Hell Is Burning

by Morgan Kelley

  Greyson saw her go over. Before he could even pull his gun, Trudy shot at him. He’d managed to dodge the head shot, but the bullet hit him in the arm.

  He howled, but not from pain. His wife had just gone over the edge, and she’d never survive.

  There was another shot as he moved to the edge. From his peripheral, he saw Trudy Booker fall.

  He didn't care.

  He only wanted Emma back.

  As he scampered to the edge, looking over the side, he saw the most horrible thing in his life.

  Emma’s lifeless body hung, her face beginning to turn blue. As the blood ran down his arm, he began pulling her up. When she was at the ledge, he heard more people come through the door behind him.

  He still didn't care.

  He was pulling at the duct tape, trying to free her nose and mouth. When his brother cut away the rope with a knife, she laid limp in his arms.

  Steele dropped his jacket and pulled her to the floor. “She’s still got a pulse! Give me her! I have time.”

  Greyson watched him get to work.

  When he tipped her chin up, sealing his mouth over hers, he wanted to weep.

  “Please let her live,” he whispered. “God, please let her live. Take me. She deserves to stay.”

  Dante watched helplessly as his fiancé tried to save his brother’s wife. After four breaths, they watched her chest move. Emma took her first breath.

  When her eyes fluttered open, Greyson nearly wept. He pulled her into his arms, refusing to let her go. “Emma, honey,” he whispered. “I have you.”

  She began crying. As her body shook, Dante cut her wrists and ankles free.

  “How?” he asked Steele. In the back of his mind, he knew that the force of gravity should have snapped her neck.

  “That necklace gave her enough room to slide her fingers over the rope. Before it went taut, she was giving her larynx space. When she fell, her weight didn't crush her throat, because she was using her fingers to give her room.”

  He left kisses across her face.

  “Trudy killed them all,” Emma said hoarsely.

  Greyson picked her up in his arms. When he turned, Christopher Ford was standing there. He was pale and looked like he was ready to pass out.

  “My team found evidence. Trudy Booker was the one who killed her husband, Lana Dumas, two hitmen, Brynn, and now tried to kill my wife.”

  He nodded. “Emma.”

  Greyson cut him off. “Can you handle this? She needs to go to the hospital, and so do I.”

  Just then they noticed there was blood running down his arm.

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll carry her,” Dante offered. “You're shot.”

  Greyson didn't care. “I’m never letting her go again. Can you and Steele meet us there?”

  “We’ll be there.”

  That was good enough for him. As they rushed down the stairs, they were met with a crowd of on lookers. Greyson didn't care. He shoved roughly through them, his wife in his arms.

  It was over.

  They found their corruptor.

  But at what cost?

  Greyson couldn’t think past that moment. In his mind, he was replaying the entire scene. He could see her eyes as she went over the ledge.

  He saw the terror.

  It likely mimicked what he had felt.

  At the ambulance, Greyson hopped in. He had to let it go--for now.

  None of it mattered.

  “Oh, Emma, honey. I nearly lost you,” he said holding her hand as the EMT’s checked them both out. Greyson knew that this time, she nearly died, and that didn't sit well with him.

  At all.

  There was mayhem at the hospital when they arrived. It was obvious, by the FBI escort that they had someone important coming in, and that was the truth.

  Greyson wasn’t above barking orders and giving demands. This was his wife, and she needed someone to check her out.

  He wouldn’t even let them look at his arm until he was reassured that she was okay. As they took his wife to get an MRI of her head, he finally stripped down to just his pants. The bullet hole in his arm was nasty, and it oozed blood.

  It was like his heart. That wept too.

  As he sat there, the curtain moved and he saw his brother and Steele.

  “Is she okay?” Dante asked, nerves present in his voice.

  He only nodded. Greyson had tried to be strong, but he couldn’t do it anymore. The tears came, and in that little examining room, he wept for what he nearly lost.

