King of Hearts

by C. A. Szarek

  Elise sighed and rested her head on the back of the chair, staring up at the ceiling for a few seconds.

  Again, he was struck with that odd urge to comfort her.

  He wheeled his chair closer, around the side of his desk so he could grab both her hands. “Hey.”

  She met his eyes and seemed so damn sad it almost slayed him.

  Gian cursed and plastered on what he hoped was a soft smile. “It’ll be okay. Why don’t you grab those reports, and I’ll meet you in the conference room in a few? I have a call I need to make.”

  “Everything okay?” she asked, her fair brows drawn all over again.

  He nodded. “Nothing concerning here. Are you guys getting anywhere on the financials?”

  Frustration settled in her expression. “They’re supposed to be freaking forensic accountants and they say nothing stands out. But they’re determined to figure out what the feds saw. Paul says there has to be an explanation.”

  Of course there was.

  The files he’d provided them were all legit. He’d also removed several hard drives—the ones with his real records on them—from the boxes when they’d been delivered from the off-site server warehouse, and snatched the manifest.

  He’d reported that he’d checked all the items off, and every record was accounted for. No one questioned him, and why would they? No matter how good Paul Allemand’s team was, there was nothing to find on what he’d given them. Gian had white-washed the accounts, and controlled what he’d released.

  It was a damn good thing his fiancée had put him in charge of that facet of the exoneration investigation.

  He was a good little helper.

  “Don’t stress about it.” He squeezed her hands. “These guys are the best, and these things take time. Poring over financials, line by line is tedious, too.”

  She blew out air and puffed her bottom lip out. “I know you’re right, but the feds got a head start. It’s a matter of time before arrest warrants are issued.”

  Gian shook her head and kissed her knuckles. “That’s a worry for another day.”

  Elise frowned. “Is it? I’m implicated in this. I run accounting. My dad has cancer. We both could see the inside of a cell if there are indictments. I’m scared shitless, to be honest. We’re innocent.”

  He stood and tugged her into his arms. “I promise that will never happen, tesoro. The feds have bigger fish to fry than a sick old man.”

  “What about me?” she whispered in a very small voice. Her arms, which had been around him, fell to her sides. She deflated.

  He met her eyes. “That’s why we pay Paul Allemand the big bucks.”

  She nodded, but gnawed on her bottom lip.

  “Let me make my call, and I’ll be there to help the team, okay?” he said.

  Again, his fiancée nodded, and when they parted, he bumped the edge of his desk. His phone tumbled to the hardwood with a thunk.

  They went for it at the same time, and Elise enclosed her hand around it first.

  The screen lit up, displaying the last thing he’d accessed.

  “Why do you have a picture of Maddie?” She cocked her head to one side, one fair eyebrow arched.

  Damn phone.

  Why hadn’t it locked, like normal? It should’ve needed his face to access it.

  “Maddie?” he asked.

  “She’s the marshal that served the warrant.” Elise’s expression darkened.

  “Exactly,” Gian said.

  “What?”

  “I asked Security to get me her picture, so I could recognize her if she comes back. She’s the leader of the taskforce, is she not?”

  He read the acceptance in her dark eyes, and he thanked God—or maybe the devil—he was a good liar.

  “Senior Inspector Madison Granger,” he mused with a purpose—a fishing expedition. “You called her ‘Maddie’. Do you know her?”

  “That bitch.”

  He had to hide a smile. She was so damn fiery and he…loved that about her.

  Gian pasted on an expression of appropriate offense. “Such harsh words, tesoro.” It was really difficult not to grin in appreciation.

  “She’s earned it. I knew her years ago, when I was still in college. We were close, but I guess none of that mattered. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word, ‘loyalty’. She also used to date my brother, and left him without a backward glance. He was devastated. She can go to hell. This crap is all her fault. Even if we were still friends, we’re not any more. I will never forgive her for this. As Dad would say, she’s dead to me.” Elise gestured around his office, but he knew she’d meant the whole casino.

