Justice is Dead (Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 7)

by Morgan Kelley

  He had a point.

  Still.

  “I was careless.”

  “Okay, first of all, we were both involved. We were both there, and are equally responsible.”

  She listened.

  “If you are, and you don’t want to be a mother, we can have an abortion. We can give the child up for adoption.” For some reason, neither option sat well with him.

  That would be his child.

  Before, Curtis never wanted kids. After Brynn, he figured he’d have a long time to figure all of this out, but here it was.

  “We can get rid of it.”

  She gasped.

  “Or not. There’s the morning after pill now. It’s not too late to take it.”

  She couldn’t do it. That was playing with the universe’s plan, and she hated screwing with fate.

  “Why are you shaking?” he asked.

  “My mother left us and always told Dimitri and myself that she wished she killed us before we were born. If I’m pregnant, I can’t do that, Curtis. I can’t be her. I can’t let the cycle continue. If I’m having a child, I’m having it. That is if Dimitri doesn’t kill me first.”

  Curtis got it.

  “You’re not alone through this.”

  “If I’m pregnant, you’ll leave. I’ve just trapped you. I’m twenty-one, and you’re twenty-seven. I just stole your future.”

  He lifted her chin. “No, you didn’t. I’ll stick by you, Katerina. I won’t bail on you if we ended up making a life. That’s bonded us together forever.”

  She wanted to weep.

  “I didn't do it on purpose. I swear.”

  He hugged her. “Baby, I didn't think you did. I believe you. We were caught up in the moment, and it happened. I know you’re not some gold digger. You don’t need my money. Actually, I probably need yours. I’m a federal agent. I get paid shitty wages.”

  He laughed.

  She didn’t.

  He knew what this was about the second she tapped the pricy watch on his wrist.

  “I have the Croft name, but I don’t use them like they’re my personal ATM. I have my own money. I go to work and earn my paycheck by getting shot at.”

  “What a coincidence, so do I,” she said, teasing him. Kat relaxed a little bit, but she had to know.

  “Why are you being calm about this?”

  He laughed. “I like kids.” And he did, because now they would be with her. She was the missing piece in this puzzle. Before Kat, he was just surviving. Now he could begin living.

  Katerina stared at him.

  “I can support the baby and you.”

  She wanted to hear the words. It had been months of falling for him, and she needed to hear it.

  “I need more than someone to take care of a child, Curtis.”

  He stared at her. “I will give you whatever you need. You just have to tell me what it is. Again, I’m a man. I need someone to lead me when it comes to knowing what you’re thinking.”

  With Brynn, he guessed, and it was always wrong. Curtis wasn’t going there again.

  “You can trust me, Kat.”

  Oh, she did.

  “I want your heart.”

  He didn’t hesitate.

  “You already have it, Katerina. You’ve had it since the day I dumped my wife’s ashes off the mountain. You came to be with me. You followed me and held my hand. If we created a life, we’ll do the right thing.”

  “Dimitri.”

  “He’ll be fine. I never thought I’d say this so soon, but we’ll get married and start a family.”

  Kat watched him.

  He was afraid.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  This was worse than the tequila marriage, but better at the same time.

  How did he tell her that?

  “That I love you. I’ll marry you. I would have proposed in a year or two, when we had some time to get to know each other, but I’ll do it sooner.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “No, we’ll wait.”

  “What?”

  He didn't see that one coming.

  At all.

  “You rushed last time. I want you to be sure. I don’t want you to worried we’ll fail. You should do it how you planned. A baby doesn’t mean we have to get married.”

  Well, that just backfired on him.

  He didn't expect that.

  “Kat, with your brother, it kinda does.”

  She hugged him. “For the record, I love you too, Curtis, but we have time. We may not be pregnant. Why rush a wedding if we don’t know for sure?”

  “Uh, I think I just screwed up.”

  Katerina laughed. “If we’re pregnant, ask me after our child is born. If we’re not, ask me in a year. We should stick to your timeline.”

  “What?”

  He wanted to be sick.

  “I know you’re the one. I’ll say yes. I want you to know for a fact that I’m the one too.”

  “Kat, you’re the one.”

  Now he looked panicked.

  She wanted to remember this moment forever. This was definitely love. He was twisted up in it as much as she was.

  “We’ll wait, Curtis. It’s for the best. Thank you for coming up here to talk to me. I feel better. We need to get back down. We have to find some witnesses, right?”

  He stared at her.

  This wasn’t better for him—not in the least.

  What the hell just went on?

  Curtis Croft went from a wedding he didn't want to one he did, with a woman who wouldn’t marry him yet, despite loving him.

  Jesus!

  His karma was jacked.

  This was the exact opposite of the Brynn debacle.

  That was for damn sure.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  Valley Hospital

  ICU

  Sunday Night

  When he woke, he had tubes and all kinds of monitors all around him. There was someone sitting at the end of his bed, but he couldn’t focus.

  He’d been shot.

  He’d been with Emma.

  Chris needed to know what had happened past that.

  “Emma,” he whispered.

  Natasha squeezed out a washcloth she’d been using to keep his flesh cool. The doctors said he was feverish, and Natasha knew Emma wanted him to live.

