Checkmate (The Cassano Series Book 5)

by Scarlet Wolfe

  Finally, she beams. “Yeah, but I haven’t minded since you make me feel incredible on those mornings.”

  “I don’t like working opposite shifts. We’re not getting enough time together. I’ve been thinking about hiring more help in the evenings so I could be home with you a few hours after your shift ends.”

  The corners of Tara’s eyes are pricked with tears. Leaning forward, I push the door closed behind her and glance over to ensure the one is shut between my office and Aggie’s.

  “Tell me what’s going on, Tara, and don’t say your fucking tired.”

  “Don’t get angry with me.”

  “I’m not angry; I’m concerned.”

  “Kruse stopped by my office, but I don’t know why. It seemed like something was on his mind. I thought maybe you could check on him.”

  “Why did he go to you about it?”

  “He said never mind and left, so I have no clue.”

  My forehead scrunches as I wonder where this conversation is going.

  “Then why are you upset?”

  “I knew you wouldn’t be happy about it, but I was worried about him, so I felt I should tell you.”

  “If he had discussed something with you, would you have told me about it?”

  “I guess that depends on what he had to say.” Her head turns, so I pull her chin back to me.

  “What’s happening right now? I don’t like the guilty look you have on your face. You’re not telling me something.”

  Stepping back from me, she scowls.

  “I want to be his friend, but I knew you wouldn’t be happy he came to see me, and I was right. I told you exactly what happened, and now I’m going home.”

  She turns on her heels and flees from my office. I have no clue what the fuck just went down, but I’m going to find out.

  “Kruse,” I say into my phone. “Come to my office as soon as you get a chance.” I hang up before he can respond. He better have a damn good explanation as to why he went to see Tara.

  ***

  “What do you need?” Kruse asks as he steps into my office.

  “Why did you pay Tara a visit today?”

  “Damn, she already told you?”

  “Yeah, because we don’t keep secrets from each other, so don’t think I’m not going to find out when you’re hitting on her.”

  He frowns. “I wasn’t hitting on her, and I ended up not speaking to her, anyway.”

  “You still haven’t answered my question.”

  Kruse glances over my shoulder toward Aggie’s office. I glance back that way, wondering what he’s looking at.

  “Aggie’s working late, but the door’s closed, so she can’t hear if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  “Um, Tara is the woman I’ve spent the most time with in years. She got to know me, and well, I’m interested in a chick, and I thought Tara might be able to help me with the situation.”

  “So you like someone else?”

  “Yeah, so get your damn panties out of a wad.”

  “But you still like Tara.”

  “No, I wanted her advice.”

  “Fuck, I still don’t like it.”

  Allowing his head to fall back, he stares at the ceiling.

  “I’m trying, man. I’m trying to direct my attention elsewhere.”

  “I’d believe that if you hadn’t shown up at her office today.”

  His head lowers, and he studies me, likely analyzing the point I made. What concerns me is how much the incident affected Tara.

  There’s a knock on the door between my office and Aggie’s, so I go and open it.

  “Uh, I thought I heard Kruse’s voice, and I was wondering if I could speak to him. I have a question about the panic button.”

  Not wanting to discuss Kruse’s feelings for my fiancée any further, I wave him toward my sister.

  Chapter Eight

  Aggie

  Without meeting my gaze, Kruse steps inside. I don’t know what he and Zev were discussing, but I sensed tension between them.

  “What do you need, Aggie? My night is turning to shit, and I still have quite a few hours to go.”

  “I want to apologize for what happened this afternoon. I jumped to conclusions when I hardly know you, and that was wrong of me.”

  Kruse makes eye contact with me, and his forehead wrinkles. Without a response, he only stares at me, and I wish I could be privy to his thoughts.

  I might be unaware of them, but I do feel an intense emotion from him. It’s part of the rare dynamic between us. We’re connected when we barely know one another. It’s exciting yet obscure and alarming.