  “Which brother?”

  “Gio.”

  Interesting.

  He sucked back another smile, and leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. “I won’t be too long. The reports are on the big copier.”

  She nodded and departed.

  Gian pulled up Marshal Granger’s dossier on his phone, zooming in to read it again. She had a few commendations in her file, and she’d been with the Marshal’s Service for almost eleven years. He had to give it to whoever his uncle had paid; the info was thorough and helpful.

  Gian swiped over to the first photo he’d saved, and his fiancée had inadvertently seen. Although he’d had to do some quick thinking, he was grateful she’d seen it.

  He’d learned something that would add fuel to his fire. More leverage.

  Madison Granger wasn’t looking at the camera, but her profile was gorgeous. He could see her appeal, and no doubt Elise’s brother had enjoyed hitting that, if they’d, “dated.”

  Had they reunited since she was back in town?

  Gian totally would’ve, if he was Gio. Maybe he could implement a double, ‘fuck you,’ instead of just one. He grinned and spun around in the executive computer chair like a little kid.

  When he faced the desk again, he woke his desktop PC up with a click of the mouse and went to Google. He pulled up the number he needed and reached for the phone next to his keyboard.

  This was an official call, so there was no need to do it from his cell, or his burner phone.

  “Las Vegas Metro Police Department, how may I help you?” A female asked after a couple of rings.

  “Hi there, I need to speak to Detective Nico Giovanni’s supervisor. I have to a report a serious conflict of interest.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The last few days had been like a dream. They’d worked together, come home together, and spent time together…like a family.

  It was hard as hell not to get swept away, carried into the vortex of things Maddie was afraid to want. She’d tried her best, pinning her caution to the forefront of her brain, but it was getting harder to maintain.

  Gio had unpacked Jake’s room with him, and even helped her organize the kitchen. Working beside him in that capacity, in making their place home…well, it made her think.

  Thinking, concerning Nico Giovanni, was…bad.

  Very bad.

  Their son and Jamie were only in town until Wednesday morning, and her sister had a few job leads she’d wanted to chase down before they moved there full time, in about a week. She’d even had an interview Monday.

  Maddie wanted her to reenroll in college, and she was considering it. Her sister was somewhat of a free spirit, and had dropped out a few years ago in Chicago, with three or four semesters away from a bachelor’s degree in business, but Jamie wasn’t interested in that anymore.

  Jake’s school had been closed Monday, and she filled out paperwork for withdrawing him, and was sending them back with Jamie to hand in. He’d missed school on Tuesday, but it wasn’t every day a kid met his dad for the first time, so she didn’t care so much. He’d be in a Las Vegas school soon enough.

  Jamie even took him to see his new school yesterday morning, and Maddie was relieved he was more excited than dreading the move. He’d made her promise he could Skype with his two best friends, Owen and Charlie. Her sister had told her she would c
oordinate with their moms, as she often handled Jake’s playdates.

  Nearly all the boxes were gone, and Gio had hauled them out to the dumpster without being asked.

  The apartment finally looked lived-in, complete with the requisite kid stuff Jake left in his wake.

  Vegas was starting to feel like home.

  Something she’d never expected.

  It was going to be hard to put them on a plane in the morning, but Gio had said he wanted to go to the airport, too. The flight was early enough, before they needed to head into the PD.

  Work had gone okay Monday and Tuesday, and she’d been eager to get home to Jamie and Jake, and Gio had felt the same.

  He hadn’t really been back to his own place since Friday. He’d gone home to grab clothes, but Maddie was still scared shitless of his declaration, and didn’t dare consider his things in her place a permanent fixture. He wasn’t moving in.

  It just couldn’t happen.

  He could see Jake daily if he wanted, but the sleepovers—in her bed—really should stop.

  They hadn’t talked about it; the declaration or the sex, other than admitting the weekend had meant something.

