Hard Money (Bad Money #3)

by Ali Parker

  "Pussy," she growled and got out of the car as Victor put it into park.

  "I'm sorry?" he asked as he got out and moved to the front of the car, grabbing her arms and pulling her back toward him.

  "Jon's a pussy. Plain and simple. I would be guarding him if he went with us. I'm not asking him." She jerked her arm from Victor's hold as she tried to get ahold of herself.

  Victor chuckled. "You know... I wish you would call me silly names and act like a wayward teenager over me occasionally too."

  "What? You make no sense." She turned on her heel and walked to the door as realization rolled over her. "I don't care about him. You're misunderstanding me."

  "I misunderstand all women, Kate." He moved up behind her, reaching around to unlock the door as he pressed his hand to her tummy and trapped her against him. "Stop being emotional and go change. Meet me in the living room. I have a new bottle of wine I want to try, and something tells me that you need to let off some steam."

  She let out a soft breath, not wanting to spend time with anyone, Victor least of all, but an agreement was an agreement. Besides, a good hard fuck from behind while thinking about Jon would be good. The only hope was that Victor didn't expect her to be docile for their evening, nor would he force her to face him. It wasn't happening.

  She walked down the hall and turned left, finding the guest bedroom that she would be staying in. A couple of her things were hung up in the closet, thanks to one of the girls that worked for him grabbing it. While they were in L.A. Victor had the woman bring a bunch of Kate's stuff over.

  "Probably a good thing. It wasn't like I was going to do it." She worked on stripping out of her jeans and t-shirt. Checking herself in the mirror, she turned and growled at the size of her butt. It was bigger than it should have been, which left her feeling a little self-conscious. Getting high would have to be part of the deal too. Fucking Victor without something to drown her mind in before starting would leave her more willing to fight than screw.

  Dropping down on the bed, she pressed her face into her hands and let out a long sigh. How did this shit keep happening to her?

  "You're trying to wear a shoe that doesn't fit," she mumbled to herself, echoing the words Adam used to tell her all the time when they were younger. She wasn't a good person, and yet giving herself up for Jon's freedom was an act of martyrdom. It didn't fit, and yet she couldn't help herself.

  She picked up the phone and listened to his message about the bike. The softness in his tone combined with his final words of wanting her to be okay melted her a little.

  Pressing the button to dial his number, she laid back on the bed and closed her eyes, hating herself for calling him.

  "Kate?" The noise coming through the phone made it hard to hear him. "Where are you? You okay?"

  "I'm fine. Where are you? What's all the noise?" She stretched her free arm above her on the bed and arched her back, stretching a little.

  "I'm driving back from the hospital. I went to see Marcus. He looks good."

  Surprise raced through her center, and she sat up.

  Victor darkened the door, lifting his eyebrow in question.

  She glanced down, realizing she was only in her bra and panties, but he didn't seem to mind. He was too comfortable with her, which wasn't good.

  "Yeah. I saw him tonight too. I just saw you called and wanted to make sure you got your bike back." She stood and turned away from Victor, half expecting him to come into the room, but when she glanced back, he was gone.

  "Kate. Did you trade yourself for me?"

  Her heart nearly stopped. "What? Trade myself how?"

  "With Victor. Did you offer him your... your-"

  "No. That's ridiculous. He doesn't trust you. Plain and simple."

  "Do you?" Jon's tone told her that he didn't believe her lies.

  "I'm not sure anymore." She swallowed her emotions. "All right, well, glad you have your bike. Later."

  "Wait-"

  "What? Make it quick," she barked into the phone, leaning back on one of the only emotions that felt right to use.

  "Marcus mentioned you going to New York. Let me move my schedule around a little, and I'll come with you. I can protect you while you're there." He paused, but started again before she could jump in. "After everything that happened at the club, Marcus would just feel better knowing that I was there."

  "Not sure why. You seem to be hell bent on destroying me more than anyone else I know. Billy's not dragged me downtown and splashed my face all over every investigation in the universe." She ran her hand through her hair. "Never mind. I'm just tired and seeing Marcus hurt..." She paused as tears burned her eyes.

