Hell Is Burning

by Morgan Kelley

  And it would taint the beautiful moment they’d just shared. She weighed her options carefully.

  “I said, come here.”

  Dante watched from nearby, trying to figure out how to help them work through this. It was going to be ugly, and he didn't want them fighting. There’d be plenty of that when Reggie rolled in.

  She turned and stared at him.

  “Emma. NOW!”

  Dante was ready for the nuclear explosion to happen. His brother was dangerously close to crossing the line.

  Emma obeyed and moved toward him.

  It caught Dante off guard, and he stared openmouthed when she didn't lose her temper with Greyson.

  What kind of black magic was this?

  Lifting her chin, Greyson stared into her green emerald eyes. “I know you love to cook, and that you wanted to do this, but let’s be realistic. We will be hosting parties and have people here all the time. You can’t keep up with it.”

  “I love cooking for you. It’s important.”

  Tears filled her eyes.

  It was rare that Emma pulled the crying card. If she was getting weepy, it was the real deal.

  “Honey, you will continue that tradition. On most weekends, Adrien won’t be here. On Saturday and Sunday, you’re going to have to do all the cooking.”

  She relaxed a little.

  “Meet me in the middle. I’m doing this so we can have more time together--like earlier.”

  He had a point.

  Dante watched in awe when Emma moved into his body. There was no fight, there was no battle, and they’d come to an agreement.

  His brother saved his ass on this one.

  “I want us to have romantic dinners on the patio after work, and now we don’t have to worry.”

  “Yes, Grey. I understand.”

  “He must have some magic elixir pumped into this house,” Dante teased. “Any other woman would have shit a ton of bricks all over the place.”

  Greyson was well aware. “Emma isn't just any woman,” he stated, “she’s the best one in the world.” He was being completely honest.

  She glanced up. “Is this the only compromise I’m going to have to make?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  She shrugged and held his hand. “Okay, but I want a concession. Can we negotiate?”

  He lifted a brow. “That depends. What do you want?” Greyson asked.

  “I hate this kitchen. It’s cold and doesn’t fit in our home. I want it redone, and Adrien will have to work in the one I picked out.”

  He thought about it.

  “Please, Grey?” she asked, staring up at him with big green eyes.

  How could he say no to that?

  “Deal. As soon as we figure out who is after us, Dante will get the plans drawn up, and you’ll get your dream kitchen. Adrien won’t mind.”

  He turned and spoke to the man in rapid french. The chef smiled and nodded. Apparently, he was good with it.

  “Well, that settles it.”

  Dante didn't know what to think. He was obviously looking at the master when it came to women. “You should bottle that skill.”

  She laughed. “Please. I let him off easy. Besides, Greyson is really good in bed.”

  “Emma! Put away the claws, kitten. Remember what happens?” he teased, slapping her on the ass.

  “That’s not a deterrent, Greyson.”

  “Jesus! Can you two stop talking about sex?” Dante asked. “It’s weird.”

  “Well, that’s not going to happen, bro. You’re in our house, and I get to seduce my woman anywhere I want.”

  “I’ll stay in the pool house with Steele. Then we can avoid it.”

  Greyson shook his head. “Actually, that’s going to be the home base for our security team. Dimitri, Katerina, and Natasha will have full use of it.”

  “You mean mom and dad aren’t staying out there? What room did you give them?”

  Emma laughed. “The one right next to yours, so when you play ‘ride ‘em cowboy’ keep it down.”

  He looked horrified. “You realize I have sex with my boyfriend every night, and we get carried away.”

  “Yes, we’re aware. We’ve lived with you, so let’s not put any more pictures in my head,” he stated. “We don’t need to go there.”

  “I want to ask questions,” Emma began, causing Dante to go bright red. “I have so many that need answers.”

  “Come on!” Dante hissed.

  Emma couldn’t help but laugh.

  Until the gate alarm sounded. They had company, and already the mood had changed.

  “They’re here.”

  Dante tried to bolt from the room, but Emma grabbed his belt before he could make a break for it. “Hell no! You’re not bailing on me,” she stated. “Where’s Steele?”

  “He’s showering in our room. He just got in from the morgue and didn't want to start his night coated in death.”

  “Good. He’ll have a few minutes to get adjusted before Reggie attacks.”

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” he stated, actually sounding freaked out. “You know mom, Greyson. She’s crazy. One minute she’s good, and the next she’s undermining everyone’s authority. No one is safe.”

  Emma wrapped her arm around his waist, pulling the men to her sides. She was trapped between them, and they were a united front against what was coming.

  “We have you, Dante,” she said. “Don’t worry about what she thinks of Steele. You love him, and that’s all that matters. Her opinion doesn’t.”

  Greyson wished his parents weren’t at his home. God help him, but his mother had a way of turning everything upside down. She liked to think she was boss.

  It was draining.

  Dante knew he couldn’t hide Steele forever, so he dropped a kiss to the top of Emma’s head before speaking, “Okay, let’s go get this over with,” he stated, “before I throw up.”

  Greyson laughed.

  He completely understood.

  He wanted to be sick to his stomach too. Not because he cared what she said to him, but his wife was another story. Emma and Steele would be the main targets. Reggie was super protective of her sons.

