Hell Is Burning (35 page)

“You just told me you were adopting him and making him part of your lives. Before this, someone had studied you. They knew that Curtis was part of your inner circle. From here on out, they’re going to go for your core.”

Greyson hated that.

“By taking out your allies, they leave you unprotected. Of course they went for a cop. That’s an armed guard. If you want to make someone weak, you destroy those who can keep them safe.”

Well, shit!

They had a lot of cops around them. Paris, Tessa, Mace, Chris Ford, and even Curtis were now in the bull’s-eye.

Damn!

Damn!

Damn!

It took a few seconds, but Curtis finally got it. He stared over at them. “Brynn died because you loved her?”

Here it came.

This was the other reason they didn't want Curtis to hear this. Now that they had a new theory, they didn't need him blowing up.

Emma braced for it. “I’m sorry, Curtis, but it’s likely why it happened.”

Just as he was about to say something in anger, the fingers were back on his leg. They were gently trying to sooth him. Curtis glanced over at Katerina Gideon.

She was watching him.

He might be mistaken, but there was sympathy and compassion in her eyes. It appealed to him.

For some reason, her touch calmed him. When she smiled, aqua eyes lighting, he found the ability to stay calm.

Curtis let the anger go. “Well, we find who did this, and we make them pay. What’s done is done.”

Greyson glanced at his wife.

He wasn’t expecting that.

They just told Curtis that the reason Brynn had been murdered was likely her affiliation with them. This was entirely their fault, and he wasn’t losing it.

Shocking wasn’t the word for it.

This was huge.

Covertly, Curtis placed his hand over Katerina’s on his lap and gently squeezed as a thank you. He appreciated what she’d just done.

He owed her one.

Dimitri continued, “If this is Dominic Marianna, he’s going to slip up,” he said. “It’ll only be a matter of time before someone makes a mistake.”

“Do you think it’s him?” Greyson asked. He really hated not knowing who the enemy was.

“No.”

“Why?”

“He’s still reeling. The man dumped millions into projects the day Randall was murdered. He assumed he could take over as major player in Vegas. That was his one big power play. Then it came out who was the heir to the throne. The second Emma inherited everything, his hopes went to hell in a handbasket. You made sure he didn't profit off anything, didn't you?”

“Yes,” Croft stated. “Each deal he did, I undid by using Randall’s money. He put his hands on my wife, and it was the least I could do. I wanted to kill him. He’s lucky I didn't.”

“That can be arranged.”

Emma began choking on her water. “NO! Shhhhh! Do you realize we have to take you in for even suggesting that?”

Dimitri laughed. “I was kidding. I wouldn’t tell you if we took him out. We’d just do it.”

She sighed.

This was a losing battle.

“Anyway, he’s sinking fast. I don’t think he has the focus to pull this off. His business partner, Levi Hammond, is still missing. The cops won’t find him until it’s time.”

“Crap,” Emma muttered. She hoped this didn't fall onto her desk. She had a sneaking suspicion that she’d be investigating the people in front of her.

Greyson lifted a brow. “Did you have anything to do with that?”

The man grinned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Do you, Kat?” he asked.

It caught her off guard. She was busy staring at the agent. She couldn’t help it. There was something sweet about the curl of brown hair in the middle of his forehead.

“It wasn’t me. I didn’t steal him away.”

Emma didn't buy any of that, but she didn't care. Greyson’s life was on the line just as much as hers, and they were desperate.

“Let’s hope he’s never found,” Greyson stated.

“I’m pretty sure if he is, Dominic Marianna will look guilty. I mean, he will be guilty.”

That said it all.

Dimitri Gideon had taken the man out, and he was giving them the heads up.

They stared at him, waiting for the man to be forthright with his answers.

“I thought we said truth.”

“Oh, okay! The word on the strip is Randall had him taken care of when he threatened to take your home and cars. Randall didn't like when Dominic screwed with his heir. So, if he’s dead, Randall is to blame. Are you going to dig him up to arrest him?”

Then he saw Emma flinch.

His temper got the best of him.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Croft. If it’s any consolation, I miss him too.”

She nodded, letting it go.

“I just don’t want to hear that you killed Levi.”

