Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (74 page)

Chapter 16

Jon

He made sure Kate got into the shower before he left her, the distance immediately affecting him. He had left her glock on the table, the weapon a gift for her being willing to help him. 

He ran his fingers through his hair, the smell of her all over him. He breathed in deeply and unlocked his bike at the pub across the street from her club, glancing up toward her apartment as he imagined her in the shower again. He would have to pull her in with him the next time they were together. Sex in the shower had to be his favorite. Soft slippery skin, the heat from the shower head, the cold tile stinging every time a new part of your body touched it. He sucked in a quick breath through his teeth, a whistle letting off from his actions.

The street was empty, the place filled with trash and filth. He got on the bike, started it and pulled out, loving the wind in his hair. He needed to see if she wanted to go on a long ride with him out of the city and into the countryside. He could take her to the older parts of New Orleans, to the plantation homes and old farm houses. He cursed himself for planning the next five years of things to do with her. She hadn't agreed to anything more than sex, but he wasn't backing down. It wasn't his way at all. She would be his, he would just work to convince her that she wanted to.

Staying away from her hot little body to prove a point was another task altogether.

He walked into the station, a few heads turning to watch him from the waiting room. Karen glanced up as he nodded, a smile slipping onto her mouth.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

He paused by her door and smiled. "I was feeling like shit last night. Must've eaten something."

"That sucks. How you holding up?"

"Good. As good as I can, I guess." He glanced down the hall. "Captain here?"

"Yeah. Not sure he left at all last night. Drug bust on the east side of town. I think there's intel on a new drug lord moving in. Not good at all." She shrugged as Jon turned his attention back to her.

"Pull me together the information?"

"You bet, handsome. I'll have it ready when you come back through."

"Thanks Karen. You're the best." He moved down the hall, the sound of the captain yelling at someone giving him pause. He pressed his ear to the door to see if he could hear another voice or if the older man was on the phone.

"He's on his way in, Captain." It was Seth in there with him. Jon knocked and slipped in, Mike looking up and giving him a glare.

"Where the fuck were you last night? We needed you."

"I'm sorry guys. I got sick. I haven't been that sick in years."

"You've been with us since you got out of high school and have never been sick. Did you eat a burger off the floor in Bourbon Street?" The captain barked and paced behind his desk.

Jon glanced at Seth before taking a seat next to his partner.

"Don't know what I ate that fucked me up. I'm here now, so what's going on?"

"There was a fire at Expulsion on Twenty-second and Johnson Avenue downtown. Just off the main strip. The report is due in later today, but it wasn't the only havoc wreaked last night." Mike threw his hands in the air.

"Shooting on the east side of town. You hear anything about a new dealer in town in your search?" Seth looked over at Jon, his eyes swollen and red. Had he been crying or just up all night?

"No. I do know that the girl didn't do it, but figuring out who did hasn't been that easy." Jon rolled his shoulders, waiting on them to pelt him with questions.

"We already told you she didn't do it. Your job is to figure out who did," Mike barked, the captain on edge far worse than Jon had seen him before.

"What aren't you guys telling me? A fire set in a building, a drive-by shooting... big fucking deal. We're in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. We're used to this. Spill before I get pissed and leave." Jon stood up, turning to pin his partner and boss with a hard stare.

"Fuck, Jon." Seth sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Adam's body was taken from the morgue, dude."

"What?" Jon took a step back, his breath catching. Who would take his brother's body? Why?

"We were hoping you knew why." The captain sat down in his chair, a long tired-sounding breath leaving the large man.

"How the fuck would I know why someone would take my little brother's body?"

"You're looking into this. It's been two days since you got on the case. What have you found out?" Mike asked.

"The trail is cold thanks to you guys deciding I needed to wait a fucking week to start." He turned and walked toward the door. "I'm headed to the morgue."

"Jon. These events are connected, man. They have to be." Seth stood up. "I'm coming with you. I have the connecting factor for it all."

"What connecting factor?" Jon paused, his heart aching in his chest.

"Kate Jarret."

"Why would someone take Adam?" Jon asked, climbing into the patrol car.

