His cop gut was warning him.
Then there was a hail of bullets, and news crews scattering to get to cover.
Immediately, there was a woman reporting.
“Find Emma,” Greyson ordered to no one in particular. He wanted an update on his wife, and ASAP. He didn’t like this at all, and he felt responsible.
Immediately, he was thinking about pissing Tony Mays off the day before.
Croft’s heart was pounding in his chest. Grabbing his phone, he began dialing his wife’s cell, but it was going right to voicemail.
This was going to give him a stroke.
He was sure of it.
Croft could feel all the blood surging toward his head. If he didn’t find his wife, and soon, something bad was going to happen.
Like he was going to drop dead.
When he began dialing Chris, he finally got someone to answer his call.
“Chris, what the hell?” he blurted. “I was just watching the news and saw that mess. Where is my wife?” he asked.
Greyson couldn’t spit out the words. He wanted to know if she was alive, but those words simply wouldn’t come out of his mouth.
He only hoped because Chris was relatively calm, that meant that Emma was in one piece.
He crossed his fingers.
“We’re okay, Grey. Emma’s phone was busted when we fell onto it. She only has scratches. Right now, I thought it was best to get us someplace safe.”
His heart began beating again.
“Where are you?” he asked, getting ready to race out of there to get to his wife.
“We’re at the hospital. The medics weren’t taking any chances either, so we got her here. I figured it was safer in the back of an ambulance with me.”
He was glad the man was thinking like a bodyguard. Greyson made a note to get Dimitri’s employee a raise.
Hell!
He could have Terrace Glen if he wanted.
“What hospital?” he asked, as Dimitri already had her tracker up on the screen.
“Regent Medical.”
“We’ll be there. Watch my wife and don’t let her out of your sight!”
He started laughing. “Oh, I’m watching her all right,” he said, before hanging up.
Curtis went to go with them.
“Sit. You have to hold down the fort. If someone is starting to shoot at us, I want to know who.”
No one liked that idea at all.
“I need you to do your thing and get me the view from the street cameras, store cameras, and anything that will get me a name. Whoever took a shot at my wife is a dead man. I won’t play games with this!”
“Then?”
Oh, he didn’t care if the FBI was outside the house listening.
This was a simply answer.
“Once we have it, we hunt them down.”
No one argued with that. There was a fine line in Vegas, and someone had crossed over it into Greyson Crofts eminent domain.
Nothing else had to be said.
Curtis got to work.
Greyson and Dimitri raced out of the house, and already, there were reporters shouting questions from the gate that made him want to tear off their heads.
After all of this time, they still didn’t get it. He loathed the way they celebrated whenever someone in the family was injured.
When would they get it?
Never.
They needed to stay out of his way.
In the car, he didn’t say a word. It helped to know that his wife wasn’t injured. It helped to know that she wasn’t alone while everything was going crazy around them.
For that alone, he’d give up all of their money. He couldn’t help but think about the time Chris had been shot by the gun toting maniacs at the precinct.
He didn’t want either of them to live that again.
Thank God for Chris being there for his wife.
“Give him a raise. I want Chris to have whatever he wants at this point. He saved my Emma’s life. He can have my fucking spleen if he wants it.”
Dimitri got it. “I’ll take care of it. A vacation home?”
“Yes. If he ever needs a vacation or place to lay low, I want to make sure he has it.”
“On it.”
It helped to be focused on anything else but the fact that his wife had nearly been mowed down in a hail of bullets. That was scary and made him want to weep.
No.
It freaked him out.
That’s all he could think.
In record speed, they made it to the hospital. Greyson Croft entered the place as if he owned it. When the nurses at the desk saw him coming, his face set in determination, no one stopped him from charging toward them.
It’s like they knew what was coming their way.
“Where is my wife?” he practically bellowed.
“Bay seven.”
It was all he needed to hear.
When he approached, he heard her talking. Greyson whipped back the curtain to find his wife standing there beside a shirtless Chris. She looked concerned and was holding his big hand in hers.
“Jesus! Emma!” he muttered.
Now that he saw her, he could relax.
“Grey!” she said, turning at the sound of his voice. When he opened his arms, she raced into them.
In that moment, Greyson began breathing again. Now that he knew his wife was safe, and he could see her for himself, it was all good.
He was all good.
For now, he wouldn’t have the stroke that killed him.
“Baby! Are you okay?” he asked, taking her chin in his long fingers to check out her face. She had some scratches. She looked a little battered, but that was better than the other possibility.
Whoever was shooting at her and Chris was using large caliber bullets.
He’d heard them on the news.
This could have had a very different outcome—and one he didn’t want to even dwell on either.
It looked like Vegas was becoming a war zone, and that was fine with him. He’d light it up like a tree on Christmas if that’s what it took to keep his family safe.
This was war.
“I’m okay. Chris took the hit. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be in the morgue.”
Yeah, that was a sentence he didn’t want to hear.
