“I can. I’ll need all that fancy computer equipment in the pool house to do it. I’m sure that there’s some sort of block on it to keep the authorities out.”
Dimitri laughed. “There may be. You’d be amazed what money can buy.”
“Then I can do it.”
“Great. That’s your job. Sleep on the couch out there if need be.”
“I can meditate out there,” Kat said.
Curtis was picturing them both curled up on the couch catching up on some sleep together. “That works for me.”
“Great. We might just pull this off.”
“If Curtis finds something, we can get the information sent to you from an anonymous source. I have some contacts outside of Vegas who owe me a favor. I can get them mailed to Emma at the police station.”
That would work.
Kenneth James wouldn’t be able to trace it to them.
It might save their asses.
“I’ll take the interviews,” Emma stated. “Last time you went out you were hanging out with strippers and hookers. I think I’ll handle them from here on out—not that I don’t trust you, but God only knows what’s next. Terrorists?”
Greyson and Dimitri both laughed. Strippers or hookers didn't even matter. What they were concerned with was her safety.
“What?”
“You’re not going out in the field.”
Everyone stared.
Paris knew he needed to get the hell out of there—as did Curtis. Both men grabbed their ladies and headed toward the door to escape the mêlée. Whenever Greyson went caveman, there was the potential for injury.
Emma waited until they were all gone. “Really, Greyson? Why?”
He needed to play this right.
If he didn't, he was dead.
Or divorced.
“You have to escort Steele to the dig site. He needs backup, and let’s face it, we’re running thin. Natasha is on hospital duty, I can’t shake Dimitri,” he said, glancing over at the man. “Kat has to sleep, and she’s watching the house. We need someone covering his back.”
Dante went to volunteer, only Greyson gave him the look before he could do it. “You would be my logical choice, Dante, but you have the little situation with Commissioner Raye to handle. Remember? I don’t want that asshole in my home.”
“Yes, yes I do.”
Emma stared at him, crossing her arms.
“And Chris is awake. Natasha called. He’s been asking for you.”
That softened her.
“Is he okay?”
Greyson wanted to smile, but he knew better. It would definitely get him hurt. He was winning this battle.
He could see it in her eyes.
“Yes, but he woke up and was stressed that you weren’t okay. I was hoping that after you dig up Lucilla, you can head there and deal with that. Since I have a tail, I’ll take interviews.”
She stared at him.
“Then we’re all covered at some point. You simply have to get from dropping Steele off at the morgue to the hospital two blocks away. I trust you can do it without getting abducted.”
Emma knew what her crafty Croft was doing.
“I won’t forget that you used a wounded man as a way to deflect me from my anger.”
He grinned.
“Fine. You win.”
Before she left, she had one thing to say. Okay, make that two.
“Dante, you don’t pay that asshole a single penny. In fact, I want you to make him bleed for going after my husband.”
“Emma, you’ll lose your job,” Greyson stated.
“Fuck it. I’ll lose my husband. I can live without being a cop. I can’t live without being your wife.”
Dante grinned. “You got it, Em. I’ll run him through the ringer.”
“I want him to know what happens when you mess with a Croft. I don’t mind dolling out the money, but when it comes to blackmailing my sexy man, it pisses him off.”
“Can I make him cry?” Dante asked.
“I expect it.”
Emma wasn’t done.
She pointed at Dimitri. “You’re not to let him get hurt. If you take him out in one piece, Dimitri, you need to bring him home in one, and that includes you too. Don’t be stupid. Dominic knows you’re watching our backs. Your head on a silver platter would be just as satisfying for him.”
He laughed. “Yes, Mom. Are you adopting me now too?”
“If I do, you need to lose those bad vices of yours.”
He lifted a brow and then stared at his friend.
“Really? You told her?”
Emma laughed.
“She was in my lap, all the blood ran lower.”
Dimitri laughed. “We’re going to talk about the bro-code later.”
Greyson grinned. “I love you, Emma.”
She crossed to him and pulled him down by his tie. The kiss she gave him was so hot that he got hard. She wound him up, made him dizzy, and drove him wild.
“Jesus,” he muttered when she had broken free. “That was one hell of a kiss.”
Not to mention she had given him a full frontal grope through his dress pants.
“That’s for being a caveman.”
He got it.
Later, if he was lucky, he’d get it again.
“I love you.”
With that, she and Steele were on their way out the door. Dante stood there grinning at him.
“What?”
“You just got manhandled by Emma. I find that amusing.”
“Go handle a blackmailer!”
He took off.
“Shall we, Director?” Dimitri asked. “It’s going to be a long day.”
He was well aware.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Dominic wanted blood.
“I need into that house. Are they ready?” he asked.
