Hard Money (Bad Money #3)

by Ali Parker

  "I don't want you giving anything up for me, Jon." She reached for him as he moved to stand in front of her, his hands sliding down her sides, over her hips and grabbing her rear tightly.

  "I'd do anything to make this work." He leaned down and pressed his lips to the side of her neck, dragging them up and licking at her ear. "I've wanted you for myself since the last time I had you."

  "Why didn't you just say something?" She tugged at his shirt. "I thought you wanted to talk."

  "I do, but let's get comfortable." He pulled his shirt off and worked to get hers off of her as well. Pulling her close, he leaned down and made love to her mouth slowly, licking and kissing as she whimpered softly against him.

  Something about him left her feeling vulnerable and open, raw and yet so incredibly alive.

  "Talk to me first, then I need a shower if we're making love." She slid her hands up Jon's taut back, loving the delicious warmth of his skin.

  "I was once like Marcus, working for the guy before Billy. I swear, I must have just missed you coming to be a part of the syndicate." He nipped at her lips and worked on her bra. "My father died when I was younger, and I couldn't handle it. I was so fucking angry at God, at the world, at my mother for letting him go. He rotted away due to his cancer, and when I saw him last, he was nothing but bones."

  Jon shivered and Kate pulled him close, pressing her lips to his chest and working on his jeans.

  "I'm so sorry, baby," she whispered as her heart contracted painfully in her chest. She had some inclination that Jon had lived a rough patch of life, but never once considered that he might be connected to the same group of dealers that she'd cut her teeth with.

  "I dove in so deep, killing for business and fucking for fun." He pulled her close and pressed his lips to her shoulder, sucking softly before scraping his teeth against her flesh.

  She cried out in pleasure and slid her hands down into his jeans, forcing them over his hips as they dropped to the ground.

  "When I realized Adam was joining me, I pushed back. I forced myself to finish my training at the force and worked like crazy to regain the life that was mine before my dad passed. I thought maybe if I was the one that got Adam into the shit that I could be the one to get him out. If I could just be good enough." Jon's voice cracked a little, and Kate stepped back as tears burned her gaze.

  She pressed her fingers to his lips. "No more. He made his own choices, and you and I have made ours. This isn't your fault, and you have to stop blaming yourself for it."

  "I don't know how, but I wanted to come clean with you. I'm not the great guy you think I am. I'm just a thug trying to play the part of a good man, in hopes of finding a good woman that will save me." He reached out and undid her jeans, pushing them down her legs and he knelt in front of her. "But for the first time in my life, I'm not looking for someone to save me. I can't get over the fact that I'm supposed to save you."

  Chapter 20

  Jon

  He hadn't expected to feel so overwhelmed with emotion in telling Kate the truth. She stared down at him as he let his eyes move up the beautiful curves of her body. Her breasts were heavy, her nipples tight and needing his attention. He tugged her panties down and kissed her mound softly before moving up her body, letting himself taste her skin and memorize the scent of her arousal.

  "Jon," she whispered, closing her eyes and sliding her hands through his hair.

  "Come take a shower with me, baby." He stood and picked her up, cupping his arm under her knees as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

  "I want you to have the kind of life you've always wanted." She pressed her lips to his chest as he kicked open the bathroom door. "Hell, I want that life."

  He sat her down and moved to start the shower. "You do?"

  "Yes, but I honestly don't see how that's possible." She moved up behind him, rubbing her hands down his back and over his ass, her fingernails feeling so fucking good against him.

  "It's not going to happen right now, but maybe in the future." He glanced back, reaching for her and helping her step into the shower. He moved the curtain and joined her, using his hands to help wet her body as she moved under the spray.

  Water ran down her steep curves, and he found himself falling more in love with the wayward bartender who was supposed to be nothing more than a villain. She was supposed to have killed Adam and then he simply could have thrown her ass in jail and never looked back, but she didn't do it, and he wouldn't have been able to survive it if she had.

