Dark Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 1) (25 page)

He started back toward the gate.

Greyson went with his gut.

“Chris, wait.”

He stopped. “Yeah?”

“Let’s go in. You go sit in the office. I’ll talk to Emma. She needs to see this and then she needs to make up her mind about what she wants to do. I can’t promise she’ll forgive you because you still hurt her. I will get her to listen and explain.”

It was the best shot he had.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. You gave up your job for my wife and myself. I owe you, and this family always pays its debts.”

It hurt a little that he wasn’t part of the family anymore. Chris ached at the thought that Emma might never want to see him again.

Maybe it was all in vain.

Dimitri was staring at him like he was going to try and jack the fine china when no one was looking.

He grabbed him by the arm.

Chris yanked it away.

“Back off, Dimitri. I let you tackle me. I won’t let it happen again.”

The Russian laughed. “That’s funny.”

They got inside the foyer, and once more he went to take Chris’s arm to keep him from rushing toward Emma and the kitchen. It was apparently the wrong thing to do.

Chris lashed out, taking the Russian to the floor. The shot to his body stunned him, and Chris had his gun before Dimitri could even register it.

“I said don’t put your damn hands on me.”

Emma came out. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Chris looked over.

Dimitri struck. He was up, and he had Chris in a headlock. They were bouncing off the walls, pummeling each other. Greyson jumped out of the way, trying to stop them.

The whole family rushed in.

Everyone stared in horror over what was going on in the house. The two men were a bloody mess.

“
STOP
!” Emma shouted, moving closer. “Dimitri! Chris!
I said STOP
!”

Greyson grabbed Chris because he looked to be the more volatile of the two. Dante and Curtis blocked Dimitri from going at him again.

“Knock it off! This is my house, and I won’t have this going on in here. I want to know what in the world would make you two go at it like two dogs after a meaty bone.”

Neither spoke.

“Come on, Chris. Have a seat in the office. I’ll be right in as soon as I talk to her.”

He closed the door.

“Talk to me about what?” Emma said. “Why is he in here? You were going to kick him out. If he was leaving, why was Dimitri beating the hell out of him?”

“Because he’s an asshole?” he offered.

Emma handed him the towel she was holding. “Your mouth is bleeding.”

He took it.

Greyson knew it was time. He handed her the recorder. “Listen to it.”

She didn’t understand.

“Okay.” She headed back into the family room and took a seat. “What’s on here?”

Greyson gave her the basics. He wanted her to hear it for herself. He wanted Emma to know what Chris had been living too. If anything, she was fair.

She stared at him. “And you believe him?” Emma asked. “How do we know he didn’t lose his job, and he’s covering his ass? How do we know he’s not using us now that he’s on his own?”

“Listen.”

She hit play.

Emma listened to the first part of the conversation. She knew something was up.

“Now listen to the end. He wasn’t fired. He resigned for you. He gave up his career for his sister.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she listened.

Greyson was right.

“He was trying to buy us some time and protection. He knows that now he’s going to be the one that Commissioner Raye heads after. He knows too much.”

That made her sick.

“So he didn’t turn his back on us?”

Greyson shook his head.

“He should have told us. We would have had his back. I would have played along.”

“Emma, honey, he needed you to be really distraught. Cops are good at detecting BS. He knew if you showed up, got the brush off, then you’d leave and make a scene.”

Well, she had.

“I flipped him off.”

Curtis laughed. “Do you even know what that finger means?” he teased.

She actually flipped him off to prove it.

“Okay, Mom knows what it means,” he said laughing.

Dimitri had enough.

“Please tell me you want me to toss his ass off the property,” he said hopefully.

“I need to talk to him.”

Greyson figured she would.

“Do you want me to join you?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, this has to be done between Chris and myself. I need to handle this.”

He knew she was right.

It didn’t make it any easier.

As she stood up, he opened his arms. Emma didn’t hesitate to move into them. When she held on, Greyson didn’t let go.

