by Ali Parker
"Tell me you want this between us, Kate. Tell me we can make it work and I'll try." He swallowed hard as she reached up and pressed her hand over his, trapping his palm against her cheek.
"It will never work. You're free and I'm not." She kissed his palm just before closing her eyes.
He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, trying hard not to let himself fall apart. She was too much.
"Then run with me. Let's leave tonight. We'll take the bike and fucking get out of here. We can go anywhere you want. We can change our names and our careers and just live together. We'll get married and have kids, grow old together."
She opened her eyes and released his hold, the light in her eyes that he saw the first night having dimmed significantly. He could save her. He had to try.
"No. This is my life. It's just finally caught up to me. No one should have to deal with it but me. Adam would have released you from his struggles too had he been given the chance. One of the greatest things about love is that it strengthens you when you have nothing left." She reached up and wiped at her tears before forcing a smile. "Victor has his claws in me and I'm willing to fight alongside him right now. We've agreed to a lifestyle that doesn't fit the picture you've painted."
"We can change it." Jon moved another step toward her and took her face in his hands. "We can make it right. Just come with me."
"Kiss me and say goodbye."
"No. I'm coming tonight to this meeting. I'm still a part of this." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers as she slid her arms around his waist, pulling him close. He reveled in it, needing her so much more than she seemed to need him. He couldn't let it go - couldn't turn away from her, but would she leave him any choice?
She pulled back from the kiss, the moment far too short for him.
"This place is peaceful," she said, moving back and glancing around, the change in her scaring him.
"Don't do this."
"The parts of me that I wanted to resurrect a few years back, the good stuff... it hurts too much to hold onto it." A soft sob left her and he reached for her again, only to be swatted back. "I'm not the woman you think I am. Hope of a new life is dying inside of me. I almost want to bury it here in the sand so that it can rest in the truth."
"Kate."
"I've always been a monster, Jon. Nothing has changed. I just wanted it to." She wrapped her arms around herself and moved toward the parking lot. "Goodbye, cop."
He turned and ran his hands through his hair as a million things sprung to mind. He could stop her, but what could he promise her that wasn't as shallow as his promise to be in her life for a long time? Every sweet word he had whispered against her skin as they made love had been unfulfilled. He should simply be lucky that she didn't hate him.
She never turned around, but made it to her car moments later and drove off.
Jon stood there for a few more minutes, his chest aching with indecision. He had no doubt that Marcus and Kate would make it through the hell they had facing them, but what did it say about him that he wouldn't be there to help them? This was the story of his brother's fall all over again.
How could he end up being the one thing he feared the most?
It was what his old man had been his whole childhood before he died.
A coward.
CHAPTER TEN
Marcus
Marcus swung by the club just before midnight, knowing that Kate would be ready early. She stood out front, her back against the wall, long dark hair hanging around her shoulders. Her tight blue dress and heels made her look like a well-dressed hooker. She was making a statement with her appearance and it was one he wasn't interested in digging into. She was crawling back into herself and he honestly couldn't blame her. He moved the mustang to stop just in front of her and rolled down the window.
"You for sale, baby?"
"You don't have enough money." She leaned over into the open window and smirked before getting into the car.
"Damn you look fine."
"Somewhere between business and pleasure?"
"Exactly." Marcus pulled out into the street, trying hard to avoid the large crowd of drunk idiots that milled about them. "Is Jon meeting us there?"
"No clue. I saw him earlier at Adam's funeral and we said our goodbyes." She buckled her seatbelt and glanced over at him. "Did you stop by last night? I remember seeing Victor and trying some new form of ecstasy, but I have a faint memory of seeing you."
"Nope. You texted me to stop by sometime. I figured that meant today or whenever. My shifts start tomorrow and it's been a little crazy." He let out a shallow breath, wanting to tell her that he had spent the night fucking her. She had to know that someone did. Did she think it was Victor or Jon? He should just tell her. She was smart enough to figure it out if she hadn't already. Knowing her it was a test.
"How did the meeting go with Victor yesterday? I assume not too great seeing that he showed up on my doorstep."
"It was fine. He's a dick and seems to think I'm his lackey, which isn't going to fly for long."
"He thinks I'm his whore, so don't feel too bad."
"Yeah, I'm not down with that either. As soon as we get things on the street running smoothly between us, I'll start working to right all of this shit." Marcus reached over and took her hand, pulling it into her lap and intertwining their fingers.
"What's this for?" Kate glanced down at her lap and back toward him.
"It's to say that I'm sorry."
"For what?" She rubbed her thumb over his before leaning her head back and letting out a long sigh.
"For letting you get involved with the cop. I'm sorry. I should have kicked his ass the minute I realized he was interested. I just thought maybe he would be one of the good guys."
"He is, Marcus. It's me who isn't good enough."
"Fuck that. You're the best woman in the world, Kate. He's got too many fucking hang-ups for all of the shit we're about to get into. He needs to be released before he gets us killed. I'm going to talk to Victor about it."
"I did last night. He's going to release him."
"What? Just like that?"
