theirs again.
It was only a matter of time.
Now, if only they could figure out what the old buzzard’s plan was. He was being incredibly quiet, keeping it all close to his vest. It was like a game of poker.
Someone held the aces, and someone held the garbage.
Randall Mason was about to lose the shirt off his back, and in the process, the Croft couple would be right behind him.
Step one was to take out that man.
Step two would be pretty much the same -lose the damn detective.
For now, Croft was untouchable. Whoever was screwing with him, put him directly in the limelight, and an attempt at him would be too suspicious, especially since they no longer had Thomas Booker to get the police details.
They were doing this blind, but one thing was for sure. By taking out the woman and Randall Mason, Greyson Croft wouldn’t know what hit him. If he thought that kidnapping his precious wife was devastating, he hadn’t seen anything yet.
They let her go intentionally.
That time.
Now, she wouldn’t be so lucky.
For her, the gamble was going to cost her something big.
Her life.
* * *
Once back in the condominium, Greyson Croft was at a loss for words. He wanted to be angry with his brother for causing the mother of all spectacles, but how could he?
After all, he had sent countless emails and texts after seeing the news. It wasn’t his fault that they had been occupied and ignored their phones in the attempt to get some control back in their lives.
Dante jumping the gun was a typical thing. The man was super sweet and loved his brother. Often, he went with his heart over logic.
How could Greyson fault him for that?
Before anyone spoke, Paris and Tessa took their leave. They didn't want to see their boss kill the man. Then, they would have to testify against him in court. Heading out, they escaped the oncoming ass kicking, ready to head to their own home as they called it a night.
When they were gone, Greyson stared at his brother, sitting on the couch beside Emma. His arm was around her, and she was genuinely smiling for the first time that day.
Okay, he could forgive him a little more, since Dante seemed to cheer up his wife.
“Grey, I swear! I didn't know. I sent the texts, called, and then hopped a plane. Mom and dad are on their cruise, so I don’t think they heard, or you would have gotten an earful.”
Croft was dreading that moment.
“I didn't think. I just acted.”
Yep. That was typical Dante. It was reminiscent of when he attacked Emma in his kitchen, because he swore she was a coffee making cat burglar.
“If I died, Emma would have called you, Dante. In fact, had I perished in the line of duty, the FBI would have notified you. So, for future reference, don’t freak out.”
Emma giggled and laid her head on the younger Croft’s shoulder. “I don’t blame you, Dante. In fact, you get bonus points for wearing camo. That was the best part. Did you scare the hell out of the TSA’s at the airport?” she teased.
“I did have to get a pat down,” he admitted.
Croft was exasperated.
Dante kissed her on the forehead. He could sense Greyson’s frustration, so he opted to explain. “Hey, I left the reserves and headed right to the airport. I didn't stop to get changed.”
Briggs stared at the man sitting across from him. There was a wave of jealousy, and he hated himself for it. Here was a complete stranger, in their home, hugging Emma, and no one cared. Okay, he wasn’t exactly a stranger. It was worse.
He was Greyson’s real brother.
Curtis felt replaced. Even though he could rationalize it as insane, his heart still hurt a little. Over the last eighteen months, Greyson Croft had become a surrogate for what was missing in his life. Now, his real brother was in town, and that just sucked.
Emma clinked her wine glass off Dante’s beer bottle. “I still give you points for maximum chaos.”
“Don’t egg him on, Emma. He’s a menace,” Croft said, glaring at his brother.
Whenever he looked at the man, he saw himself a decade ago. Dante had followed in his footsteps and was a fairly close replica. Both men shared the same family traits as their father. Each had the black hair, only Greyson’s was lightly touched with gray just above his ears. Their eyes were similar too. While Dante’s were a pale blue, his were more toward gray and silver. Yet, here sat his brother, and he couldn’t help but love him.
Chaos and all.
“I missed you, Emma,” Dante said, as she cuddled closer. There was a special place in his heart for the little redhead. She had saved Greyson’s life, and since that day, Emma was a family treasure. All the Crofts loved her to death, especially his mother.
That was saying a lot.
“How long are you staying?” she asked, grinning up at him. While she knew the man could be trouble, she loved seeing him. Since she no longer had a brother to call her own, she’d absconded her husband’s.
Besides, when he was around, Greyson was flustered.
It was priceless.
“Well, I was thinking of staying for an extended time, if that’s okay with you two.”