He looked all around the room as if he was checking out the scenery.

That said it all.

“I’m a cop. I’m a cop. I’m a cop,” she repeated over and over again, trying to not let herself fall into this pile of shit.

Dimitri laughed. “Yes, and I’m a hired gun. It’s funny how we can come together and have lunch.”

Emma dropped her fork and wiped her mouth. “Let’s forget that we ever had this conversation,” she stated.

All parties involved would be more than happy to do just that.

“If I were you, Greyson, I’d move everyone to the new house. I know your brother and his boyfriend are staying with you. It’ll be easier for us to do our job if we can keep you wrangled in one place. Terminate your security. We’ll take over.”

He laughed. “What? Do you want me to make it easy for you? Can’t you get into Sky Villa?”

“Oh, I’ve been in there. It’s a really nice place. There’s just no way to escape, if whoever is doing this gets inside.”

“They won’t.”

He shook his head.

The man was in for one hell of a shock. “Know how I got inside, Greyson?” Dimitri asked.

Croft had to admit that he was three days past curious. Sky Villa was supposed to be the most secure building in all of Vegas.

“Yes, I do. How?”

“I live on the floor below you. If this person has enough money, all they have to do is buy a condo. Your pretty wife will be executed in her own home. Is she supposed to jump from the thirteenth floor?”

Greyson stopped. “We’ll be moving to the house ASAP.”

Dimitri laughed. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve lived there longer than you have. I didn't buy it to spy on you. It was simply a funny coincidence. I own a few places. It’s my favorite.”

Emma shook her head.

This was all too much.

She was a cop, and now she and Greyson were getting down and dirty in the underbelly of Vegas. This was exactly what they didn't want to happen.

Fate was one hell of a bitch, dumping this mess in their laps.

They were screwed. If this got out, they were both going to lose their jobs--or go to jail.

It sucked.

Before she could say anything, something caught her eye. There was a flash of light as the sun caught some shiny chrome outside the café.

She turned her head and saw it.

There was a black Cadillac, and it was rolling down the street a little too slow. It was the same vehicle Dimitri had just shown them in the pictures. She tracked it, afraid to look away. As it came to a crawl in front of the business, she saw it. There was a gun pointed out the window.

Not a handgun.

It was a high powered automatic weapon.

Shit!

“Gun!” she shouted, grabbing her husband by the blazer as the first shots rang out.

Glass shattered.

The windows exploded around them, and all hell broke loose.

It looked like the killer wasn’t done.

Instead, he was taking a few shots at them in a crowded restaurant. Someone meant business.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Emma pulled her husband to the ground and threw her body over his. From her peripheral, she saw Curtis go down with Katerina’s body over his. The wood all around them splintered in a spray of bullets.

Time froze.

Then it sped up.

Then there was the squeal of tires.

And silence fell.

Chapter Ten 
             

The searches were going well. Maybe it was the company, and maybe it was just that they were both grateful to be working together. Locked away in Paris’s office, they weren’t exactly having a miserable time.

They were together.

The information was coming in, and they were having a good time while gathering it.

“How’s it going?” Tessa asked, leaning over to read Paris’s tablet.

Really, she just wanted to breathe in his really great aftershave. Working with him was extra stimulating, and she was woman enough to admit it. Not only was her doctor sexy, but he reminded her of some rain storm.

She couldn’t help herself.

Tessa inhaled his scent.

“It’s a total bust,” he stated. “I reverse ran the reporter’s email address, and there wasn’t one hit to it, so this idea is dead in the water.”

“That’s too bad,” she offered. “It would have made everything easier if we could connect someone to leaking the details about Brynn’s murder.”

Paris agreed.

When he glanced over, Tessa was watching him. Her green cat eyes didn't miss a single motion he made, and Paris couldn’t help but feel his blood pressure rise.

“What?” he asked, peeking over his glasses.

“I love you.”

His pulse kicked in his neck.

Whenever Tessa would say those words, there was a rush of emotion. He’d come close to losing her through his own stupidity. Now their life was almost perfect. Happiness had blossomed out of pain and devastation.

He was a lucky man.

