“He was going to turn me in to the police. I had to end his life.”
“And the other five people?”
“You know, you’re the second person to tell me about that. See. I only killed two. Your dad and that bastard Famiano Pavone were mine. That’s it. You see, Fmaiano wanted my business, and he crossed the line, much like Greyson Croft.”
Steele struggled.
“I have no idea who killed the rest of them. You can’t pin it to me, simply because they aren’t mine. So, the Crofts are going to be running in circles on that one. They’ll never come back to me.”
“You lie.”
“Nope. I don’t. I pull my own trigger. I capped your father and Famiano in the back of the head as they begged for their lives. It was one to the skull. They were bound with duct tape.”
He was right.
“The others, weren’t me. I’d have you tell Croft that, but you won’t be in any shape to talk when I’m done with you.”
Steele said nothing.
“Your father was terribly disappointed in you, Steele. Having a gay son was a mark on his soul.”
“I don’t care.”
“I can see that. Didn’t you fall into it when you agreed to marry Dante Croft? You know, I was trying to decide who to take. You or him, and I went with you.”
Steele was glad. He’d sacrifice his life for Dante. For him, he’d take the pain that he knew was coming.
“You were easier to take. I hope it hurts Greyson Croft to no end.”
Steele knew it would. This would likely be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“What do you want?”
“Here’s the deal. If you give me the codes to Terrace Glen, I promise you that I will put a bullet in your brain and there will be no pain.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’m going to let my hired thugs work you over.”
Steele glanced over. One was holding chains and the other a baseball bat. He was going to suffer.
Still.
He wouldn’t betray his family.
He laughed. “Not happening. My family is in that house, and I’ll die to protect them.”
He punched him in the balls.
All Steele’s air was gone.
“It’s a good thing you’re gay, because that hit would end your child bearing days. Speaking of gay, you’re only with that soldier boy because he looks like Croft, right? You knew the original was straight, and you went for option two.”
Steele couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.
“Fine. The cat has your tongue. I’ll rattle the details loose.”
The men moved closer.
“Get the codes out of him. I don’t care what you have to do. Just do it, but make him bleed.”
Dominic Marianna headed out.
“When you’re done, dump his body. Leave no trace. If you’re going to fuck him, use the bat. I’m sure he’ll like it.”
With that, the door closed.
Dominic waited.
When Steele screamed, he smiled.
“Okay, Greyson Croft. How do you like me now?”
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Hotel Veniza
When Dante’s secretary buzzed him, he was sitting behind the big desk. It suited the place. Not only was the penthouse huge, it oozed power.
Randall Mason had used it quite often, and Dante liked it. When you had to intimidate, there was nothing like being on the thirtieth floor.
“Show him in.”
When Commissioner Raye entered, he was shocked to see the other man.
“Where’s Croft? We had a meeting.”
“He’s busy. I run the businesses for him, so you’ll have to deal with his representative.”
The man didn't look happy.
“You asked for one million, right?” Dante inquired, leaning back in his chair. He was watching the man with the same molten silver gaze.
He loathed him for screwing with his brother, Emma, and Chris Ford.
He’d have to pay. Emma told him to screw with him, and he was going to do just that.
“Yes. Are you paying it for him?”
“In a way, yes. You can look in that briefcase right there.”
The man headed toward it, and Dante didn't move. He watched him ferally, wanting to rip out his throat.
The man was in for one hell of a surprise.
“Tell him thank you for doing business with me, and I’ll forgive him for that stunt he pulled yesterday outside the police precinct.”
Dante shut off the recording. He had enough. If you wanted to blackmail someone, you shouldn’t do it when the place was wired for security.
Commissioner Raye opened it.
Inside, there was only one note.
‘Kiss my ass. You’re going to be blackmailed now.’
He glanced up.
“What the hell is this?”
Dante pointed to the blinking light over his head. “I shut the recording off, right after you accepted the money. See, my brother, while a Fed, he’s not the only one who is tricky. Oh, I could have paid, but that’s not how I roll.”
The man went red.
“You wasted my time.”
“You wasted ours. Oh, and for the record…If you came in wearing anything to record our conversation, let me assure you that this little device,” he said, taping the box on his desk, “interfered with it. You’ve got nothing, and I have you opening a briefcase.”
He stared. “What?”
“Commissioner, you messed with Emma Croft. I hope you didn't think that you’d get away with it. She’s my sister and Greyson’s wife. You crossed the line. I suggest you get the hell out of here, before I call the police and tell them that you attacked me.”
He stared.
“Oh, my bodyguard outside the door would put you down before you even tried, but that’s my story, and it would be your word against mine.”
“And the recording you just made?”
“You’ll hear from us.”
He stared.
