Dark Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 1) (34 page)

“Here is it. I’m running most of the staff, and they look clean, but one name keeps popping up.”

“Who?” Emma asked.

“I’m running a man by the name of Trent Webb. He’s far from a Boy Scout,” he stated. “According to police records, he’s been popped a few times for dealing, selling, and using. He’s also in recovery—court ordered, and the clinic is his community service. Want to guess when he did his hours there?”

“Was it the same time all the women had been going to get their fix?”

“Yep. You have one more person who can be tied to them. The sad thing is, Emma, this was shitty police work. In three days, we’ve rebuilt this case from the ground up. None of these people are even suspects. I went through the information that Chris gave us, and it looks like Detective Sawyer Laden didn’t give a shit.”

Yeah, because he probably didn’t.

“I don’t get why Mace Bristol didn’t step in,” Tessa stated. “They were partners.”

“Mace was a watcher,” Greyson stated. “As an FBI plant, he would let the other man do the leading and just supervise the process. He was trying to stay on the down low. Unfortunately, Sawyer Laden, if you ever met him, was a dick of global proportions.”

Those who knew him agreed.

“I hated dealing with him,” Steele stated. “He always talked to me like I was his pet ME. Thank God he never knew I was gay. If he did, he would have ridden my ass more.”

Emma got it. She’d worked with him too, and he was a pain in her ass.

Oh, and a shitty cop.

Greyson continued, “When Mace was paired up with Emma, he had seniority, and yet she was lead detective. When it happened,” Greyson said, “I couldn’t figure it out, but now I see it.”

She did too.

He was watching her work to get to Greyson.

She wasn’t going to let it get her mad. He’d paid for his sins. He’d paid the ultimate price.

“We’ll add Trent Webb to our list,” she offered.

Just then, Dimitri strolled in. He was carrying his laptop and a little box full of zip drives.

“Doctor, I wasn’t sure which one you needed, so I brought them all,” he stated.

Steele took them. “Thank you, Dimitri, and you can call me Steele. My doctor days are over.”

“No they aren’t,” Greyson said. “We need you. When we have jobs like this, you’re the one who can help us by reading the files. If you can’t do the body part, you’re still damn helpful. We want you on our team, Steele.”

His eyes filled with tears.

“Thank you, Greyson.”

“Say you’ll do it.”

He thought about it. “I’ll be more than happy to help. I love being with all of you. I feel safe here.”

Tessa patted him on the leg. “You are safe. We’ve got you, Steele.”

He believed them.

Dimitri gave Curtis his laptop. “Be gentle with her. She was
VERY
expensive.”

When he opened it, he whistled. “I’ve never seen one like this before. Where did you get it?”

“The deep web.”

Curtis stared at him. “You have access to that?” As someone who loved to hack, that excited him.

“Yes.”

Curtis began laughing like a giddy school girl. “Hello, lover. You and I are going to have so much fun together. I promise I will treat you right.”

Kat stared at him. “Really, Curtis? I’m right here. I don’t care how much your mistress cost. I will put her down.”

That amused all of them.

He kissed her. “I can’t help it. This is like Christmas morning, sweetheart.”

She laughed.

“You can use it to find just about anything,” Dimitri stated. Before he could finish, one of his other phones chimed. He pulled it out and read the message. “Miranda Bell wants an update. Do you want me to handle it?” he asked.

Greyson knew he and Emma would have a full plate. While he’d been hoping Dimitri would be playing babysitter, he was confident he could get it done.

“Yeah, can you? We’re going to be back to back on interviews. We have three.”

“I can tail you guys most of the day tomorrow, and maybe go meet her at
‘Aquarius’
.”

Emma liked that idea. She was in just as much danger as Greyson was and having Dimitri around made her a little less stressed.

Plus, after the men were planning for tonight, they would need to have that back up.

“When we’re done, we’ll meet you there for a drink,” Greyson offered.

“Perfect.”

Emma stopped him before he could text. “We really need to talk to Tucker Bell. His name has popped up a few times,” she stated.

“Can you get Miranda to bring him with her? We might be able to catch the tail end of the update, and get some questions in before they head out.”

“I can do that,” Dimitri replied.

He typed up a message.

Greyson’s phone beeped next. “It’s Dante. He’s on his way back home.”

Dimitri headed to the security console, even as he typed the message to Miranda.

‘We can update you tomorrow at Aquarius. Is there any way you can bring your brother, Tucker? Greyson and Emma need to speak to him.’

Dimitri hit the screen and pulled up the cameras in the vehicle Dante was driving.

He was singing show tunes.

Steele laughed. “He’s going to hate that you guys saw that. In fact, it’s going to embarrass the hell out of him.”

