Hell Is Burning (63 page)

“Katerina?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“Yes.”

“Want us to spring you?”

“No.”

Dimitri was watching her. He’d obviously heard his sister’s name, and from the look on his face, he didn't like the idea that she was alone with the Fed.

Maybe it was a brother thing.

Maybe it was so much more.

“Just keep searching. We’re heading over to Lester Pappel’s place. Can you transmit all we have on him, including an address?”

“On it.”

When she hung up, Dimitri moved closer. “What’s going on with my sister?”

“Got me. I just wondered if Katerina was still helping Curtis with the searches, and if she found anything.”

He visibly relaxed. 

“Oh, okay. She’s a handful. My sister has a way of getting in trouble. I don’t want her to make anything into a mess.”

Emma grinned. Well, if Curtis was any indicator, the woman was already stirring the pot, and it might not be a bad thing.

A mess, yes.

But sometimes they were the best kinds of moments.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

He watched them leave the bakery. He could see the trio asking questions inside both businesses, and he had to laugh.

It was funny that he was watching them as they hunted for him.

It was priceless, in fact.

If they were here, grasping for straws, he’d have to move fast and then stop. He had no choice.

Voices or not, he was going to have to find a way to get in control.

This was his last one, and he knew what that meant.

It was about to get bloody.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

Curtis was trying to focus, but it wasn’t easy. Katerina was right beside him, her really long, elegant fingers typing away. Every now and again, she’d toss her hair over her shoulder, and he’d be assaulted with the scent of flowers.

It was intoxicating.

“Find anything?” he asked.

She glanced over, chewing on her lower lip. “No. You?”

He shook his head. “I need a drink. I’ll be right back,” he said, standing from the couch. What he really needed was to get as far away from her as possible.

He hadn’t even buried Brynn yet, and he shouldn’t be thinking with that part of his anatomy.

That’s how he screwed up his life once already.

“Would you like one?” he asked. Then he wanted to glue his lips shut. She stared up at him with aqua eyes, and he again started thinking about stupid things.

“Okay.”

As he headed into the kitchen, she watched him. “Why didn't you just ask Magda?”

He looked confused. “Oh, I’m laid back. I can grab my own drinks. Besides, she’s trying to get things done to get home to her family too.”

Katerina watched him pull two bottles of water out of the refrigerator. When he unscrewed the lid off them both, and handed her one, she smiled at him.

“So, do you like what you do?” he asked, leaning against the counter.

“Yes, I do. It’s nice to be around my brother. When he went away to the military…” She stopped realizing what she just did.

“We already know that about him. Don’t worry. Greyson ran him.”

She laughed. “You won’t find anything on him.”

Curtis shrugged. “Yeah, we figured as much. You guys saved Emma, and that’s going to keep you off the Croft question list.”

She was glad.

This was an easy gig, and she liked being around this agent.

“Are they really adopting you?”

“Yes. I guess he’s doing the paperwork right now,” Curtis answered. “It’s not about the money,” he offered.

She tipped her head. “I don’t believe I said it was.”

“I just didn't want you, or anyone else, to think it was.”

Katerina moved closer. “I have lots of money, so I understand. People judge you.”

He swallowed.

“Why do you look so freaked out?” she asked, looking around.

How was he supposed to answer that? Everything about her scared him shitless. Brynn had put the fear of God into him. She’d damaged him.

Curtis wasn’t sure he was fixable.

“Is it me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You’re beautiful, I’m very attracted to you, and my wife just died.”

It said it all.

Katerina placed her water on the counter before she moved toward him. When Curtis moved back against the counter, trapping himself, she wanted to laugh.

“I won’t bite.”

He didn't buy that for a second.

“I will tell you this, Curtis. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love, so I won’t mess with you.”

He didn't know what she meant.

“When, and if, you’re ready, find me.”

With that, she went up on her toes to give him a soft kiss. Her body pressed against his. She didn't mean to make it more than a light peck on his lips, but he opened for her. She couldn’t help herself.

Katerina fell into it.

They melded together as if they were always meant to fit, and the ecstasy of the kiss exploded around them. Her hands found his curly hair, and his wrapped around her body, affixing her to his torso.

Neither came up for air. Their mouths, tongues, and lips led the way, and they didn't fight it.

Katerina didn't know how long they stayed kissing, but she needed to back away. She wanted him, but he was afraid, and she didn't want to start something out of fear.

She was patient.