  As the doctor examined his left arm, Dante hugged him. “It’s okay, Grey. Emma’s okay. You saved her, and the person chasing you is dead. It’s finally over. You can move on with your life.”

  That was the only thing that gave him peace.

  They’d nearly lost the war.

  Greyson hopped off the table, much to the ER doctor’s displeasure. When he moved toward Steele, he hugged him. “Thank you. God! Thank you.”

  Steele hugged him. “I love her too, Greyson. I’m just glad I could help her. Emma bought us the time to save her. She’s a fighter.”

  He thought about how she’d nearly died the day her brother was murdered, and the words he’d told her before he was gone.

  Yeah, she was a fighter.

  Thank God for that.

  Still, he hugged the man marrying his brother. “If you weren’t marrying into this family, I’d still love you, but I’m so proud that you’re going to be my brother. I owe you my life. Somehow, I’ll repay this debt to you. I promise.”

  Steele led him toward the table so the doctor could stitch his arm up. “Well, I got to lock lips with Emma. Now I know one thing.”

  Greyson looked into his eyes. “What?”

  “I’m definitely gay. I think I enjoy the Croft men more. There’s only one more to make my list complete.”

  Greyson pulled him towards him and planted a kiss right on his lips.

  “HEY! Hands off the fiancé!” Dante protested, as he laughed. Honestly, he didn't mind. His brother was having one hell of a night.

  Croft couldn’t help it. The man before him was going to be a great addition to their family. Under pressure, he came through. “Now you can say you’ve locked lips with all of us. Thank you, Steele.”

  The man fanned himself, much to Dante’s smirk.

  “A guy can’t have anything.”

  Greyson patted him on the shoulder as he wiped the tears from his eyes. He never wanted to relive this night again.

  That’s all you could ask for when things like this happened.

  They heard a commotion from outside the examining room. Curtis was trying to get past them, but the badge wasn’t working.

  “Steele, can you help him?” he asked, as the doctor sewed up his arm. “He has to be worried.”

  When he disappeared around the curtain, there was mumbling. Then Curtis appeared. He was disheveled and looked like he’d been sleeping.

  “Is she okay?” he blurted. “Where’s Mom?”

  Greyson rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, she is. They’re running some tests on her right now. That’s not what I need to talk to you about. Please sit down,” he instructed, patting the ER bed beside him.

  “What? Oh, God! What?”

  “We got the killer. We know who killed Brynn and all the others. We were right. Thomas Booker and everyone else was taken out by the same person.”

  “Who?”

  “Trudy Booker.”

  He looked shocked. “Are you sure?”

  They all nodded.

  “Is she dead?”

  “Dimitri shot her. She’s gone. Let’s just say that she won’t be stalking our family anymore.”

  Curtis closed his eyes. “Then we can put this to bed. I don’t want to think about it anymore. We got Brynn justice, and now I can move on.”

  He dropped his uninjured arm over his shoulders to offer the man comfort.

  “What happened to Emma?”

  Greyson told him everything
because he was family. The entire time, Curtis’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank God you got her that necklace. Who knew bondage gear could save a life.”

  He wasn’t telling him anything he didn't know.

  That had Dante’s attention. “What? Did you just say bondage?” He was grinning. “Come on. You kissed my fiancé, the least you could do it tell me about your kink.”

  Greyson knew he was trying to make him laugh.

  “Wait,” Curtis began, “You kissed Steele? When did that happen?”

  All three men laughed.

  “Shut up, Dante. Don’t make me hurt you,” Greyson stated. Then he changed the subject. “Where are my parents?”

  “They wanted to come, but I told them no. The last thing Emma needed is for your mother causing a scene.”

  He agreed. “Good call.”

  “Mr. Croft, your wife is in a room. We’re going to keep her overnight. She had some bumps, bruises, and a concussion, but she’s perfectly fine. Doctor Bentley got her air, and that saved her.”

  Dante hugged his fiancé in appreciation.

  “Bad news, Doctor, but I’m taking her home.”

