Hell Is Burning (36 page)

He didn't know what to do.

Jesus!

This was a mess.

When she slid from his lap, Curtis climbed into the front seat. He couldn’t be close to her. She was making it hard to think. Curtis knew that he needed to be rational, and the thief, who saved his life, was trouble.

He could see it in her sea colored eyes.

“What the hell, Greyson?” he asked, buckling in.

Croft got it. “I know.”

“No, you don’t. You left Emma back there. What were you thinking?”

He glanced over, but before he could say anything, Katerina popped her head between the seats. “My brother won’t let anything happen to her. You have to trust us, Mr. Croft. You have to believe that he won’t let her get hurt.”

He was trying.

Katerina opted to take his mind off it. “Our shooter had a Mac-10 machine pistol on full auto. He wasn’t playing games.”

Curtis glanced over at her. “You saw the gun? In all of that, you were able to get a look at it?”

She nodded. “When your wife, Mr. Croft, shouted, I glanced over. I saw the nose of it. I know my weapons. My brother has a collection.”

Curtis didn't know what to say.

Greyson did. “You’re staying at the house. We can’t have you running around.”

He went to protest.

“I’ll be staying by his side. I’ll make sure Mr. Briggs doesn’t get hurt.”

It wasn’t like they could question it. She’d just saved his life. Had they wanted to question if this sprite of a woman could do it, they had their answer. Maybe she wasn’t just a thief.

“For the record, you both need to don the Kevlar. We have some at our base that’s less bulky, and you might like it better than cop gear.”

Greyson pulled up to the gate of the mansion and keyed in the passcode. When it opened, he drove through, making sure it closed behind him without anyone coming through.

That’s the last thing they needed.

After parking, he hopped out. “I’m going to update my brother. Curtis, go check Katerina’s back. Make sure she’s okay,” he stated.

The woman stared at him. “I’m okay.”

Curtis shook his head. “We’re going to listen to him because he was a soldier, and he knows what he’s doing. We’ll let him work this out, or he’ll lose his mind.”

Katerina didn't say anything else. She simply followed the agent.

Yeah, and checked out his really fine ass.

Inside, Greyson found his brother.

The man was sitting behind the large mahogany desk going over some plans.

When he looked up, he must have seen the panic.

“What happened?”

Greyson told him everything.

“Jesus! Where’s Emma?”

He told him all about Dimitri Gideon too.

His brother simply stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “You left Emma alone with a strange man? Are you feeling well? Do you want me to call the chef and get you some tea?”

Greyson growled. “I’m well aware, but we couldn’t leave Curtis out in the open, and we just hired them as our personal security. I have to let him do his job.”

Dante stood. “Wait. This has you rattled. You’re freaked out.”

He started pacing, and then scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’m three days past freaked out, Dante. I’m in full blown anxiety attack mode.”

Dante couldn’t remember ever seeing his brother look this worried before, but then again, he wasn’t here when Emma was abducted.

“It’ll be okay. Trust him.”

Greyson was terrified. “I need you to call Steele and have him head here. If you have to pick him up, use the limo and make sure you’re both safe.”

“Are we bunking here?”

“We’re moving in. Sky Villa, while secure, isn’t safe. As Dimitri pointed out, we have the advantage point being up high, but we can’t escape if we’re trapped there. At this point, I wouldn’t be shocked if they made a move on us there. With all those windows, Emma is a sitting duck.”

Dante hugged his brother. He knew he needed the reassurance.

“I’m the end game,” he stated. “If he’s picking off the people around me, Emma will be next. I don’t buy that he’s trying to hurt me that way. He’s trying to keep my focus scattered. This corruptor wants me to go down. I won’t let the seedy scumbags take down Vegas. It’s the same game, and I have to focus.”

Dante understood. “I’ll get Steele here.”

“Is construction done?”

“The house is completed. All that’s left is the garage and the pool. They just retiled it, and it’s going to take a few days to fill it.”

“But everything else is complete?”

“Yes.”

“Cancel any additional construction.”

Dante was surprised. “Why?”

“We can’t guarantee that whoever is doing this won’t try and sneak in as a worker. Then we’re screwed. They’ll have access codes and a way in.”

He got it. “I’ll cancel the work from here on out. The only thing really left is the security system in the garage, and the set up. I can handle that myself.”

Greyson patted his brother on the shoulder. “Thank you for doing this. You’ve found your niche. You run things well.”

Dante grinned. “Well, I am your brother.”

Something occurred to him. “Dante, we’re adopting Curtis.”

The man opened his mouth. “What?” He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. While he liked the man, and trusted him, this was his brother. Dante didn't want to share.

It was selfish, but this was his circle.

He explained why. When he was done, Dante laughed. “Wait until you tell mom you’re adopting a full grown man. Please let me be there when you do it. Reggie is going to stroke out.”

Croft started laughing. He’d never thought about that. “Yeah, I can’t wait to drop that bomb.”

It was time to tell Greyson what was about to happen. “You need to take a deep breath.”

He looked at him. “Why?”

“Just do it.”

He did.

“Mom called. They’ll be here in a few hours.”

Greyson started cursing.

Dante let him get it off his chest. When he was done, he waited for his brother to calm down.

“This is the worst possible timing. We just had someone unload an automatic at us in a coffee shop. Having them snooping around is dangerous.”