  “The sexual innuendos were over the top, Kruse. I’m not used to being flirted with. On top of that, you did try to get me to sleep with you the first night we met.”

  Turning my back to him, I take a couple of steps forward, straightening my charcoal pencil skirt along the way.

  “I’m not used to feeling that intense sexual energy with someone.” I shake my head, wondering why in the hell I disclosed that to him.

  “Anyway, you were kind to ask me to have coffee with you, so I wanted to apologize. Also, if you can forgive me, I’d like to finish having that coffee with you sometime.”

  I hear his feet moving toward me. His fingers touch my forearms, and I shudder beneath them as he grazes them up my skin. They wrap around my biceps before I feel his front to my back.

  “Thank you, but if I’m honest, I think I got pissed because I knew what you were thinking, and you didn’t miss the mark. It’s how I’ve always been with women, but I promise, Aggie, I will do my damndest not to hurt you.”

  His breath flows through my auburn hair right to my earlobe. Unable to hold out against his profound touch and words, I lean back against him.

  His arms wrap around me, and he pulls me closer. He admitted he’s dangerous to my heart, yet his honesty draws me in further.

  “Fuck, what is it about you, Princess? I cross paths with desirable women every day. But with you it’s not only an attraction; it’s a need that I can’t explain or make sense of.”

  “I feel it, too, and it’s scaring me. It’s too soon.” A knock on the door has me practically lunging away from him.

  Zev opens it and eyes us both.

  “Are you two finished?”

  “Yes, I was on my way out,” Kruse replies. He’s composed, and I want to know how he mastered that ability when I feel like the words “I’m horny for Kruse” are tattooed on my flustered chest.

  I don’t have to inspect it to see that it’s crimson. I feel the heat coming from every pore of my being, a fervor mounting from Kruse’s mere presence.

  I can’t understand it when we only just met. What I can dissect is he’s a drug, and I’m only going to become addicted when he’s near.

  Each dominating syllable from his open mouth, his penetrating breaths to my skin, and the searing watch from his starving eyes are going to magnify the cravings until I’m a user, begging him for the full dose of pleasure.

  It will be a high I won’t want to come down from, but with a drug there’s always a letdown. I believe his could stop my heart.

  Sadie

  I puked once between classes this morning. It’s lunchtime now, and as much as I have no hankering for food, I need to eat for the baby.

  I’m moving with the crowd of students in the hallway when I recognize Russell, Professor Edward’s so-called right-hand man, standing off to the side and talking with some guy who appears about as yuppie has Russell.

  They both glance around several times, which only draws my attention to him further.

  Reaching out, Russ shakes the guy’s hand, their fingers lingering a bit too long. Russell’s hand shoves inside his pocket next, and it’s almost like he’s putting something there.

  Odd. Unless … is he exchanging drugs and money?

  Needing no more drama like what I had with Noah, I make my way to the cafeteria. As I eat, I can’t stop dwelling on what I just saw.<
br />
  Aside from being less aggressive than Noah, Russ reminds me of him with his arrogance and preppy attire. I also find it odd he magically appeared in the science lab.

  An idea comes into play, so I pull out my phone and text Victoria.

  Me: Can you have Reggie do a check on someone if I gather info on them?

  Vic: Sure. Are you in some kind of danger??

  Me: I don’t believe so. Being cautious is all. Please keep this between us for now. You know how Simon can get.

  Vic: As long as you promise to keep me in the loop.

  Me: Promise.

  Theo

  “Theo, there’s a Ms. D’Angelo here to see Adrian, and she’s insisting on meeting with you since he’s not in,” Tara says to me on the phone.

  I grimace. Adrian’s in a meeting with our investors, and it figures I would get stuck meeting with a member of the FBI of all people. I’ve managed to dodge that bullet thus far.

  “Please bring her back, Tara.” Like I don’t have enough on my plate right now. I wish I could fit a drink in before Ms. D’Angelo graces me with what Adrian claims is a bitch presence.