  The doctor looked surprised. “She really needs to rest. Being here, we can observe to make sure she’s fine.”

  He wasn’t having it.

  “We have a doctor at the house,” he stated, pointing at Steele. “She’s going to want to be home, and that’s my priority. Where is she?”

  He shrugged. “If you insist. Follow me.”

  They trailed after the doctor to the third floor. Outside the door, there was a cop standing guard. At least the hospital was taking his demands seriously.

  “She’s inside.”

  Greyson went in first to see if she was okay. When she heard him, she started crying all over again. Whether it was from the blood all over his shirt or the look on his face, he’d never know. Emma was rattled, and he couldn’t blame her. Someone had just tried to kill her.

  “Please get me out of here,” she stated. “I want to go home with you.”

  This was exactly why he insisted she wasn’t staying. Greyson knew his wife.

  Emma hated hospitals, and he wanted to be with his wife. “I’m getting you out of here.” He glanced out the door and into the hallway. “Dante, can I have your tux jacket?” he asked.

  The man immediately slipped out of it. “Here.”

  Greyson took it to Emma. “I’d give you mine, but they took it as evidence. They needed proof she shot me.” When he pointed at his bandaged arm, she ran her fingers over it.

  “Are you okay?”

  He kissed her on the bruised cheek. She’d been pistol whipped, and it made Croft want to destroy everything around him. Trudy Booker was lucky she was dead. The bitch marred his beautiful wife’s face.

  “Yes. I am.”

  He helped her into the tux jacket. It was far too big, much like his clothing always was, but it covered her hospital gown. “Are you sure you’re okay? What happened, Emma?”

  “It’s my fault,” she said. “Chris and I were dancing, he upset me, and I needed a few minutes. That’s when Trudy talked me into going upstairs.”

  He didn't want to hear more about the dead woman. Instead, he was focused on something entirely different.

  Chris Ford.

  The man had let him down.

  “What did he do? He let you get taken. I’m going to hurt him like he’s never felt pain before,” Croft growled.

  Emma closed her mouth.

  “This isn't the time to do this, Emma. You went off a roof and nearly died. I need straight answers.”

  “You have to promise you’ll be calm.”

  He was barely hanging on. That was going to be a huge promise, and he didn't know if he could keep it. “Emma, what did he do?”

  “He doesn’t want the condo because he’ll look corrupt like us.”

  With that, she began wiping at her tears.

  Greyson relaxed. He knew the condo was going to be an issue, so this didn't surprise him. Instead, he relaxed. “I’ll handle it.”

  “No! Greyson! Don’t do anything to him!”

  He laughed, sweeping her up in his arms. When he flinched, she touched his cheek.

  “I can walk.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Please? I can’t stand thinking your arm hurts. I’ve had a bad night too.”

  He took a deep breath. “Dante,” he called.

  The man rushed in. Immediately, his focus was on the woman in his brother’s arms. She looked better than when they pulled her back onto the roof, but she was still a mess. “Emma!”

  “Can you carry her? She shouldn’t walk, and she’s worried about my arm. Besides, I’m going to have to make a statement to the media. I don’t want her near them.”

  He was well aware he looked like hell too.

  “Absolutely,” Dante said, taking her from his arms. When she put her head on his shoulder, Dante gave her a kiss.

  “Thank you.”

  “Steele is the one to thank. He resuscitated you.”

  When they got out into the hallway, she gave him a kiss too, and then even one for Curtis. “I’m good. Let’s just head home. I need a shower and to sleep. Tonight sucked.”

  Greyson caught the meds from the nurse. He signed Emma out, and they were on their way. Downstairs, they were hit with an onslaught of media. While they took pictures, Greyson remained calm.

  “I’m ready to make my statement.”

  Everyone shut up as Dante carried Emma to the limo. When she was safely inside with the rest of their family, he spoke, “Tonight, while at the commissioner’s charity event, the person responsible for the death of Thomas Booker, Lana Dumas, Randall Mason, Officer Torrance Burns, Clifford Vanburen, and Detective Brynn Westmore-Briggs, has been caught.”