Emma needed this.

He did too.

Yesterday, they’d hated the man.

Today, they hated that they’d vilified him.

They didn’t have faith in someone they called family, and that was on them.

“Go drop the pasta,” she said, pointing at Curtis. “Keep stirring it. I’ll handle Chris, and then we’re having our dinner.”

Everyone headed into the kitchen.

“Dimitri?”

He stopped. “Yes?”

She walked toward him and gave him a hug. “Thank you for what you did out there. Thank you for kicking his ass for me.”

He dropped his chin on the top of her head. “I told you that I’d be your brother when he hurt you. I meant it.”

She smiled into his shirt.

The icy Russian wall was cracking.

“And you always will be, Dimitri. Thank you.”

He dropped a kiss to the top of her head, much like he did with his sisters. This was the first time he’d genuinely felt comfortable enough to do it.

“You’re badass, Mr. Gideon. Now go get ice on your pretty face before you swell up.”

He touched her cheek. “I told you I’d protect our family, Emma. You and Greyson are my friends, but you matter more than that. I’ve never had a real family. I’ve always held it together for my sisters. I’ll do the same for you.”

She went up on her toes to give him a kiss on his cheek. “I love you. You’re not as scary as you let on.”

She walked away.

“I think your wife just insulted me. I am totally scary and I’m not pretty,” he said as Greyson poured them both a glass of bourbon—heavy on the ice for him.

“Uh huh.”

He took the glass and held it to his face.

“Am I pretty?”

Croft found that amusing.

“Dimitri, you have no clue.”

When Emma went in, Chris was sitting on the leather couch as he stared down at his hands. At the sound of her approach, he glanced up.

“Oh, Christopher, what the hell have you done?” she asked, pulling off her apron to wipe the blood dripping from his nose.

“Apparently, I’ve been jacking everything up. I didn’t start with the intention of getting my ass kicked by that Russian dick, but here I am, bleeding on your carpet.”

Emma sat beside him.

“Why’d you turn in your badge?”

“I wouldn’t betray you. The commissioner wanted me to, and I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy, let alone someone I love.”

She stared into his eyes. “They’re going to come at you now. You had to know they would.”

He shrugged. “If I have to be alone, what’s the point of living? I gave up my badge, I lost my family, and there’s nothing left. I can leave Vegas, but any job I try to get, Commissioner Raye will bury me. My days as a cop are over.”

She was well aware.

“I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sure there was a better way to handle this. I just didn’t have the time or luxury to tell you. He wanted me to record you, and I didn’t doubt for a single second I wasn’t being recorded by any number of detectives working for him. He’s bought just about everyone he could.”

Emma got it.

“I don’t want you to hate me.”

Tears filled his eyes.

Emma’s heart was letting go of the pain and anger. Here was a good guy, and he didn’t turn against her. In his own, stubborn, alpha male way, he was protecting them.

Why didn’t she keep the faith in him?

“You’re my sister, Emma.”

He placed his big hand over his heart.

She stared at it. It wasn’t that long ago that he’d been shot in that exact spot, nearly dying. She’d watched him bleed all over the place.

“Come with me.”

She held out her hand.

He took it.

“I would die before hurting you, Emma. I hope you trust me again one day.”

She already did.

In fact, she believed him. This was the Chris she knew and loved. He was tough on the outside and a giant puddle of man mush on the inside.

As they arrived in the kitchen, the whole family was there waiting, with the exception of Steele, who was resting upstairs.

“Curtis, I said stir the pasta—not stare at Katerina.”

He grinned. “Sorry, I got confused. They sound so alike. You know me.”

Dimitri stepped forward. “We should check him for bugs. He might be trying to…”

She stopped him.

“No, he’s not. He’s family, and we’re going to love him like we always did.”

Greyson agreed. “This changes the game. If the commissioner is gunning for my family, you know what I’m going to do.”

It was as if the next phase in the turf war was beginning.

