No Justice_A Croft Mob Family Book

by Morgan Kelley

  “Well, you and Dimitri need to get this initial meeting over with, and with zero bloodshed. Am I clear?”

  She laughed.

  “Yes, boss.”

  Greyson rolled his eyes and focused on Larry as he hustled around to open the door. When he did, they exited and Greyson hoped no one made a scene.

  On the sidewalk, they found his friends waiting.

  “We have media,” Chris stated, knowing what the issue was going to be.

  Not him.

  Not Greyson.

  Dimitri and Nikita.

  Before anyone could say anything more, Dimitri just stared at her.

  Then, he began cursing.

  Then, she did the same.

  Back and forth they went, spouting Russian at each other with Chris and Greyson staring, and they were not sure what was being said or what was going to happen.

  Then…

  They stopped.

  They turned their backs to each other. Had the media not been watching, it would have been…comical.

  Greyson went into ‘DAD’ mode.

  “Are you two finished?” he asked. “If you can’t work together, we have an issue. Put it aside, and let it go. The past is the past. We have issues now.”

  “She betrayed me,” he objected.

  “I saved your life!” she stated.

  Dimitri spit at the ground.

  She did the same.

  Oh, this was insane.

  Greyson lowered his voice, and told him what he knew. It was time this ended.

  “Dimitri, she saved the girls. A hit was put out on you by the US government. You pissed someone off. Shocking, I know,” he stated. “Yes, Anastasia betrayed you, and Nikita ratted you out, but it saved you.”

  He glared at her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your wife came to me. She heard there was money for your head. She didn’t know there was a bullet planned for you. I made sure the KGB took you so you wouldn’t die. It was technically the end of the Cold War, but the two countries were still at it.”

  He wasn’t happy.

  “They raped and nearly killed me! That was no freaking picnic!”

  She was aware.

  “But you lived. I knew you had the two girls. They needed you. The KGB and US government both wanted you. One dead, the other for information. I did the best for you. There is honor among thieves—for me at least.”

  He wasn’t happy.

  “And I should trust you?”

  “And you shouldn’t? You came out of that KGB encampment, and you were then a mystery to the US government. They wanted someone strong who could do the job. That opened doors. You went from zero to their hero. It’s why you are here. So stop hating me when I did the best I could!”

  She muttered something in Russian and made the sound of a donkey.

  Dimitri sighed.

  “Can we do this search and not be children?” Greyson asked.

  “I don’t know. She might sell me to the KGB again. She’s a snake.”

  She glared at him.

  “Ass.”

  “Traitor,” he counted.

  Greyson pointed at the building.

  “I will send you back to Sky Villa. If you can’t work together, you’ll both go back and have to sit in the same room with each other.”

  They shut up.

  Fast.

  Yeah, Greyson was like the father, and these were his kids. The whole time, Chris was laughing. That sounded right. The third kid always found amusement when two were in a battle.

  Family dynamics one-oh-one.

  Since they calmed down, as a team, they headed toward the two escorts’ apartment. It was in a decent building, and that said it all. They were making prime money in Las Vegas.

  Oh, he knew why.

  They were young.

  Pretty.

  Innocent.

  That always drew the attention of men—well, perverted, dirty men who should know better.

  At the door, Chris pulled out the key that Alex had given him, and they headed in.

  Once the door was closed, they called for Misty.

  Just.

  In.

  Case.

  No one replied, so they began moving systematically through the place, and the whole time, no one spoke. There was always that hope that she’d come back.

  By the time they cleared it, they realized that Alexsandra’s fears were likely valid.

  Now the search for anything that could help would begin.

  A name.

  An address.

  Something.

  As they searched, Chris filled Greyson in on what Emma had found, and that they’d likely ID’d the one victim in the bag. The happy call girl was no more.

  All of the while, they came up with a big, fat zero. The place was barren.

  There was no computer.

  No journal.

  Nothing.

  They’d hoped to get a picture, at least, maybe something that could implicate that something had gone down.

  Nada.

  These call girls were living sparsely—as if they didn’t even exist. There was no happiness here, and Greyson was glad Emma had helped the one girl.

  So, they kept going and found Nikita feeding the two goldfish in a bowl.

  “Uh, what are you doing?” Greyson asked.

  “I’m taking them with me. They will starve in this bowl. In fact, they’ll begin to eat each other. It’s survival of the species, and that’s inhumane.”

  Dimitri stared at her.

  Was this the woman who sent him to his KGB hell? Really? She was being compassionate to the fish but a human was free game?

  “You’re insane.”

  “No, I like animals,” she stated, flipping him off. “People, not so much.”

  Greyson rolled his eyes.

  And here, he thought Chris and Dimitri fought. This was about a million times worse.

  Still, Greyson liked her.

  “I can’t wait until this is over, and you crawl back into that hole from which you came,” Dimitri stated, refusing to give her his back.

  She rolled her eyes.

  Greyson had bad news for the man. He genuinely could see this woman on his team. She’d kept Emma safe, his wife didn’t say she disliked her, and she had connections to the Blackhawks.

  When in Vegas, use what the universe provided you.

