Dark Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 1) (7 page)

“Curtis.”

“I have to get this research done for the case. I don’t want to argue with you when there’s no point. Again, you’ve made your decision.”

It was clear that he was done talking about it.

“I’m sorry I’ve hurt you, Curtis.”

He didn’t reply.

The violent clicks on the keyboard said it all.

“I’m sorry I’ve made you mad.”

Yes, he was angry.

What he didn’t want in a relationship was happening. It was where he gave and gave and she didn’t meet him halfway. He’d had that with Brynn, and it didn’t end well for either of them. In fact, it was a horrible existence.

It sucked.

This whole damn thing sucked.

He didn’t want to go back there.

“When I see Dimitri, I’m telling him,” he said. “When I do, you’ll have to make your decision, Katerina. I’m not going to hide something I’m happy about, because you’re afraid of him, or don’t want to be with me. That’s my baby, and I should be allowed to be proud that I’m going to be a father. I had a shitty one too. He bailed, pretending I didn’t exist. I refuse to do that to my child.”

He went back to work.

She stared at him.

“Curtis.”

“I’m done talking.”

He was too angry to go on with any rational conversation. From here on out, it would get ugly. So, he closed his laptop, popped his earbuds in, and listened to music as he headed out of the living room.

She watched him go.

Her heart broke.

Did he really think that she was ashamed of letting the world to know that she loved him, was carrying his child, and that they were a couple?

How did he not realize that she didn’t sleep with him out of respect for the family? They weren’t married, and it felt wrong to shack up with Curtis in his
‘parent’s’
house. This wasn’t their place, and she wasn’t raised like that.

Dimitri had raised them better.

You respected the people who led the family, and she was trying to do that. It wasn’t easy to stick to her principles when she wanted nothing more than to be with him all day long.

As for a wedding, she would have married him in a heartbeat, if she didn’t believe he would regret rushing into it later.

Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

He wanted her to marry him.

Shit!

Katerina had made one hell of a mess out of this one. She didn’t know who to talk to about it either.

Did she go to her brother or did she go to Emma? She was like a surrogate mother to her. The woman helped her navigate a few bumps in the road when they had a function to attend.

Jesus.

What did she do?

Katerina pulled out her cell and sent off a text, asking the woman to meet her. It wasn’t too late, and hopefully, she’d have time. Kat wanted to cry.

Her heart hurt for Curtis.

She had to make this right.

Chapter Three

When Emma got the text, they had been heading back toward Terrace Glen. Immediately, she knew that Katerina had to be upset to want to meet her at this time and not in their home.

This screamed Curtis, and it had to be bad.

What the hell had he done now?

If that boy made her cry, she was going to kick his ass. You didn’t upset pregnant women.

There had to be some rule.

“I have to meet someone. Can you drop me off?”

Greyson looked over at her and began laughing. “Yeah, you need to explain that before I lose my damn mind. I’m not letting my wife meet anyone at this time of night—especially with my vivid imagination.”

“And temper,” added Dimitri. “Don’t forget that.”

“Shut up,” he muttered.

Although, he had a point.

Emma was amused as he stared at her, actually waiting for an explanation.

He was out of control.

She loved her cave-Croft.

“First, it’s seven thirty at night, and my curfew isn’t until ten, Mom, and second, it’s important.”

She handed him her phone.

He read over it.

“Dimitri, drop her off at the
‘Tea House’
,” he said, getting it. If Kat wanted a private meeting, this was going to be about Curtis. In the last few weeks, the girl had been growing attached to Emma. It was clear she was beginning to find that same bond Curtis had with Emma.

That of a mother
.

“Sure thing,” Dimitri said, pulling into the parking lot. When Emma got out, he waited for her to kiss Greyson and wave at him.

“I’ll get a ride home.”

“Okay, kitten. Be safe,” he said, as she closed the door.

“Well, that was odd,” Dimitri stated.

“It looks like Katerina and Curtis will be coming to you sooner rather than later,” he stated. “She needed to talk to Emma, and not at the house.”

Dimitri could be jealous since he, at one time, had been the person she went to with her problems, but instead, he was happy. Emma would take care of Kat, and that was all he wanted in life.