  Her chestnut eyes moved across him, the lust on her face apparent. "Come here, pretty girl."

  She moved up to him, pressing herself against him and sliding her hands up his chest. "You know there's only one way to fuck in a shower."

  "I do, and this one time I'm good with it." He turned her and stretched her arms high above her head as he pressed himself against her back. Leaning down, he nipped at her ear. "It's not fucking, Kate. It's making love."

  "Whatever it is... get to it." She smirked over her shoulder as she pressed her rear against him and rolled her hips.

  Jon took his cock in his hand and positioned himself to enter her as he ran his other hand over her back and cupped her shoulder. "I want to make love to you every day. Can we do that?"

  She cried out sensually as he pressed into her, his own pleasure spiking hard with the tightness of her beautiful body.

  "Every day," she groaned as she bounced against him, using his body in a way that no other woman had before. She wasn't shy or ashamed at all. She was his, and he was completely lost to her.

  His fingers dug into her pliable flesh and yanked her back as he wedged himself into her fully. The low grunts and sharp cries she released as he fucked her slowly almost left him undone.

  He worked hard to keep his chest pressed to her back, wanting so badly to feel every inch of her against him. There was a future for them from what he could tell, one that didn't have to include Marcus.

  He would bide his time in hopes of that future. Until then, he would work hard to be as open minded as possible.

  Kate cried out as her orgasm hit her, and Jon picked up his speed, working hard to bring as much pleasure to her as he could provide. A knock at the door had his heart stilling.

  "Who is it?" He pressed into Kate and stopped.

  "It's me, man. Come out when you're done. No rush." Marcus.

  "Don't stop," Kate murmured and pulled forward, dismounting him before turning and sliding her arms up his chest and over his shoulders. "I want to face you. I need to see you when you come."

  "I want that too." He moved down and gripped the back of her thighs, lifting her and pressing her body to the shower wall as she wrapped herself around him. He pressed back into her and let out a long groan as pleasure raced through him.

  She pulled him down into a long kiss as he worked her, his fingers digging into her rear. Knowing Marcus was out in the bedroom caused him to move faster than he wanted to, but by the sound of Kate's cries, she was coming close to release again.

  "I want you, forever," she spoke sensually against his neck as she licked the water from him.

  "You have me forever, Katie." He thrust hard and felt himself diving off the cliff. "I'm coming. Join me."

  "Yes, Jon." She whimpered his name as he gripped her tightly and fucked her hard and fast like Marcus had the night before. They took turns groaning as they kissed and nipped at each other’s mouths. Jon slowed himself and pressed his face against the crook of her neck, wanting to say a million things, but not wanting to pull them out of the moment too fast.

  "So good, baby." She slid down his body as he moved back, pulling from her warmth.

  "I've never experienced anything near it." Jon moved up to the water and washed off before glancing back at her. "I'll go talk to Marcus. Enjoy the rest of your shower."

  Kate wrapped her arms around his center and pressed her breasts to his back, kissing him several times and squeezing tightly. "Sounds good. I don't want to go to Vict
or's tonight. I want to crawl up in the bed with you and sleep deeply wrapped around each other."

  "We can do that when we get back. You don't have to stay. Marcus and I will make sure of that." He turned and leaned down, kissing her swollen lips several times and getting out of the shower. His desire for a long love-making session was cut short, but by the powerful orgasm he had moments before, it might have been better that way. His legs were shaky and his heart racing.

  Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked out of the bathroom and glanced toward Marcus, who was pacing the floor.

  "What's up?" He took the extra towel in his hands and worked to dry his hair.

  "There were too many people on staff downstairs." Marcus rubbed the back of his neck and continued to pace.

  "Yeah, that's great. What the fuck is up with you? You're pacing the floor like you've got something running through that big skull of yours. Spill." Jon moved to the couch and sat down, making sure his towel kept his nakedness covered. No reason to make Marcus feel bad about his size. Jon smirked, unable to help himself.