  In fact, so did she.

  “Emma? Am I dead?” he recalled hearing the news playing earlier in his room.

  He remembered snippets of people talking.

  All of it felt so close, and yet it was so far away.

  The woman moved closer. Leaning over him, she held a straw to his lips so he could wet his mouth. Gently, she took care of him.

  “You had to die, Captain Ford. In the media, you’re dead. You can’t be alive right now. Dominic is watching, and he’ll come finish the job.”

  He tried to figure out what she was talking about but nothing made sense. His mind was a mess of swirling thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

  “Did she live? Is my sister safe?”

  It made Natasha smile. Their bond was very much like hers and Dimitri’s. It was a thing of beauty.

  “Yes, she got you out. When we came in, Emma kept you alive long enough to get you to the hospital. She saved your life.”

  Chris closed his eyes, trying to figure out if he was dead or alive. Was this some dream?

  There was a beautiful redhead over his bed, wiping his face with a cool cloth and getting him water. He’d never seen a woman so lovely.

  It had to be the drugs.

  “Who are you?” he rasped.

  “I’m here to protect you.”

  He tried to focus again.

  She was tall, gorgeous, and had a Russian lilt to her voice. His brain struggled to put it all together, but the pain medicines made it damn hard.

  “Who are you?” he asked again. “What’s your name? I don’t recognize you.”

  “I’m Natasha, and I’m your bodyguard.”

&nb
sp; He blinked once.

  Twice.

  He was staring at an angel.

  “I think I’m in love with my guardian angel. You’re so beautiful. Don’t go away.”

  With that, he fell back into the medicated sleep.

  Natasha sat on his bed and took his hand in hers. Gently, when no one was walking past his glass enclosed ICU, she left a kiss on his lips.

  “I recognize you. I’ve been watching you for weeks. What a coincidence, Captain Ford. I’m in love too.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Monday Morning

  Curtis and Paris were definitely dragging ass that morning. All night, while the rest of the team slept, they were working on the last name on the list.

  It wasn’t only about tracking Lucilla Rosetta, victim six, but about finding someone who could give the team some inside information about Dominic Marianna.

  Dayton Chester’s files were hard to get. Yes, he’d been ready to testify against Marianna right before he was killed, but media sites and local gossip had nothing on him.

  They had to go right to the source—the Marshalls.

  Once the files were open, and ‘borrowed’ from the US Marshall’s office, the picture was crystal clear.

  At breakfast, they were going to give the boss and Emma enough to work with for the day.

  Sitting in the kitchen, the chef was whipping up omelets. It was one of Curtis’s favorites. As soon as the family started arriving, they would work and eat.

  Dante and Steele arrived first. Steele skipped breakfast, and no one could blame him. When you worked in dead all day, food wasn’t going to be your friend, even after ten years. It was a simple fact of his life.

  Dante grabbed his food and inhaled it.

  “Where’s Grey?” he asked, chewing.

  “Not here yet,” Paris said, seeing his wife heading his way. “Morning, Tessie.”

  She sat in his lap and gave him a kiss. “When did you sleep?” she asked, taking off his glasses. His eyes were red and weary.

  He laughed. “I haven’t.”

  “I’m on duty now, so after you eat, you get some sleep.”

  “Want to tuck me in?” he whispered in her ear.

  She simply winked.

  Next into the room were Dimitri and Katerina. He was already dressed, and that meant he was going out with someone.

  Kat on the other hand was in her yoga gear. Curtis knew from the last few weeks of watching her that she’d meditate, stretch out, and get some rest.

  She must have worked after they had their little talk last night. As she crossed toward him, he was up and out of his seat for her to sit.

  Then there was one hell of a good morning kiss.

  Dimitri cleared his throat. “Really? I’m standing right here.”

  Curtis knew that with men who oozed power, it was best to stand up to them. He was taking a risk, but it was worth it.

  He wasn’t going to be intimidated.

  “You can have my omelet, baby. The chef can make me a new one. I want you to have something to eat.”

  Dimitri stared at him.

  The look said it all.

  This man was a constant surprise.

  He wanted to smile at them, but he wouldn’t. If you gave suitors an inch, they’d take three miles, your sister, and anything else they could get their hands on.

  “As to your sister,” he said, kissing Kat on the cheek, “she’s my girlfriend, and that takes precedence.”

  Dimitri headed toward the coffee.

  He didn't need to say anything. He happened to agree with the man-child. Katerina’s happiness should come first. As long as Curtis respected his sister, they’d have no problems. It was hard not to notice that Katerina was genuinely happy.

  That’s all that mattered.

  “What did we miss?” Greyson asked, entering the room with Emma tucked beneath his arm.

  Dimitri replied, “Your agents are making kissy faces at each other, Curtis and my sister are doing the same, and even Steele and Dante. I feel like I need to be sick.”

  “Don’t be a hater,” Dante stated. He loved tormenting Dimitri. “I know a guy who would look good sitting in your lap.”

  Steele elbowed him. “Honey, don’t torment the Russian killer. They get testy. We don’t need to have to search for your remains.”

