“Hurry, Captain.”
Chris could do that.
This was the best date of his life.
He was about to get the girl.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
He’d scored the tickets to get into the high priced crapfest. He didn’t want to waste his money, but Tony Mays knew he needed to be there.
If he was going to make Greyson Croft come apart at the seams, he wanted a front row seat.
Oh, this was going to be priceless.
He was nearly giddy.
As he stood in his living room, he heard Gina coming. The sound of her heels reverberated down his wooden stairs.
“Gina! Baby! Are you ready?” he asked.
She popped into the room.
“How do I look, Tony?” she asked.
He checked out the slinky dress, and his first thought was how much it cost.
“That looks pricey.”
She pouted. “You told me to pick out something pretty, didn’t you?” she asked.
“I did.”
“Well, here I am. Aren’t I pretty?”
He laughed. “Yeah, Gina, you’re something.”
As she moved toward him, he checked out her assets.
“You look pissed, Tony,” she stated.
“I’m worked up.”
“Why?” she asked, stopping in front of him.
“Croft.”
Gina knew who buttered her bread. A happy Tony was a happy Gina.
“Want me to take your mind off of it?” she asked.
He lifted a black brow. “How?”
Gina dropped to her knees and smiled up at him. “I know how to make you happy,” she crooned.
He grinned back.
Yes, she certainly did.
It was the only reason he kept her around.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Connolley Gallery
Saturday
Night
One of their jobs as king and queen of Vegas was to give back to the community. It didn’t matter that most of the town thought they were the mob. Greyson, from the start, had firmly believed that they were blessed and the money, given to them by Randall, had power.
Not for bad.
But for good.
So, every couple of weeks, they hosted these events with the intent to help a charity. This week was the ‘Wounded Soldier’s Fund’. It was near and dear to Greyson’s heart. He knew a lot of men and women who didn’t come home intact.
Mentally.
Physically.
Emotionally.
They needed as much help as possible, and tonight, it was all about them.
“You should have worn your uniform,” Emma stated, as the people around them enjoyed the food and champagne.
“Never going to happen, kitten. I save that for our bedroom.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe later then.”
He could do that for his wife. It looked like they were back on better terms, and he was glad. He hated fighting with Emma. She was his other half, and really the only reason he didn’t lose his mind in Vegas.
Without her, he’d be one hot mess.
“Steele looks happy,” Emma stated, popping a canape in her mouth.
They both watched the man.
It was hard not to smile.
“Yeah, he’s getting better,” Greyson stated. “Dante and I are still not sure about telling him about his brother. Steele has said he wants to forget the past.”
“Maybe that should be up to him?” she stated.
“I say do it, but Dante is afraid he’s going to bolt. He wants to wait until after they get married next month.”
Emma got it.
“I don’t blame him. Steele and Dante have been through a lot.”
They had.
And true love persevered.
“Your mother RSVP’d to his wedding.”
Greyson groaned. “Why did you invite her?” he asked. “You know Reggie is going to stir the shit pot and make our lives a living hell.”
She was well aware.
“Well, she’s your mother, and her son is getting married. Think of it as the test run for our wedding redo. If she’s bad, she’s not coming.”
“She’ll crash it. Already, it’s leaked to the media. They’re calling it the biggest event of the year.”
She grinned. “It is. I’m marrying the king.”
Greyson pulled her body to his side. “And I’m marrying my queen.”
She whispered something dirty in his ear.
“And that is why you’re my queen. You’re a woman after my own heart.”
She snorted.
“Here come Curtis and Kat. Behave. You know no one wants to hear you hit on mom.”
“I want to hear it,” he offered.
Yeah, she did too.
“Mom, Dad, this soiree is rocking. You two did a good job,” Curtis said.
“It wasn’t us. It was Dante. He’s the one who pulled this all off.”
Curtis snorted.
“If you bust his ass, he’ll prank you tomorrow,” Greyson warned. “You don’t want the ass cut out of your tux before you walk down the aisle.”
Kat giggled.
Then she stopped.
They could all tell when Katerina was on duty. Her whole body morphed.
“Tony Mays is heading your way, Greyson. Ten o’clock,” she warned.
They all turned.
“Greyson Croft, we meet again.”
He smiled. “I guess we do.”
“It’s a nice function.”
“Not so nice, since you managed to schmooze your way in here, Tony,” Croft stated. “How did you pull that off?” he asked.
“Money gets in doors. You know that.”
Oh, he was aware.
It also could close doors.
Being this man had tried to get his ass tossed into jail on bogus charges, he was going to make sure he never came to another function again.
“It’s the last one you’ll be invited to, Mays. Count on it,” Greyson said, lifting his drink in salute. “Here’s to the last time I have to deal with you.”
Tony knew what was coming.