"He had to have had evidence inside of him."

"Inside of him?"

"What else would make sense? We checked everything on him, around him, but the autopsy was scheduled for yesterday. He's missing."

"Mother fucker. I'm going to lay waste to every drug dealer in this town."

"Then you need to start with the girl. Have you seen her yet?"

"What does she have to do with this, Seth? She's clean." Jon turned his glare on his partner, his need to protect Kate rising up in him and overpowering his sense of self-preservation.

"She and her lackey run the original ring. I've pulled proof to pin them to it. We're going to bust them tomorrow."

Jon pulled out into the street, coaching himself not to overreact. She had lied to him. He expected that - somewhat. "What evidence and why don't we just go get them today?"

"The male is out of town until tomorrow." Seth leaned back in his seat, letting out a long breath. "Bank accounts and one of their lackeys came clean. I'm thinking the new boss in town forced him to rat them out."

"Kate works with a really big dude named Marcus. Are you sure Marcus isn't the drug lord? I've seen this girl. She doesn't look like a dealer, Seth." He glanced toward his partner.

"I told you she was going to get under your skin." Seth laughed, slapping his leg. "She's wicked beautiful. Did you talk to her?"

"I think you're wrong."

"We have so much evidence against the girl it's sickening. I'm so sad I let it pass my senses as I was reviewing her file the first time. Bitch is slick. I bet she would be a good tight fuck." Seth gave a sound of appreciation as Jon's hand slapped his chest.

"Cut that shit out. She's a woman. Don't talk about her like she's not."

"She's a monster and that big dude that works with her is nothing more than her lackey. Don't be fooled by her innocence, Jon. Do your fucking job."

"I am doing my job." He pulled up to the morgue and sat there a minute. "Why Adam's body?"

Sick waves of loss rolled over him. The feeling had nothing to do with Adam and everything to do with Kate. Two days of knowing her. One night of feeling her move beneath him and he was willing to warn her to leave town. It would ruin his career. He sighed, his emotions tearing him down. Had she lied to him? Completely fooled him into believing her to be someone she wasn't capable of being?

"Hey dude. You don't have to go in here. I'll go talk to the technician." Seth reached out and touched Jon's arm.

"Naw, I'm good. Just not sleeping well and I thought I had assessed this chick right."

"You did. She didn't kill Adam, but she sure as fuck isn't clean and clear."

Jon turned to his friend. "So you're telling me that Kate Jarret is a drug lord."

"Yes, and her guys were on the east side last night, warning a new guy that's moved into town to back the fuck up. Her lackey came in early this morning and told us the whole story."

"Who spoke with him?"

"I did."

"You and who?"

"Me and no one. You weren't in and the whole place was madness."

"Did you tape it?"

"No, I didn't have time. Why?"

"I just wanted to hear what he had to say."

"I'm typing up the report soon. I'll let you have it first. You can proof it for me."

"Good." Jon got out of the car, something about the whole situation not sitting well with him. It had to be the fact that Kate wasn't at all who she pretended to be. He swallowed regret and walked into the morgue as his phone buzzed. Looking down, he turned it off and dropped it back in his pants.

Kate.

She'd have to wait until he knew what he was going to say to her. Right now it would just be a whole lot of accusations being slung at her. He needed proof so that when he told her they weren't anything more than a long night of fucking, he had backup to force him to go through with it. His heart constricted painfully, Jon reaching up and rubbing it as the smell of formaldehyde washed over him.

Did Kate have Adam's body taken? The thought turned his stomach upside down.

Surely not...

Chapter 17

Kate

Someone was banging at the front door of her apartment, which could only be one of three people. Jon, Adam or Marcus. With Adam dead and Marcus out of town, that could only mean one thing. No one else knew the code for the bottom floor door. She wrapped a towel around herself and walked toward the door, a smile on her mouth. She had been in the shower so long her hands and feet were wrinkled, but for the first time in a long time, she felt alive. Whole.

"I'm coming. Shit." She stopped in front of the door and reached for the lock before pausing. Her stomach tightened, something sitting wrong on her. Lifting to her toes, she peered through the small peep hole to see Victor's head enforcer. He didn't look happy at all.