She could wait.

When she was finally able to pull away, she stared into his blue eyes. “I mean it. Find me when you’re not afraid.”

With that, she moved away from him and left the room. He stared after her.

In all his life, he’d never felt that kissing someone. When he’d been with Brynn, he’d felt heat, but Katerina melted the memories from his brain.

He couldn’t think. Who was that woman?

Then he saw the bottle of water.

And he knew what he needed to do.

Grabbing a plastic storage bag, he resealed the bottle, and then dropped it inside. While no one was looking, he tucked it to the back of the linen closet in the kitchen.

Greyson wanted to know who they were, and while Dimitri was clean, he was willing to bet Katerina had a history.

A part of him didn't want to do it.

But Curtis knew the truth.

He had to protect his family, and his heart, despite what the woman made him feel.

The Crofts came first.

Even over what might heal his heart.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

Two Hours Later

They looked for him everywhere, but Lester Pappel wasn’t home, at the bar, or any of his local hangouts. The people they questioned kept giving them place after place to find him, but they were coming up with nothing.

It was frustrating.

Finally, they gave up. It was time to head home. On their way there, Captain Ford called, and they put him on speaker.

“You were right about Lewis Reynolds. The commissioner felt terrible that he was sleeping with a killer, so he threw all his weight at the paper. They pulled his emails, and we have the trace.”

“Trudy?” Greyson asked, driving them toward their home.

“Yep. She was sending him emails, but she was using her phone. She must have forgotten to turn off her Wi-Fi and ride someone else’s.”

“Great. That’s more proof that she was behind this,” Emma stated. “I want to tank that whole family’s reputation. The next time I hear Booker, it better be someone saying ‘book her’ instead.”

Ford laughed. “I hear ya there.”

“Where are you?” Greyson asked.

“I’m on my way back to the hood, why?”

“Head to our house.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not going to molest my wife in the living room, Chris,” Greyson teased. “It’s a big house.”

“Croft, don’t be an ass. I meant because of Emma, since she was just hurt yesterday.”

“I’m fine,” she stated. “I like having everyone there. Come over, and we’ll order pizza. Mace just put out a BOLO on our suspect Lester Pappel. We can’t do anything until we find him.”

“Is he the one?”

“I don’t know, but a man goes missing the day the cops come knocking? That sounds suspicious to me.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Ford said, hanging up the phone.

When Emma looked up, both men were staring at her. Greyson in the rearview mirror, and Dimitri as he turned around.

“What?”

“You like having people there?” Greyson asked.

“Okay! Fine! As long as that douchebag Marianna is running around, I like to keep our friends close. Paris and Tessa just boarded a plane. Mace is still at the FBI office, Steele and Dante are in route to our house, and Chris is on his way. All my ducks are in a row. I know where they are.”

Greyson smiled. “We need a bigger house.”

“Shut up! That’s the last thing we need. You already hired security. What’s next? A third world militia?”

Dimitri opened his mouth and raised his hand.

“Don’t,” Croft warned before tapping his badge. “Think before you incriminate yourself.”

He laughed. “I was only going to say that I like mushrooms on my pizza.”

Yeah, neither believed that.

At all.

       
                     
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

He took her.

It was dark enough that when he attacked her in the parking lot that no one would ever see him. That was the most important thing. He didn't want her dead.

No, she had to live.

It wasn’t until she was in the back of his vehicle, that he relaxed. As he stared down at her, he let his fingers run across her body.

She had this coming.

There would be no doubt that when he took her and strung her up, she would deserve it.

“I hope you’re ready for me,” he said, punching her in the face. It was only a moan that escaped.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

It was time to take care of her.

In his vehicle, he headed for the only other place he felt welcome and comforted.

He headed for the trees.

The supplies sat beside him, and all he needed was a few minutes alone with her.

To make her pay.

       
         
* * *
  Croft & Croft  * * *

Terrace Glen

When they arrived back at the house, the media was nowhere to be found. Either Lewis Reynolds was in a shit load of trouble, or they were running scared after Dimitri’s little show.

In a way, Greyson hoped it was both.

Once inside the house, there was a feeling of safety. Now Greyson could take a deep breath and know his family was safe.

Speaking of which…

Before he could even get to the living room, Curtis met him in the foyer.

“Can I see you a second? I need to talk.”

Immediately, he searched Curtis’s face for any signs of what was bothering him. He did look a little torn, and that concerned him.