“He’s a cop,” stated Dante. “If you open that can of worms, we’re going to be fighting a long battle, bro.”

Oh, he was aware.

Only, he could play dirty.

Emma knew what she had to do. “Chris, you’re going to stay here a while. I don’t trust that Raye isn’t an asshole and some cop accidentally shoots you.”

He laughed. “Story of my life.”

Greyson didn’t look happy.

The last thing they needed was for someone shooting at them.

“Heath Spencer is out for blood too. He really thinks that Dimitri or Greyson offed Mace.”

Greyson laughed. “He has to prove it.”

Chris walked toward Dimitri.

The man tensed.

In fact, everyone did.

Emma waited for another fight.

Instead, Chris held out his hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

It was apparently not what he thought was coming.

“I know you did it, and I’ll take that secret to my grave. Check me for bugs. You’ll feel better. I want you to do it.”

Dimitri glanced over.

Greyson shrugged. “If it will end the fight between you both, go for it.”

He did it. Dimitri pulled out a little device and scanned him. When he was done, he put it back in his pocket.

Chris was clear.

This time, he took the olive branch and offered it back. “It’s okay. I would have done the same thing.”

Emma relaxed.

“How about we have dinner?” she asked, smiling brightly. They all cheered.

“Oh, and Greyson?” she called.

“Yeah, honey?”

“I want a favor.”

He glanced over. “Yeah?”

“Tomorrow, when you start laying the groundwork to deal with that dick, I want you to do something for me.”

“Sure, honey, what?”

“Fuck him up.”

The all stared at her.

Yeah, Commissioner Raye was officially a dead man.

Emma Croft was at her limit.

She’d finally had enough.

Chapter Fourteen

Sunday Morning

Terrace Glen

Greyson knew they were heading for a mess. He had one ace up his sleeve, and he opted to use it. Granted, he probably didn’t deserve to ask for help, being they let him off the hook in the first place.

Grabbing his cell, he waited until Emma was in the bathroom showering. He didn’t want her to see that he was worried about what was coming.

Before, they were the law and they had to deal with the criminal element. Now they were the
‘criminal element’
having to deal with the law.

The script was flipped, and he needed any help he could get.

When the water kicked on, he started dialing. It was later on the East Coast, and he hoped he wasn’t disturbing anyone. On the third ring, she answered the phone.

Great.

He was hoping it would be him.

“Deputy Director Ethan Blackhawk’s phone,” Elizabeth said. “He’s busy, what can I do for you.”

There was a pause.

“Hello?”

“Elizabeth, it’s Greyson Croft.”

She heard the tone of his voice, and immediately, Elizabeth knew something was up. “Greyson, what’s wrong?”

Oh, where did he even begin?

“I have a situation.”

“Let me guess. It’s a little blowback from what happened?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s the potential blowback that has me worried.”

She got that.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

He did just that.

Elizabeth listened, taking it all in.

“He’s gunning for us, and I don’t know what I should do. I’m worried about how far he’d go.”

“We told you we have your back. I meant it. You resigned, and we didn’t pursue this.”

He was aware.

“My suggestion is for you to start digging. Everyone has skeletons in their closets. If you dig deep enough, you can find them.”

“Commissioner Raye?”

Her laugher came over the phone. “I’d start there. If he’s digging for dirt on you, play the same game. It’ll buy you some time.”

He knew she was giving him a direction. If there was something there, she’d point it out. Elizabeth didn’t like to be cryptic unless there was a reason.

“As for the FBI, I can have Ethan ask around. I’ll get back to you on that. I can’t do a lot, but we’ll do what we can to get you out from under this.”

“I really appreciate it.”

“I know you do. Just keep fighting the good fight. If we can find anything, I’ll get it to you. Just hang in there. And hey!”

He waited.

“At least no one’s shooting at you now!”

He laughed. “Yeah, that’s not really helpful.”