  "Big brain." Marcus rubbed his head and let out a long breath. "I was thinking..."

  "You really shouldn't do that." Jon chuckled.

  "Fuck you." Marcus smiled and moved to sit on one of the barstools by the kitchenette. "Maybe if I wasn't in the picture... maybe then you and Kate could get on the right track and do something with yourselves that didn't include drugs and death."

  "I don't like the sound of that at all." Jon moved to the edge of the couch. "Kate's not going to like that in the slightest either."

  "I understand, but hear me out..." Marcus stood back up, starting to pace again. "What if tonight we take Victor out? Just shoot him in cold blood, and if Zak wants to cause us problems, we drop his ass too, though I can't imagine that shit. He seems ready for a change too."

  "Keep talking." Jon rubbed his chest, not too upset with the plan thus far.

  "We then work together on taking out Billy. Once that's done, you and Kate make this place work for you from a pure entertainment perspective. Offer the nightlife without the drugs, or go open a big strip of clubs in New York. Kate's got incredible business skills." He moved to sit down again.

  "And where the fuck are you going to go?" Jon leaned back again, not at all trusting the plan to work, though it was sounding better and better.

  "I don't know. There's some shit in Chicago that's opening up." He shrugged. "I hate the cold weather, but it might be worth a try."

  "Kate's not going to go for that, Marcus. She loves you."

  "She trusts me. She's the closest thing to family that I've got. That's not going to change. Besides, I think it would be good for the three of us to bind together until Billy's gone, then... We try something new." He turned as the bathroom door opened. "Not a word to her."

  Jon nodded and turned his attention to Kate. It would never happen the way Marcus laid it out, namely because the chances of all of them making it out alive were slim.

  "You two look like you're up to no good." Kate moved to her dresser, her white towel wrapped tightly around her curvy frame.

  "We're never up to good." Marcus got up and moved toward her, wrapping his big arms around her from behind and leaning down to kiss the side of her neck. "Jon fuck you good in there?"

  "Yeah, he did." She pushed at Marcus's shoulder, leaving Jon's chest to fill with pride.

  "What time do we need to head to Victor's?" Jon stood up and moved to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

  "The sooner the better, honestly." Kate pulled out a bra and panties, dropping the towel and getting dressed as Jon watched her. He wasn't surprised to see Marcus's eyes on the pretty woman they shared. Any man would want to watch. She was breathtaking.

  "Do you think this criminal life ever leaves you?" she asked, surprising Jon.

  "I don't know. I think a part of it lives with you forever. Keeps you on the edge, wanting and wishing and sometimes indulging." Marcus turned to Jon. "What do you think? You've lived both lives."

  "We always say 'once a criminal, always a criminal’, but I'm not so sure anymore. I could turn from a life of crime forever and be fine." Jon shrugged and walked to pick up his clothes.

  "Right, but maybe that fiery passion, that dominance and darkness bleeds out in other parts of your life." Kate tugged a black t-shirt over her head and ran her fingers through her long wet hair. Jon pushed back the urge to go do it for her, which would only lead to wanting more of her.

  "Like in the bedroom." Marcus reached for Kate, pulling her close and playfully nibbling at her neck.

  She swatted him away.

  Jon's phone buzzed in his pocket as he carried his jeans to the bed.

  He pulled it out and turned to them. "I need to take this."

  "Jon Peterson."

  "Hey buddy, this is Mike. I need you to come down to the station."

  "Right now? Why are you even there, Mike. It's fucking late. Shouldn't-"

  "Jon. Now." Mike's voice was stone cold with a touch of sympathy.

  "All right. Tell me why I'm coming." Jon turned to find Marcus and Kate watching him with concern on their faces.

  "It's your mom, Jon. Someone broke into her house tonight."

  "And?" Panic ran through Jon like never before. "Mike. And what? Is she with you? Is she there? Let me talk to her."

  Kate moved toward him, her hands resting on his chest as terror rushed across her pretty features.

