Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology)

by Ali Parker

  "Except me."

  "That's up for discussion." She shut the door and reached for a small white towel, pressing her face to it and letting the pain force tears of regret from her soul. How badly she had wanted Jon to be the one to give her a different view of men, a hope for a different life.

  He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her.

  What in the world would change things so fast? She picked up her phone and texted him, needing to know. She waited a few minutes, assured that he would respond right away, but nothing.

  She snorted and closed her eyes. She was nothing more than a piece of trash, a whore he wanted to sate himself with.

  "Fine. Good for you then."

  Her phone buzzed and she pulled it up, the message more than disturbing.

  "Kate. It's Beth. I just wrapped up numbers for the first of February. There are a few charges that I think you're going to want to see on these expense reports."

  She picked up the towel, got it wet and slipped out of the apartment while Marcus barked at someone on the phone. She didn't need to get into his business and whatever Beth had found was sure to be another breadcrumb in how everything had taken such a drastic change for the worst.

  Chapter 20

  Kate

  Kate walked down to the club, pulling her key from her pocket and working to get the door opened as the mid-day sun beat down on her back. The crowds were starting to gather again, but the club was unfortunately closed for business until the fire marshal could come by. She needed that to happen soon or she would miss out on the biggest day for them all year. The parades would run all day and the crowds would grow thick as soon as the sun set and maybe sooner.

  She locked the door behind her and walked quickly toward the back, her body aching, her heart obliterated from Jon's denial of her. She grumbled at herself, so angry for wanting more than she had. Marcus would be right to turn her completely away too, but he never would. He had been too much a part of her saving. She was his, and would be in some form or fashion for the rest of their lives.

  "You back here?" Kate called out as she walked toward Beth's small office near the back of the dark hall.

  "Yeah, come on back, boss."

  Kate stopped at the door, the towel pressed to her face as she leaned against the frame. Her office manager looking up from a pile of papers on her desk. "Come on in. Sit down and look at these receipts."

  "What are they for?" Kate walked in, a sense of trepidation pressing down on her.

  "Drugs."

  Kate sighed and sunk down in the chair as she moved the towel from her face.

  Beth gasped as her eyes widened. "Oh my God, Kate. What the hell happened?"

  "Got a visit from a less than happy drug lord and his lackey."

  "I thought you weren't dealing anymore."

  "I'm not. He thinks I am for some reason, but that's a conversation I need to figure out before I can have it." She took the receipts and held them close to her face, her good eye working overtime to focus.

  "Damn... remind me never to hang out with the guys you hang out with."

  "It's not advised for sure." Kate lifted the towel back to her mouth as something dripped down her chin, blood no doubt. "Why is Marcus buying drugs on his company card?"

  "I assume he's having a cash flow issue and needs debt to sustain his narcotics business."

  "We're not paying for this shit, right?" Kate looked up as anger swirled in the pit of her stomach. Was life about to go from really bad to much worse? Was her best friend, her lover, stealing money from her and their budding company?

  "No. He wouldn't do that. It's all marked as personal. He takes care of it."

  "Oh, thank God." She extended her hand, the receipts nothing more than a false alarm.

  "No, look at the signature, Kate."

  Kate pulled them back and held them up again, tilting her head as she tried to make out the crazy cursive writing. "This doesn't look like Marcus's handwriting."

  "Yeah, cause it's not."

  "He had someone else buy drugs on our company cards?"

  "It would seem so."

  "Whose signature is this?"

  Beth took in a long breath and sat back, her lips pursed as she stared straight forward.

  "Beth. Tell me whose signature this is."

  "I wasn't sure myself, so I pulled up who could sign on the card. It's just Marcus and one other name on it."

  "Mine, right?" Kate leaned forward and set the receipts down.

  "No. Adam Peterson."

  Numbness washed over her as she climbed the steps back up to the apartment, the sound of Marcus cursing someone out only fueling her fire. She walked into the room and jerked the phone from his ear, throwing it through the open door behind her as she snarled.

  "What the fuck, Kate?"

  She pushed at his chest hard as he backed up, his hands lifting as his eyes grew wild.

  "Kate, talk to me. What's the matter?"

  "How long?"

  "How long what, baby?"

  "How long were you going to lie to me? How long before you told me you had Adam working for you, you sorry bastard." She pushed at him again, the towel sliding from her hand and hitting the floor as she pushed with both hands.

  He caught her and pulled her toward him, wrapping her in a tight hug. She fought against him, tears of pain and deceit rolling over her eyes onto her swollen cheek.

  "It's not what you think."

  "I held him while he died because of some drug lords last week, Marcus. I was taken downtown on manslaughter charges."

  "Which were cleared."

  "I made love to his fucking brother and almost gave him my heart."

  "He's a dick. That has nothing to do with me."

  She pulled away, walking from him as a sob left her. "I could have died today or been raped for hours because Victor believes me to be the other drug lord in town. Your boss is the only other drug lord in New Orleans, Marcus. Why does Victor believe that I'm that person?"

  "Kate, I don't know, but I'm trying to find out. The kid wanted a job and said he knew you. I didn't know his fucking history with you."