“Count your blessings, Greyson. It’s not the Wild West. You’re a smart man. Think about what you can do to keep the playing field level.”

He would do that.

“Thanks, Elizabeth.”

“No need. We never had this conversation.”

The call was disconnected.

He got it. They wanted to help, but there was only so much they could do. He would set Curtis on digging up anything he could on Commissioner Raye.

It was the best they could do.

For now.

“Why do you look perplexed?” Emma asked.

Greyson didn’t want her to worry. “I’m upset about something.”

She came toward him, towel wrapped around her body. “What, Grey?”

“Don’t be mad.”

She didn’t like the sound of that.

“Uh oh.”

“I ordered your jewelry for the party. It’s not going to be ready in time. I don’t have a present for you. I have to pick something up.”

She started laughing.

“Don’t give a girl a heart attack.”

Yes, he lied.

Okay, he was totally going to husband hell, but he didn’t want Emma worrying about this too—not until they had no choice but to be freaked out.

Tonight was the
‘A Midsummer’s Eve’
party, and she deserved a night without being stressed. He owed her that much after the year of hell she’d been through because of him.

“I’m going to dazzle you,” she said, giving him a kiss.

“You always do, Emma. You’re my everything.”

She stared into his eyes.

“Greyson, what’s wrong?”

“What?”

“Now I know you’re bullshitting me.”

He tried to play dumb.

“What are you talking about?”

Emma got off the bed and went to their closet. She walked in, grabbed the lock box he kept in there and brought it out.

“Open it,” she said.

He knew the jig was up.

Damn!

She was too smart.

“Emma.”

“I’m going to assume it’s really bad if you’re lying to me. You never wait until the last minute to get my gifts. In fact, I heard you tell Curtis last week it was safely tucked away. So, if you want me to believe you, then you’ll open this box, show me it’s not hiding my present, and we’ll forget we even had this conversation.”

He knew there was jewelry in there.

It looked like Greyson had no choice, so he told her about the call.

Emma listened without saying a word.

She didn’t look away from him for a single second. The entire time, he was waiting for her to be angry that he had lied. When he was done, she simply took his hand in hers.

“Don’t hide things from your wife.”

“I wanted you to have one nice night before we had to address this. I wanted to give you one moment where you could be happy. I brought you here, we faced death, we survived, and now it’s the same shit, only we’re the bad guys.”

Emma touched his scarred cheek. “Oh, Greyson Thaddeus Croft, you’re out of your mind. I have had a million happy moments here. They’ve all been because we’re a team.”

“Emma, I don’t know what I have left to offer you. When you met me, this wasn’t the man I was. I was a Fed. I was…”

“Sterling?”

He nodded.

“You still are, Grey. Look at the world you are building. I know you’re not crooked. The family knows you’re not.”

“I’m going to dig into a man’s life to find the ugliness. I’m going to use it to destroy someone.”

“When you were staring down that barrel, ready to kill Dominic Marianna, what were you thinking?”

His jaw clenched.

“Exactly. You are sterling. You’re better than that. You’re a good man, Greyson Croft. I know you. I know the truth, and that’s all that matters. I’m the one you need to worry about, not you. When I start to look like I’m in a panic—then be worried.”

“I love you, Emma.”

“I love you too, Grey. You have this. You’re taking on something huge. This family…” She waved her arm, encompassing the whole place. “You built this. You found that girl, and you fell in love.”

“I made her mine.”

“She fell in love with your winning smile.”

“I was smart enough to make her mine.”

Emma smiled. It was a poem he read to her on their wedding day.

“Her heart was his on that day. Forever his it will stay.”

“She was so lovely, I couldn’t catch my breath,” he whispered, and it was true.

“On that day, he found his girl.”

“Until my last day, she will be mine.”

He rested his forehead against hers.

He needed this.

There were days when Greyson was strong, and on the other ones, he needed his Emma.