  To both of them.

  She was trying to convince herself it didn’t matter. They could take things one day at a time, at home and work. Which was why she’d told him she didn’t know what she wanted from him. With him.

  Of course she knew. Just couldn’t say it out loud.

  Everything had been on the tip of her tongue that day.

  Why she couldn’t open her mouth and have a real conversation with him about their future was a mystery. She was usually really direct.

  Maddie watched him with their son all day, and her heart pounded, but she couldn’t ask him what any of it meant.

  Maybe she was too afraid to believe him. Despite what he’d said, that he wanted to be in her life, too, she was afraid of a real answer.

  Had that been real? Had he really meant what he’d said?

  If he didn’t…she’d be heartbroken.

  Of course she’d be shattered. However, it wasn’t the organ in her chest she was concerned with. She had to protect Jake.

  If it all fell apart, and that was inevitable, wasn’t it? When it all fell apart, where would their little boy be left?

  She’d kill Gio if he hurt Jake.

  It was difficult not to contemplate overwhelming love-like emotions when she saw him and their son interacting. Then even more so, when he kissed her, showed her open affection around her sister and Jake, and took her when he was in her bedroom.

  She especially didn’t want to think about when he was in her bed.

  Maddie pushed the ideas away for later, and contemplated all she needed to get done in the morning, after the airport.

  They didn’t have arrest warrants yet. The judge wanted more concrete evidence, but since Elise was one of the parties they’d likely have to bring in, she wasn’t in a hurry. Couldn’t bear the idea of betrayal on her pretty face when she had to cuff her.

  Her stomach churned.

  Just a matter of time.

  Gio’s father was still in the hospital, and they could go talk to him there, but it wasn’t on the agenda yet.

  They still hadn’t figured out the mystery of Marco Fratelli. Maddie had done more digging that afternoon, to no avail.

  Gio had been correct that “Marco’s” arrival coincided with when the money laundering had started, but other than that, they still didn’t know his identity, and hadn’t been back to the casino to question him.

  Paul Allemand—The Giovanni’s high powered ball buster—had collected the PC Affidavits and imparted veiled threats about coming onto casino grounds, using the words ‘harassment’ and ‘slander,’ so the team was treading carefully.

  They couldn’t leave it forever, despite what the attorney had said. “Marco” was the key to her case, no matter Gio’s family’s roles in the crime.

  Her hopeful heart wished he was right for the first time since the FBI had looped the Marshal’s Service into the case.

  She didn’t want to admit she was a little distracted with the personal stuff; even if the work stuff also included Gio. Maddie had never been bad with balancing before. Jake and her job, not to mention her sister, were equally important, and they would always stay that way.

  Just because Gio was now a factor in her “family” changed nothing.

  Right?

  The team still pored over financials, and she still waited on a call back from Nash Grey to discover any progress with Cesare Fratelli. Grey was the FBI Special Agent in Charge out of Chicago, and her liaison for the case.

  If the FBI had managed to get the CPA to talk, no one had told her. Maybe she should reach out in the morning.

  “Why’re you so quiet?” Gio whispered.

  He was in her bed for fifth day in a row, and her heart skipped.

  “Just going over the plan of attack for tomorrow.”

  “Well, stop it.” His warm hand cradled hers, then he dragged their joined fingers downward. “You can do that over your first cup of coffee.”

  Maddie smiled against his neck when he’d stopped his journey. He’d settled her grip on his cock, adequately distracting her.

  “Trying to tell me something?” she asked, nibbling the stubble under his chin.

  She felt his chuckle rumble against her breasts, she was tucked in so close.

  “Maybe,” he whispered and pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “You’re usually more direct.” She lifted her head and met his eyes.

  He was carefree and relaxed, and there was a twinkle in those glinting sapphires visible even in the nighttime dimness of her room.

  “Putting your hand on my dick isn’t direct?”