  "Why didn't you mention it?"

  "He asked me not to. He said he was in love with you and wanted to get himself right before seeing you again."

  "You know why Victor thinks I'm the head of your organization?"

  "Why? Tell me and I'll fix it."

  She pressed her fingers to her mouth as she let out a groan of heartfelt agony. He started toward her and she held her hand up. "No. Don't you come near me. He thinks I run things because I was set up."

  "By who? Tell me and I'll kill him."

  She sniffled, reaching up to wipe a tear from her good eye. "By the only man I thought I could ever trust. You."

  "Kate..."

  She turned and jogged down the stairs, everything adding up far too well. Marcus had been involved in the drug ring far beyond her days of being in it, her only argument with him relating to him selling his shit in her club. Obviously he sought to get rid of her and take her place at the club, ushering in his products and making millions of dollars on the deal.

  "Kate, you're being ridiculous."

  The sound of him following her fueled her fire as she walked out into the street, turning to wait for him. She would blast him again with the truth and this time he couldn't deny it.

  "Am I? Adam's name is on your credit card receipts. You let Jon stay with me and you just happen to be out of town the night your boss sends the boys over to welcome Victor."

  "I'm the fucking one being set up here. Don't you see?"

  A beeping noise pulled her attention from him, the phone on the ground beside her lighting up with a text message reminder. She looked down at the small contraption, bending over to pick it up out of instinct. It buzzed again and she looked around to see if anyone seemed to be looking for it.

  "Kate. Stop worrying about the fucking phone and talk to me. How long have we been together? Who came after you to
save you?"

  "You did," she muttered and turned back to him, starting to slip the phone in her pocket. It buzzed again and she pulled it out, looking at it.

  Kate Jarret

  She pushed the button and the full text opened, her message to Jon on display. She looked up at Marcus before worry struck her.

  "This is Jon's phone. Why is it here?"

  "He dropped it?"

  She looked around, spotting his bike across the street as her heart stopped. "Oh my God. Something happened to him. His bike's still here too."

  "I thought he drove a car."

  "He has both. I saw him that night, after I got out of the station, on his bike. I just didn't know him then." She tucked the phone in her pocket and let out a shaky breath.

  "Kate, I'm sure he's fine."

  "Of course you are. Your plans are in motion and he's just a distraction. Where is he? What did you do to him?"

  "Stop it. I love you and have been with you for the last three years. You’re my best friend and I almost fucking died today when you called. You better get your shit straight and stop accusing me of shit I would never do. I didn't touch your boy and you're lucky that fucker upstairs was dead when I walked in. I would have torn him apart with my bare hands for touching you."

  The passion in his eyes, the roar of his emotion, set her right, her heart shuddering in her chest. Not sure what to do, she raced past him, running full speed up the stairs to grab her keys. She had to find Jon. He might not want her anymore, but she had given him a piece of herself the night before. She needed to make sure he was safe and not in harm’s way because of whatever shit she had herself mixed up in.

  Marcus met her in the middle of the stairs. "I'm coming with you."

  "Coming with me where?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  "To find him. I hate that you already think you're in love with him, but you mean more to me than anyone else. If you want to save him, I'm doing it with you."

  "I don't know where he is, Marcus." Her eyes filled with tears again. "I haven't cried more than three times in my life and two of them have been today."

  Marcus stepped up another step and pulled her close, Kate sinking into his strong hold. "I know sweetheart. This has to be Victor's doing."

  She moved back. "What if it's your boss? Would he have anything to do with all of this? Maybe he implicated me to bring Victor to my door and start a war that Jon would shut down fast. Maybe all of this time we've been focused on the wrong bad guy."

  "I don't think so, Kate." Marcus moved back, reaching up and palming his bald head. "My boss isn't really the type to do anything too maniacal. He's really just a rich pussy with his fingers in too many pies."

  "Have you met him? Do you know him?"

  "Yeah... of course. He's a cop on the force, or pretends to be one. That's why we have such an easy time dealing in the city."

  "What's his name, Marcus?" She pressed her hand to the side of his neck, tilting his face toward hers as she tried to keep her cool.

  "He goes by boss, but I've seen some shit with the name Seth McGraven on it. I assume he's not willing to use his real name."

  "Seth?"

  "You know him, Kate?"

  "Why didn't you tell me?”

  "Fuck, Kate. You never wanted to know before. Why are you looking at me like I'm hiding something?"

  "Are you?"

  "No. I told you who the fuck he is. Why are you acting like you know who I'm talking about? Are you working for him and I don't know it?"

  She moved past him and jogged down the stairs, yelling over her shoulder. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

  Marcus caught up to her and reached for the keys in her hand. "I'll drive. Tell me what you're thinking."

  "Jon has a partner on the force. His name's Seth, but he's not come with Jon once to talk to me or help gather information."

  "You think it's the same guy?"

  "I sure as fuck do. My theory makes way more sense now."

  "If he has Jon, then they are near the edge of the city limits, on the west side, at the large barn we torture people at."

  She shivered as fear wrapped around her heart. Reaching back, she made sure her glock was in place. She had a feeling she would be using it more than once that day.