Ever.
Dimitri saw the gear on the bed. This was exactly why his people suited up all the time.
He didn’t like to take chances.
You never knew when you were going to be caught in the moment and needing to use your body as a shield for Emma or Greyson.
The Crofts were walking bull’s-eyes.
“You were wearing body armor?” he asked.
Chris laughed.
Was he ever?
Hell, yeah, and he might just start sleeping in it.
“Yeah, I put it on this morning when I heard you two were going to play some reindeer games with Tony Mays. He’s batshit insane. That vest is the only thing that saved me. I took two rounds to the back.”
They all looked at it.
“When I was trying on tuxes, I nearly took it off, but instead I was fitted with it on. Thank God.”
Yeah, he could say that again.
He sat forward and the men could see the bruises already starting to form on his back. They would have been direct hits to his heart and lungs.
Chris wouldn’t have made it to the hospital.
Emma either.
Someone was aiming to kill.
“It didn’t hurt as much as it does with cop gear, so whoever makes that shit, buy stock in it.”
Croft was angry.
Chris was his family.
Emma was his wife.
This was a personal affront to him.
There was no way he was going to take this lying down. This was a shot at his core, and Greyson Croft didn’t like when people jacked with his family.
EVER.
“Who did this?” Greyson bellowed. “Was this that asshole
striking at my family?”
They all knew who the asshole in question was, but they didn’t think Greyson wanted the entire ER to hear their conversation.
When he killed him, it would be bad.
Really bad.
The hospital around them got suspiciously quiet. Chris touched his lips, signaling for Greyson to take it down a few notches.
It was clear it wasn’t easy for the man to do. He looked like he wanted to punch something.
‘Who was it?’ Greyson mouthed.
‘Mays,’ he replied silently. ‘I saw the plate.’
That did not make Croft happy. Now that he had confirmation, the shit was going to go down.
Greyson opened his mouth but was cut off.
Dimitri kept him from talking by shaking his head. This was a bad place to say anything. They didn’t know who was around them, and this could be one hell of a set up.
“Greyson…later.”
It was all he had to say.
“Chris, thank you,” Croft said, hugging the man. “Thank you for being alert.”
“No problem. He’s an idiot for doing this in broad daylight. Someone stirred his pot.”
Yeah, they knew what went down.
This was what happened when you told a mob wannabe you were going to shoot him in the balls.
Greyson wasn’t shocked.
“We need to get back home.”
Dimitri was right.
This was far from over but it would have to wait for a little while. When they got home, heads were going to roll.
There was no doubt in his mind.
When Greyson Croft was done, someone was going to die.
Tony Mays had messed with the wrong gangster.
And he would pay.
Chapter Seven
T he ride home was the normal affair. Dimitri had to navigate a shitload of reporters who were practically throwing themselves onto the vehicle to get a look at Emma. They were curious and a picture of her, in less than perfect condition, would sell a lot of air time.
They were desperate.
Well, that wasn’t happening.
She was in the back, hidden from their eyes. In fact, she was perched in her husband’s lap with his arms wrapped around her body.
“We’ll be home in a couple,” Dimitri said, checking the navigational system.
“Are we finally clear?” Greyson asked, hoping the man had one of his gadgets to block out unwanted ears.
Mainly, the FBI.
“Yes,” Dimitri said, pointing at the light on the navigation screen. He had the button pushed, and no one was eavesdropping on them.
Great.
Now he could have his freaking meltdown.
“I want proof that this was Mays. If we can find it, I want to handle it.”
Emma hated this part.
When they’d come there, he was sterling, and Greyson Croft was balancing on a fine line. One push, and he was going dark.
Emma knew he’d never make it back out with his whole soul intact.
“Grey.”
He stared at her.
That one look said it all.
“I know you’re not going to tell me to let this go, Emma. There is no possible way that could be what you’re thinking. I’m a man on the edge.”
She didn’t say a word.
Yeah, that was exactly what she had planned on saying, but with him this riled up, it was best to say nothing.
Clearly, he knew how she felt.
“Emma.”
She shook her head.
Greyson sighed.
“Say it. Just get it off your chest and let it out. If you keep it in, you’re going to be worked up like me, and I need your clear thinking.”
Ahhhhh, her caveman was mellowing.
Before, he’d go off all half-cocked and do whatever the hell he wanted. At least now he was trying.
She’d give him credit for that.
“Greyson, this is EXACTLY what the assholes in Vegas want from you. They expect it. They come at me, you go at them, the LVPD throws you in jail.”
He hated she was right.
“I need you to stop, think, and breathe.”
He did just that.
While he hated it, his sweet Emma had a very valid point.
Greyson loathed that with a passion. While he was going off the deep end, she was being logical.
He wished he could do that, but he couldn’t.
“Dimitri, what do you think I should do?” he asked, knowing the man wouldn’t lie to him. His friend would give it to him straight—after weighing all the options.
