Blood Money (Bad Money #1)

by Ali Parker

  His cock twitched at the thought of being hot on her tail. His cheeks burned as he sat back and took her in. Her gaze was fixed on the bay window just beside the table, her arms crossed in front of her, the top of her breasts on display for him. She was so much his type of girl that it hurt.

  "I don't like it, Kate."

  She glanced over at him and smiled. "I don't either, but Adam meant something to me. He came to me that night looking for shelter or help. I just didn't get there fast enough."

  He reached out and brushed his hand along her arm as her eyes filled with tears. She was a damn good actress or was telling the truth. He had no doubt in his mind that Adam had gone to her. She was tough as nails and beyond beautiful. His brother must have fallen in love with her somewhere along the way to put himself in front of the girl when he was most vulnerable.

  "You did what you could. Now... help me catch these guys."

  "No. You need to back off. I came to divert you, but I can't make myself do it. I'll not be helping you and it's not because I didn't care for your brother. It's simply the way things are. They will kill you and honestly, they will kill me if they see us together too many more times. My life is in danger all the time, but yours doesn't have to be." She shrugged and stood up, reaching down and picking up her drink. She walked to the sink and washed the cup. Jon turning and keeping his eyes on her every movement.

  He didn't want her to go.

  "I can't do that and you know it." He leaned back in his seat, dropping the half-eaten bacon on his plate and reaching for a napkin.

  "Where were you when Adam needed someone, Jon? When he left at thirteen, broken and destroyed by your folks. Where were you?"

  Her tone wasn't accusatory at all, but her words stung him deeply. She had pulled the question out of left field, leaving him with nothing more than a defensive response.

  "I don't know you and I'm not having this conversation with you." Jon sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted to open up to her, but he had yet to really process the answer to her question for himself. She might appear to be innocent, but until the case was closed, she was still a suspect. He needed to remember that and not let his guard down again.

  "I understand. Probably not my place to ask. I just wish I had someone when I was younger that pulled me back and reminded me that not everything inside of me was tainted." She shrugged and walked toward the door as he stood. His eyes moved to her legs as her muscles contracted, the dress she wore barely covering her shapely thighs. He stifled a groan, the need to know what color her panties were washing over him.

  "Don't come over here again, Kate. I don't want anyone threatening you and I can't have myself implicated in something existing between us. You're still a suspect in the case I'm working. Whether or not you’re fully innocent is still the question of the day."

  "Something between us... No, officer, no one would believe that. I only date bad boys." She smirked as she looked over her shoulder, her words stinging him as they were most certainly intended to do. "You're not at all my type."

  She slipped out the door as he groaned softly. She was lying and he knew it. Something sat heavy between them, something he wanted to explore, even if it meant putting a serious hurt on the thug she called her boyfriend. It wasn't going to happen... it couldn't, but he couldn't seem to convince his hormones of that.

  He reached down and stroked himself, his erection pressing hard against his jeans as if begging for her attention. "What the fuck is up with you? She's just a girl. Stop acting like you haven't ever seen a nice rack and pretty legs before."

  He stroked himself again over his jeans and let his head fall back, his eyes closing as he swallowed the truth. She wasn't just some girl. She was the exact type of girl he could lose himself to - body, mind and heart.

  Too bad she was off limits and uninterested.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Kate

  She shouldn't have gone over there. It had been a mistake to see him in the comfort of his own house. It was dangerous enough that she could have brought the thugs after her to his front door, but even worse, that she had developed a healthy curiosity. His smooth chest and back lined with taut muscles had yanked her attention from the moment he opened the door. He wasn't ripped with thick muscles like Marcus, but he held his own on multiple levels. She sat in the car outside his house and took a deep breath, her heart racing, her libido sending sharp pulses throughout her nervous system.

  "Stay away from him. Lust... just untapped lust."

  She started the car and drove fast toward the club, hoping that Marcus would be nowhere in sight. She didn't need him questioning her, and with the way she was feeling, crawling up his body and fucking him senseless would be her first course of action. They used each other far more than they should, but until one of them moved into a relationship with someone else, it was what it was. She was grateful for him and all he provided her.

  Kate got out of the car and checked the street quickly, her eyes scanning the darkness of the alleyways outside of her club as well. The city had yet to come to life, but it would be in full swing within a few hours.

  She walked to the back of the club, letting herself in and calling out, to receive no reply. She hadn't noticed Marcus's car outside, but that didn't mean much. He could be anywhere and much like a ghost, usually just appeared next to her.

  She walked into her office and made a beeline for her safe. Her nerves were on edge from the realization that she was attracted to Jon. More attracted to him than she had been toward anyone in a long time. Nothing could be more dangerous.

  She worked quickly to roll a joint, her movements jerky. She leaned back and lit it up, closing her eyes and trying not to strip the handsome cop naked. He wasn't her type. He was a good guy, one that fought for the bad guys to end up behind bars. She was one of those bad guys... or used to be.

  She took her time finishing the smoke, her nerves completely calm by the time she stood up and walked out into the club. The front door opened as she moved toward it, Marcus turning and looking at her over his shoulder.