He wasn’t going to back down.
“Is this your beautiful wife?” he asked, ignoring the man.
“Yes.”
“Shouldn’t you introduce her?”
Emma held out her hand to shake his. “I’m Emma Croft.”
Tony smiled.
“Well, at least you have manners. I like that in a woman.”
“I bet you do. You won’t like this,” she said. “I’m going to figure out why you were trying to get your drugs into our goods. When I do, I’m going to make sure you die in a jail cell for trying to frame my husband.”
His face said it all.
Emma nailed it.
“You’re nothing like they say.”
“I’m everything like they say. You came after my husband, and we’re all going to make your life a living hell. In fact, you’re going to be sorry, Tony. Really sorry.”
“Is that a threat?”
She smiled. Emma didn’t care if Greyson wanted to handle this. She was responsible for this family too, and he’d taken a shot at her.
“The warehouse was nothing. Watch and see.”
“I guess we will.”
“It’s your move, Tony. You’re a lowly rook. The queen has the king’s back, and she plays dirty.”
With that, he walked away.
“Emma,” he stated.
“Greyson, this is my family, too, and he’s messing with us,” she stated. “If he thinks I’m going to hide behind my husband, he has another thing coming.”
He grinned. “Are you done?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
“I was only going to tell you how hot that was and kiss you. If you’re finished, I’d like to get on with my plans.”
She snorted.
“Kiss away, handsome.”
>
He did just that.
Curtis groaned. “Really? With tongue? No one needs to see that, old man.”
It made them both laugh.
Before Emma could admonish him for calling Greyson old, Kat grabbed her stomach.
Curtis looked like he was about to shit himself. “Are you okay?” he asked. “What happened?”
“The baby kicked.”
His eyes got huge. “Can I feel?”
There was nothing as he placed his hands on her belly. “This kid is screwing with me.”
“I have no idea what that’s like,” Greyson said.
It took Curtis a second.
Then he laughed.
“Emma, will you go with me to the ladies’ room?” Kat asked. “I need help in and out of this dress to pee.”
“I’ll help you,” Curtis offered.
“Again, it’s called the ‘Ladies Room’ for a reason, Curtis,” Emma stated. “We have the right gear. You do not.”
He got it.
“I’ll wait right here.”
“Hover husband,” Emma teased. “You get that from your father.”
“I’ll be right here too,” Greyson stated.
Emma rolled her eyes. “We’re in a gallery. What could possibly happen?”
Greyson wasn’t sure, but with his wife, anything was possible.
Emma and Kat headed toward the bathroom. Once inside, Emma helped the pregnant woman slip out of her gown to pee. Once she was done, she zipped her back up.
“Thanks, Mom,” she stated, smiling at her.
“It’s no problem,” Emma said.
They were both washing their hands when the lights went out.
Emma didn’t like it.
She could hear footsteps, and she was pretty sure this was going to be a bad thing.
Placing herself in front of her daughter-in-law-to be, she got ready for whatever was about to happen.
“You’re coming with us,” said the voice, low and gravelly.
Emma had news for them.
They weren’t going without a fight.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Terrace Glen
Dimitri was chilling out on the couch with Sam as they played some video games. The boy seemed to have calmed down a great deal.
“Are they nice?” Sam asked.
“Who?” Dimitri asked, as they played some fighting game. The kid was kicking his ass. Then again, Dimitri had no business playing this game.
He fought in real time, and he liked it that way.
“The Crofts.”
“They’re the nicest people I know.”
He got quiet.
“I thought my foster mother and her boyfriend were nice, too, but once the check-ins were over, they got mean. They only wanted me for the money.”
Dimitri understood where Sam was coming from.
“My father was abusive,” he stated.
“Was he?”
“Yeah, he used to hit me whenever he could,” Dimitri stated. He pulled off his shirt and showed the boy his back.
There were scars all over it.
They were vicious reminders of the asshole he’d come from, and why he’d never be that man.
“That looks like they hurt.”
“They did.”
Why was he sharing this part of him?
He wasn’t sure.
All he knew was he needed to find a way to help the small boy heal. It broke his heart and he saw himself in Sam.
“That sucks.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Are you really a killer?” he asked.
Dimitri shrugged. “They say I am.”
“Are you?”
“Let’s just say I handle what needs to be handled. That’s all I’ll say about it.”
“I want to be strong one day. I want to go back and find him and kick his ass.”
He knew who Sam was talking about.
“I killed my father.”
Sam’s eyes got big. “Really?”
“He was abusing my sister. He deserved it.”
“Can you kill the asshole that hurt me?” Sam asked, hopefully.
“Killing isn’t the answer. I’ve learned that over the last few months. It’s definitely not the way to do things.”
“Oh.”
“I can rough him up,” Dimitri offered.