"Yeah... just like that. I don't think he wanted Jon in the first place. He's a distraction to all of us and he'll only get in the way. I'll be working on finding us a good rat to plant on the police force. It's not going to be Jon."
"Is he still going to be a cop?"
"I don't know, but if he is, I'm sure Victor will work to have him turn his head every time we come around." Kate shrugged and turned to look out the window.
Marcus let the conversation go. She obviously wasn't in the mood to discuss it anymore and something had happened. What had she had to do with Victor, or what did she promise, to get him to release Jon? Men like Victor just didn't simply let go of a viable asset without getting something greater in return.
Certainly she hadn't promised herself in full... right?
Two hefty men walked toward the car as Marcus pulled in front of the large mansion. He glanced at Kate, who seemed to be more concerned with her seatbelt than the press of his stare. She seemed to be lost in another world. It had to be the funeral and letting Jon go. Surely there was nothing else he was missing.
"You want me to do the talking tonight?" He reached over and brushed his fingertips over her arm. He wanted to pull her close to him and promise her more than he was capable of giving her, but it wasn't his style and she wouldn't accept it either way.
"No. I got this. I need to step up and have him and you realize that I am very much capable of being a far greater monster than either of you." She smiled tightly and got out of the car.
"Kate." Marcus got out and moved toward her as she walked to the front door. He was dressed again in slacks and a button down, hating every fucking minute of it. He worked the streets for a reason and the main one being that he could wear more comfortable clothing.
"Don't. I'm every bit capable of running this ring. Support me like you always have and I'll move aside as soon as
I can and give the operation to you." She glanced over at him and he could have sworn he saw truth in her eyes. She knew about last night. She had to have.
He nodded, not wanting to push her any more. Pressing his fingers carefully to her lower back, he moved with her toward the large red-brick house. As long as Victor didn't require them to live with him, Marcus would be good. Seth had tried to pull that shit when he first took over, but Marcus had talked him out of it. A lack of trust would always cause the biggest bully to look for a means of watching over his subjects. This dick was no different.
The door opened as they approached and Victor smiled. "Good to see you both. Jon is already here, so this should be a rather quick meeting."
"I don't see the point in Jon being here seeing that you've decided to give him his walking papers." Kate moved into the house and walked toward the hall as if she had been to Victor's home a million times.
Had she? Was she keeping information from him? No. This is what Victor wanted, to plant seeds of doubt between all of them. Why wouldn't he? It was brilliant and helped to break down the bond that he wasn't yet a part of.
"Just a final farewell. Something to keep him completely away from us as we move forward." Victor winked at Marcus.
"Why don't I like the sound of that?" Marcus asked and moved toward the only open door in the hallway as Kate disappeared into it. Jon stood by the fireplace in the office, his appearance haggard. He had been drinking again no doubt.
"Take a seat and let's make this quick." Victor nodded to the two couches in the center of the room before taking Kate's hand in his. Marcus moved to the far couch before seeking Kate's expression. Why would she be willing to hold Victor's hand? Had part of the decision to let Jon go meant that Kate would be fully available to the asshole now?
She sat beside him, her expressionless face causing Marcus's stomach to tighten. Victor sat close to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and brushing his fingers along the exposed skin of her shapely arm.
"Let's talk quickly. I have plans tonight." Victor turned his gaze to Jon. "Come. Sit."
"I'd rather not." Jon's voice was deadpan, the angry red vein pulsing on the side of his neck making it more than obvious that the cop was barely holding on.
"There is a new shipment coming into port in LA later this week. We will be there to receive it. I have a few business meetings in the city, but most of the events will be more entertaining in style." He looked toward Kate, who turned and gave him her attention. "You'll be attending as my wife and will need to be by my side as I need you to."
"Do you think that's really necessary? I've never known a room of dealers to be swayed one way or the other simply because of the appearance of a relationship." Kate stood, moving from him and walking toward the liquor cabinet near Jon.
Marcus watched the poor cop stiffen, his eyes following her every move.
He needed to get him out of here.
"Is Jon going with us?" Marcus asked and crossed his hands over his stomach, clasping them and relaxing as best he could with the tension in the room.
"No." Jon stood and moved toward the couch as Victor expressed the same response.
"Actually, Jon won't be needed anymore. We'll simply look for another rat on the force." Victor shrugged and stood up, walking toward Kate. He paused behind her and slid his hands around her waist, leaning over to whisper something against her hair.
Marcus moved to the edge of his seat as the hair stood up on the back of his neck.
Why was he so concerned with whether the cop could handle anything happening between Kate and Victor?
He should have been concerned about his damn self.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kate
Nothing he could do would surprise her. He was on the move to make it appear as if she had already crawled in bed with him, though she had yet to even take a step toward it. Victor leaned over as she stood quietly at the liquor cabinet and pressed his lips to her ear.
"I accepted your offer to have you completely. Make sure you understand what that means before we seal the deal."
Kate turned toward him and looked up, his lips so close to hers. She hated that Jon was in the room with them. Marcus could swallow just about anything, but the haunted way Jon stared at her left her feeling hallow and tired all of a sudden.