  He wore his usual attire, though she never grew tired of seeing him in black. She stopped behind him, leaning against the front counter as he worked to lock the door again. He turned and tilted his head.

  "You okay?"

  "Yeah, just a long night of bad dreams."

  "You smoke some of that shit I gave you? Your eyes look a little off."

  "Yep. I feel much better. Just need to get ready for the hordes of people we'll have coming through here tonight."

  "I'll be here until we close and then I'm going to jet. Text me anytime over the next day or so if you need me. You hear me, boss?" He moved to stand in front of her, reaching out and cupping the side of her neck.

  She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation of someone's hands on her. "I hear you."

  "Good. You need a fuck before I leave town?"

  "Maybe in a little bit. I want to try and wrap up some paperwork before we open the doors today."

  "You still planning to open around three?"

  "Yeah. The crowds will wrap up the first parade around three thirty. You know people will want to drink and dance when it's done."

  "Make that money, baby girl." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I'll be in the back if you need me."

  She moved away from him, turning to watch as he walked toward the dark door at the back of the club. She did need him. She needed him to pretend to be the hot cop that stole her thoughts since yesterday. He wouldn't care if she used him, but something about it didn't feel right all of a sudden. She shook it off and got busy filling out time schedules for the rest of the week. It was assured to be an interesting one.

  "This is fucking ridiculous." Jeffery rolled his eyes as Kate stopped by the bar. The night's events had begun out on the street and the club was packed with bodies almost pressed together on every square inch of the place.

  "Just enjoy the busyness. I'll be gi
ving you guys a small 'thank you' for sticking it out with me this week."

  "Sex?" her favorite blond bartender asked, winking playfully.

  "You wish." She turned, not giving him the chance to make a rebuttal. He was a good guy and reminded her a little too much of Adam, his age and playful spirit refreshing and depressing all in the same moment.

  Kate slipped through the crowd and made her way to the front of the club, walking out into the crowded street of New Orleans night life. The place was filled with different patrons of the party from the nefarious to the innocent, the rich to the poor. Kate pressed her back against the concrete front of her club, her eyes shifting to a college-aged boy looking rather ill next to her. Dancing girls stopped in front of him, pulling up their shirts and shaking their breasts at him as he smiled, his body swaying from side to side.

  Kate continued to lean against the wall beside him, enjoying the scene as she watched him. The tattoo on his forearm was slightly red and puffy, the man's other hand hovering over it as if to protect it.

  "That's beautiful. Done today?"

  He glanced over at her, his eyes moving down her body as he smiled. "Yeah... First time to New Orleans. I wanted it to leave its mark on me."

  "Yeah, well you better sober up a little bit boy, or it's going to do more than that. Don't stick your dick in anything down here." Jon's voice caught Kate's attention, a smile touching her mouth as she turned to watch him walk up.

  "Hey man... get your own girl. I'm taking this one with me." The guy pointed to Kate as he stumbled again. She laughed and reached out to steady him.

  "You're not taking me anywhere, buddy. Try to stay on your feet. The street is covered in things you don't even want to know about."

  Jon walked over and helped the guy toward a bench as Kate slipped back in the club. What was he doing there? She had been quite clear at his place that morning that having the two of them seen together or even near each other was insanely dangerous. She would have to motion for him to slip into her office because walking back there with him wasn't happening.

  Kate stopped at the counter and leaned over, the pretty punk-rock girl she hired last week jumping up and down to the music. Her pink hair sat high on her head in a Mohawk of sorts and her make-up left her looking like a piece of art.

  "There's a hot guy with short brown hair and a goatee coming in. His name is Jon. Send him to my office?"

  "You bet, boss lady!" The girl smiled and continued to dance.

  Kate chuckled and slipped through the crowds to her office. She left the main door cracked, but shut her office door should anyone think to come back that wasn't otherwise invited. It wasn't but a few minutes later that Jon's handsome face appeared in the small square of glass at her door.

  She moved from her file cabinet and walked to open the door, moving back to let him in. "I'm guessing you’re not the listening type. I'm pretty sure I made myself clear this morning about us not being seen together. These guys are everywhere and are watching me closely right now."

  "You did. I don't like the idea of bad guys watching you." He sat down in the lone chair in front of her desk, leaning back and clasping his hands over his stomach.

  "I am one of the bad guys."

  "I doubt that. I think you used to be, but something tells me not so much anymore."

  "Fuck... am I losing my touch?" She chuckled and moved to sit in front of him, her attire changed to match her staff. No showing excess skin and no color other than black.

  "I've yet to assess your touch, but don't worry. I know I'm not your type." He winked as she shook her head at him.

  "Why are you here?"

  "I needed to answer your question."

  "You realize that I own this place and it's the first day of Mardi Gras. I don't have time to sit in here and chat with you."

  "Marcus can handle the club. I want to clear a few things up with you that are bothering me."