This hadn’t gone like he planned.
“Go.”
The man took off.
When he stormed out, Dante laughed. It was good to have this kind of power. He sent a text to Emma and his brother.
‘It’s done. We won’t hear from him again.’
When he hit send, he leaned back in his chair. It had been a damn good start to the day. Dante wondered if his fiancé would like lunch. After this, his day was pretty clear.
He focused when the text came in from his brother.
‘Please tell me he was crying when he left. Good work, Dante. You found your calling.’
Yes, he did.
And it was working for the family.
Who said the mob had to run their shop illegally. They were the most powerful people in Vegas, and they were proving it.
One asshole at a time.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Outside, Commissioner Raye pulled out his phone. Dialing, he waited for the man to come on the line.
“Did he bite?”
“No. He didn't pay me, but now he’s threatening to blackmail me. This is an even bigger mess.”
“Do you have that on record?”
“No! His bastard brother had a jammer of sorts.”
He laughed.
He wasn’t surprised that Greyson Croft didn't bite at this, but still…he was playing a bad game.
They had a dirty Fed before he took over, and that didn’t sit well with anyone.
They certainly didn't need another.
“What am I supposed to do?” Commissioner Raye asked. “You said it would be easy. He didn't bite. I’m screwed. He recorded me up to the moment the briefcase was empty.”
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
“I am worried. You asked for my help, and now I’m boned! Fix this!”
He hung up.
“Well?” she asked.
“Mrs. Blackhawk, remember whe
n you said you wanted to go to Vegas and wander the strip?”
“I said I wanted to go to Vegas and kick ass on the strip, Ethan. Not wander.”
“You may get your wish. We need to take a trip.”
“Greyson?”
“He’s become a wild card. You know what we have to do.”
She did, and it sucked.
It really, really sucked.
Chapter Nineteen
Monday
Mid-Morning
When she got to the hospital, no one was around. For once, she managed to outmaneuver the media at their own game.
She deserved a medal.
On her way up to see Chris, she stopped in the gift shop and picked up a bear wearing leather.
It made no sense, but it would make Chris laugh. She also bought ten balloons, and they all said, ‘IT’S A BOY’. Emma was snickering all the way up.
When she walked into the room, Natasha was feeding him pudding and sitting beside him on the bed. Chris was staring at the redhead with a crazy look on his face.
Oh, boy.
Someone was ogling a beautiful woman.
It made her grin.
“Hey, can I get in on some of that pudding action?” she asked, waiting for him to glance over.
When he did, he saw the bear and balloons and began laughing. “You’re an asshole, and I totally love you.”
Emma headed his way.
“Well, well, Captain Ford, you survived. It’s good to see that I didn’t waste all my time with that CPR.”
He tugged her down to kiss her on the lips. “Thanks for saving my bacon.”
She sat on the side of the bed. “As I tell Grey, bacon can kill you.”
Natasha cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind, Emma, I’ll check in with Dimitri.”
“Thanks, Natasha.”
“Nat. I like Nat better.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Nat, for babysitting my bullet magnet brother.”
The woman headed off.
“So, you finally met Natasha. We told you she was real and not made up.”
He grinned. “She’s hot.”
“You’re on meds, but yes, she is.”
“I got her number.”
He held up his hand. On it, there were numbers written. She started laughing.
“What?”
“Did you write that?”
“Yeah, why?”
“The five is backwards, and there are only six numbers. You're missing one.”
He stared at it.
“Damn Vicodin. Now how the hell am I supposed to call her? Crap! I was scoring mercy points.”
Emma laughed, and grabbed the pen off the table. She added the missing number. “There you go, Chris.”
He grinned down at it.
When he looked up, she was crying.
“Emma.”
“I thought I lost you.”
He scooched over in bed, making room for her. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
She took a seat and leaned against his good side.
“You scared me.”
“Yeah, well, I scared me too. I hurt like hell, but I’m alive. Natasha tells me you wouldn’t leave me. I don’t remember much after getting shot.”
“Why would I leave you? You’re my brother. You’re also my captain. I don’t run to save my own ass.”
He kissed her on the temple. “Yeah, you’re an idiot. When I say run, you run.”
She sniffled. “How could I after that kiss.”
“What?”
“You know, the one where you crammed your tongue down my throat to play tonsil hockey?”
He was horrified.
Emma knew it was time to have fun with him. “You pulled me down, laid one on me, all the while getting shot at. That takes skill. So hot, Captain. I think HR is going to be pissed. In some states, we’d have to get married.”
“Oh. My. God.”
She started laughing. “What? It wasn’t good for you?” she asked.
He couldn’t pretend he didn’t remember it. A part of him had hoped she’d not bring it up. Chris should have known better.