He got that. Only, this was Reggie.

She didn't listen to anyone.

While they might have a shot at talking their father into staying away, the second their mother heard guns, she’d be there. She’d want to keep her sons safe.

It was a huge dilemma.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!”

“We’ll just have to tell her the truth, and she’s going to have to stay on the estate until we figure something out.”

Greyson looked around. The house was indeed almost done. It was tasteful, calming, and exactly what Emma and Greyson had wanted.

Now his mother was going to turn that upside down.

“You’re right. I can’t let this freak me out. I have too much on my plate.”

He wandered over to the liquor cabinet, and was grateful his brother had stocked it for him. The bourbon was smooth, and likely very pricy.

“Better?” Dante asked, as Greyson poured himself and his brother a glass.

“Yes. I can do this. I mean, what could possibly happen?” he asked. “Oh, wait! Mom and dad could get killed, I could lose my wife, my brother, and the man I’m adopting. Meanwhile, the city will go to hell in a handbasket, and it’ll get out that I’ve hired Russian mercenaries to keep me safe.”

Dante laughed, clinking his glass off his brothers. “Mo money is mo problems.”

Greyson started laughing. He had to.

If he didn't, he’d cry.

Curtis led Katerina around the massive house. After a few minutes, he found the master suite. It would have to do. Leading her into the bathroom, he pointed at her shirt.

“Strip.”

She grinned wickedly at him. “Wow, you move fast. I’m out of my league.”

Curtis was trying to stay calm.

He didn't know what to do. He wanted to laugh, but he was afraid. It was this deep, bowel clenching fear. He’d just lost Brynn, and he was feeling something.

He’d sworn off women, but here he was… getting right back on the ride.

They all knew how it would end.

He was a disaster.

“I need to check your back.”

She noticed he was tense. “I’m sorry. That was inappropriate. I shouldn’t have joked around. I know you’re having a hard time with losing your wife. It has to be hard on you.”

“It is.”

Only, not for the reasons she thought.

After Brynn burned him by filing for divorce, and her willingness to tell the world he was abusive, that was the end for him.

His heart closed off.

It had to stay that way.

“I’m sorry. I can take care of myself. You should go see if Mr. Croft needs anything, Mr. Briggs.”

“I will, once I check your back.”

She pulled off her shirt, standing before him in only jeans and her body armor vest.

She was right. Theirs wasn’t as bulky, and it fit them so much better.

When she turned around, lifting her long black ponytail, he saw the two spots where the bullets had impacted. Touching them, the bullets fell into his palm.

“It heats to your body and molds against you,” she said. “That way you don’t have that bulky appearance.”

He ran his fingers over the material. “It feels different.”

“It is. It’s very pricy, but we get shot at a lot. Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy you another day of life.”

Curtis wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “I’ll have the lab test these,” he offered, placing the bullets on the counter. “Now let me see your back,” he said.

She pulled at the Velcro and hissed in pain.

“Let me help you.”

When he undid it, she slipped out of the body armor. He stared at her. She was standing in front of him in nothing but a bra and jeans.

He forced himself to think about Brynn. That pain came back, and he used it keep himself from doing anything stupid.

Women were dangerous, and he wanted off that ride. From here on out, Curtis was going to take care of himself first, and not worry about anyone else.

Well, maybe Emma and Greyson too. After all, they were adopting him.

He didn't have time for women or sex.

She watched him. “Are you okay, Mr. Briggs?”

He nodded. “Let me see your back.”

When she turned, he wasn’t prepared for what he saw there. Her back was a mess. Not from the bullets, but from about one hundred other scars. They crisscrossed her flesh, leaving ugly reminders of her past behind.

“Jesus! What happened to you?”

When he touched her, she moved away from his fingers. “Let’s just say that my childhood left a lot to be desired. It’s the reason I’m the way I am.”

He stared at her in the mirror.

“The way you are?”

Katerina shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Briggs. I’m just a thief.”

He didn't know what to say. Someone had obviously abused her, and badly.

“Katerina,” he began.

“Can I borrow one of Mrs. Croft’s shirts? I don’t think my brother will like me walking around shirtless.”

“Sure. I’ll get you one.”

She watched him walk away, refusing to flinch. She hated when men saw her back. It was her secret shame. They always thought the same thing, and it made her feel helpless.

There was no way she was going back to that.

When he returned, he was holding a black t-shirt. “This should fit you. You’re about the same size as Emma.”

“Thanks,” she said, pulling it on. When she grabbed her body armor and her destroyed shirt, he stopped her. “Thank you for today, Katerina.”

She didn't say anything. Instead, she headed through the room. “Keep your ass inside, Mr. Briggs. You have a bull’s-eye on your back.”

“I can take care of myself!” he called.

She stopped at the door and pulled something from her pocket. “No offense, Mr. Briggs, but you’re distracted.” She held up his badge to prove a point.

“You picked my pocket?”

She laughed as she tossed the badge back to him. “I told you. I’m nothing more than a thief.”

He didn't know what to say.

“That’s the problem with killers. You don’t spot them until they’re right up on you. Then it’s too late. Like I said, Mr. Briggs, stay inside.”

As she left, he couldn’t help but think about her. She was wrong. Katerina was more than just a thief. She was part of something that could break him.