  "Marcus is out for the next few days and you don't need to clear anything up with me. I'm the suspect in your brother's murder case. This conversation isn't happening tonight." She leaned forward, stifling a moan as the aroma of his cologne washed over her.

  She was a fucking liar - he was exactly her type of guy. Tainting the good to join in the depravity that she could provide him... delicious.

  "Hush and listen," he growled and moved to the edge of his chair, his brow narrowing as his features tightened. Her body reacted violently to the subtle shift in his persona, but she kept her facade in place. Crossing her arms over her chest she simply nodded at him, as if giving him the floor.

  "I wasn't around when Adam was going through that shit with mother because I'm fourteen years older than him. He was seventeen before he died and I'm thirty-one. I was home a few times during his teenage years, but he wasn't my responsibility. I tried to help when mother called and said he had gone off the deep end, but he was pissed at me for living my life."

  "What about your dad? Where was he?"

  "He died when we were younger. Cancer."

  "And your mom."

  "I love her, but she's a crazy old bitch. Her religion has become a weapon and Adam was the one she wielded it against most, unfortunately." He sighed, leaning back in his seat and running his fingers through his dark hair.

  "Why are you here, Jon?"

  "I need to close this case down. I need to move past this, but I can't until I have resolution. This isn't some number on a file to me, Kate. It's my baby brother. I might not have been the most active member in his life, but it was me that showed up at the hospital every time he OD'd. It was me that rescued him from more ass whoopings by thugs than I care to admit." Jon stopped and closed his eyes, a long painful sigh leaving him. "It was me that had to stand over his body in the morgue last week. I can't let this go."

  Kate watched him closely, the painful emotions of loss so familiar to her. Her heart constricted with need to help the beautiful man in front of her, but what would that decision do to them? How much farther would they be willing to traverse through the viper’s den to find the source of Adam's murder? Was it really worth it to put their lives on the line for the answer? For justice?

  She had to help him. No, she wanted to.

  "If we do this, we do this my way. You step out of line from what I tell you we can do, or where we can go, and I'll feed your ass to these sharks so fast it will make your head spin. I've lost too much in this life. I'm not willing to give my life up for you or for anyone else. Got it?"

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jon

  "Do you always threaten cops?" He chuckled as he stood, moving to look at the large painting of the ocean on her wall.

  "Do you always accuse the innocent because the guilty are good at what they do?" She moved to stand beside him, the soft skin of her arm brushing against his. He glanced down before looking over at her.

  The black t-shirt and slacks fit her persona well. Clean, simple, dangerous as fuck.

  "Kate. Did Adam say anything to you that night?" He turned toward her, looking down as she shifted her gaze up to rest on him. The light orange rays of color that stretched from her irises mesmerized him. She was one of the vipers she spoke about, but increasingly more dangerous. Her beauty would drag anyone in, her pseudo-innocence drowning them before they even knew what happened.

  But would she strike?

  How long had it been since he wanted a woman so badly? He shifted his eyes to take in the beauty of her features, little nose so perfect and cute, her lips thick and luscious. He moved back, his heart pounding in his chest violently just before his hand lifted to touch her.

  "He asked me not to find you. Said not to get you involved." She turned from him, walking back toward her desk. She broke the spell and for that, he was grateful.

  "Why?"

  "I didn't get to ask that, Jon. I was trying to call the ambulance and trying desperately to stop his bleeding." She reached up, her fingers pressing to her lips as her face softened. She couldn't have been more beau
tiful. Innocence sat on her like a well-worn coat, his need to protect her raring to life.

  "You cared deeply for him?"

  "Yes. He was in love with me." She sniffled and rolled her shoulders, her expression changing to the hardness he was getting used to seeing from her.

  "Were you in love with him?"

  "I already answered that, detective. He was a friend. I loved him enough to be heartbroken when he died, but as anything more than a friend, no. He and I suffered together with our addictions." She shrugged. "We spent a lot of time talking about our demons. I just wish I could have done something to save him."

  Jon moved to stand before her, reaching out and touching the side of her face like he had wanted to since first laying eyes on her. She backed up and he let his hand drop. She was scarred on the inside. Far more than he imagined from her tough exterior. "Kate..."

  "I have to get to the bar. I own the place, remember? It's likely to fall apart without me." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Have a beer on me. Just don't tell them you're a cop."

  "Why?" He smirked as she turned and walked toward the door. He moved in behind her, his eyes running down the length of her back to the perfect curve of her tight ass.

  She looked over her shoulder and he jerked his gaze to her face quickly as she smirked. "You'll likely get roofied, tied up and beaten."

  "Nice. I'll remember that when I bust you guys for drug trafficking soon."

  "Gotta catch us first."

  "I'm on top of it."

  She turned and walked backwards slowly, her tongue darting out and wetting her mouth as he stopped, unable to take another step. She was beyond sexy, his body lighting on fire as truth engulfed him - she didn't kill Adam. She was likely going to kill him by burning him from the inside out, but his brother wasn't her victim.

  "I bet you're pretty good at being on top." She winked and turned, disappearing into the crowd as he growled under his breath.