"Fuck," she whispered and moved back, dropping her towel and grabbing her jeans. She slipped them on and slipped a t-shirt over her head, her bra not a concern to her. He wasn't coming in, so no need to get fully dressed.

"I know you're in there, Katelyn. Open the door and I'll forgo my plans to put a bullet in your pretty head."

"That's no way to get someone to open the door for you. Manners would work much better, big boy." She spoke loudly, lifting her phone to her ear as he pounded on the door again. Her fucking guns were in the office downstairs because being in her place had never been a threat before. The phone rang six times and went to Jon's voice mail. She left a quick message.

"Hey, it's me. I have company and I'm not so sure I'll be alive when you get this, but if you could come over and help me, I'd be grateful. It's one of Victor's boys," she whispered into the phone, her hand cupped over it.

"Who the fuck is in there with you?"

"Wouldn't you love to know?" she barked back and dialed Marcus's number.

"I'm coming in Katelyn. Open the door or I'll take my ax to it."

"It’s Kate, mother fucker and you brought an ax? That's almost hot."

His laughter was maniacal and she had no doubt that he would be in the apartment with her before anyone could reach her. Looking around frantically, the sound of Marcus's voice almost scared her.

"Kate?"

"Oh my fucking God. Where are you?"

"Baby what's wrong?"

She didn't realize she was panicking until the soft sound of her best friend's worry washed over her. She was going to die if she couldn't find a weapon.

"Victor's boy is here. Where are you? I don't have a weapon." She choked on fear, her eyes moving around the apartment.

"Okay, little girl. Last chance," the man yelled through the door.

"Kate. Where are you?" Marcus yelled into her ear.

"I'm in my apartment."

"Why is he at your fucking door?" She could hear Marcus moving around, his breathing pinched.

"He got in somehow, Marcus. He's at the top door and he's got an..." Her words were cut off as the ax hit the door. She yelped and backed up as Marcus screamed into her ear.

"Kate... get the fuck out of there. These guys aren't to be played with. Crawl out the fucking window. I'm two hours away, baby. Get out of there. Where the fuck is Jon?"

"I don't know." Her voice cracked as she moved back, her mind numbing as to what to do.

"Call him. Now!"

"I did. He's not answering."

The ax hit the door again and she yelped, unable to help herself.

"What the fuck is happening, Kate?"

"He's chopping down the door with an ax. I have to go." She hung up, the hole in the door small, but showing a sliver of his face. He pressed it to the door and smiled at her.

"Such a pretty girl. Just open the door and save us this drama."

"Yeah, let me put a bra on and I'll do that. You've ruined that one though. You owe me twenty bucks, you big ass." She winked at him and walked toward the restroom as he hit the door with the weapon again. She swallowed bile, her stomach tightening with the realization that she had absolutely nowhere to go. The windows were barred and the only way out was through him.

She turned as he pushed the door open and walked in, his face red, his eyes filled with excitement. "Damn, that was a workout."

"I told you I would open it." She turned and crossed her arms over her breasts, not wanting his attention on her body. She had dealt with guys like him her whole life. She had to play his game and stay in the center of his world if she hoped to survive with nothing more than a good beating and perhaps the horrible event of being raped by him. She swallowed hard again, his eyes moving across her.

"So here's the deal. You have a day to answer Victor on his request to work with you. He didn't really like your last response."

"Is there some reason why he didn't come himself?" She smirked as a tall, well-built man moved through the broken door, a soft chuckle leaving him. His suit was made of expensive material, his smile wicked, his eyes black as night.

"Oh I'm here, Katelyn."

"Boss, it's Kate."

"It's whatever I say it is, right Katie?"

"Sure." She nodded, her heart stopping in her chest. It was never good to see the boss’s face. It tied you to death for sure. Maybe not in the moment, but anyone who didn't work for him and yet could pick him out of a line up was as good as dead.

He moved toward her, extending his hand. "Victor Parence. Nice to finally meet you, young lady."

