Dark Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 1) Page 2

  In the end, we’ll get it.

  When it’s all said and done, if you find us, and we agree to help you, there’s nothing we won’t do.

  We’ll take your case.

  We’ll find the answers.

  We’ll get you the justice you deserve.

  When it’s all said and done, not every mob family is bad. Sometimes….

  We’re simply misunderstood.

  Look out Las Vegas. You feared me before, but you haven’t seen anything. I’m Greyson Croft, and I’m about to be your worst freaking nightmare.

  I’m bringing justice back—with a vengeance.

  Signed,

  Greyson Croft

  Prologue

  Las Vegas

  She didn’t know if there was anyone out there who could help her. It had become so overwhelming, and she was at the end of her rope. In a couple of days, her brother, who was innocent, was about to die. It all happened in a blink of an eye.

  There was no way this could be anything but a nightmare, and yet, she wasn’t waking up.

  How had it all gotten so out of hand?

  Her brother was a good guy, and he’d been framed. Yes, everyone who was in jail said that, but she truly believed it. He was her twin, and she knew he wasn’t capable of such atrocities.

  He’d been a cop.

  A damn good one.

  Then one day, it all came crashing to a halt. They’d stripped him of his badge, thrown him in an orange jumpsuit, and locked him away for trial.

  Now they were going to end his life.

  At first, it was surreal. Now it was just scary. A man, who once loved his city, justice, and life, was days away from being strapped to a gurney and murdered. He’d loved his job, done it well, and this was his payback.

  It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.

  He was innocent.

  She knew it.

  So, Miranda refused to give up on him. She couldn’t. She did what she had to do. She wandered Vegas, trying to find the truth. There was no way in hell her brother had killed those women, raping and destroying them.

  It wasn’t possible.

  It didn’t add up.

  Seth had been gay his whole life, and now he was accused of sexually assaulting five women, strangling them, and then dumping their bodies in various fountains all over Las Vegas.

  It was total bullshit.

  There was no way.

  Miranda Bell had to find a way to get him off. She couldn’t leave her brother, her twin, to die because of crimes he didn’t commit. When he told them he was gay, and he didn’t do it, the police didn’t want to listen.

  It was an open and shut case for them.

  They wanted a serial killer found, and they’d done just that, only it was lies.

  Seth Bell was a good man.

  He couldn’t hurt a fly.

  Now they were counting the days until they took his life in payment for the dead women’s lives. The clock was ticking, and she was scared. As she begged the police, media, and anyone else who would listen, trying to get anyone to see the truth, she didn’t have much hope.

  They all told her the same thing.

  It was too late.

  Then she heard about him.

  The seedy element whispered his name. For a few bucks, a bartender pointed her in his direction. Then as she went from more strip clubs to bars, seeking the truth, that same name kept popping up, over and over again.

  It had to mean something. Miranda Bell knew that if she could find him, he’d help.

  Well, it hadn’t been as easy as they made it sound.

  The man was a ghost.

  When she finally got some good information, she hoped it would be her last stop. Seth didn’t have much time left, and she couldn’t hope for a stay of execution. At this point, it didn’t look good at all. The governor had no mercy for a man who’d been hired to uphold the law and then broke it.

  He was sending a clear message.

  Yeah, that if you were the underdog, then you were an easy target. Still, Miranda wouldn’t give up on her brother.

  Never.

  So she was going to meet with that enigma to see if he could help. He was her last chance.

  She’d finally gotten a location. At this bar, in the huge hotel, she was going to meet him.

  Frankly, she was scared shitless.

  She’d heard the rumors about him. Everyone in the streets talked about Dimitri Gideon. He was the whispered name that no one would say directly to her face. It was passed from miscreant to miscreant, stripper to stripper, and then finally to her.

  Some warned her.

  Some were in awe.

  All feared him, and she did too.

  He was trouble.

  As she walked into the bar, a hostess waited for her. The place was all dark wood, smelled like pricy cigars and bourbon, and made her think of some gentleman’s club from years past. There was low Jazz playing in the background, the women were dressed in black, hair done, makeup in place.

  Someone ran a tight ship.

  All of this added to her nervousness. The person who hung out here wasn’t going to be a pushover. He was going to be powerful.

  It added to her fear.

  “Can I help you?” the woman at the counter asked. “Are you looking for someone?”

  Yeah, she could say that.

  “I’m here to see Dimitri Gideon. I need to see him. Is he around?”

  The woman didn’t bat an eyelash. “And you are?”

  “I’m Miranda Bell. I really need his help. I was told to find him here, and to give him this.”

  She held out his card. It simply had two words on it.

  ‘Club Aquarius.’

  The woman took it.

  It seemed to change her demeanor. It was like a key that unlocked something. That made Miranda both curious and nervous.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling at the woman. “Give me a few seconds. I’ll see if he’s available to meet with you, Ms. Bell,” she said, heading through the tables and booths toward a back room.