Kenneth James nodded. “Are you sure you want to do this? Once we take him, we’re screwed.”
He knew this was getting out of hand. Dominic was no longer being careful. Greyson Croft had rattled his brain and made him do stupid things.
Attacking Sky Villa.
Shooting up a police precinct.
Now…kidnapping.
“You know what I want you to do, so grab him. We’ll work him up, get the gate codes, and go from there. You hear me? We have no choice.”
They had lots of choices.
This was the worst possible one, and he knew it.
“If we stop the momentum now, they’ll be able to regroup. If that happens, they’ll be ready to strike back at us. They won’t tie me to any of those cases. I don’t know who did the last ones, but only the first two were mine. When this is over, I’ll find the truth.”
“Okay, Dom. If this is what you want.”
“It is.”
The man shrugged. “It’s ready. As soon as he’s alone, they’ll take him to the location.”
He grinned. “I can’t wait. This is going to be so much fun.”
Kenneth James began sweating.
He had to get out of there, and soon.
This was anything but fun.
Baiting Greyson Croft was dangerous.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Run down park
Outside Vegas
Emma and Steele had the site under control. With the help of a ton of cops, all now more than willing to be her friends, she had protection.
“It’s funny how they like me now that they know I stayed to try and save Chris Ford.”
“I think they always liked you, Emma, they were just afraid to show it. You know how rumors are. They know you’re not dirty. The truth always comes out.”
She knew he was right.
“How bad is she?”
He glanced up. “She was tortured. You can see the fractures in her face and skull. Her fingers are broken. Whoever did this cut her apart.”
“How long?”
“You know I can’t give you that, Emma.”
She ru
bbed her eyes.
He saw the frustration and exhaustion.
“A year or two. What saved us is that he buried her in a black garbage bag. They don’t degrade, and it kept most contaminants out. I’ll have more to work with once I get her on the table.”
Well, she had that.
“I’ll get her back, and we’ll make sure she’s taken care of too.”
She patted him on the back. “I’ll drive you back, and then I’m going to sneak into the hospital.”
He laughed. “How are you going to do that?”
“If I have to come out in a sling or with crutches, don’t be shocked.”
“Yeah, I’ll take that ride.” He was in no mood to listen to the team talk about what Emma had lived through. It turned his stomach. He loved her, and without Emma, their family wouldn’t be the same.
Steele pulled off his gloves and tossed them to a tech. As they headed toward their vehicle, Emma ignored the reporter’s questions. They’d picked them up right outside Terrace Glen’s gates.
She tried to shake them, but they were tenacious—as were their inappropriate questions. They ranged from her survival to questions regarding her fidelity.
She wasn’t going there.
Not now.
Not ever.
In the car, she rolled down the windows. She had a plan. Whistling, two cops came her way.
“I need a favor.”
“What do you need, Detective?” They had heard about her single handedly holding down the fort against the two shooters. If anything, she had their respect.
“See the horde of reporters?”
They glanced over.
“I’m going to pull out in a few minutes. I want you to block them in with two squad cars and then lose your keys for about ten minutes to give me a head start.”
They laughed. “Can do, ma’am.”
As they headed to their rides, Steele laughed. “That was smart.”
“I have my moments. You don’t think Greyson married me because I’m cute, do you?”
He laughed. “He married you because he thinks you’re sexy. I’m pretty sure that’s the same thing.”
“Well, between us, I married him for the sex.”
Steele laughed. “You did not.”
“No, but if I’m his sex bunny, he’s mine too. That’s only fair.”
Emma saw the men give her the signal. She gunned it through the opening with just enough time for the media to be trapped. She hauled ass down the road, all the time laughing.
“I’m glad you’re going to be my sister.”
She patted his hand. “Me too. When do you want to get hitched?”
“Maybe next weekend?”
“We can pull it off if this case is over.”
“Simple. I want simple!”
“Bachelor party?” she asked.
He started laughing. “A part of me wants to say yes. It’s the part that would enjoy seeing Greyson, Curtis, Paris, and Dimitri in a gay bar getting a lap dance.”
“Please, please, please tell me I can go.”
He snorted. “You can go.”
“Then we shall have this night of debauchery. I’ll plan it. This is going to be priceless.”
He knew it.
“It’ll be classy with a K.”
Steele snorted. “Oh, Emma, that’s why Greyson married you. You’re a really good person, and funny as hell!”
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek as they pulled into the area behind the FBI. It was the safest place to drop him off.
“Be safe!” he ordered, leaning in the window.
“I will. I’m heading to the ER, and if anyone comes near me, I’m shooting them. You do the same.”
“No gun.”
“Steele!”