Croft didn't mind at all, but he had to know. Of the two, his brother tended to be the more fligh
ty one. “Can you put a more definitive timeline on that? Do I need to increase our homeowner’s insurance, pick up some extra smoke alarms or...?” One never knew what would happen when his brother let loose.
Dante opted to lay it on the line. “I don’t think I’m ever going back.”
Briggs nearly choked on his beer, and had his partner slapping him on the back.
Well, shit.
This was getting worse by the second. Now, he was going to get booted out of the condo too. There were three bedrooms, but one was slotted to be the new den. Granted, construction hadn’t started yet, but still…
He saw the writing on the wall.
Greyson’s real brother was in, and he was going to be out.
“I can find a place to stay,” Curtis said. He’d make it easy on everyone. He’d leave. Maybe Brynn would let him crash there. After all, they did once date and were still on good terms.
Emma glanced over at the tone in the young man’s voice. “Why do you have to leave, Curtis?” she asked. “We have two spare rooms.”
“You’re making one a den,” he offered. He somehow doubted that she had forgotten. It was her big present to Greyson.
Dante placed his beer on the table. “I can head to a hotel,” he said, more than willing to bow out. He didn't know that his brother had someone staying there.
Croft wasn’t having it. Both men were family to him. “Curtis you have a permanent room here. Dante, you have one too. Again, we have plenty of space in our home for both of you.”
Emma agreed. “Grey will have to smoke on the balcony.”
That got him all excited. “Speaking of smoking, honey,” he stated, wiggling his eyebrows.
She knew what he wanted. At one time, she made a deal, promising to be his cigar wench if he let Curtis have a Cuban. Now, she was still holding up her end of the bargain. Who was she kidding? She loved it.
Emma hopped off the couch to grab Greyson’s humidor. She didn't mind that the men were having one, since she was going to get to sit in Greyson’s lap.
“Dante, do you want a cigar?” Croft asked, dropping down into the leather chair.
“Hell yeah I do!”
When Emma approached, the man grinned. “Is that granddad’s?”
Croft admired it in his wife’s hands. “Yeah, it is. Emma found it for me,” he said, smiling.
“God! I remember being a kid and dying to get into that box. I’m glad it’s been resurrected, Grey. It seems right.”
He smiled warmly. Croft felt the exact same way. That box held a lot of childhood memories for both of them. It was like the embodiment of their grandfather and his memories.
Dante waited for her to open the box for him, and when she did he began laughing. “Hot damn! We have contraband.”
Curtis said nothing. It was hard not to notice that when he wanted a cigar on Christmas, he had to barter, while Dante didn't. Yeah, it was more proof.
This was a reality check.
Emma handed him the clippers and zippo and moved to stand in front of Curtis. Already, she could see the look on his face, and hated what he was feeling inside. “Want a cigar?” she asked.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
Immediately, that had Greyson’s attention. “Are you sick? You don’t want one? Really?”
Briggs shook his head. “No, I’m good.”
When Emma gave her husband a look, he definitely knew something was wrong.
“I think I’ll head to bed,” Curtis said, carrying his empty bottle into the kitchen. “See you in the morning. It was nice meeting you, Dante.”
Before he could leave the room, Emma stopped him. “Thank you for today, Curtis,” she said, hugging him. She’d never forget how he willingly tried to protect her heart, when they believed Greyson was dead.
He dropped his chin to the top of her head. “No problem, Mom,” he replied. Even he heard the pain in his voice. Releasing Emma, he escaped. As soon as he was in ‘his’ room, Curtis began packing his things. When they went to bed, he’d text Brynn and sneak out. The last thing the Croft family needed was a fourth, unrelated wheel.
It had been a damn good run.
While it lasted.
Emma didn't say anything, but her heart was breaking. The look on her face must have said it all, since her husband appeared just as worried.
“I’ll take care of it,” Greyson reassured, knowing he’d get to the bottom of this yet. The pain he heard in Briggs’s voice told the tale. He needed to be fixed.
Immediately.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting in his lap. When she held the humidor open for him, he passed.
“I’ll have mine in a little while.”
“I can really head to a hotel,” Dante said, lighting his cigar. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I can feel that tension.”
Instead of telling his brother, he opted to cover for his partner. After all, Curtis stepped up today and was willing to take Emma and escape Vegas like he made him promise.
That was dedication and love.