Ford snorted. “Okay, you got me. I remember the whole thing. I was dying, you were the pretty woman, and yada yada yada. It’s good to see you don’t mind torturing me with it.”
“Well, since I was your last choice.”
“If you weren’t married to a man I respect, you’d be my first choice. We are, after all, in bed together.”
She started laughing. “I get it. You can bust back just as much.”
“It was such a hot kiss too. I hope you never forget it.”
She dropped her head to his shoulder. “I won’t because it’s the day I nearly lost you. I’ll have nightmares forever.”
He took her hand in his. “I owe you my life.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“I do! I need to repay my debt.”
“You already have, Chris. You love me for me. You believed in me when everyone else called us crooked. Your career took a ding, and you didn't tell me that you kicked the shit out of my husband in the gym.”
“Oh, yeah, about that.”
She laughed. “Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure. You’re my family. I love you both.”
“I love you too, Chris. When you’re out of here, you’re coming to our place to recoup. You’re going to be out of work for a while, and I can take care of you at Terrace Glen.”
He tried to move his arm, but it hurt like a bitch. “Yeah, I know.”
“I’m sure I can get Natasha to help nurse you back to health.”
He grinned. “Can you order her to wear some sexy nurse’s outfit?”
“Ewww! No!”
“Damn.”
Emma took his hand in hers. She was glad he felt warm. She would never forget performing CPR on him. He was cold and gray.
It made her want to be sick.
“Did you solve the case yet?”
“Nah, I was too busy shopping.”
He glanced down. “For?”
“A new truck for my brother.”
“Wait, what? Please tell me Dante wants to start driving a truck.”
Emma laughed.
“I told you that if you lived, you were getting one. That was my present for you on the day you stayed in my life.”
“I don’t want a truck, Emma. I have one.”
“Yeah, about that…”
“What?”
“She’s gone. Someone stole her. By now, she’s scrap, so consider yourself the owner of a new ride. It’s the least we can do. You know how the criminal element hangs out around the police station.”
“You had that sneaky ass security guy steal it, didn't you?” he accused.
She laughed. “Maybe.”
He sat there.
“What kind of truck?”
“What kind do you want?” she asked.
“I think I want my sister to handle it. I trust her with my life.”
She smiled.
“Admit it. You liked the mouth to mouth.”
Emma laughed. “Chris, now you’re definitely getting those mud flaps.”
“Wait what? Mud flaps? Why does that scare me?”
“Oh, it should. We picked them out personally. They’re the ones with the naked ladies on them.”
“Oh, Jesus. What have I done?”
Emma only laughed.
She knew the answer. He’d made her fall in love.
With him.
* * * Croft & Croft * * *
Dan McNally’s
Apartment
Pulling up, Dimitri wouldn’t let him get out. In fact, he had ordered him to sit.
“What is up with you?”
He couldn’t put his finger on it. Something was bothering him.
“I feel like we’re being watched.”
“It’s probably the media. There are five cars behind us,” Greyson offered. “Don’t you lose it
on me too. You’re the rational one.”
Dimitri looked around.
“Do I need to remind you that technically you’re off duty. You really aren’t supposed to be babysitting me. That was just a way to get Emma off my ass. I didn’t want her to worry.”
“I’m still here to watch you.”
“No, you’re here to be my equal. When this case is over, I think I’m leaving the FBI.”
He was surprised. “What?”
“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t break the law and still wear the badge. I had my team do illegal searches. I just handed Dominic Marianna a free pass to escape, and I just risked everyone’s job, including mine.”
“What will you do?”
“I have no idea. Emma will go to work every day, and I’ll…I don’t know.”
Dominic understood. “I may have a venture for you to look into.”
“Does it involve hookers and call girls?”
He laughed. “Do you want it to? I can always arrange that, but your wife really won’t like it.”
Greyson shook his head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t want to get in trouble. I want to wake up every day and be happy. Right now, I’m not. I came here to make a difference, and I’m not. Look at this mess.”
“Croft, you are making a difference, but I get it. When this is over, we’ll talk. I think you’ll like what I have in mind.”
“Is it illegal?”
He laughed. “You know, I do have some moral fiber. I’m loyal.”
He absolutely was.
There was no doubt about that.
“This venture will be a little you and a little me all rolled up into one. I think we’ll make good partners.”
He wouldn’t mind working with Dimitri. He really liked the man.
“Let’s get this done.”
“Don’t forget, Greyson. I have your back.”
He wouldn’t.
At least he had that.
Upstairs, they knocked on the door. This apartment building was pretty nice, and that said a lot about the people inside. It wasn’t going to be the den of iniquity, and Croft was glad.
Justice is Dead (Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 7) Page 44