"Stop toying with everyone and get this shit over with." She slid her fingers along his jaw and pulled him toward her, kissing him softly. The shifting behind her left her no doubt that Marcus or Jon had moved from the couch. Neither of them would appreciate her changing teams, and she never would, but Victor expected obedience. If it would be the thing that freed Jon... She was willing to give it.
"Good girl," he whispered softly and kissed her again, his tongue pressing into her mouth. She sucked on it hard to simply warn him as to whom he was dealing with. He turned her toward him as his fingers slid into her hair and he lifted her face to his, licking at his mouth. "So wickedly beautiful."
He turned to look back into the room as Kate watched him, memorizing the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. He was sensual and dark, but at one time he had only been a man. Someone had broken his heart or stolen his dreams. His eyes were soulless and his greed unbound. She could see herself heading quickly to becoming exactly the lost soul that he was.
"Isn't she? How did we get so lucky to have the most beautiful woman in all of New Orleans as ours?" He smiled and turned back toward her. "You are ours aren't you?"
"Yours," Kate spoke loudly and moved back from him, pouring the drink and hoping like hell that Jon would be gone once she turned back. She could explain herself to Marcus later, but never to Jon. He needed to believe the worst and run from her like hell was chasing after him.
Victor chuckled and moved away from her. "Mine. Of course. I'm sorry, my dear."
Kate lifted her drink to her lips and turned. Jon was standing in front of the fireplace, his glass empty and his eyes filled with hate. Who it was directed to wasn't relevant. They would part ways shortly and never be anything more than strangers again. This new future would take them in opposite directions and she couldn't be more content over it. It was the best way to give her true apology to Adam - saving his brother would do just that.
Marcus moved back in his seat and ran his tongue over his lips before sucking the bottom one into his mouth. His eyes were full of questions, but he didn't utter one of them.
"So I'll have my assistant work on the flights and hotel rooms and such. Marcus you reach out to your contacts on the west coast to see who might want to try out a new product that we'll be ushering in. It's a new form of ecstasy. Kate loves it."
"Is it really necessary that I'm here for this?" Jon moved from the fireplace and walked toward the liquor counter, setting his empty drink down and walking toward the door without glancing back.
"You leave when I tell you to leave. Otherwise... you stay - forever."
"Jon, sit down and shut the fuck up, dude. You have an hour at best and then you're out," Marcus growled softly at the cop as Kate moved back toward the couch.
Victor reached up and took her hand, pulling her carefully to sit in his lap.
What choice did she have but to beckon to the bastard? A deal was a deal and she wasn't coming this far to have it blow up in her face. She sat on his lap, crossing her legs and taking a sip of her drink while she stared at the fire.
"Make it quick. I buried my brother thanks to you today. I'm ready to get the fuck out of here." Jon moved to the couch and dropped down, his eyes moving toward Kate.
She held his stare, unwilling to let him or anyone else see any of the hard emotions that played just below the surface of her facade. Victor wanted her as a show of power more than anything else. She would turn the tables on him soon enough, but part of making that happen would be to draw him in deeply.
He moved forward, wrapping his arms around her and sliding his hands along her thighs. Kate moved her gaze to Marcus, whose eyes widened slightly. She wi
nked at him to give him reassurance. They could figure things out later. Tonight was about ejecting Jon from the future - painfully and slowly, but it would last as she needed it to.
Kate took the beautifully masculine hand that played along her thigh and pulled it up slowly as her dress lifted with his touch. A soft sigh left Victor as his fingers brushed by her sex. His other hand moved up to cup her breast, kneading softly as his lips pressed to her back, the dress open and inviting.
"Don't do this," Jon whispered and moved to the edge of his seat.
It was all she could do to keep her tears tucked in the darkest parts of her heart. He was the man she wanted in her life and yet that time had passed. He hadn't shown up in any of the situations she had needed him in and his life was now in danger. She would show up for him like he hadn't for her.
"You should go." Kate tilted her head, working to keep her expression deadpan as Victor's strong hands continued to toy with her.
"This is not what you want." Jon stood up and moved toward her, his eyes filled with anger.
"Jon. Sit the fuck down before you get yourself shot." Marcus reached out and jerked him back. Jon turned and swung, his fist connecting with the side of Marcus's face. Kate began to move, but Victor clamped her down harder, his fingers slipping under her panties and opening her like a flower.
She moaned, unable to help herself. The drug... something was off all of a sudden. Victor had kissed her near the liquor cabinet and the drug pulsed through her again.
Marcus stood up and grabbed Jon by the shoulders. "You get one, but don't do it again, mother fucker."
"I'm out of here. I don't give two shits about any of you." Jon pulled from him and turned to look at her, tears filling his eyes. "I hate you. Don't ever come near me again."
Kate nodded as her first tear fell onto her cheek. He was right to feel nothing but darkness toward her. It's all she felt toward herself too. Just like being young and having no control over the horribly lustful stares her stepfather used to give her, she had no power over Victor's hold. No control. Nothing left to do but run, but this time there was nowhere to go but deep inside of herself.