  Until they headed back home in three months, they just had to buckle in and hold on for the ride.

  Hopefully, no one would get hurt.

  At the door, they met their housekeeper. “Magda, my parents will be staying in the gold room,” Greyson stated. “Can you please make sure they have everything they need, even if it seems like an odd request?”

  “Yes, Mr. Croft.”

  He was preparing for the worst--just in case.

  Heading outside, they found their parents getting out of their rental car. The minute she saw her boys, Reggie rushed them, practically knocking Emma out of the way.

  Well, that set the tone of this visit.

  Emma shook her head and waited her turn. When it came to this woman, she was like a pit bull. If you got in her way, you got hurt. The last year had been one hell of a ride. At first it was all good.

  Then they eloped.

  While Reggie said it was fine, the woman held a wicked grudge. She was screwed out of her oldest son’s wedding, and didn't let them forget it.

  There’d be calls.

  Comments.

  Cards.

  She was relentless.

  In the end, she had no one to blame but herself, since she never spoke up. Greyson had warned her, but she seemed to forget that. Emma would have done a big wedding to keep the peace, but Greyson had made the final choice.

  Now she was the one paying for it.

  As Reggie gushed over her boys, Emma noticed Christopher Croft heading her way. The smile on his face was infectious.

  It always made her smile when she saw him. His boys looked just like him, and that made Emma’s heart melt. He was a sweet man, and that was ironic since he was a hardened cop.

  “Emma!”

  “Hey, Dad! How was your tour of the country?” she asked as he
swung her around in a big bear hug.

  “It was fun. I’m glad we’re done though. Someone was getting bored. Nice house! I can’t wait to see it.”

  He was always a barrel of energy. Dante got that from him.

  She stayed under his arm and against his side. At least she enjoyed her father-in-law. He was a really decent guy. “We’ll head inside and relax. Magda will show you to your room and get you set up.”

  “In my day, a couple didn't get a maid,” Reggie stated.

  Even Christopher shook his head. “Reggie, please don’t start.”

  She went to object.

  “It’s okay, Dad,” Greyson offered, when his mother finally let him go. It wasn’t like they didn't expect this. His mother was predictable if anything.

  “Well, it actually could be a good thing,” Reggie stated. “Now you can quit that job of yours, stay home, and have some babies.”

  Both men stopped, pulled money from their pockets, and handed it to Emma.

  “What’s this?” she asked, watching them.

  “We had a bet. Emma said you’d ask about kids before you even hugged her. I had you hugging her first and then dropping the bomb, and Dante actually believed you’d wait until a few glasses of wine. She won.”

  Reggie gave him a look. “You’ve lost your manners,” she stated, hugging Emma.

  While she knew Greyson’s mother liked her, she wasn’t one of her boys. The sun rose and set on them, and she liked Emma to know it. If the woman even suspected her son wasn’t happy, she’d drop the proverbial ax.

  “Yeah, well asking about their sex life is probably just as rude, Reggie,” stated her husband.

  Emma wanted to kiss her father-in-law.

  “Show me this house!” she said, ignoring them.

  As the woman rushed toward the house, Christopher gave them a look. “I’m sorry. She’s been caged up in a car for weeks. It was probably a bad idea to bring her here. We can stay at a hotel.”

  Greyson laughed. “Yeah, that’s worse. Then she’s got more ammunition to shoot at me. You’re staying. We’ll just have to put her back in her place if she crosses a line.”

  This time, it was his father that laughed. “I’ve been trying for forty five years, son. Good luck with that.”

  Didn't the men know it?

  Inside, they found Reggie wandering around the large foyer. She was sniffing the big flower arrangement. “These are really gorgeous. Did you arrange them, Emma?”

  “Nope. The housekeeper did.”

  “Oh, are you too busy to take care of your home?”

  Greyson went to speak to defend his wife, but she cut him off.

  “Actually, we have a pretty big case. We have four dead women, and one of them is Curtis’s wife, so we need you to not say anything to upset him.”

  She looked surprised. “Greyson’s partner?”

  “Yes. He’s upset, so try and not to be blunt, Mom,” Croft stated. “You know, like you just were outside and now. Try not to bring it up or say anything outrageous. He’s in mourning, and doesn’t need his heart kicked around anymore. Got it?”

  She gave him a look, and then one to Christopher when he began laughing.

  “I’ll try. You’d think I was some out of control monster,” she said before walking away.

  Emma slapped her hand over Dante’s mouth before he could say anything.

  Christopher Croft laughed and followed his wife.

  “Thank you,” Dante whispered. “I have no control around her.”

  Greyson knew this was going to go bad, and fast. He could feel it in his gut. There was no way in hell they were all going to make it three months.

  As Magda led them into a formal sitting area, Reggie wandered around.

  “I thought we could have drinks before dinner,” Emma offered.

  Yeah, so they could dull the pain of what was coming.

  Dante began praying that Steele wouldn’t come down quite yet. They needed to get their mother sloshed.

  That would take time.

  “Oh, this room is…interesting,” Reggie began.