  Miranda wanted to cry.

  She wanted to scream.

  She wanted to beg.

  To say she was a violent storm of emotions would be an understatement. If this man wouldn’t see her, this was going to be a huge waste of her time. Seth didn’t have the luxury of it, and she knew it.

  As she stood there, she stared at the pricy looking bottles of hard liquor behind the shelf.

  She could really use a drink.

  Her nerves were shot.

  Then she heard the clicking of heels. The woman was back, and the same smile was on her face.

  Miranda held her breath.

  This was the defining moment that would make or break her brother’s life.

  “If you’ll follow me, Ms. Bell, Dimitri is available to see you in his private room.”

  She let out the breath she was holding.

  “Thank you so much!”

  Miranda and the hostess weaved through the male patrons until they found their way to the door. As she stepped through, entering the owner’s lounge, she saw him behind the table.

  He had raven black hair, bright aqua colored eyes, and he looked like he could end her life with a snap of his fingers. The pricy suit was well fitted, and he was wearing a black tie.

  He made her nervous.

  Really nervous.

  There was that brief moment when she got the feeling she was in the room with a predator. It made her want to run, never looking back.

  Then she thought about Seth.

  She had to be strong for him. No one else was fighting for him. Miranda was Seth’s only chance.

  The woman led her to the table.

  “Would you like a drink, Ms. Bell?” she asked.

  She actually jumped, not expecting to hear the woman’s voice. Miranda was trapped in the man’s gaze, and she felt like some prey being stalked.

  “Ms. Bell?” Marissa asked once more.

  Miranda shook her head, her eyes wide as she watched him. He was calmly sitting there, measuring her up. His hands were clasped on the old wood table, he wasn’t blinking, and he was waiting for her to sit.

  She wanted to run.

  The woman walked away, leaving her with him. Suddenly, she wanted her to stay. Maybe she should have taken that drink. Then she would have guaranteed that the woman would be coming back.

  “And you are?” he asked.

  She heard the Russian lilt in his voice, and Miranda wasn’t surprised. He looked Russian. The angled cheekbones, the full lips, and the way he sat there screamed dangerous. Miranda swore she was in some James Bond back room, dealing with a bad guy.

  Crap!

  This may have been a huge mistake.

  “I’m Miranda Bell, and I was told that if I found you that maybe you would help me.”

  Dimitri simply watched her. That was how he picked all of their clients. By watching a person, you could learn a lot about them. This woman was no different.

  She was afraid.

  That was the first and foremost thing he noticed.

  Next was her appearance. She looked like a mousy schoolteacher, meant to be in a classroom with unruly children—not combing the streets of Vegas looking for his help.

  Honestly, Dimitri couldn’t imagine why she was there. She looked like a Sunday School meets preschool instructor. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was worrying her hands.

  He was curious how she had gotten one of his cards. They didn’t plaster them all about the city. In fact, they were incredibly selective, believing fate would point their clients at them.

  “Is that so? What kind of assistance do you think I can offer you, Miss Bell?” he inquired.

  This should prove int
eresting.

  When he leaned forward, Miranda’s heart began skipping in her chest. She was scared shitless.

  He was Russian mob.

  She could tell.

  He was the kind of guy who would take you out to the middle of the desert, put a gun to your head, and then laugh while pulling the trigger.

  He reeked of killer.

  She was screwed.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here,” she said, going to stand. Miranda had to get out of there.

  Dimitri was even more curious now than when she walked into the club. When Marissa told him about her, he didn’t know why she would want his help. Now that she was bolting, his interest was piqued. Miranda Bell had gone through a lot of trouble to find him, and she was ready to run.

  Interesting.

  It was his nature.

  As she went to leave, he placed his hand on her arm. That one touch, meant to calm, had the opposite effect.

  She burst into tears.

  Dimitri didn’t even bat an eyelash at the rush of emotions. Truth be told, he was accustomed to women. After all, he’d raised his sisters, spent time around them, and lived with women, too.

  Girls he got.

  Her fear?

  Yeah, that concerned him.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, as she sat back down.

  “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here,” he offered. “You’re obviously distraught.”

  That was putting it mildly.

  “I was given your card,” she said sniffling.

  Dimitri motioned his hand, and a waitress brought over a glass of water and box of tissues. After placing them before Miranda Bell, she disappeared to give them privacy.

  “Thank you.”

  “You came across one of my cards,” he said, urging her to continue. If someone had given her a card, that meant she had a problem. He had people around the city listening, watching, and recruiting.

  That’s how he found their clients.

  Miranda Bell took a deep breath before she spoke. She’d only get one shot at this, and she needed to convince the man before her to help save Seth.

  “My brother is scheduled to die. He’s in jail, but he didn’t do it, Mr. Gideon. I think he was framed by the police. I know that sounds wrong, but…”

  Oh, he believed it. That didn’t sound wrong to him at all. In fact, that sounded about right.