  Upon opening my door, Tara moves aside for the woman to enter. I’m taken aback by her appearance, so much so I’m forced to take a step back from my desk, experiencing this need to get away from the striking woman.

  I don’t trust any of them at this point. Well, Victoria, Tara and Sadie have been welcomed into the Cassano circle, but I still wonder at times if they won’t crush my brothers’ hearts.

  Clearing my throat, I stretch my arm out to shake her hand. “I’m Theo Cassano.”

  I’m surprised by the firm and confident grip coming from such a petite frame.

  “Ms. D’Angelo. Thank you for meeting with me on the spur of the moment.”

  “Yes, well, from what Adrian has relayed to me in the past, I figured I didn’t have a choice.”

  A twitch of a smile betrays her tough demeanor.

  “I see you’re wiser than your brother.”

  I chuckle. I shouldn’t. I mean, this woman has threatened to send us to prison and pissed my brother off more times than I could count.

  She held our futures over our heads, putting our lives in danger as we chased drug dealers and killers. The realization of who she is puts my mouth into a straight line.

  “Ms. D’Angelo, have a seat, and what can I do for you?”

  “Right up front, I’ll tell you that you’re not going to like what I have to say.”

  Sucking in a laborious breath, I sit down in my chair.

  “OK, let me hear it.”

  “I’m sure you know I informed Adrian that he and his family, along with his family’s business, were no longer under scrutiny by our department.”

  “Of course he informed me. It was a relief to say the least.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s no longer true. My superiors are not happy with Noah Sanders’ disappearance, and you were originally supposed to lead us to the drug lord John Ferrera.”

  “Yes, but Adrian said the FBI agreed to wave that if we turned over Noah Sanders and those below him.”

  “Originally, yes, but then Sanders fled. Because of his father, the Bureau and DEA didn’t get their chance to interrogate him to uncover the leader of his operation.

  “Instead, it looks like all we worked for was for nothing. We have petty dealers in jail, but the suspect who meant the most is running loose, able to orchestrate only god knows what.”

  If only I could tell her Noah’s dead in the ground.

  “You can’t go back on your word.” I grab the five-by-seven photo of my children from my desk and hold my arm out in front of her, forcing her to view it.

  “Look at this. It’s a picture of my son and daughter. I love them more than anything else in this world, and they’re counting on me to be there for them. I can’t go to prison, and neither can my brothers.”

  For a second, a flit of remorse leaves her sandy eyes, but she straightens her posture and meets my hardened gaze.

  “Mr. Cassano, like I’ve told Adrian countless times, you should have thought about what was important to you when you decided to operate an illegal gambling operation in this casino.”

  I scrub my face roughly with my hands. The ones I want to wrap around her slender neck. It’s joined to a voluptuous chest in a silky pale blue blouse she could button a little higher so the urge to fuck her wasn’t flashing in my mind.

  I’d love to bend her over this desk right now. I’d pull her hair and pound into her if it wouldn’t land me in a jail cell. Damn, it’s been too long since I’ve had any.

  “Mr. Cassano, are you going to continue to stare at me in anger, or are you going to hear me out.”

  Loosening my tie, I lean back in my chair.

  “Fine, continue.”

  “My superiors believe they can redeem themselves to the media and bureaucracies by making a statement with the outing of your family and business. I mean, a countless number of important people in our community have committed tax evasion here at this casino.”

  “Wow, you’re really living up to all my brother has told me about you.”

  The bitch of a beauty frowns.

  “It doesn’t have to come to that, Mr. Cassano, and it’s not what the Bureau wants.”

  Her eyes wander away from me, and she coughs, trying to clear her throat before she gnaws at the corner of her bottom lip. Her chest is rising and falling at a rapid speed.

  Either she wants me to fuck her as bad as I want to, or she’s withholding something. Pushing my ego aside, I have to assume it’s the latter.

  I’ve always wondered why the FBI didn’t take us down immediately. It’s never made sense to me. I have a feeling Ms. D’Angelo holds the answer.