  Some people got miracles.

  He received two Russian killers.

  Fate had a sense of humor.

  Clearly.

  It was time.

  “Nikita, by any chance, and I know we spoke earlier, but would you happen to want a job?” Greyson asked.

  Dimitri actually gasped.

  Like he’d been slapped.

  “You wouldn’t!” he said, in horror. “You couldn’t possibly hate me that much that you’d stick me with HER!”

  She smiled coyly.

  “Yes, actually, I would. I happen to enjoy my company. What’s up, BOSS?”

  Dimitri sputtered like a teakettle, peppering it with profanity in Russian.

  “It’s a job working protection as a bodyguard for Gideon Security.”

  Chris laughed his ass off. This was karma for the last three months of being Dimitri’s physical punching bags. He was going to be miserable.

  Oh, this was priceless.

  And sadistic.

  Yet, he knew why Greyson was doing it. The woman had, at one time, had Dimitri’s back. That was a sign of someone they could use and trust. He might not see it, but they did.

  “You can’t hire her to work for MY company!” he stated. “You don’t own it.”

  “Well, you said…”

  Dimitri shut that shit right down.

  This was NOT happening.

  Not on his watch.

  “You didn’t get the papers, and there was NO signature. It isn’t legal. Tough shit. She leaves when this is over.”

  “Boo, I am good with breaking and en
tering, I can kill a man with some lipstick, and I don’t let men scare me,” she stated, sticking her tongue out at Dimitri. “You need me.”

  Chris laughed and laughed.

  Did she just call a Russian killer ‘BOO’?

  Oh, this was fun.

  Greyson was amused. Okay, maybe this was a little payback for the three months of shitastic behavior on Dimitri’s behalf, but it was perfect.

  It was all about their protection, and he was still off of his game with Poppy.

  He pointed out the main thing.

  “Oh, I can’t hire her, but Kat or Chris can…,” he said, cluing the other man in.

  Dimitri pointed at Chris.

  He stopped him.

  “Don’t worry, Dimitri.”

  The man looked relieved.

  “I mean, it’s not like you were a bag of dicks the last three months, beating on Kat and me as you sulked over a woman. I mean, if you did something like that, then I would be forced to make sure I did something equally as shitty—like hire…”

  He pointed at her.

  “You’re hired. Welcome to the team, Nikita. Forced morning workouts when we’re not on a case. He’s your workout partner.”

  Dimitri threw his hands up in the air.

  “I’ll get you both. I swear I will. Exploding cigars, mouse traps in your underwear drawer…”

  Greyson laughed, glad to see the man was taking it better than he would have weeks ago. It was clear he was on the way back to being their brother and friend.

  As for the threats of retaliation?

  He’d be careful.

  “Suck it up, Dimitri,” he stated.

  They needed more security. Kat wasn’t back to work doing anything but small jobs. She was mostly at home. Curtis had been out of the field for so long, that he really couldn’t do it. Plus, as a Croft, that was bad. Heath was there, and Chris was there, but they needed more help.

  There was a baby coming.

  Nikita could be all over Emma during things Chris couldn’t. In dressing rooms, ladies’ rooms, and places like that. He knew his friend would understand it and likely did.

  “We need more help. Poppy didn’t work out.”

  He was right.

  The only GOOD thing that came out of this was he knew Nikita was good. She’d conned him.

  That wasn’t easy.

  “The underground is stirred up,” Greyson said, directing it right to Dimitri. “We don’t know what’s coming. We are down people.”

  He was aware.

  “Fine, she can stay. Standard pay, gear, and guns. Yada yada, ninety-day probation and I get the final say at the end.”

  She snorted.

  “That hurt, didn’t it?”

  “YES.”

  Well, that was good. They at least were talking without cursing. Now that he’d handled this, it was time to head out. This place was void of anything that might help.

  Greyson signaled it was time to go. As they headed outside, there was media, but nothing else out of place. Greyson smiled and waved at them, knowing it would be on the TV tonight.

  Chris stared at him like he was nuts.

  He said two words.

  “Jeffrey Raye.”

  He got it.

  This was rubbing salt in the wound. They were making sure the man saw them out and about.

  Yeah, they definitely needed Nikita.

  They were poking a crazy.

  “Let’s go back to the penthouse,” Greyson stated, wanting to get in to see his wife and make sure she was okay. The baby countdown was in the back of his mind, and he wanted to make sure she was happy, healthy, and ready to be a mom.

  Dimitri agreed.

  “We need to find a place for HER.”

  “Her has a name, Max,” Nikita purred, winking at him.

  He pointed.

  “NO ONE calls me that.”

  Okay, Emma called him that, but she was different. This snake was not going there. He’d tolerate her because he had to, not because he wanted to do it.

  She smiled ferally at him, knowing how to stir him up.

  “That’s not what you said the one time we had sex…,” she offered.

  Greyson stared at them.

  Oh, Christ.

  Chris began laughing so hard he nearly pissed himself with amusement.

  His amusement.

  Dimitri’s look of horror.

  This…this was going to be something.

  They were either going to kill each other, or…kill each other.