She had a family.

She was safe.

She had a surrogate mother.

It gave him peace.

“Home?”

“Are you insane?” Greyson stated. “What the hell kind of husband would I be? Park in the lot, and we’ll sit here until the women head home. I know it’s not necessary, but she’s my kitten. I don’t like to let her off the leash without me nearby. Vegas is full of vultures.”

Dimitri laughed. “She’d kick your ass.”

He snorted.
 

Greyson was well aware.

That was half the fun.

His kitten had claws.

Inside, as she waited for Kat to arrive, Emma ordered them both some tea, and she rattled off a text to Chris.

‘Hey! Miss you. Can you swing by for dinner tomorrow? We need to talk. Love you, Em.’

She waited for a reply, but one didn’t come. She noticed he’d read it as soon as he received it, but there wasn’t a response.

Maybe he was busy.

Before she could call him, checking in on his therapy and arm, Kat entered the building. She looked rattled.

Hell!

She looked like she was about to cry.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Emma asked, moving her chair closer to the woman.

“I need your help. I don’t know who to go to, and I really need some advice before I make myself sicker than I already am.”

Emma handed her the empty mug and poured them both some of the wonderful tea.

“Sure thing, Kat, what’s up?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“I’ve been known to when need be,” she offered, knowing right where this was heading. It looked like Kat and Curtis were beginning to crack under the pressure. He looked like hell, and she was a mess too.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, wow!” she said, trying to fake surprise. “Kat! Congratulations. I’m so happy for you and Curtis!”

She sniffled.

Then the tears started.

“Oh, honey, don’t cry!” Emma dug in her purse for tissues and handed her a pack.

“I’m sorry. I’m hormonal, and scared, and…”

Emma took her free hand. “It’s okay, Kat. We have your back. Nothing is going to happen.”

Oh, she wished that was true.

“Curtis is angry with me, and I don’t know how to fix this, Emma. I need someone’s help. I don’t know how to handle this kind of situation. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, let alone a baby daddy.”

“Yeah, don’t call him that. He’ll go all caveman and flip his shit. That’s not a good term.”

She was aware.

He’d already lost it.

She’d give all her money and right arm to make him love her again. Emma was her last chance.

“Why is he angry with you?” Emma asked, sipping her tea. “Start at the beginning, and let’s go from there.”

She could see the pain in Katerina’s eyes, and it reassured her that this wasn’t going to be another Brynn situation. Curtis had to be the one going over the edge.

He had lingering Brynn issues, and there were times they reappeared.

Like now.

“He asked me to marry him right after we found out I was expecting, and I said no.”

“Okay, why?”

“I don’t want him to rush like with Brynn. He told me his timeline was to ask in two years, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to bump it up. He needs time to get over what happened and make sure I'm the one.”

She got that.

It was actually sensible. So far, this made Emma love her even more. Katerina was trying to make sure his happiness came first.

That was vastly different than with Brynn.

“I didn’t want him to look back at that moment and regret it, or me.”

So far, Kat was making complete sense.

“Okay, and what else? That can’t be it. I can’t imagine Curtis being angry over that. He’s pretty level headed. If anything, he’ll just keep asking until you go crazy and finally give in. He’s just like Greyson.”

She was aware.

“It’s okay, honey. Just tell me.”

“I won’t sleep with him.”

Emma stared at him. “Are we talking about sleep as in sex, or sleep as in some z’s and sharing a bed. Not that I want to point out the obvious, but you’re already having a baby. Skipping sex is a little past the point.”

“No, it’s the latter.”

“I don’t get it. Why won’t you sleep with him? Do you snore? Are you a bed hog? Talk in your sleep?”

“No, it’s not our home. It feels disrespectful to you and Greyson. You’re his parents, and here we are, rolling around and having sex when we’re not married or engaged. You don’t do that in Russia. I don’t know how to make him understand.”

She got it.

It made no sense to Emma, but she understood.

“You have sex with him in our home, and that’s bigger than sleeping beside him.”

“I can stop that too if…”

“
NO
! I’m not telling you it bothers us. A lot of sex goes on at Casa Croft. That’s perfectly fine.”