“I’m safe. Go! I’ll see you later. Stop by in a bit and get the autopsy results.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too, Em.”
He waved as she drove away. When she was gone, he headed toward the backdoor. As soon as he hit the stairs, leading to the docking bay, he heard a sound behind him.
He spun, only to get hit in the face.
Steele staggered back, falling against the dumpster.
The two men wailed on him, beating him into submission.
Steele moaned, the edges of his vision going gray. “Why?” he whispered.
“Dom wants to see you. He has some questions to ask. He didn’t think you’d come willingly.”
Steele tried to stay awake.
He thought about the watch on his wrist. If he could only…
Someone kicked him in the head.
Steele knew he was dead.
Everything went black.
This was the end.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Marcos Chester’s
Home
When they arrived, they hoped the man might be of some help to their investigation. At this point, they were running out of options. It was getting frustrating, but they had to push forward.
As they knocked on the door, Dimitri continued crowding him. He was playing bodyguard, and taking it a little too serious.
“I can’t breathe with you all over me.”
“You’ll live.”
“You might not if you don’t back up a few feet. I like you, but this is taking our relationship to a level I’m not comfortable with,” Croft stated.
The man grinned. “Good point.”
When the man opened the door, he didn't look impressed to see them standing there. It said a lot about how he felt about law enforcement.
“What do you want?”
“We need to talk to you about your brother.”
“What about him?”
“He’s been found.”
“What?”
“His body has been found.”
The man scowled. “Where did they put him? Where did they dump him?”
Croft stared at him. “They?”
“Yeah, my brother was going to testify against Dominic Marianna, and bring him down. He had a few people he was going after.”
“What did he do for Marianna?”
Marcos figured they might as well come in. “He was hired as an accountant. Marianna thought his books were looking a little light, so he hired him.”
“And?”
“My brother found it all. There were the illegal gambling funds, the bribes to city council, and the large numbers going out.”
They made notes.
“He made copies and took it to the city District Attorney. She was going to prosecute him. In fact, he brought her so much, there was a surprise indictment coming. It was hush hush. Only my brother and the DA knew about it.”
“Did he tell you anything?”
“No, and you know what? It had to be big. The woman who was running the case is dead.”
“What?”
The day after my brother went missing, someone robbed her house and killed her.”
That just seemed too coincidental.
“It looks like Marianna gets away again. My brother tried. He was a damn good man. He was trying to help this city out, and now he’s dead. No one else has the balls to stop him from the shit he pulls.”
Greyson understood the frustration.
He was trying to help the city out too. Only, the law was being held back, and it sucked. This was his point about fighting so hard and not being able to do anything to help the people.
“You have to get my brother justice. You need to find a way to put Dominic Marianna in jail. He’s a cold blooded killer, and he needs to go down.”
“I happen to agree.”
“Well, do something about it!”
He was trying.
“Thank you for your help,” Croft said, standing up. “If you think of anything else, let me know.”
They headed outside.
“Those files are going to be gone,” he said to Dimitri.
“How do you know?”
“Som
eone is working damn hard at covering this mess up. They would have taken the files. That wasn’t a robbery. It was a recovery mission.”
“I agree.”
“I hate this.”
“Where to next?” Dimitri asked.
“Let’s hit up the next interview and then get inside. I want to check on Emma and the rest of the team. I’m beginning to think that we’re more than just in Marianna’s way.”
“What are we?”
“Loose ends.”
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
When he woke, he was tied to a bed. Steele Bentley knew he was screwed.
This was going to be the end of his life, and he knew it. Gone were his glasses, his shoes, and his clothes. It was the worst case scenario, and he knew that Marianna was sadistic. He was going to pay with his life.
His face hurt.
He was naked.
And that all added up to one thing.
Torture.
If he could just get to his watch on his wrist, there might be a chance of survival.
Greyson would find him.
He promised, and he trusted him. Steele believed in his family.
As he struggled to push the pin in, he heard him laughing.
“You’re awake. I thought my friends really scrambled your brain.”
“You’re going to jail for kidnapping a Federal agent. I’m the ME, but I’m technically a Fed.”
“Oh, they won’t trace you to me. See, this is some house that a shell company and another shell company owns. It’ll take years. By then, they’ll have forgotten your name, Steele. As will I.”
He struggled.
“So, let’s talk. Your daddy and I were friends.”
“I know you killed him.”
“I did. I admit it. He became a pain in my ass, and I had to take his life. I did leave your mother and you alive. I see now that it was a mistake. Who knew we’d find ourselves in this position?”
Steele knew he was dead. There’d be no wedding or happily ever after. He was going to die. Marianna just admitted to murder, and he wasn’t going to let him walk away.
Justice is Dead (Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 7) Page 43