“I love you too, Tessa. I promise that when you marry me, I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world. All I want to do is make you smile.”

She did just that.

It took his breath away.

Leaning forward, Tessa grabbed him by his tie and tugged him toward her. The second their lips met, there was a scorching heat.

Locked away behind Paris’s office door, Tessa broke him down. All stress fell away until all that was left was love.

Pure.

Unadulterated.

Love.

Instead of setting him free, she slid into his lap. Once there, she was able to really show him how she felt about him. The kiss curled her toes, and she hoped it did the same for Paris.

When she finally broke away, he was staring at her.

“Tessie, that was incredible.”

She couldn’t agree with him more.

“I know we’ve been forbidden to fool around in your office by the director, but maybe we can make out a little before we crash on your couch.”

He started laughing. “Yeah, that can be arranged. I’m willing to bend the rules a little bit,” he offered.

Tessa stared into his blue eyes. “You’re going to be my husband in two days. I can’t believe it.”

He couldn’t either.

Here was his miracle.

“Want to order lunch after we finish and have a picnic here?” he offered.

That touched her heart. “Yes, I’d really like that, Paris. It would be perfect.”

He grinned. “You can stay in my lap if you want,” he offered.

Tessa got up. “I can’t.”

He was a little disappointed.

“If I stay there, my hands are going to start wandering, and your shirt will be open. Then I’m going to get on my knees and give you one hell of a blowjob.”

He swallowed.

“See? That’s a problem. You’re safer if I stay in my own chair.”

“Screw safety.”

Tessa laughed as the tablet beeped. The search she was running had finally finished up. Now she could check out the results.

Pulling up the data, Paris moved closer to read over her shoulder.

“Look,” he stated, pointing at the financials. “There’s the connection!”

She saw it.

They’d just found a way to connect Shirley Golden, Blanca Reilly, and Kelly Granger.

“This is really good, Tessie.”

“Yeah, it is. The bosses will be thrilled.”

Paris leaned back is his chair. “We should order lunch. We earned a break.”

Tessa headed to his door to make sure it was locked. When she turned, he was watching her.

“Tessa, what are you doing?”

She grinned wickedly as she unbuttoned her shirt to give him a peek of what was under her clothes. “Dinner is great, Paris, but I’ve always liked dessert better.”

He swallowed as she dropped to her knees in front of him.

“Tessa,” he hissed as her hand set him free.

“About that blowjob,” she stated.

“What about it?” he asked, barely able to string words together. She was stroking him and licking her lips.

He was screwed.

“It’s break time. We’re off the clock, and that means we can have some fun.”

He swallowed.

Then so did Tessa.

Him.

Whole.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

Café

Friday Afternoon

When the dust settled and the screaming stopped, they were still on the ground. Emma lifted her head when the tires outside squealed, proving the shooter was leaving the scene.

Staring down at her husband, he looked just as surprised.

“Emma! Are you okay?” he asked, running his hands up and down her back.

“Kevlar,” she stated, trying to calm her pounding heart. “I knew you weren’t wearing,” she stated.

His fingers found a bullet lodged in her back plate. Greyson wanted to be sick. “Jesus, honey!”

She closed her eyes, trying not to weep. “You’re okay, right?”

He touched her cheek to get her attention, and then he remembered they weren’t alone. “I’m good.”

When the crunching of glass sounded, both Emma and Greyson glanced over.

Dimitri was getting up, brushing shards from his black hair and suit. “That would be the Cadillac that was following you all week.”

Glancing down at Curtis, he and Katerina weren’t moving.

Emma touched his shoulder. “Curtis, are you okay?”

He nodded.

Then Katerina moaned. Apparently, she wasn’t as lucky. Dimitri dropped beside his sister to check out her back.

He pulled off her blazer and saw the two bullet holes. She’d been wearing body armor too, and that’s what saved their lives.

“I’m okay,” she muttered. “It just hurts like a bitch,” she added, her Russian lilted accent coming out.

They didn't move her off Curtis’s body. Instead, he stared up at her as she caught her breath. “You saved me.”

“It was worth it,” she said, never looking away from him. With gentle fingers, she brushed some glass from his hair. “You need to start wearing Kevlar, sladkaya.”

