Paid Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 3) Read online

  His brain took over, flickering back to that one memory.

  Of her.

  Of the betrayal.

  Of the woman that he killed.

  It shut him down.

  “Dimitri?” she asked, as he stopped kissing her.

  Fortunately for him, there was a knock on the door. Then his friend’s voice.

  He wasn’t sure if he should thank him or hate him for the rest of his life.

  Dimitri knew this woman was offering herself up, and now he had to regroup.

  God!

  He needed to figure this out.

  The spell was broken. Marissa slid off his lap and fixed her hair.

  Dimitri, torn by the turn of events was now even more frustrated than last night. Instead of saying anything, he headed for his door.

  The second he opened it, Greyson grinned.

  “It’s all handled. Sorry it took so long.”

  “Oh, was it a while?”

  He lowered his voice. “Want me to give you time?” he asked, as Dimitri fixed his shirt.

  ‘No,’ he mouthed.

  Apparently, Greyson was saving him.

  Whatever.

  “You have lipstick on your face,” he whispered. “You might want to wipe that off.”

  Dimitri did.

  “I’ll meet you at the vehicle.”

  Dimitri knew he was going to bust his ass, but oddly, he didn’t mind. It was what friends and family did, and he’d come to love it.

  “We should go,” Dimitri said, standing as far from her as possible. If he touched her again, he was likely going to scare her. He couldn’t count on that one memory to come back and stop him again.

  That was the only reason they weren’t having sex on his couch.

  Well, that and Greyson’s timing.

  “Okay,” she offered, heading his way.

  “Miss Pierce?” he said, needing to know one thing before he continued to think about what could have been.

  She stopped. “Yes?”

  “Are you still afraid of me?” he asked.

  Marissa smiled and gave him her best flirtatious laugh. It seemed all was forgiven. “Absolutely not. It’s like when you turn on the light and come out of the dark. There’s nothing to fear. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  She headed out.

  Dimitri watched her, and her words unsettled him.

  He was the dark.

  And that’s all he could ever be.

  But worse, she had no fucking clue what she was doing. If she did, Marissa Pierce would run.

  * * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *

  LVPD

  Captain’s Office

  He was pissed and worried. In fact, truth be told, he was ready to freak the hell out at any second. Thomas Christ was a man on the edge, and he didn’t know if he could keep it under control.

  The shit was about to hit the fan.

  It was only a matter of time.

  Somehow, Greyson Croft knew what he’d done.

  He didn’t doubt that the world was going to know too. The man didn’t play games, and this was a dangerous one. It could end badly, for him.

  Christ did NOT want to go to jail. He’d sent away too many men he’d framed by planting evidence.

  If they sent his ass back to Philadelphia, he was a dead man.

  Jail.

  Death.

  They were the same to him.

  He needed help on this one, and since he was screwed, there was only one man who could do the job.

  Jeffery Raye.

  Once his nerves were settled, he reached for his office phone. He could see his detectives milling around, and it didn’t give him any comfort.

  His newly found kingdom was about to be stripped away by some two-bit criminal.

  It made him desperate.

  When the commissioner answered the phone, he couldn’t wait.

  “He knows.”

  “He knows exactly what, and who are we talking about?” Commissioner Raye asked, taken aback by the man’s borderline hysteria.

  “Croft knows about Gage Starling and how you made the papers disappear.”

  There was silence.

  You could hear a pin drop.

  The man wasn’t even breathing.

  “How the hell did he do that?”

  “I don’t know. He told me he found the file. He told me that he had it.”

  “Well, we have to get it back,” he said.

  “How?”

  “We need to get into that house. My neck is on the line just as much as yours,” the commissioner said. “I falsified your resume and the testing results. I went to bat for you. What the hell, Tom?”

  Oh no.

  This man wasn’t hanging this one on him.

  No freaking way.

  “Well, then you better find a way into that mansion of his because the shit is getting real. If I go down, you’re joining me,” he admitted. “I’ll sing. So get my ass out of this sling. You brought me here, and I’ve done what you asked.”

  He was aware.

  He needed to think.

  This was going to be a delicate matter, and he needed to measure everything they did.

  Croft would be watching and waiting.

  “Help me.”

  “I’ll make a call. The FBI Director owes me. I’m about to call in that chip. We are going to get into that house, and once I do, we’ll find that paper. We can bribe a fed or two. It’ll disappear. If he has the originals…”

  Thomas Christ hung up.

  He didn’t want to know anything else. If he was going to swing, he was taking down the man who put him in this position. Back East, he wasn’t a cop, but he was living an easy life. Now he was about to go to jail.

  No.

  NO.

  Christ was worried. He didn’t know if he could trust the man.

  He didn’t know if he could allow him to run this anymore. Everything the commissioner seemed to touch turned to shit. Instead, he picked up the phone and took the situation into his own hands.

  “Do you want revenge?” he asked.

  Heath Spencer wanted that and so much more. He was out on bail as he waited for his trial, and he was ostracized. He wanted the Crofts dead, and he had nothing left to lose.