She took his hand and nodded. "I wish I could respond in kind."

"Where is your boyfriend?"

"He's out of town. Won't be back for a while."

"Shame. I had meant to teach you a lesson by having Paul here put a hurt on him." Victor smiled, the man looking like a viper.

"Then I have to admit I'm glad he's not here." She shook his hand and moved to cover herself.

"No, don't do that. I love being in the company of a beautiful woman." He smiled and reached for her hands, moving them from her body as his eyes ran over her. She steeled herself, trying hard not to react violently by his degradation of her.

"Damn you're fine, Kate." Paul moved up beside Victor, reaching toward her breast with an open palm. Victor popped his hand back.

"No. Leave the girl whole this time. Just make a few marks on her so that her boyfriend will come after us. Just think of this as our ‘thank you’ for the warm welcome last night." Victor leaned down and stared her in the face, his eyes darkening. "Join me. You have until tomorrow night to say yes."

"And if I don't?" Her voice was deadpan, her emotions frozen as if time had stopped before her.

"Then I take everything you love and tie you up to watch me fuck it and then kill it." He winked and touched her chin as she pulled out of his grasp. "Good girl."

"You want to wait in the car, boss?" Paul moved toward the door, holding it open.

"I'll take the car. You find another way home." He looked over his shoulder at Kate. "I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to force you to see things my way. Whatever it takes to bring you and Marcus over to my side. That's what I'll do."

"We aren't dealers, Victor. At least I'm not. I don't even know who Marcus's boss is." She crossed her arms over her and narrowed her eyes.

"So you say, little girl, but I do believe something very different. Last night you sent your boys to rough me up. Today I return the favor." He turned and walked out as Kate stood in stunned silence.

Last night she sent her boys to him to fuck with him?

Paul looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, closing the door. "He said to rough you up a little, but I don't think he'd mind too much if I took my time and enjoyed it."

She laughed, something inside of her breaking. She was stuck in the middle of a game that she didn't sign up to play, a life that wasn't supposed to belong to her anymore.

"You better be strong, because I'm not one to take shit from anyone."

He cracked his hands and moved toward her, his sick laugh filling the room. Her phone buzzed over and over by the bathroom floor, her mind on the situation before her. Hopefully Marcus would get ahold of Jon or Jon would hear her message. Neither was likely to happen, so she prepared herself for a fight. It had always been her defending herself. Today would be no different.

He moved quick, grabbing at the front of her shirt and ripping it as she tugged from him, her fist moving to hammer chop him in the nose. He growled as blood trickled down his large face, his tongue snaking up to lick at it.

She kicked him hard in the shin, but not before he got ahold of her and pulled her to the ground with him. She squirmed underneath him, trying to get her knee up into his crotch. He leaned over and bit the edge of her lip, blood pouring into her mouth from the wound as she screamed and head butted him.

He laughed again and Kate spit in his face, his expression changing from playful to angry.

"Get the fuck off me. Do what you came to do and get out of here." She worked her hand free, slapping him in the face over and over until he caught her. He pinned it with the other, his large fingers wrapping around her wrist.

"Bitch." He moved back a little, his large body spreading her legs around him as his fist made contact with her face, her left eye his designated target. She screamed at the impact, pain lacing her eye and causing the room to dim a little. He laughed again, moving off the top of her to walk to the door. She turned on her side, spitting blood from the large gash in her lip and pressing her fingers to her eye, hoping that nothing was broken but blood vessels.

He turned to her as he started to undo his pants. "Yeah, for that shit I'm going to fuck you for the next day. You need to learn your place, whore."

She turned and caught sight of something silver. Her gun. Scrambling to reach it, she heard him move behind her. She turned just in time to lift the gun, the weapon going off and leaving two bullet holes in his forehead before he hit the ground. She put another three in his back and sunk to the ground as a long scream left her.

How many times had she been in that situation? How many times had someone come to kill her or rape her and she had barely escaped? She screamed again, and again until she had nothing left in her. She picked up the phone and chucked it across the room, no one willing to help her, no one capable of ever saving her.

She was as she always was... on her fucking own.