Greyson started laughing manically at all the fun he could have with this. As his brother, he had a need to torment his kid brother whenever the opportunity came up.

Like now.

Dante was tough to harass. A gem like this? This was the shit he looked forward to in life. If he could make Dante’s life hell, he was all in.

Payback, for all those years, was always a welcome thing for him.

“He’s going to hate what I do to him.”

“Greyson Thaddeus Croft.”

“Emma! You took away my blueberry muffin, and now you won’t let me bust Dante’s ass? Do you hate me? I thought you used to love me,” he teased.

Dante was singing
‘Oklahoma’
, and it even made Emma laugh. He kind of had a point. This was torment worthy.

All work and no play made Greyson an edgy boy.

“Go ahead, but only while he’s driving. Once he gets home, it’s off limits.”

He rushed over to the screen and Dimitri turned on the two way communication. Dante’s singing was horrific.

“Hey, Annie Oakley, get your Oklahoma-loving behind back to Terrace Glen.”

Dante actually gasped.

“Hey! That’s not fair. I was…”

“Singing show tunes after doing decorations for the party. Get home, Liberace. Your sequined guard outfit is ready for tonight.”

“I’m going to kill Dimitri. He Lojacked my ride too?”

The Russian laughed. “And I’m glad I did.”

Dante growled.

Greyson had his fun. When he turned around, Steele was weeping. It freaked him out.

“Are you okay? I’m only teasing him. I won’t do it if you get upset, Steele.”

He was laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe. “Too. Funny. Liberace.”

Greyson relaxed.

“If we’re all done, maybe we should get ready for tonight. Dressing takes the ladies longer,” Greyson offered.

Paris and Tessa were going, so they rolled out of there to go get dressed. Kat and Curtis both got up to leave too.

“I’ll be joining you at your place. Is that okay?” Emma asked Kat.

She looked surprised.

“That is unless you don’t want me to be there because you need some space. I thought maybe we could get ready together.”

Kat was beyond touched. This was only her second party at Curtis’s side. She could always use some positive reinforcement.

Besides, Emma was like the mother she didn’t have.

“I’d love it. I’ll see you there.”

She headed out.

Curtis headed right for Emma. He kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. “Thank you for that, Mom.”

She kissed him back. “Go get ready.”

“I have to get my gift ready. I can’t wait for Katerina to see what I got her.”

Off he raced.

“Are we ready for tonight?” Greyson asked.

“Yes, we are.”

“Dimitri, can I talk to you?” Emma asked. “Before you start getting dressed?”

He was curious. “Certainly, Emma.”

“I need a huge favor. It would mean the world to me.”

Greyson’s eyebrow went up. He wasn’t sure he liked his wife asking another man for a favor.

Really.

That was kind of his area.

Still…

He gave her a minute to explain.

“What?” Dimitri asked.

“It’s about Chris. He’s going to be in a funk without a job. We can’t hire him. He wouldn’t take a job from me. He’s too proud to do it, but if you happened to have room for an ex-police captain on your team, he likely wouldn’t say no. Security would be right up his alley.”

He thought about it. “I actually could use him. With the family as big as it is, we can use more security here at Terrace Glen.”

Emma knew that was total bullshit.

Dimitri ran his team like a general. He had every base covered. He was definitely throwing out a big favor—especially since he only worked with family.

Then again, technically, Chris was family, and if he hooked up with Natasha…

Yeah, that would work.

“Thank you, Dimitri,” she said, crossing toward him. Emma went up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “He really needs this.”

Dimitri was getting better with the affection. Before he would shy from it, or be embarrassed. With Emma, it was simply how she reacted to everything.

He relaxed into it.

When she left, Greyson was watching him.

“What?”

“You’re a puddle of mush. For a killer, you should be embarrassed.”

He stared.

Then he started laughing when Greyson wiggled his eyebrows.

“This family is crazy.”

Honestly, he was glad. He fit in just fine.

Chapter Nineteen

Sunday Evening

After Emma headed to her room to grab her dress and accessories, she stopped by Tessa’s room. She wanted to include her in the fun.

Why not make it a traditional thing?

Emma had very few friends in her life before marrying Greyson. She’d given it all up after her brother died. Hiding meant leaving the people she loved behind.

At least now she had that circle back.

After she gathered Tessa, tearing her away from Paris, they headed out to the pool house. Emma grabbed some champagne and sparkling cider to start celebrating.

She loved getting dressed for her caveman. There was something sexy about the way he watched her when she headed his way. Not to mention how hot he looked in a tuxedo.

The man could make a woman want to sin in so many ways. She was grateful he was hers.

As they dressed, the ladies laughed, drank, and let their hair down.

Literally.