“I wouldn’t go at him,” he stated.
Well, shit!
That WAS NOT the answer he wanted.
Crap!
“If Mays did this, he’s going to expect it. You should retaliate in a clever way.”
“Like?” he asked.
Chris laughed.
“What?” Greyson asked.
“Just two weeks ago, I was on the other side of this conversation. Fate is a bitch.”
Greyson stared at him.
His blood pressure was rising, and it wasn’t going to be long before he flipped his shit.
He could feel it coming.
“Is that a subtle way of telling us that you’re out?”
Chris turned in his seat and pulled off his sunglasses. “Are you fucking kidding me? That dick tried to put holes in Emma and myself. I’m definitely in. I just find the whole law/lawless thing amusing. Fate likes to mess with you. I thought I’d die a cop, and here I am playing the other side—willingly.”
Greyson relaxed.
Then, out of the blue…
“I’m buying you a vacation home.”
He stared at him. “What?”
“You saved the girl. You get a prize.”
Emma couldn’t help it. She started laughing her ass off from her spot in Greyson’s lap. The look on Chris’s face was priceless.
She wished her phone wasn’t busted.
Chris was horrified.
This was NOT a conversation he wanted to have.
“I don’t want a prize. I’d save a homeless man. That’s my thing.”
“HEY!” Emma stated. “Seriously? I’m right here. You could make that sound less shitty.”
He glanced over.
“You know what I mean. Don’t get me wrong. I loved rolling around on the ground with Emma, but I don’t want a prize. That makes it dirty.”
She snorted.
“Dimitri, kill him.”
The Russian laughed. “Finally, but I don’t think you’re serious. He’s right. Fate sucks.”
Chris glared at the Russian. “Asshole.”
He laughed even more.
“You’re not buying me shit!”
“I am.”
“No, you’re not. It’s bad enough you gave me a freaking bottomless credit card.”
That helped take the stress off Greyson. In fact, the whole conversation did just that.
“You finally told him, huh?”
Emma shrugged. “Yeah, he’s trying to impress the girl, so I hooked him up.”
Dimitri pulled off his sunglasses. “Uh, tread lightly. The girl is my sister.”
“He’s going all out. Natasha is going to melt like putty in his hands.”
“Emma,” Dimitri warned.
“In fact, he bought her an engagement ring. They are going to elope.”
Chris knew what she was doing.
He didn’t mind. It was about time someone busted that smug Russian bastard’s ass.
“I’ll kill him.”
“But hey, at least he didn’t knock her up,” Emma continued.
Chris started laughing. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to bury himself in Natasha over and over again. He was too chicken to go there…yet.
He needed time.
“I’m going to hurt him, and it will be your fault,” Dimitri stated, finally getting that she was busting his ass. It didn’t
upset him at all. In fact, it made him feel like…
He had a family.
Emma turned her attention to her husband. “He bought me a star.”
Greyson lifted a brow. “What?”
She pulled it out of her pocket and showed him. It sat cradled gently in her palm. “No one’s ever bought me a star before.”
“Technically, it was my card,” Greyson offered. “So I kinda…”
“Really?” Chris asked. “Now you want to claim the money as yours? I was practicing my suaveness. Did it work?” he asked Emma, wiggling his eyebrows lecherously. Dimitri wasn’t the only one going to get tormented.
He loved busting Greyson.
“Yeah, I would have let you in my pants. Natasha is going to be eating out of your hand. Bring condoms.”
“WHAT?” Dimitri said, nearly pulling over.
They were all laughing.
The Russian looked back and forth at all of them.
“What?” Emma asked.
“I’m trying to figure out who to hurt first. I think I need to take the big dopey one out first.”
“HEY!” Chris said.
Dimitri snorted.
They all needed this laugh.
It was the adrenaline crash.
It was coming.
“Let’s discuss anything else,” Dimitri stated. “This conversation about Natasha makes me twitchy. When I get twitchy, cops die.”
They knew that was true. Look at Mace Bristol. He’d been smiling ear-to-ear from his throat being cut.
“Yeah, let’s focus on how you’re not buying me shit,” Chris stated. “You bought my condo, and you bought my truck. What’s next?” he asked.
“I thought we discussed this. Do you have a concussion?” Greyson asked. “I’m buying you a private home on some sandy beach where you can go and relax in your down time. There will be fishing, a boat, and beer.”
He stopped protesting for a brief second.
“Budweiser?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“Damn it. You had me at fishing.”
They all knew it.
Chris was an easy-going guy beneath the exterior.
“Will that be it? Honestly, I really don’t want anything else.”
Emma nuzzled her husband’s cheek. “I think he needs a jet.”
“Emma! Jesus! Stop it! Next time, I’ll let them shoot you or do it myself!”
No one believed that.
Including her.
She snorted.
“Let’s discuss Tony Mays, shall we?” Dimitri asked. “What do you want done?”
Lost Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 2) Page 15