  "Kate. Where are you? Let me come get you, and we'll get a drink. No strings attached. I don't want you alone."

  "I'm not alone," she choked out. "I need to go. Come to New York, but don't expect a goddamn thing from me. I'm not interested in anything you have to offer. Not even a friendship."

  "Okay."

  She dropped the call and tossed the phone across the bed before grabbing a black silk robe from the closet and wrapping it around herself. Victor was somewhere in the house. She could simply follow the deep hues of his cologne and find him no doubt.

  "I'm in here," he called out, as if able to read her thoughts.

  Turning away from the living room, she walked down a short hall to a smaller living area. The couches were leather, and a small fire danced in the corner.

  He lifted a bottle and smiled. "You good with red wine or should I get you something else?"

  Kate moved toward him and took the glass he offered. "This is good, but I could use a hit. I'm tired of feeling for the day. Take me from it?"

  "Anything you want. It's yours." He moved toward her and leaned down, kissing the top of her head. His chest was bare and beautiful, his skin soft and muscles firm, but not overly defined.

  She pressed her forehead to his chest and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply before pressing a kiss to his chest just below his rose-colored nipple. "Thank you."

  He touched her chin, lifting her face to his. Kate let her eyes move across his face and expected to feel something. He was too handsome not to, and yet she only felt regret, sadness, loneliness. It should have been Marcus or Jon in front of her, not the villain who stood there.

  "I'll get something for you." He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers softly.

  Kate closed her eyes and imagined him to be Jon, his smile sexy, his eyes filled with the promise of a better tomorrow. A soft cry left her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted to her toes, pressing into the kiss. She hated how badly she needed Jon in her life. He wasn't right for her. Maybe Victor was.

  She set her glass down and slid her hands down his back, scratching at him softly.

  He nipped at her lips and growled, the sound of it rushing across her skin. "Hold that thought."

  She nodded, but kept her eyes closed as she steeled herself for a long night of keeping her eyes closed tightly. It would be okay. Victor was sexy, well-endowed and most likely generous in bed. Too bad sex wasn't just a carnal experience in fun for her. With Jon sex was passion, and exploration of whatever lay between them. With Marcus it was a release from life, a promise that they wouldn't leave each other ever. With Victor is was nothing. A warm body to find release with.

  She took a deep breath and turned as he walked back in, his black silk sleeping pants leaving no doubt as to the size of his erection.

  "Here, pretty woman." He extended the joint and smiled as his dark eyes moved across her. "Take as much as you like. It should relax you quickly."

  She nodded and pressed it to her lips, breathing in deeply and letting herself fall into the release it offered. A groan left her as his fingers brushed by her shoulders, tugging her robe off from behind. Lust swirled in her belly, and she realized the joint was spiked with something that caused increased arousal. Where she would have normally been pissed about it, she was rather grateful in the moment.


  Taking three more long drags, Kate laid the joint down on the counter and pressed her back against his chest, arching a little as his strong hands clasped over her breasts. The warmth of his mouth down the side of her neck was delicious, tantalizing.

  "More," she whispered and rubbed her ass against his erection, loving how his teeth kept grazing her skin. He nipped at her ear, and she cried out softly.

  "So fucking hot, Kate." He moved back and undid her bra, pushing it off her shoulders and tugging her panties down sensually.

  She stood in the midst of the high and let every sensation bring her closer to the pinnacle of release. A strong hand pressed against her back, and she bent over, sliding her hands along the glass counter in front of her, leaving her ass on display for the capable man behind her.

  Jon. It was Jon to her. She imagined him and cried out again as his fingers brushed down her sex, slipping into her sticky wetness.

  "Already so wet, baby," he groaned and moved down, pressing his mouth to her swollen flesh.

  "Oh God," she groaned and pressed her forehead to the counter in front of her as the room spun, swirling in colors as his tongue flicked across her over and over. It didn't take more than a few minutes and she was pressing backward, rocking her hips and taking what she needed from him.