She prayed Dimitri wasn’t bringing hookers there. That wouldn’t be okay, but then again, it was his home too. The less they knew, the better.

“We want you to make yourself comfortable.”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“No, but I know why it bothers you,” Emma said.

“Why?”

“You are hiding this, and that’s the bottom line. It has nothing to do with sleeping in the same room. You haven’t told Dimitri, have you?”

“No.”

“Don’t you think you should? He’s your brother and has been acting like a father to you for so many years. He should be the first person you tell.”

“He’ll kill Curtis and then me. The night I got pregnant, at the Spring Fling, he told me to be safe and protect myself. I thought he meant my heart. Thus…the baby.”

She laid her hand protectively over her stomach.

“You’re not giving Dimitri enough credit. You should tell him and let him in on this joyous moment. He’s going to share your happiness. You are happy, right?”

“I am. I was scared at first, but I have Curtis’s little one growing in me. I’m going to be a mommy.”

Tears started back up.

“I don’t know how to be a mother. Mine left when I was barely one,” she sobbed.

Emma moved closer, dropping her arm over Kat’s smaller shoulders. “Oh, honey, I’m here. I had a mom, and while I’ve never given birth, I can help you. If you need someone to hold your hand when the big day comes, I’ll be right there. You’re carrying our grandchild. Well, in some weird, redneck, roundabout way.”

Emma couldn’t help but think how much fun the media was going to have with this one.

Still…

She was going to have a baby to spoil and love. She got to be a grandmother while still in her thirties. This was amusing as hell.

“Will you?” Kat asked. “I need someone to help me do this. I don’t know how to even begin planning for this.”

“Curtis will help you, but you have to tell your brother and trust that he loves you enough to keep your heart safe, and that little baby Croft safe too.”

She sniffled.

“You have a bigger family now, Kat. We’ll keep you protected and never let you fall. All you have to do is trust us.”

She did.

Deep down, she’d watched Emma with all of them, and she’d longed to have that connection to someone, anyone. She craved the love of a mother, so she could learn to love their child the same way.

“After you tell Dimitri, bring Curtis to Greyson and myself. We’ll handle the part about you two shacked up under our roof.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You focus on your job, and let me handle the rest, okay?” she offered.

“Can I hug you?” Kat asked.

“Oh, honey, you never have to ask permission for that. I will take free hugs any day of the week from the people I love. I will also give them when you feel like you need them.”

Kat hugged her.

It was really nice.

So…this was what having a mother felt like.

Kat didn’t know what she’d been missing until that moment. She made a mental list of all the things she needed to do to be a good mom.

Hug your children a lot.

Be there for them when they are afraid.

Have tea.

She wasn’t so sure about the last one, but one day maybe it would be important.

“Thank you, Emma.”

“It’s okay,” she said, holding her hand. “How about we head home?” she offered. “I hope you drove, or we’re going to have to hitch a ride with the men outside.”

Kat looked out the window.

Sure enough, her brother’s large black ride was parked in the dark part of the lot. It was hard not to notice it, especially since it was tinted out and pointed right at them.

Yeah, she was totally off her game.

She’d never noticed.

“Blot your eyes, put on some lip gloss, and we’ll head home to work on this tomorrow. Give Curtis time to calm down. He’ll be okay once he thinks about it.”

She hoped so.

Kat didn’t want him to be angry with her.

She loved him so much that it hurt.

“I’m ready, Emma.”

“Then let’s go.”

Together, they headed out. Emma was glad this was a minor glitch in the road. With family, it happened.

With Croft men…

It happened a lot.

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

Chris had gotten the text.

He read it as he was sitting in his truck in his condo parking lot. He used to love coming home, but as of late, it sucked.

Why?

He missed his family.

When he’d gotten back to work last week, the commissioner had been in to see him. He, in no uncertain terms, informed him that the Crofts were public enemy number one. He wasn’t permitted to speak to them.

That was going to be an issue.

How was he supposed to associate with them and keep his job? In fact, the commissioner informed him he would be replaced if he was caught with them. He had big criminal fish to fry, and Greyson Croft was at the top of the list.