  Dimitri laughed. “Maybe I will just take your man,” he said, teasing Dante back. “I like his eyes. They’re sexy.”

  “Hey! Knock that off!”

  Dimitri could tease with the best of them. If the younger Croft thought he’d not get a few shots in, he was wrong.

  Greyson laughed. “How about we eat and then get to work? We have a busy day.”

  No one missed how Greyson made sure Emma was sitting and eating before he joined her.

  It looked like Curtis had learned from his mentor. That pleased Dimitri.

  “What’s the plan for today?” Tessa asked.

  “Paris and Curtis are going to take a nap,” Emma said, eating her breakfast. It was egg whites, and her husband was having them too. “They both look tired.”

  “I hope there’s a good reason,” Croft stated, wishing he could have real cheese and butter on his toast. Unfortunately, his wife had conspired with the chef.

  “There is,” Paris stated, as Tessa hopped out of his lap to finish eating. Rolling toward the large screen on the wall, he pointed his tablet at it.

  Immediately, pictures flashed onto the wall.

  The Crofts had top of the line technology, and he loved it. “We got those files you wanted. The Marshalls wouldn’t give them to us, so we had to work a little harder for it.”

  They all glanced over at Curtis.

  He wiggled his fingers as he grinned.

  “Yeah, pray that Curtis doesn’t get caught,” Emma stated.

  “Hacking is an art. I’m really good at it. The Marshalls won’t have a clue. I got in through a backdoor virus that they can’t trace to me.”

  Croft hoped, or they were screwed.

  Correction.

  He was, because he’d never let anyone in this room go down for something he asked them to do.

  “Well, let’s hear it,” Emma stated.

  “Dayton Chester was in the process of getting a new identity. They were scrubbing him from the systems. Paris and I couldn’t find anything with birth certificates or papers online.”

  “It took us a few hours,” Paris admitted. “Finally, we got his witness protection program file.”

  “What was in it?” Emma asked.

  “Everything.”

  The documents began flashing up on the screen.”

  “What did he have on Marianna?”

  “It was all about the money,” stated Curtis, pointing at one of the papers. “It seems that he found out about bribes and money laundering in and out of Marianna’s businesses.”

  “From the looks of it,” Paris offered, “He was the final nail in the coffin.”

  “When Dayton died, it all went with him. They only had hearsay, and they couldn’t point the smoking gun at him,” Curtis offered. “No one would come forward and testify.”

  “He’s a snake,” Steele stated. “Marianna will never go down. He’s good at covering his trail.”

  Croft would end that.

  “We’ll get him.”

  Emma had faith in all of them. “Who do we have to talk to?” she asked.

  “Dayton had one family member left, and he’s in Vegas.”

  “Who?” she asked.

  “His brother’s name is Marcos Chester. He might know something that his brother did. After all, brothers share everything.”

  Greyson knew that was true to a point. He didn't tell Dante everything. He wanted to protect him. If Dayton had been the same way, they were out of luck.

  “Did we find anyone connected to Lucilla Rosetta? I know she’s still buried, but we can work it before Steele digs her up.” Emma needed to get something to close this case. She wanted to wrap
it up, and soon.

  “We did find something,” Paris offered.

  “What?”

  “When I ran her DMV picture, it popped up an address. Only, she wasn’t the only one with it. We found a male, different surname, and still living there.”

  “Who?” she asked.

  “Daniel McNally. I’m going to guess that he was a roommate.”

  They put his picture up on the screen.

  “He has down ‘dancer’ as his employment for the IRS. It looks like he and Lucilla worked together.”

  “Where?”

  “A show on the strip. Want to guess who owned the theater it played in?” Curtis asked.

  “Marianna?”

  “Yep. It’s the one right in his main building. His penthouse and office are upstairs.”

  “Well, gee…what are the chances that she was killed by him?” Emma asked.

  They all knew it was rhetorical.

  “Good work, team,” stated Croft. “Do we have the ID’s of the three men who came after Emma and Chris at the police station?”

  Steele shook his head. “All I can tell you is that they were babies. They couldn’t have been more than twenty years old. There’s nothing in the system for them. Since none of them had faces, thanks to the headshots, it’s going to be a while. The forensic team has an artist coming in after they reconstruct the bone. Most are fragments, and it may never happen—so don’t be disappointed.”

  He started thinking.

  “Curtis, can you get into Marianna’s finances?”

  “With a warrant, it’s super easy. I contact the bank and voila! If you don’t have a warrant, the answer is still yes, but we all know nothing I find is admissible in court, and if his lawyer, Kenneth James, gets wind…”

  He was aware.

  Croft looked around the room at the people there. He trusted each and every one in there with his life, and their secrets. He had to make a choice.

  It was up to him.

  “Anyone who doesn’t want to lose their job, I suggest you head out now. I’m about to break the law. Again.”

  No one moved.

  Paris remained, Tessa didn't flinch, and Curtis was grinning.

  He knew what was coming.

  “Before your nap, Curtis, can you get Tessa into the financials? I need her to trace all big money in and out of Marianna’s accounts. It’ll get us their names, and then hopefully proof to tie them to Marianna.”