  His hands gripped her ass tightly as she came, riding it as long as he would let her. The sharp smack against her ass as he pulled back was delicious.

  She jerked forward, her breasts sliding against the glass as she yelped in pleasure.

  "Let me in, Kate. All the way." He slid his hand up her side, over her shoulder and cupped her chin and throat before lifting hard, locking her in a tight position as his cock pressed deep into her.

  The groan that left him was only outdone by her own.

  "I've wanted this since I heard about you. Meeting you made it worse. It's my turn with you. The first of many nights, lover." He squeezed her throat and rocked in farther, forcing her back to arch painfully as he drove himself in as deep as he could.

  Pleasure burst from the center of her stomach over and over. She whimpered and cried for more as he fucked her long into the night. It didn't matter who was behind her. It was a release and she needed it - needed him - more than anything else in that moment.

  He was a monster, but maybe she was too.

  Chapter 8

  Two Days Later

  Marcus

  The hospital bed was getting old, but it was almost time for him to be released. The wound was healing up good, and his vitals all showed a full recovery. He wanted to go home and sleep in his own fucking bed, and he wanted Kate beside him in it.

  A knock at the door behind him caused him to turn as he stood by the window.

  Reni.

  "What the fuck do you want?" Marcus tried to discern if the bastard was there to finish the job that they'd started back at the club. Knocking someone out and shooting them in the chest wasn't exactly a means of stabilizing a working relationship.

  "I'm just here to talk."

  "Right." Marcus moved to the front of the bed so he could be closer to the asshole should something happen. Billy didn't send guys to talk, and Marcus wasn't going to be caught sleeping again.

  "Really." He lifted his hands in a sign of surrender and moved to the couch, sitting down slowly. "We didn't mean for you to get shot the other day, bro. You have to know that."

  "No? Funny how you three mother fuckers showed up with no notice and roughed me up. Did I misunderstand that too?" Marcus glanced down at his bare chest, the thick gauze gone, but his wound still bandaged. "I'm guessing this shit was an accident?"

  "Yes. It was." Reni ran his fingers over his mustache and narrowed his eyes. "If we wanted you dead, you would have been."

  "Yeah, fuck you too. You guys should be warned. The minute I get out of here, I'm going to start picking you apart and knocking you off. Tell Billy that I'm starting with his ass," Marcus growled as aggression drilled through him.

  "Hold on a minute, big boy. No one shot you but your own guy." He shook his head. "I hit you in the face with the pistol, but that wound you got didn't happen until your new boy started taking out members of my gang."

  "Bullshit. I heard the gun go off behind me before I hit the floor. I'm not stupid." Marcus crossed his arms over his chest.

  "That was your boy's gun. None of us shot until he did. You got caught in the middle of it. Billy has plans for you Marcus. Stop acting like you don't want in. You know he's going to take over the city from that refined mother fucker you guys are all playing with. Ain't nobody interested in working for a suit who's only going to go so far." Reni chuckled and sunk down deeper against the couch. "What's it going to cost us?"

  "Nothing. I'm not interested. Fuck you guys for showing up like you did." Marcus shrugged his shoulders and nodded toward the door. "Get the fuck out."

  Reni got up. "All right, but don't say I didn't try. I know you got a soft spot for Katie."

  "Leave Kate out of this." Marcus moved toward Reni, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pushing him against the wall just behind them. "I'll fucking massacre anyone who even touches her. Don't try me in this. I'm not playing around, and I'm not the guy I used to be."

  "Agreed." Reni glanced up as if they were in nothing more than a casual conversation. "If you were to join back up with Billy, your old agreement would be back in place. He wouldn't even let her know he was alive. Promise."

  "Your promise or his?" Marcus narrowed his eyes and ground his teeth together.

  "His, of course. I don't speak for him, only on his behalf." Reni shrugged.