Tessa was still growing hers out, but she wanted some curls. Emma did it, making sure that each one was perfect.

Paris was going to love it.

Tessa did too.

“This is amazing,” she said, slipping into her dress.

“You look like a goddess,” Kat said, admiring the dress. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Well, when you’re married to a doctor, you can’t wear jeans and boots,” she stated.

Emma laughed. “You could wear a paper bag, and Paris would still stare at you like you were the moon and sun.”

She was aware.

That was one of the best things in her life. Her husband genuinely loved her with all of his heart. Before him, she never thought anyone would want her.

Before him, no one ever did.

Paris was her shining star, and she loved being Mrs. Archer. She never had that desire to marry before him. Now she couldn’t imagine not being married.

Kat kept dressing, but she stared into the mirror at her hair. “I don’t know what to do.”

She was nervous.

Emma could tell. She needed a distraction.

“Here have some bubbly cider. Give yourself and that baby a sugar rush. I’ll do your hair.”

“Grandma is already trying to pump the kid full of sugar,” Tessa teased. “Way to be ahead of the game, Emma.”

She laughed. “It’s weird that I’m this young and having a grandchild. I don’t even have a baby of my own.”

Tessa picked up on it.

“Are you saying you’re trying?”

Emma thought about it.

“Can we keep this between us?” she asked.

“Yes,” they said together.

She’d been thinking about babies since Greyson brought it up the other day.

“He wants to have a child.”

They stared at her.

“Okay, and?” Tessa asked.

“I don’t know if I should do it.”

Kat grabbed a bunch of grapes as Emma began playing with her hair. “I think you should have a baby. Look at you. You’re the ideal mother. You take care of everyone.”

Emma knew she could do it, but did she want to do it? That was the underlying question in the back of her mind.

“What has you worried?” Tessa asked.

“Is this just a phase for him? Are we going to have a baby, and then Greyson is going to change his mind? It’s not like I can put a baby back, right?”

Both ladies started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

Tessa pointed out the obvious. “Greyson Croft doesn’t change his mind. I worked under him that year, and when he said something, he meant it. If he asked to have a child, he must want one. Is it the first time he’s brought it up?”

Emma thought about it.

“We discussed it once, at the beginning of our marriage. I told him I wasn’t sure I ever wanted kids because of our lifestyle. A cop and a Fed don’t make great parents. One or both of you can die at work. That’s not the life for a baby.”

“But you’re not cops or Feds now,” Kat offered. “Now you’re safe.”

“Are we?”

“Yes,” Kat offered. “Dimitri is fiercely protective of his family, much like Greyson. If you have a child, he’d work ten times as hard to keep him or her safe. He hates to see children hurt.”

They all knew why.

His sister had been one of those lost souls.

“You’ll be safe. You handled yourself today,” Tessa said, watching Emma braid Kat’s long black hair.

Emma sighed.

“What do you want?” Kat asked. “Your opinion should matter. Curtis and I didn’t plan this pregnancy, but we’re both happy. He’s happier than I am, since I’m doing the puking and all he has to do is hold my hair.”

Tessa laughed. “He got off easy. Paris and I are trying, but the odds aren’t in our favor. With his injury, his count is low. We’re going to have to go the route of IVF.”

Kat and Emma felt horrible about that.

Their faces must have said it all.

“It’s okay,” Tessa said. “We keep trying and hoping. We’re saving up for a few rounds. He wants a family so badly that I want to give it to him. I was an only child, and so was he. Paris is crazy about babies. If you need a babysitter, he’s your guy. They love to crawl all over him.”

Kat watched Emma do her hair. It was braided and wound around her head like a crown. When she dug into her kit, pulling out jeweled pins, Kat started to cry.

“Are you okay?” Emma asked.

“You’d be the best mother in the world. You’re braiding my hair and giving me your pretty hairpins. How could you ever doubt how awesome you’d be?”

Tessa handed her some tissues.

“Hormones,” Kat said.

Emma kissed her on the cheek. “You’re marrying my son. You get all my attention on nights like tonight.”

Kat hugged her. “I love you, Emma.”

She hugged her back.

Maybe they were right. She could do this mother thing without breaking a sweat.

Emma would have to think about it.

It wasn’t something that she could do impulsively. Children were a long commitment.

It was one she wasn’t sure she wanted to take on.

“Let’s finish getting ready. We have men to impress.”

And they would.

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

Greyson was ready for the party. He was wearing the same exact thing that he’d worn to Randall Mason’s party last year. The older man liked to do it up, and costumes—they were always part of the festivities.

He didn’t get the desire, but who was he to complain? Apparently, it was a big hit. The media was all over it and more so now that they were running the show.