He wanted to ask her what it meant, but before he could speak, there were sirens.

Glancing around, everyone in the place had run for cover. For now, Emma needed to get this scene under control. That meant one thing.

She turned toward her husband. “You have to get Curtis and Katerina out of here. They’re going to want to examine her, and that’s trouble.”

Dimitri agreed. “I’ll stay with Mrs. Croft. Get them out of here, Director. We don’t need more media on this.”

Greyson wasn’t happy. “I’m not leaving you here.”

“It’s my job. I’m a cop, Greyson. We were the targets. I have to handle this the best I can. We don’t need this exploding in our faces.”

Dimitri stopped her. “You and the director weren’t the target. He was,” he said, pointing at Curtis. “Look at the wall behind him. It’s sprayed with bullets. Katerina and you took the only hits because you were in his way. If it was meant to take you out, they would have put more bullets in you.”

Well, this proved their point.

Whoever was after them was picking off the people around them.

“Let’s go,” Greyson said, knowing they were right.

Slowly, Katerina moved off of Curtis.

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “Once I can breathe again.”

Curtis hopped up. “Cops,” he stated, as they screamed around the corner.

They had to move.

Reaching down, Curtis plucked Katerina from the ground and into his arms. He rushed them toward the side exit and Emma’s vehicle.

Greyson shouted over his shoulder. “You watch her! I mean it!”

Dimitri understood.

They watched them rush away, just as the cops arrived. “What’s the plan, Mrs. Croft?”

“We’re going to lie to the police.”

He started laughing.

“I was the target. I don’t want the killer to know we’re on to them. This is the game, and we’re going to play it the way we have to.”

“Can do.”

“Come on. Let’s go break the law.”

Dimitri followed her out, scanning the area. Already, he knew he was going to enjoy working for the Crofts. They were his kind of people.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

He was trying not to hurry.

What he wanted was to pick the perfect one.

Deep down, he knew he shouldn’t rush, but he couldn’t help himself.

He needed to take another.

With each one, he immediately felt better. There was this flash of satisfaction, and then he could be at peace. Each time he killed her, over and over again, he could find calm.

He longed for it.

She deserved to die.

The woman was no good.

In his heart he knew he shouldn’t feel that way, but something about her made him crazy. Every time he saw her in the faces of others, he was compelled to snap--like he had so many years ago.

Now he needed to find another. That feeling of longing was coming back, and he couldn’t satiate it anymore. While he was at home, he used to be able to find the silence, but now the voices were getting louder and louder.

They wanted him to do horrible things.

He couldn’t stop.

He wanted to, but he knew how vile she was. In the end, it was up to him to make her pay.

Without him, there’d be no justice.

He’d hidden for so many years in plain sight, and now he was sick of it. They could have the women.

He’d hand them over.

After taking their lives, he’d offer them up.

Besides, his yard was full.

He couldn’t hide them any longer.

His life was full of secrets, and it was bursting at the seams, waiting to be free. Soon, the dam would break, and he’d be helpless to hold it back.

He wanted to be free.

But he couldn’t…

So now he would listen to the voices and hurry. Another woman was on the schedule, and he needed to comply. The longing was back, and he had to have her.

He wanted to keep this one a while, but he couldn’t.

He knew better.

And yet…

       
                                   
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

Terrace Glen

Leaving his wife out in the open with their ‘security’ was the hardest thing Greyson had ever done. He didn't like the idea that Emma was out in the field alone, especially after someone had taken shots at them.

It was terrifying.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, he casually watched Curtis as he held Katerina in his lap. The man looked concerned, and he should be.

Someone was gunning for him now too.

It was almost too much to take.

“Are you okay, Ms. Gideon?” Greyson asked.

“I’m good, Mr. Croft. I can sit up now,” she stated. When Curtis hesitated, she stared into his eyes. “I’m fine. I can breathe again, Mr. Briggs.”

He let her go.

He had to.

Curtis was a mess inside, and he couldn’t understand it. Was it because someone was trying to kill him now too? Was it because Brynn died because of the Crofts? Or was it this woman? She was tying him up in knots, and his wife wasn’t even in the ground yet.