  It was about time someone rattled his cage.

  This was going to be fun to watch.

  * * * G R E Y S O N C R O F T * * *

  Sky Villa

  Tuesday Afternoon

  When Greyson got home, he immediately headed right for his wife. He wanted to spend some time with her, as in getting an update on what else she’d found. While Chris updated him, he loved watching her work.

  Sue him.

  She had been his sexy sheriff and then his sexy detective. Now she was his sexy sneaky crime fighter.

  What he found was three women eating baked goods, and Heath being the life of the party.

  WHAT?

  THE?

  HELL?

  There was laughter, giggling, and more fun than normally popped up when people were looking at files of dead bodies and searching for a killer.

  “Are you four having a freaking party?” he asked, entering the room. “Emma!” he blurted, the second he saw it.

  His wife shoved half a cupcake into her mouth to hide it.

  WHAT?

  She closed her mouth to chew the last of her cupcake, as she tried to look innocent. Honestly, she didn’t expect him to be back so early.

  Here, her husband caught her cheating…with a cupcake.

  “Is that a cupcake?” he asked, pointing at her accusingly as if he’d found her with a younger lover.

  She swallowed.

  “Hey, honey.”

  “Are you eating baked goods with another man, and in my own damn home?” he asked.

  Chris found this amusing too. Today was his day to laugh his ass off over all of their discomfort.

  “Aww, Mr. C, don’t be mad. All of the ladies…”

  He pointed at the door.

  “Go work out! You better not end up being her sugar pimp, or I’ll kick your ass myself.”

  The man winked at Emma, then put on the sulky face for Greyson as he walked out.

  It was hard not to laugh.

  Yes, he was like the dad.

  Greyson was pretty sure he mumbled ‘meany’ under his breath. Again, this was just proof that Heath was an enigma.

  Then he was focused on her.

  “Let me get this straight,” he began, going into prosecuting attorney mode.

  “Yes?”

  “Two days ago, I wanted honey in that Godforsaken smoothie you make me drink every day to keep my prostate healthy.”

  There were snickers from behind him.

  He focused on Dimitri and Chris.

  “Don’t! I’m a man on the edge. I just found my wife face-deep in frosting! Frosting that I can’t put my mouth on!”

  She tried not to laugh.

  It was hard.

  This was EXACTLY what she thought would happen. Greyson was addicted to sugar.

  “You had the audacity to lecture me on sugar, and how it’s not good for us. Then you proved it by drinking wheat grass. NOW, I find you with a box full of Heaven, and you’re letting some man have your goodies and not me?”

  Poppy cracked.

  She couldn’t help it. The look on his face was so serious that she lost it. Her laughter interrupted his tirade. She had no doubt that he was upping the comedy on this for her benefit.

  Yeah, family mattered.

  “I’m going to piss myself,” she said, Delilah cracking too.

  Dimitri watched the woman he loved. She was so beautiful when she smiled. His heart actually skipped in his chest.

>   Yeah, he had it bad.

  Still.

  Greyson wasn’t done.

  “You haven’t just started this addiction. I can tell. You told me your pants didn’t fit because of Mac. IT WAS BAKED GOODS!”

  Now everyone was struggling not to laugh.

  Dimitri included.

  “Cease and desist! I brought them,” Delilah stated. “It’s my fault. I need something sweet to keep me from hurting men. That’s the secret to soothing the savage attorney.”

  Greyson got that.

  He’d seen her in action.

  “I don’t know you,” he said to his wife. “I don’t know you anymore.”

  Emma sighed, reached into the box for the last cupcake, and held it above her head for him.

  “HERE.”

  He smiled, claimed it, and gave her that look.

  That was how you did guilt.

  Without batting an eye, he moved right into work-mode now that he’d scored the last cupcake.

  “So, what did you find?” he asked, licking the chocolate frosting off of his fingers. It was thick, it was fluffy, and he was going to let his mouth enjoy every second of this sugar-fied deliciousness.

  Emma wasn’t sure what Chris had told him, so she started at the top.

  “We found out that Candice French is likely dead,” Emma stated. “Riley is having his ME do the comparison, but here’s what we have.”

  Poppy pushed the buttons, and two pictures popped up on the screen. There was a side-by-side of the living woman and her corpse.

  He didn’t need the ME to confirm it. He could see that beneath the battered face was the same woman.

  “Yeah, she's dead,” he admitted. “That’s good work, kitten,” he said, popping the last of his cupcake into his mouth as he enjoyed it.

  He’d miss her being pregnant. Little did she know, he’d known about her sugar habit, and while she was hiding it, he was secretly poaching from her stash.

  He had eyes everywhere.

  “How about you?” Emma asked. “What did you find?”

  “There was nothing at the apartment. I’d hoped to find a journal, a computer, or something, but there was nothing there to help. If Misty made notes, then she didn’t make them there.”

  Great.

  That didn’t really help.

  Emma almost forgot. Pregnancy brain was getting the best of her.

  “How was your meeting with the coppers?”

  He laughed.

  “I saw that smirk on your sexy pirate face as you went in. I was watching the news.”