  In Vegas…

  Yeah, it could happen.

  “He’s innocent.”

  Miranda Bell had managed to keep him curious enough that he wanted to hear her story. By watching her, he could tell she was the real deal.

  There was only one thing to do.

  “Welcome to ‘Club Aquarius’, Ms. Bell. We’re here to assist you in any way we can.”

  “So you’ll really help me prove that he’s not a killer?”

  Dimitri sat back and grinned.

  Miranda didn’t feel any less fearful. Now he looked like that wolf ready to pounce.

  “Yes, Ms. Bell, I think I will help you. Now, tell me everything.”

  And she did.

  Chapter One

  Terrace Glen

  Tuesday

  It was a gorgeous day in Las Vegas.

  Then again, any day that you woke up, had your family around you, and there was peace, was a good day. Greyson Croft was a damn lucky man, and he knew it.

  He was happily married.

  He had a circle of people who cared about him.

  It truly was a beautiful thing.

  As he sat on his patio, he watched his wife doing laps in their pool. Her body effortlessly cut through the water as she finished her exercise for the day.

  Well, that wasn’t really the only exercise she’d had that morning. There had been plenty of calisthenics in their bedroom when they woke.

  And the night before.

  And the morning before that.

  One of the luxuries of not being a slave to work was that he and Emma could relax and spend every waking hour together.

  And they did.

  Some people had told them that they’d fight and be divorced within the year, but he called bullshit on that. As of late, it had been even more peaceful than before.

  They were enjoying each other’s time—and bodies.

  They’d both turned in their badges over six weeks ago, and it was nothing but bliss. They’d worked a few cases, helping people who found Dimitri at ‘Club Aquarius’, took a few trips, and hit up a few parties in their downtime.

  There was nothing he’d change about his life.

  Nothing.

  At first, he really believed that he’d miss being a Fed. It was something that Greyson had always wanted to do, and he’d excelled at it. Being the top cop in the city was a beautiful thing, but this was even better.

  He could see that now.

  When Elizabeth and Ethan Blackhawk strolled into his home, after Dominic Marianna was mysteriously killed by a single bullet, he thought life was over.

  He was wrong.

  That moment didn’t bring the death of him, but the life. It was all blossoming before him, and he couldn’t be more grateful.

  That fateful day had been a new beginning for all of them. Honestly, he was glad it went down that way.

  In his life, he’d learned that you couldn’t change the past, but you could direct the future. His only regret after the Dominic Marianna incident was that Steele Bentley had been abducted.

  If he could change one thing, that would have been it. Since that day, when they barely got him back alive, his life had been a mess. Steele had pulled away, leaving the family.

  And Greyson let him.

  It was the least he could do, since the only reason he had been hurt was because of him. He was buying Steele time.

  Yes, Dante, his brother, had lost his fiancé, but Greyson had faith. Steele refused to marry him, believing he was too damaged to be worth anyone’s love.

  They all knew he’d come around. They had to believe that. Family stuck, and Steele was part of them—and he’d always be too.

  They missed the man.

  Each and every one of them wished he’d come back to the family. As hard as Dante was trying to repair the damage, Steele wasn’t receptive.

  All they could do was hope that time would heal his emotional wounds.

  Greyson knew his brother was suffering without the man he loved, and he felt horrible. He truly loved Steele, and he wanted to marry him. They’d come so close to walking down the aisle to be husband and husband.

  Now… there were two men broken by what happened. Truthfully, Greyson knew he’d have to step in at some point, but he wasn’t sure when that should be. Dante was failing at getting the man back, and he might need backup.

  As soon as it looked like Dante was out of options, or asked for his and Emma’s help, he was making that his main mission in life. Then their family would be complete.

  Someone had to fix this mess, and since this was, in a way, his doing, it would be on his shoulders.

  Greyson didn’t want his brother to suffer.

  Today, when Dante had headed off to the casino office to do his thing, he had looked like hell.

  Granted, he hadn’t missed a day of work, and this was proof that he was falling apart. Dante was using the job as a crutch. The more upset he was, the more he became the moneyman.

  Even though they had more money than God, thanks to Randall Mason, Dante was ensuring that even more came in to fund their little ‘business’. Without Steele, Dante was on a mission to take over the business world.

  Eyes were on them.

  What amused Greyson the most was that at that very moment, the FBI was trying to open an investigation on him and their businesses.

  In fact, so were the local cops.

  They all believed him to be crooked, and in a way, they were right.

  He was.

  The Croft family was breaking the law by helping people in the city. From the outside, they looked like the typical mob family. Truthfully, they weren’t. They were helping people who had fallen through the cracks.

  There was a reason.

  Las Vegas was a soul-sucking hole that threatened to let the bad guys run rampant. When Dominic Marianna was killed, the dirty element began scrambling for control. They all wanted to be the next power player.

  When Greyson was forced to resign, they were even more overjoyed. They figured it was an easy run for control of ‘Sin City’.