Hell Is Burning (42 page)

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.

She was next.

When she saw him at first there was that momentary look of fear, but then she noticed he was just getting his work out gear from his trunk.

“Have a good workout,” she stated, waving at him.

“Yeah! Thanks!”

When she turned to unlock her vehicle door, he knocked the keys from her hand and dropped his arm around her throat.

Then he squeezed the life from her.

Slowly, she kicked, scratched, and tried get him away from her, but it didn't work.

As she wiggled against him, he couldn’t help himself. He sniffed her.

She smelled like flowers, and that turned him on. As her breasts bounced, body flailed, and she fought him, he wanted her.

It was so wrong, but he was curious.

The second she passed out, he threw her prone body into the trunk. It was a short drive to the game lands, and maybe he could make it worth his time.

He’d been abstaining lately, but he couldn’t help but crave all the sin she was offering.

She was sexy, sleek, and he saw her face on countless billboards.

Well tonight, she’d be his.

The FBI would be none the wiser if he tasted the forbidden fruit. After all, she was flaunting herself to every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

What would it hurt?

Who would know?

It had been hell, abstaining from sex while being forced to watch them for long periods of time. He could almost feel the glisten of sweat on their soft skin.

The visuals were too much to handle. Of course they would break him.

He was weak.

It was all her fault.

They were just like her, and they had to pay.

This one would be no different, and he was okay with that.

It was hard not to wonder what the forbidden fruit tasted like, and tonight…

He’d find out.

       
                        
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

He was worried when he made the call. The person who hired him wanted the job done, and he’d missed. It wasn’t an easy shot, and the two women had used their bodies as a shield.

It wasn’t his fault.

Okay, maybe he picked the wrong spot to do the job, but he honestly hoped that he’d still get paid. After all, he’d risked getting caught.

When he was approached, the money was too good to say no to, and he didn't want to piss anyone off.