Oh, and the
FAMILY
in Vegas.

That was probably the more interesting part. People were fascinated with them, always curious about their clothes, their news, or the gossip.

Most of it was just that.

Pure.

Made-up.

Lies.

As he stood there, Paris, Curtis and finally, Dimitri had arrived. They all were wearing the clothing that Dante had picked out for them for the party.

He was drinking a beer on the couch and smirking.

“Shut up, Annie Oakley,” Greyson stated.

“No fair! I was having a private moment. I’m just happy that I could hang out with you ladies for tonight.”

Croft smacked his brother on the back of the head.

“Hey!”

“We look good.”

And they did.

Greyson was wearing the leather pants he’d worn, with the longer white, silk poet’s shirt. He looked like some sexy rogue fairy. Playing Oberon was a double-edged sword. He got to be king, but he was also a fairy.

Then again, he got the girl when they got home, so he’d play an ice cream man in Hell if that was what she wanted. A happy man had a happy wife to cuddle.

The rest of the men were dressed similar, only Curtis refused to wear the leather pants, and Paris bailed on it too. Dimitri didn’t care one way or the other.

Who was going to bust his ass?

Or Greyson’s either?

As they stood there, they could hear the women coming through the kitchen.

This was one of their traditions. The women would unveil themselves, get a present, and they’d be on their merry way. When he started this, he never thought it would come to this.

Now, he loved it.

When Tessa came into the room, she was wearing a forest colored gown. It was cut short in the front, showing off her really long legs and sexy heels. It showed her bared shoulders, where she wore just a gold heart.

It was the one Paris had given her as a promise when they were dating.

As she approached, his eyes filled with so much emotion. “Oh, Tessie, I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he admitted. To Paris, there would never be anyone more lovely. This was his wife, partner, and other half.

She spun in a circle, showing off her garb. “I’m Hippolyta,” she offered.

Paris knew the play.

“You absolutely are, Tessie. You’re fitting an Amazonian Queen.”

Paris patted his lap, and Tessa took a seat. Immediately, his arms went around her waist and he handed her a little box.

“I could only get you one thing. I knew you don’t really like flowers or jewelry.”

“Paris, I cherish anything from you,” she said, opening the box. When she saw the little gold hearts, that matched her necklace, she was filled with so much emotion.

“They’re perfect.”

He helped her put them on. The whole time, Tessa sniffled. He knew her better than anyone. All day, she was hoping he’d just skip jewelry. They’d rather have a baby, and anything spent, to her, would be frivolous.

“Oh, Tessie, they’re lovely on you. Now there’s a matched set—like us.”

She kissed him with everything she had.

When the men began clapping, Paris set her mouth free and blushed. He’d forgotten they’d had an audience.

And now she had to stay in his lap for obvious reasons.

Kat came in next, and she was wearing a gold gown. It was wrapped around her petite frame. It was absolutely beautiful on her.

Dimitri noticed Curtis was staring at her as if she was the grand prize, and he’d just won it.

That pleased him.

A lot.

“Oh, Anfisa,” he said holding out his hand. When she took it, he pulled her into his body and kissed her hello.

When he finished, he stared into her aqua eyes.

“You look beautiful.”

“Did I do okay?” she asked.

“Okay? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Pregnancy looks good on you.”

She blushed.

Curtis was staring at her.

Greyson nudged him.

“Oh! Yeah, I have something for you,” he said, trying to focus. It wasn’t easy. He was thinking about how lovely a bride she was going to be. He wanted to see her walking down an aisle, and soon.

He pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket. “I’ve had it for a couple of weeks. I bought it before I asked you to marry me the first time. When you said no, I put it away.”

She touched his cheek. “Curtis.”

He didn’t care.

That was the past.

This was the now.

He went down on one knee and flipped it open for her. “Make it official? Marry me?”

Her hands covered her mouth as she gasped.

It was insane.

Curtis bought her a ring that would blow any woman’s mind. It was a large round stone, and around it was teardrop diamonds, forming petals.

“A pretty blossom for my beautiful flower.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’d be stupid not to marry you, Curtis. You’re the sweetest man in the world. I love you.”

He slipped it onto her finger.

It twinkled in the lights.

She jumped on him and kissed him.

When he set her free, he touched her cheek. “I can’t wait for you to be my wife and then the mother of our children. You’re so precious to me, Anfisa. Never doubt it.”

This was the best day of her life.

Kat wanted to weep buckets of tears. When they started, Curtis pulled tissues from his pocket before Dimitri could hand her any.

He’d been prepared.

Dimitri was proud of him.

As Curtis tended to his fiancée, Emma walked into the room. At the clicking of her heels, Greyson looked up, the male searching for his mate.