Sam laughed. “It’s okay. You’re right. As long as he can’t get me here, it’s fine. Just don’t send me back. I don’t want to be hurt anymore.”
That broke his heart.
“You’re safe here. Want some ice cream? Emma stashes it in the freezer.”
“I know. I found it.”
“Okay.”
Sam stared at him. “I’ll have some if you have some,” he offered.
Dimitri knew it was huge. Like his sisters, Sam was figuring out who he could trust. That was precious to him.
“I’d love some, but if Emma finds out, we have to blame Greyson.”
“Will she be mad?” he asked.
“No, I just like getting him in trouble.”
Sam laughed. “I can do that.”
Together, they headed into the kitchen to have some ice cream and man talk.
Dimitri was going to bide his time, and when he was finished with that asshole, he was going to regret ever touching Sam.
This boy was part of them, and he’d protect him.
To the death.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Connolley Gallery
Emma fought for their lives. She could barely see the outline of someone heading their way. He was big, he was bulky, and he was trying to harm them.
There was no way that was happening.
As soon as he went to grab her, she brought him to his knees with a kick to the gut. His grunt told the tale. Then she tried to claw his eyes out.
Behind her, Kat began screaming, as someone tried to drag her away.
Emma couldn’t let anything happen to Katerina.
She was carrying the next Croft child. If they got her out of the Gallery, they’d kill her. She didn’t buy this was random.
If Kat died, they’d lose Curtis.
Emma threw herself on the back of whoever was trying to pull Kat toward the window.
That’s when hell broke loose.
Apparently, having a hover husband was a damn good thing.
Greyson had been waiting with Curtis for his wife when he heard someone scream. It was barely audible over the music, but he was pretty sure it was Kat.
“Was that my fiancée?” Curtis asked, looking around wildly. “Did she just scream for help?”
Yeah, it sure sounded like it.
The two men raced toward the ladies’ room, and went through the door. It was dark, but they could hear scuffling going on in front of him.
In wild desperation, Curtis called for his fiancée.
“Kat!”
“They’re trying to take her!” Emma shouted back as she tried to hold onto the assailant in the dark.
Greyson didn’t hesitate to jump into the fray. From the light from the open window, he could see the two men trying to carry Katerina toward it. Emma was on the back of one of them, so he went for the other.
Croft had to trust his wife was able to hold the other one off.
He took out the man at the waist, making sure to hit him with everything he had.
The man went down, and Greyson began pummeling him. His fists met their mark with each strike.
“Get the lights,” Emma shouted to Curtis.
Her guy had broken free, and he was on his way out the window.
Alone.
Greyson continued beating on the man beneath him, trying to teach him a lesson. Whoever this was had crossed a major line. No one went after the family.
No one.
When Curtis finally hit the lights, Croft saw who he was punching.
He recognized the bodyguard as one of the men he and Dimitri had neutral
ized on the day they’d gone to visit the other mob man.
Yeah, Tony Mays was screwed.
He used recognizable people.
“Mays,” he muttered as the man scrambled away and out the window a bloody battered mess.
Katerina was on the floor, and Curtis raced toward her side to make sure she was okay.
“Baby, are you hurt?” he asked.
She went into his arms and finally felt safe. Normally, she could fight with the best of them. Dimitri had taught them to kill, but being pregnant…
She was scared for their child.
“I’m okay now. He grabbed me in the dark.”
“They wanted her, not me,” Emma stated. “I don’t know why,” she said, not wanting to freak Curtis out.
Oh, Greyson knew.
Curtis was his son, and Katerina was carrying a child—a Croft child. Add to it that it would be Dimitri’s blood too. This was one hell of an attempt to take both men down.
Well, he was screwed now.
The man had some set of balls to come to the gallery and scope it out for his goons.
He was bat shit insane.
That was evident.
“I’m going to kill him,” Greyson stated. “They will never find his rotting, worm ridden corpse.”
Curtis looked like he was going to be right beside him when the shit hit the fan.
He was red and agitated.
Mays was going to have Dimitri Gideon and two Croft men after him.
Emma almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
“This will not go un-retaliated. I’ll swallow a lot, like him trying to frame me for drug smuggling, but I won’t let this go.”
Emma knew the shit was about to hit the fan.
Mays was a dead man.
There would be no holding Greyson back on this. She hoped the two-bit mob man was ready for the shit storm. From the look on her husband’s face, and the blood on his knuckles, bad things were coming.
Curtis put his jacket around his fiancée’s shoulders to help her stop shaking. “No. I’m going to kill him. He touched my girl and went after our baby.”
Greyson didn’t argue.
It didn’t matter.
Tony Mays was a dead man.
Lost Justice (Croft Family Mob Series Book 2) Page 30