  The media erupted with a million questions at the names.

  “Detective Mace Bristol and FBI profiler Doctor Paris Archer broke it wide open. In the midst of their discovery, the person responsible for their deaths took a shot at me, and nearly killed my wife. They are no longer a threat, and have been handled.”

  “Is the killer dead?” someone shouted.

  “Yes.”

  “Who is it?”

  Normally, Greyson wouldn’t release the name without being sure the family had been notified, but his wife nearly died, he’d been shot, and so many people lost their lives. He was well past compassion.

  He was pissed.

  “The person who committed all these heinous crimes was Mrs. Trudy Booker, the commissioner’s wife. She openly admitted to the crimes, and has been tied to all of them forensically. In the following days, a report will be issued, allowing the media to see the evidence that was gathered.”

  There was pandemonium.

  And he didn't care.

  Screw them.

  The Booker family may have been victims too, or they may not. He didn't give a shit. Right now, he only had one thing to worry about.

  His wife.

  And that was what he was going to do.

  Heading away from the media, Greyson wanted to get his family back to Terrace Glen.

  They needed to heal.

  And regroup.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  Terrace Glen

  They saw the news.

  In fact, everyone in Vegas saw it.

  From behind the safety of the secured fence, Tessa, Dimitri, Katerina, and Greyson’s parents watched Lewis Reynolds deliver the news.

  Tessa knew they could relax a little. Now that this monkey was off their backs, they could work on the case at hand.

  “My poor boy,” Reggie said.

  Christopher glanced over at her. “Don’t say a word. You can tell by his face he’s on the edge, Reggie. The last thing he’s going to want is any bullshit from us. You know how Greyson gets.”

  She stared at him like he was out of his mind. This was her son. Surely, he didn't expect her to say nothing! He’d been shot and ne
arly died.

  “I just want to make sure his arm’s fine. A mother doesn’t stop worrying when a child grows, Christopher. I have my rights!”

  Tessa heard the gates. “They’re back. I’m going to help Emma. I’m sure she wants a shower and some booze. I know I would.” Had Tessa been pushed off a roof and nearly hung to death, then that would have been on her priority list--for sure. Curtis had called her and explained how she nearly died. If that had been her, she’d even pop a sedative into the mix.

  Once inside, Greyson headed straight for his head of security. “Thank you,” he said, shaking Dimitri’s hand. “You did a good job. I can’t thank you enough for saving my wife’s life.”

  “Well, it would have been better if Emma never got taken, and if you didn't get shot, but we’ll count this in the win category,” Dimitri offered. “It was actually my sister. She was following Emma, and I was tailing you.”

  When Dante put Emma down, she crossed to Katerina and hugged her. “I never thought I would say this, but thank you for being a stalker.”

  She grinned. “It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Croft. If I could have gotten closer, I would have saved you that ending.”

  Emma was just happy to be alive.

  She could feel Reggie staring at her, and she wasn’t going to go there. If she did, her husband might lose it. He didn't freak out about Captain Ford, so why push her luck?

  Tessa took her hand. “How about I help Emma get settled in bed?” she asked. “She needs to rest.”

  Greyson was glad she was there. Everyone around Emma was a man, and she needed some estrogen right then. The last person he was going to sic on her was his mother. Her night had been harrowing enough.

  “Thank you. I’ll be up as soon as I wrap everything up,” he said, tossing his agent the meds.

  Tessa helped her navigate from the room. When she was gone, he turned to face his mother. “I see you’re still here.”

  “Let me look at your arm, Greyson.”

  When she went to touch him, he took a step back. “No thank you. I have other things to worry about. I meant what I said, Reggie. Until you apologize to the people you were rude to, you’re not welcome here.”

  She looked hurt. “You’re my child. You can’t mean that.”