  His career was gone.

  His life was over.

  All that was left now was to take them with him.

  “I want blood.”

  “Greyson Croft has a file I need. If you can find a way into his house, I’ll make sure a couple of cops grab Emma Croft, and you can take your revenge out on her.”

  Heath laughed. “Oh, I will get you whatever you need, but it may take time. That house is hard to enter.”

  He was well aware.

  “I need something.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “They took my guns. I need some.”

  That he could do.

  “I have a friend who deals in guns. Here’s his address. Tell him I sent you. Get into that house, and find me that file, and then disappear.”

  Heath could do better than that.

  He was going to go out in a blaze of glory.

  Fuck the Crofts.

  They destroyed his life, and it was his time to begin to destroy theirs.

  Chapter Seven

  Titty Corral

  Strip Club

  Sunday

  Mid-Morning

  E mma was practically bouncing in her seat. She was beside Chris, and she was humming and in a damn good mood. For once, Greyson didn’t try to lock her away for her safety. He was letting her head to the club to do her part on their team.

  She was excited.

  “You know it’s sick that you’re all hyped up about going to some sleazy strip club,” Chris offered.

  “Yeah, but I don’t get to have the fun Greyson has. Normally, he’s wigging out that someone is trying to kill me. I feel stoked that he’s letting me handle this.”

  “Uh, for the record, Em, someone is g
enerally trying to kill you. We can review all the times, if you’d like.”

  She found that amusing. “No, I recall each and every one, so thanks. I just can’t help it. I know I’m pregnant, but a mind is a terrible thing to waste. This is going to be fun. I haven’t been to a strip club in Vegas before.”

  He stared at her.

  “Yeah, well, no comment.”

  “Come on! I’m going to have fun with this. Life is too short, and once the world finds out I’m carrying the heir to the Croft crazy, I’m done out in the field.”

  She was right.

  Greyson would put his foot down.

  Still…

  “I’m glad you’re stoked, but you realize I have to do this with you, right? I hope Natasha won’t be angry.”

  He sounded concerned.

  “Are you two officially a couple?” she asked. “You know…girlfriend and all?”

  He loved that word.

  It gave him this sense of comfort. Chris had been single for so long, that it was odd being part of a couple.

  He really liked it.

  Especially the sex.

  He wasn’t getting any younger, and if he had a shot at love, he had to take it. There wouldn’t be that many more women out there interested in a forty plus year old who worked for the mob.

  That was a hard sell.

  “Yeah, we are. I’m content not moving too fast. I want to enjoy this feeling. Being in a relationship, where I’m not freaked out, is nice.”

  “Just don’t knock her up,” she teased. “Dimitri can’t handle it this week.”

  “Well, I won’t. I’ll be nice to him.”

  She stared at him like he was loco.

  “What?”

  “You are going to be nice? Do you want to make him paranoid?”

  He snorted. “I feel for him. He’s struggling. I can see it.”

  Emma didn’t confirm or deny it, and that was more than enough to prove he was right.

  “Here’s the facts. He was leaning against you, and Dimitri is more the wall than the leaner, and he reached for your hand. He doesn’t touch anyone. Ever.”

  She was aware.

  “I can’t discuss why he’s struggling, just like I wouldn’t tell him anything personal you told me. I love you both, and I have to keep everyone’s secrets.”

  “So, you’re not playing favorites? Spoken like a true mother.”

  She laughed. “Yep.”

  “I’ll cut him a break. Your husband, not so much. He’s on my shit list for this assignment.”

  Emma glanced over. “Why? What am I missing?”

  “We got screwed. I’ve been in the ‘Titty Corral’. It’s gross and vile. He stuck us with the shit job so he didn’t have to come here. This wasn’t about him thinking you could handle it. This was about him saying ‘I am NOT going in there’.”

  She stared. “Really?”

  He laughed. “We had a bust once in there. I was afraid to get Hep C from breathing. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

  She pulled out her cell.

  Greyson answered.

  “Question?”

  “Answer.”

  “Did you stick me with the strip joint because you thought I would find something or because you would rather lick a public toilet then spend one second in there?”

  He laughed at her analogy. “I love you, honey. You’re the best wife ever. Wear gloves, and don’t drink anything. They don’t wash their glasses. I don’t want anything communicable.”

  “Greyson Thaddeus Croft!”

  “I’ve been there. Why should I have all the fun? Enjoy,” he said, as he and Dimitri were laughing.

  He hung up.

  Emma was pissed. “What the…?”

  “See? We didn’t get the good job where you get a kick ass interview and find a lead. He’s betting on it being a dead end. They’ve been here before, and Gerald Darden has been dead a couple days. The lead is cold.”

  “Son of a bitch! I’ll kick his caveman ass!”

  He laughed. “Yeah, he’s going to the girl’s apartment so Mr. Clean doesn’t have to touch sperm coated seats.”

  That visual played out in her mind.

  “Oh, Jesus. I’m not sitting in there. I’m sitting in your lap. Screw that.”