“No, you’re staying, and so is Curtis. We’ve all just had a stressful day. It hasn’t been easy for any of us.”
Dante nodded. He was well aware.
Croft stared at his brother. “Now, tell me why you’re running away and want to stay here.”
The man stared at him. “I hate when you do that,” he muttered, going back to his cigar.
“Yeah, it’s my job, Dante. So, spill it.”
He thought about it. “I need a change. I feel like my life is stagnant and going nowhere. I want to see what’s out there, and I can’t do it back home. Mom is always checking in on me and it’s ruining my dating life.”
Croft understood that. Their mother had a knack for popping up at the most inconvenient times. “Now, you know why I live across the country.”
“I can do my reserve time out here, but I really want to find a normal job and start a life. I want to get out of that safe nest and experience what life has to offer.”
He understood.
“Plus, I missed you. It’s not the same without you, Grey,” Dante said, honestly. “It sucks without my big brother. We used to do a lot together, and I feel like there’s a void.”
Emma rested her head against Greyson’s. She knew he felt exactly the same. The brothers, while years apart in age, still had something big in common.
Blood.
“You can stay here as long as you want, Dante. You know that you’re always welcome.” Then, he paused. “If you get caught with a hooker, showgirl, or end up in jail, I’ll kill you.”
He laughed. “It’s never going to happen. I can guarantee it.”
“No bar room brawls.”
Dante laughed. “Even if you’re with me?”
Croft actually paused to think about it.
“Greyson!” Emma chided. “NO bar room brawls for either of you!”
Pulling her lips down to his, he dove in and pillaged. After all, this was his castle, and there was a cigar wench in his lap.
Dante began laughing. “Are you two going to do this all the time?”
Croft slowly broke away from the kiss. “Yes, it’s allowed here.”
“How about I bring Dante to his room and meet you in ours, Grey? Then we can get ready for bed.”
“Is that code for sex?” Dante asked, and then was promptly clocked in the head with a pillow.
“Mind your manners, son. Ladies like you to call it making love. Learn it!”
Emma snorted. “Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? Our condo is a testosterone factory, and I’m trapped.”
Croft pushed her up from his lap and grabbed two cigars from the box. There was a little conversation that he needed to have with a certain young agent. “Dante, see you in the morning. Emma, I’ll see you in our room. Be ready.”
She winked at him, as she took her brother-in-law by the hand to show him his room.
Dante snickered and began humming porno theme music. “I missed
you both,” he stated.
“We missed you too.”
When they arrived at the room, she led him in and he closed the door.
“Okay, Emma. Spill it. What the hell is going on here? I nearly had a damn stroke when I saw the news today. Greyson was almost killed.”
She saw this one coming a mile away. Like brother, like brother. Emma didn't want to tell him too much, but this was family, and Dante had every right to know.
So, she broke it all down.
Everything.
The man sat on the bed, listening to all the details. When she finally got to the end, he stood and held open his arms.
She didn't hesitate.
“Emma, you should have told me. I would have come sooner. Now, I’m definitely staying for a very long time.”
She was relieved and worried at the same time. “Dante, I’m so scared. If anything happens to him, I’ll die.”
He wouldn’t let that happen. “I’ll stick close. I can’t follow him to work, but everywhere else, I’ll be all over him. I won’t let him get hurt.” Immediately, he thought back to that day in the hospital after his brother had been taken and abused. There was still anger lingering from that day. “I promise.”
She nodded and hugged her brother-in-law. “Thank you for coming, Dante. We love you.”
His brother had always given him unconditional love, and that he appreciated. In fact, he prayed that never changed. “I love you too. Now, go to bed. You’ve had a long day. I’ll carry the stress for a while.”
She was so grateful. “Thank you.”
He grinned at her until the door closed. Then, his face went dead serious. No one was touching his brother or new sister.
No one.
And certainly not on his watch.
* * *
Tessa held his hand the entire way home. Every now and again, she’d lean over to leave a kiss on his cheek or nip at his earlobe. She couldn’t help herself, she was just feeling all warm and overheated.
Why should she be the only one who suffered?
“Tess, that’s making it hard to drive,” he muttered, as his body began heating up.
She simply laughed. Paris hadn’t seen anything yet. Reaching over, she tugged at his tie, slowly unknotting it and pulling it from his neck. Whenever he was dressed for work and in full FBI attire, she wanted to crawl all over him.
Love is Bleeding (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 4) Page 10