  Maddie grinned. “Maybe. I guess I’ll have to get to work then.”

  Just a few tugs and he was granite in her palm.

  Gio tilted his head back, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. He groaned when she pushed her thumb into the underside of his sensitive tip and rubbed.

  “Damn, Mads. Don’t stop.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” She stroked and squeezed him with just the right amount of pressure, from root to tip.

  When their gazes brushed, he dipped down and took her mouth, dominating her lips and tongue like he always did.

  She got swept away, despite the hand-job going on below, and moaned into the lip-lock. Desire smacked into her, settling low and hot, her burn slowly working its way into a searing char from the inside out as he continued to kiss her. Harder. Deeper. Her sex throbbed and she bumped her pelvis into his.

  Gio growled, and shoved her shoulders into the bed.

  Maddie kicked the sheets away when her feet got tangled and reached for him as he loomed above her. She lifted her hips to meet his, but he didn’t take her.

  “I want you,” he panted.

  “That’s the point.”

  He grunted by way of answer and grabbed his erection.

  She watched him guide himself to her center. It revved her up even more; the sight erotic, with the arch in his back, the strain in his chest, stomach and arm muscles, the intense determination in his handsome face.

  He was incendiary.

  The man oozed sex, and he didn’t have to be naked for her to see it. She was going to combust before he even reached his goal.

  Then he was there, filling her with a jarring thrust. Gio wasn’t gentle, but Maddie didn’t need soft lovemaking. She needed him to answer the call boiling her blood. She needed him hard and fast. Rough and raw.

  Completely Gio.

  He took her mouth again, pushing deep to rub his tongue against hers.

  She kissed him back until she couldn’t breathe, and lifted her hips over and over to meet his downward strokes.

  Their pelvises slammed together, making skin-slapping sounds that betrayed his speed.

  Maddie was covered in sweat, but didn’t care. She was on fire.

  Gio grabbed her hi
ps and drove forward even harder, his fingers digging in, but she kept up with him until she exploded.

  She threw her head back and called his name as her orgasm smashed into her, making all her muscles contract and tremor. Her vision went in and out, spinning in a chaos of ecstasy. She had to pant to get air down.

  He said her name and stilled above her. His cock jerked inside her as he came, too, then Gio buried his face in her neck.

  His way-past-five-o’clock shadow scratched against her skin, shooting tingles down her spine, making her want more.

  She snuggled closer, wrapping herself around him even as his sex slipped from hers.

  Her detective pulled her to him, nestling her into his side, and slipping his leg between hers. “That was hot,” Gio whispered.

  Maddie’s belly fluttered. She caressed his rough face and dragged her thumb across his kiss-swollen bottom lip. She’d put the color in his cheeks, and the plumpness in his mouth. “I loved every minute of it.”

  And I love you.

  She almost startled as the little revelation settled in her head and she couldn’t shake it.

  Wasn’t she just trying to convince herself to take things one day at a time, and worrying about his new constant place in her bed?

  She’d loved him eight years ago.

  Not now.

  Right?

  Her heart sped up, as if it hadn’t calmed from the frantic pace of Gio’s lovemaking. Hard or soft, that was what they’d done together.

  Making love.

  Love.

  The day Jake and Jamie had shown up, she’d worried her heart was already involved, after all the sex they’d had over the weekend. But Maddie had been able to talk herself out of it, hadn’t she?

  Evidently not.

  She loved him.

  Again.

  Had she ever really stopped?

  She fought the urge to close her eyes. Didn’t want to know the answer.

  Gio’s stare didn’t waver. His gaze darted all over her face as he studied her. Like he was a human lie detector.

  She wanted to squirm. Maddie was a glutton for punishment. Or maybe just a glutton for Nico Giovanni.

  Idiot.

  He cupped her face, his hold gentle but fierce as his eyes commanded hers. “I hope it wasn’t too rough. I don’t want to hurt you, Mads. Ever.”