  “Looks like I get my revenge then too,” he teased.

  “I can’t believe he played his pregnant wife.”

  There would be payback.

  “I have to make him suffer. He should know better.”

  Chris laughed. “Well, there’s always media following us,” he said, pointing behind them.

  Emma looked.

  That gave her an idea.

  “Want to mess with him?”

  He grinned. “Like mess with him AND the media?”

  “Yes.”

  He was in.

  What did he have to lose? It wasn’t like Greyson would hurt him. Emma would kick his ass for that too. He was safe.

  He laughed. “I don’t mind. I’m getting the good end of the deal, but you have to clear it with Natasha. I don’t want to be dumped.”

  She dialed the woman.

  “Yes, Emma?”

  “Where are you?”

  “At home, why? You wanted me off your tail.”

  “Chris and I are going to a strip club.”

  “I see.”

  She laughed. “Not to see strippers. We have an interview, but your brother and my husband screwed us over. This place is gross.”

  “That sounds like them.”

  “I’m going to be sitting in Chris’s lap as I mess with Greyson. Are you okay with that?”

  She paused. “Uh, why are you asking?”

  “Chris didn’t want you to dump him if you saw something questionable on the news. You know how the media is when they make up stories about us. Last week I was screwing your brother, the week before that I was having a secret affair with Liberace.”

  She laughed. “Everything is questionable on the news. I didn’t know I could dump him. Is that a thing?”

  “Well, you’re his girl. So, yeah, you can dump him if he doesn’t make you happy, or you can make him buy you shit. We’ll go over that part of the deal later.”

  Natasha laughed.

  Chris slapped her on the leg.

  ‘Really?’ he mouthed.

  “Are you okay with it?” Emma asked.

  “Well, tell him I trust him, and that I’ll call him when I plan to sit in some man’s lap.”

  Chris pointed at Emma.

  Natasha was laughing. “I know he can hear me. I’m watching you on the monitor.”

  “Jesus, I hate these cars with their screens,” he muttered.

  “I love you, and be safe,” Natasha said, hanging up.

  Emma turned off the navigational screen.

  “I am outnumbered,” Chris muttered. “You’re going to make her mean like you, aren’t you?” he asked.

  She grinned and nodded.

  “Well, shit.”

  Chris pulled into the parking lot. When Emma saw it, she shook her head.

  “Yeah, there it is.”

  Yeah, it looked like a dive. The sign had too big breasts behind a horse fence and all in neon.

  The nipples flashed, and they were huge.

  Klassy.

  With a K.

  “Jesus. I feel herpes coming on,” Chris muttered. “My dick is itchy right now.”

  She laughed. “That I didn’t need to know, but maybe you should see a doctor about that.”

  “You know what I mean, smart ass,” he said.

  “Yeah, I know. Okay, let’s have some fun,” she said, hopping out of their vehicle. As they did, the media started taking pictures.

  Emma was going to make Greyson pay for sticking her with this job. As soon as Chris was by her, she jumped into his arms, and he carried her across the parking lot. The entire time, she was laughing in his ear.

  She imagined it looked like she was teasing it wi
th her teeth.

  He was laughing too.

  It was nice not to have to be so ridiculously serious while working. That’s why he liked watching Emma. He could keep her safe and be entertained all at once.

  Plus, it didn’t hurt his ego that the media called him her sidepiece. Emma was beautiful, and he’d take any attention he could get.

  At the door, she handed the guy money to get in. The cool, crisp C-note disappeared in seconds.

  The man immediately smiled and was nice. Emma knew he recognized her.

  “Let’s get a private room for some kinky fun,” she said, kissing Chris on the mouth.

  It wasn’t a peck either. There was all kinds of tongue involved, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it.

  Sue him.

  Still, it wasn’t the same as when he was making out with his girlfriend. It was like kissing…his sister.

  When she bit his lip, Chris nearly walked them into the door.

  Inside, she was laughing, as he dropped her to her feet.

  “That should put Greyson over the edge,” she teased.

  He was well aware.

  “That guy is calling every tabloid in Vegas to sell his story,” Chris said, heading toward the bar. “I’m buying a copy for those lonely nights.”

  She laughed. “You don’t have those anymore.”

  “Then those lonely moments in between sex with my much younger girlfriend who is bendy.”

  “You know we’re going to revisit that comment, and you’re going to regret it.”

  He grinned. “We can share stories. I’m in the game now.”

  Emma loved him.

  He was such a dork, and he truly loved Natasha. He might tease and flirt, but she could see it with each time he said her name or ‘girlfriend’.

  Someone was seriously smitten.

  Emma was so happy for him, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t bust his ass too.

  “Such a pervert.”

  “Pain in my ass,” he said. “Don’t drink anything or touch anything!”

  “Worried?” she teased.

  “Yeah, you just kissed me, and I don’t want ‘the HIV’,” he said, “if by chance you’re doing it again.”

  The way he said it was so damn funny.

  “Yes, boy toy,” she said, slapping him on the ass.