  “I need a drink. Would you like one?”

  “I’m working.”

  “Let me at least get you something to clear your throat.” I grant her a smile before I approach the minibar at the back corner of my office. This strong-willed woman must warm up to me.

  “A seltzer water would be great, thank you.”

  Taking my seat again, I set the bottle of bubbly in front of her. “I apologize for my outburst earlier over my children. They’re my world, and I’ll do anything to protect their innocence.

  “Their mother and I are in the midst of a divorce. It’s going to be hard on them, so I can’t imagine being ripped away from them, too.”

  “You don’t need to explain, Mr. Cassano.”

  “Call me Theo. So, do you have children?”

  “No, and I’ve never married. My job is not exactly conducive to relationships.”

  “I understand we’re on opposite ends of the spectrum, meaning you think I’m a criminal, but I do get how a relationship is difficult when a demanding job is involved. I believe my wife strayed because of the long hours I must devote to this company.”

  After taking a long drink, she tightens the lid back onto her bottle.

  “That’s exactly what I don’t want to deal with. It’s much easier to stay single.”

  “Is it? I must admit, I’m already missing a woman’s touch.”

  Abruptly, she fumbles to reopen the bottle of water. She downs another drink, and a few drops drip on her blouse. She mumbles something as she closes the bottle and wipes at her shirt with her hand.

  Her delicate hand I’d like to wrap around my cock.

  “Uh, Mr. Cassano–I mean Theo, can we get back to the subject at hand? Like most people I must meet with, Adrian was always eager to get me out the door. I’m not accustomed to someone wanting to chitchat.”

  “Oh, right. Where were we?”

  “We’re at the point where we renegotiate. Actually, it’s not a renegotiation. You do what my superiors say, or you go to prison.”

  “Ms. D’Angelo–wait, I didn’t catch your first name.”

  “Uh, it’s Kim.”

  “Kim, if you keep laying on the sweet talk, I might take a liking to you, and wouldn’
t that be messed up?”

  She tries her damndest to fight the grin curling from her lips but she can’t. She’s going to be putty in my hands.

  “Stop. I have serious shit to discuss with you, and your freedom depends on it. You’re different from your brother. He’s a bit more high-strung and volatile.”

  “That would be Adrian, but we’re very much alike, too.”

  “Ah, see, you shouldn’t have added that last part. I was beginning to take to you.”

  The bitch has left the building. That’s a genuine, flirty smile her plump lips are giving, and I’ll gladly take it. There’s a giggle to accompany it, so I chuckle along with her.

  “What’s happening here?” Adrian asks. Shit, it’s not the time for him to show his face. One that is contorted with confusion from the sight of Kim and me laughing.

  As fast as her smile came, it went. She’s on her feet in an instant, squeezing closed the collar of her blouse as if she’s been busted naked with her legs spread wide. I can dream, anyway.

  Adrian has handled this woman all wrong, and I should’ve known he’d try to bully her back. I realized real fast that it’s not the way to deal with her.

  “Adrian, I’ve got it. I’ll finish this and meet with you after.”

  His eyes narrow on Kim while he stands at my doorway.

  “Why are you here? I didn’t think we’d see your face again.”

  “Adrian, I told you I have it covered.” I give him the same narrow look.

  He scratches his head. “Fine, be my guest. I’d like to say it’s good to see you again, Kim, but we both know otherwise.”

  “Adrian, enough.” He’s going to fuck up the ground work I’ve laid with a run of his trap. “I apologize. As you already know, Adrian has trouble censoring his thoughts.”

  With a sigh, Ms. D’Angelo returns to her chair and tucks a strand of her short chestnut hair behind her ear.

  “It’s no secret we’re not each other’s biggest fan. Now, can we get back to our discussion?”

  “Certainly. What is it we have to do to get out of this mess yet again?”

  “Find John Ferrera or the person who was supplying Noah Sanders.”