“Want to go down to breakfast and get our day started?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

When she nuzzled his cheek with hers, the towel wrapped around her fell away.

He had naked wife in his arms.

“Breakfast can wait. I need you, Emma.”

She stared into his eyes. “What do you want to do?” Emma asked.

“I found the girl and I want to make you mine.”

And he did.

 
         
* * *
  G r e y s o n   C r o f t   * * *

Emma and Greyson were almost the last two to arrive. The second they walked in, Dante started clapping.

He pointed at his brother. “Don’t be a dick. I’ll let Emma hurt you.”

His brother snorted.

“I see the chef beat me to breakfast,” Emma said, checking out the spread.

Curtis shoved a pancake in his mouth before she could catch him with the ill-gotten gains and take them away. He knew the chef and Emma had a running battle going.

He hated her.

She loathed him.

Greyson kept the peace by keeping them apart.

“Curtis, what’s in your mouth?” she asked.

He shook his head.

It made her laugh.

“Waffles, pancakes, and muffins?” she said, staring at her husband. “You picked this menu,” she accused.

“Me?”

She pointed at him. “Don’t deny it. This screams
‘Greyson Croft’s dream food’
,” she stated. “Everything here needs butter on it. Where’s the damn bacon?”

Curtis held up a strip.

“See?”

“Okay! I picked it. Why can’t a man have waffles on a Sunday morning in his castle?”

Emma pointed at his plate. “That’s a lot of crap, Mr. Croft. How are you going to burn off that cholesterol?”

He grinned wickedly. “Do you really want me to tell you, kitten, or would you rather be surprised?”

Curtis made gagging sounds.

Kat elbowed him.

“Hey!”

She shook his head.

“You’ve trained her to be mean like you,” Curtis mumbled around more pancakes. “She was sweet until you baked her that cake, and now she’s beating on me.”

Dimitri was laughing off in the corner. He was enjoying the interplay between the family.

Chris ford strolled in, whistling. “Hey! Breakfast!”

He grabbed a waffle and poured a lake of syrup all over it. Greyson reached for the butter, and she stared at him.

“Want to wrestle for it?” he asked.

She laughed. “Salad for lunch?”

“Regular food at the party tonight?”

Chris glanced over. “What’s the party?”

Emma told him as she grabbed a muffin to have with her coffee.

“Sounds like fun.”

“Good, you’re coming,” she said. “In fact, we all are.”

They all looked over. Paris and Tessa included.

“Uh, why are we all going to the party?” Dante stated. “And do I have to wear tights like he did last year?” he teased.

“They were leather pants, and you are going to wear a dress if she tells you to, so get over it.”

Dante actually looked at her like that was a possibility.

It made her laugh.

“We’re all going, because this is our first function out as the family. The media is going to be watching us. They’re curious about the new Vegas mob.”

Curtis laughed.

“What?” he asked when they looked at him. “You don’t see the irony behind all this? Before, they wanted to know what Emma was wearing, and now they want to know who we killed. It’s the same shit, just different rumors.”

“We’re not killing anyone,” Chris said. “Right? I’d like not to go to Hell. I’m kinda religious.”

Emma stared at him. “You’re the least religious man I know. In fact, you worship at the house of Budweiser.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I know. I just always wanted to say that. I’m in. What do I have to wear?”

“I’ll handle my own clothes,” Curtis said before Emma could start throwing clothing choices at them. He’d been around for the first party the previous year.

Greyson shook his head, stopping him in his tracks. “You’re going as the sprite lord. You have to wear wings.”

Curtis started choking on a pancake.

“What?”

When no one laughed, he got freaked out.

“I’m not going.”

“As I said,” Emma repeated, “we’re all going. The only one who doesn’t have to go is Dante.”

They all stared at him.

“How did he get lucky? Playing favorites isn’t fair,” Curtis stated. “I’m your son! Surely, out of all the men in this room, you have to love me most, Mom!”

She snorted. “Nope. You’re going.”

“But...”