  Chapter 21

  Jon

  "Hey, wake up, sleepy head."

  Jon came to, the sharp sting of a slap against his cheek jolting him. He tried to reach up to wipe his eyes, the haze sitting over him thick and blurry. His arms didn't respond due to the ropes tied around them.

  "Where am I?" He blinked a few times, looking around at the large empty warehouse. Seth stood to his left, his partner wearing a suit that didn't fit his personality at all.

  "You're at one of my warehouses." Seth opened his arms and spun around. "You like?"

  "What the fuck is going on, Seth?"

  "I'm glad you asked. I do plan on making this short and sweet because I have a bitch to kill and the competition to stomp out, but things couldn't be playing out more beautifully."

  Jon listened to the man before him as he glanced around the room, trying to discern how an escape might be possible. The shock that sat heavy on him due to Seth being involved in something as nefarious as the situation seemed, would have to take a back seat.

  "I'm all ears. Let's hear it." Jon glanced back at him, his face expressionless.

  "Where to start." Seth tapped his fingertips together in front of his chest, his smile wide and screaming of mental illness. "I know. Let's start with your baby brother. What a sick little fuck."

  Jon ground his teeth together, heat rushing up his chest and flooding him with rage.

  "Did you know that he was in love with your girl? I'm sure they fucked. And then you fuck her too... you knew didn't you? Wanted to tap something your little brother had tapped, I suppose? Bring you closer to him in some morbid dicked up sense?"

  "Not sure what you're talking about, but I know a good doctor that could help you move past whatever's going on inside of you, partner." Jon tried to reach him.

  "Kate's apartment is bugged. I drank a whole bottle of red wine last night, listening to you try to turn the trashy bitch into a woman." Seth laughed, dropping his hands and slapping them against his thighs. "Was it good? I plan on trying her on for size once we're done here. Not in the loving manner that you sought to achieve. I'm going to tie her up and spend hours desecrating her. She needs to know her place."

  "You better not fucking touch her, you sick fuck." Jon lifted up, struggling against his binding.

  "Oh. Hit a nerve. I like it." Seth rolled his shoulders, reaching up and removing the overly priced blue jacket he wore. "So, I found your brother and decided to bring him in to my operation, that part was honestly just the hand of God. I had no idea he was your little brother and it really was irrelevant until this new mother fucker moved into town and decided that he wanted my territory."

  "You're the drug lord we've been after all these years?"

  "Not all these years. Billy Turner had this fine organization before me, but once I decided to join the police force, well... it was easy to get help in taking him out." Seth shrugged. "I was his right hand. Dumb old bastard never saw it coming."

  "Marcus works for you?"

  "He does. He's my right hand." Seth smiled and moved to pull a chair in front of Jon. "He hired Adam for me, and I have to wonder if he knew what he was doing. Smart fucker, that Marcus. Someone to watch out for, for sure. Too bad your girl opens her legs to him nightly."

  "Shut the fuck up, Seth. I'm going to get loose and when I do, I swear to God I'm going to strangle you with my bare hands."

  "Does she know?"

  "What?"

  "Does Kate know that you've killed someone before? Does she know that your past isn't exactly as clean as you made it out to be?"

  "How do you know about that?"

  "I know about everything because it's my job to know this city and all the tiny little
people in it."

  "What does this shit have to do with you kidnapping me?"

  "When Victor Parence showed up a few weeks ago I knew I needed help... and quickly. He's from Russia and they're tough mother fuckers over there. I hear they eat glass for breakfast and shit." Seth shrugged as if they were carrying on a casual conversation. "Anyway, I needed to take him out, but that would require diverting him to believe me to be someone else."

  "You made him think that someone else is the original drug lord in this area?"

  "Yes, Jon. Keep up please." Seth smirked. "He thinks it’s Kate."

  "What? Why?"

  "See, I paid Adam a lot of money to become a rat for me. The kid was perfect at making friends, so sweet and innocent and yet... not. He went to work for Victor too, but he fucked up. He smoked up the first shipment Victor gave him, the meth from overseas seriously a thing of pure beauty. I'm not saying he wasn't forced to smoke the shit until he was sick over it. But from their point of view, the boy fucked up and they came after him." Seth shrugged. "That's just how this shit works."

  Jon sat in stunned silence, his partner a monster, one that rode beside him in the car for the last two years. What kind of detective was he, that he never suspected anything?

  "Adam wasn't looking for Kate that night at the bar." Seth laughed loudly. "Fuck, I'm sure he almost shit himself when she opened the door. He was looking for Marcus, his mentor. When Kate walked out and held him as he died, my plan locked into place perfectly."

  "Your brother gave the Russians a perfect view of her being either his lover or his boss. If I could simply pin on her the ownership of my ring... they would come after her and one or two things would happen. Marcus would kill them all for hurting his girl, because you know she really belongs to him, or they would kill her and Marcus."

  "How does them killing Marcus and Kate help you at all?"

  "It didn't until I got you assigned to your brother's case. I knew Kate was your type and that damsel in distress with big tits and dark features would send you over the edge. They kill her and you wouldn't stop until you found them." He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. "So fucking brilliant."