  Emma went to the bar and poured all three men some bourbon. They were going to need it. When Magda offered to serve, she sent her out. There was no point in making anyone else a target for Reggie.

  God only knew what she’d say. Their luck, she’d ask Magda if she was an illegal.

  Handing all three men a drink, she poured some wine for Reggie before handing it to her.

  “Aren’t you having a drink, Emma?” she asked hopefully.

  “I am, so you can stop daydreaming that I’m pregnant,” she stated, pouring herself some bourbon too.

  Greyson watched his wife. She must be irritated. She didn't normally drink hard alcohol. When she chugged the drink, it spoke volumes.

  “So Mom, how was your trip?” Dante asked, trying to move this train wreck along.

  “It was long. Christopher had to see everything. I swear, the man found the craziest sights to see.”

  Emma stayed at the wet bar since she already heard shoes echoing across the tile foyer.

  Dante relaxed when Curtis came in.

  “Drink?” she asked.

  “I could use a beer,” he stated.

  Emma twisted off the cap and handed him one.

  “I thought we could have cigars on the patio after dinner,” Greyson offered.

  “That sounds lovely, but I hope you’re not smoking them still, dear.”

  Emma brought the bottle of bourbon to her husband and refilled his glass.

  “Thank you, kitten.”

  Dante didn't speak. He simply held up his glass. This was going to be a bender, he could see it coming. He and Greyson were pounding bourbon to dull the pain of their mother.

  This was why he left Pennsylvania.

  He needed to escape.

  When Curtis sat, he was now the center of Reggie’s focus. “Are you Curtis or my son’s boyfriend?”

  Curtis grinned. “I’m the love of Emma’s life, but you can call me Curtis.”

  Greyson laughed.

  “I heard about your wife, and I’m sorry,” Reggie said. “It has to be hard.”

  Croft glared at his mother.

  He should have known this was the opposite of what they told her to do. Why the hell was he so shocked?

  “Thank you.”

  Before his wife could say anything else, Christopher jumped in. “Grey, if you’re tied up in a case, we completely understand. Maybe a hotel would be better. Can you suggest one?”

  Reggie made some sound, her silvery eyes flashing. “I don’t think that would be better at all. I know my son won’t make me stay in some cold, unfamiliar hotel. I raised him better than that.”

  Then, she glared at Emma.

  Greyson went to say something, but his wife beat him to the punch.

  It was time for her to take one for the team. “Actually, Mom and Dad, you’re safer here. Someone is targeting people Greyson cares about, so you need to remain inside the compound.”

  They stared at her like she was kidding.

  “I’m serious. We have a security team working here, and they’ll want to know where everyone is at all times.”

  Christopher looked worried. “Son, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Dad,” Greyson admitted. “Today, they took a shot at Curtis, and his wife’s death is on me too.”

  “Grey,” Curtis said. “It’s not. Please don’t feel that way. This wasn’t your fault. That falls on the person who did it.”

  Yeah, well, it was too late.

  He already blamed himself.

  “I see,” said Reggie. “We can stay in. I don’t mind. I’ve seen enough of the sights to last me a million years.”

  Well, that was a relief.

  “Besides, I can help redecorate.”

  Okay, that wasn’t a good thing.

  “Mom, you’re not going to redecorate. We have the place set up to Emma’s specifications,” Dante stated. “It took days
to get it this way, and you can’t change it.”

  “Oh, Emma won’t mind.”

  Both men glanced over at her. This was going to be a pissing match of epic proportions.

  “Actually, yes, she will,” Emma stated. “I love you, Mom, but you’re not to redecorate. Grey and I like it this way, and since it’s our home, it’s staying exactly like this. Are we clear?”

  She pouted, but she gave up.

  Yeah, it was going to be a long three months, and they all knew it.

  “So where’s your boyfriend?” Reggie asked, glancing over at her son. “There are words I never thought I’d say in my life.”

  As if on cue, Emma dumped more wine in her glass. At the same time, she gave Dante a reassuring look.

  “He’s taking a shower. He worked all day in dead bodies. You know… ME and all.”

  She was about to say something when Magda came around the corner. “Mr. and Mrs. Croft, dinner is served. Would you like me to have the chef hold it until Doctor Bentley is ready?”

  “No, we can have dinner. I’m sure Steele will be right down, Magda,” Greyson offered.

  She headed out.

  As everyone followed Magda to the dining room, Greyson and Dante opted to head toward the wet bar for a quick refill.

  “I’m not going to make it,” Dante stated, chugging more bourbon.

  “Uh, pace yourself. You’ll be shit faced drunk, and around mom--that’s a very bad thing.”

  Dante heard him, but he didn't care. What was coming was going to be hell. He only hoped his mother left Steele alone through dinner.

  “Let’s get this over with,” he stated, heading toward the stairs.

  Greyson wished it was that easy.

  By the time this was over, he hoped his family was still intact.

  Three months was a damn long time.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  Across Town

  When she finally left the building, he was excited. This woman was exactly like the others. She reminded him of his past, and that was why he had to take her.

  They always did, and that’s why she needed to die.

  As she approached her vehicle, in the dark lot, he knew it was time to make it happen.