  Marcus released the greaser and moved back, trying to decide if this was his chance to get close enough to Billy to take him out. That was the ultimate plan, but being on the outside looking in left him a little too far away from the bastard. Billy wasn't someone to mess with without a proper plan in place. He'd kill his own mother if he thought it would get him somewhere in life.

  "Let me think about it." Marcus released Reni and walked back to the bed before turning his attention on Billy's second.

  "Fine. You have two days at most, and Billy said that he would throw in the cop if you'll agree to help us take the seat of power back. And keep in mind that we'll want you to be a rat in Parence's house."

  "The cop?" Marcus played dumb. He wasn't going to be a rat anywhere but in Billy's house.

  "Yeah. We know Kate and you have gotten involved with a local dick at the precinct. He's actually an old friend of mine, but we'll keep that between us." Reni chuckled darkly.

  "Friend of yours? That's a story I want to hear." Marcus nodded toward the door. "Get out and I'll think about it."

  "Billy expects your response in two days." Reni moved to the door.

  "Billy can suck my dick. I'll respond when the fuck I want to."

  Reni chuckled and walked out, closing the door behind him. The man brought a good deal from Billy. It was one Marcus wouldn't refuse, and yet he'd be joining up for a very different purpose this time around. It would be to stab the asshole while he was sleeping. It was dangerous, and Billy might be looking for Marcus to make that exact move, but he had no choice in the matter.

  The door opened and Marcus growled, half expecting it to be Reni again. "What?"

  Kate walked in and closed the door behind her, pressing her back to it and smiling at him. "I'm glad to see you up and moving."

  Her black dress was pretty, but casual. It fit her a little too well, and he growled at the thought of what lay just beneath it.

  "Come here." He didn't move an inch, but reached for her as she stopped in front of him. The smell of strawberries and summer rushed over him and he grabbed her, wrapping his arms around the top of her shoulders and leaning down to consume her mouth.

  She tasted good, like sweet coffee and cinnamon. He licked at her mouth, sucking and kissing as her fingers dug into his back sensually.

  "I want you," he growled against her mouth and shifted his hips, ru
bbing himself against her tummy.

  "Me too. Hurry up and get out of here." Her hands slid down his back, into his pants and over his ass, squeezing tightly. It was heaven having her skin against his. It was all he wanted.

  "Why haven't you been here more? I've missed you." Marcus leaned down and brushed his lips down her neck, sucking softly at her flesh as he ran his hand down the back of her silky hair.

  "I have been, but you've slept a lot." She turned her face toward his, nuzzling him. She was breaking their rules, and yet he was tired of having them.

  "Did you see Reni in the hall?" He moved back and stiffened suddenly. The idea of the sorry bastard laying eyes on Kate left Marcus's blood running cold.

  "No. I'm not sure I know Reni." She lifted an eyebrow and slid her hands up his chest, being careful around his wound. "Should I know him?"

  "He's one of Billy's guys. One that's been with the bastard forever. I'd be surprised if you didn't." He ran his hand down the side of her face and pulled her closer before leaning down and kissing her again. Pressing his tongue into her mouth, he tightened his grip and let out a groan he'd been holding.

  She broke the kiss, licking at her pretty red lips. "I have to go to New York today. You sure you can't get out of here and come with me?"

  "Jon's going, and I'll be out tomorrow hopefully." He ran his hands over her shoulders before getting into the bed and patting the space beside him. "Come here. I want to hold you."

  "You're breaking our rules." She smiled and climbed up into the bed beside him, snuggling against his side.

  He pressed his lips to the side of her head and wrapped both his arms tightly around her. "Fuck our rules. I almost died a few days ago. I'm done playing around."

  "Were we playing around? Is that what we were doing?" She turned her warm brown gaze up to him, and his heart sped up. It wasn't just lust. It was love.

  "You know what I mean, you cheeky bitch." He nipped at her lips and let his hand slide over her hip and play with the soft skin along the back of her thighs just inside her dress. He continued to explore until his hand was in her skirt, his fingers brushing by the beautiful curves of her ass. "No panties? You trying to give the cop a heart attack?"