  "No, man. They killed her." Mike let out a painful sigh. "Get someone to bring you down here. There was a note. A message for you. I don't know what you've gotten yourself into but-"

  Jon let the phone drop from his fingers. "My mom's dead."

  "Oh shit." Kate's eyes filled with tears as she reached up to cup his face. He wanted to push her away, to push both of them away, but he couldn't find the strength to do it.

  "I need to go. They need me downtown," he mumbled as numbness set over him.

  "I'll take him. Go to Victor’s and be careful. Promise me." Marcus moved up beside them, tugging Kate away from him.

  "No. I'm going with you guys." Kate moved to start getting dressed again.

  Jon watched her as his heart shattered in his chest. A life of darkness left nothing but destruction in his path. It was fucking Karma. He'd left the police force and in return, he'd lost his mother. The last member of his family.

  Tears burned his eyes as bile rose up into his throat. He barely made it to the trashcan before losing his last meal and the one before that.

  "Let it out, Jon. We're right here." Marcus's voice was caring and comforting.

  It didn't matter though.

  Nothing but retribution did.

  Epilogue

  Kate

  Kate helped to get Jon into Marcus's car and closed the door, her heart aching horribly for her man's loss. She brushed away her useless tears and tried not to think through who would do something so horrible to Jon. It had to be Billy. Victor would just kill Jon, not his mother.

  "Kate." Marcus moved toward her, pulling her into a tight hug beside the car. "Be careful tonight. I got Jon. I promise I'll stay with him."

  "Please do. I don't want him by himself, no matter what." She pressed her face against Marcus's thick chest. "Go and figure out who the fuck did this to him."

  "I will. We'll make them suffer for it." He leaned down and kissed her hard, tugging at her hair softly before releasing her and walking to the car.

  She watched them go before jogging back up to her bedroom and packing for a night at Victor's. She wasn't sleeping with him no matter what, but she wanted to work through a few things where their partnership was concerned. Something had to give.

  Not quite trusting the bastard after he'd been violent earlier, she tucked her Glock into the back of her jeans, her pistol in a side holder above her left ankle, and her knife in her back pocket. She didn't expect a fight, but if she got one, she was going in prepared.

  "No pushing me against another
wall, you sorry bastard." She tugged her bag over her shoulder and walked back down into the club. After checking in with Jeffery, she walked down the block to where her car was parked, her heart growing more and more heavy. She’d left it out of view just in case someone came looking for her. They would have to be more cautious in the future. She started the car and headed to Victor’s as her mind raced through the possibilities of gaining their freedom.

  It seemed like there might have been a chance that Jon would want to walk away from the life of drugs and death that Marcus was so set on living. She could only hope for such an opportunity, but with his mother being taken from him... something would die inside of him. How could it not?

  A skanky blond opened the door and turned her lip up as Kate stood outside in the chilly evening. "Oh... Was Victor expecting you tonight?"

  Kate moved past her without a word, not interested in talking with the help. Fuck the girl for trying to make her feel like she wasn't anything more than a trick. That would be great if that's all her and Victor were, but somehow he had whittled his way down into her life, into her business and, seemingly, into her future.

  She stopped by his office, listening to him and Zak argue about something.

  "I don't think it was right. Plain and simple. We're here to make our mark, not stroke your fucking ego that you're the biggest and baddest boss around. I'm sick of your shit. You've lost sight of where we were going, Victor." Zak's tone was ugly, aggressive.

  "Fuck you. You don't know the games I've had to play just to get this far. This new drug is everything and those two thugs are going to help us get it in every major city in the U.S. Where else are we going to find such attractive whores?" Victor barked back, and Kate glanced behind her in the hall, grateful to find herself alone.

  "I agree that they're going to be perfect for what we're up to, but you calling attention to us with your stupid vendetta killings is sickening. What did the old lady do to you? Hm? What did the cop do, Victor? Kate has a boyfriend. So the fuck what. You have a wife back home." Zak's voice was rising, growing more and more agitated.