Weston (16 page)

“I love you too, honey.” Mary shivered and looked over Rocki’s shoulder. “Is this the man you were working undercover with?”

“No, it’s someone different. No one important,” she said.

“That’s good.” Her mom leaned closer. “I think he’s in a lot of trouble, isn’t he?”

“You could say that.” She studied Tony. He’d recovered nicely, but she could see the fury etched around his eyes, the pain he ignored, the seriousness of the situation. When he was down on the floor, she’d had a moment of freak-out.

She couldn’t lose him. But life with her would bring danger home. She’d already put her mom at risk, and she couldn’t ask Tony to handle the consequences of being romantically involved with a detective. He’d already used his parents to help keep her mom safe. What would happen if her life touched him in a negative way? It’d kill everything developing between them.

Tony shoved his phone in his pocket after calling the situation in and pushed Marcelli in front of him, leading the way to the door. She soaked in his control and professionalism. She couldn’t believe the situation was finally under control. Not only was her mom’s safety her main concern, so was Tony’s. Disgust for Gino burned inside of her, and she straightened her shoulders. Whether the bad guy wore blue or was just another drug dealer off the streets, she was proud of making her city a little safer for everyone.

She wanted to tell Tony what she was thinking, and how much she loved him. When she thought him shot, the fear of losing everything they had together pained her worse than if she’d been shot herself. She wanted to tell him how much she loved his support of her career and respected her decisions. He protected her and kept her safe. Not because he believed she needed his help, but because she realized she was the most important person in the world to him.

Instead, she said, “Nice save, gorgeous.”

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you calling me Weston.” His gaze went to her ass. “The name’s Tony, sweetheart.”

She wrapped her arm around her mother and laughed softly. He might not like her habit of calling him by his last name when they were alone, but she was on to him. He’d purposely riled her earlier to make sure she kept her focus.

Although, she almost lost her cool, and he almost lost his life today, they’d saved her mom and brought in the bad guy. She’d done her job.

Outside in the sunlight, she blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the brightness. Garrett, Lance, and Kage pulled up to the curb in a flash of classic vehicles, followed by three squad cars with their lights and sirens going. Rocki hung back with her mom and let Tony put Marcelli in the rear seat of the holding car.

She turned away, wanting to put her relationship with Marcelli behind her, and spotted a black Lexus parked down the block behind a delivery truck. She stiffened, holding her mother’s hand.

“Honey?” Mary said. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” she mumbled. “It’s all over.”

She couldn’t find the strength to tell her mom the truth. Her dealings with Darrell Archer weren’t finished. She had a debt to pay and had to keep Darrell’s name out of the case.

Tony wanted her to stay clear of Kage’s uncle, but she was a detective. It was her job to take out the bad guys. As long as the case continued against Gino, she’d be thrust into Darrell’s world, despite Tony’s advice to run far, far away.

Maybe the best thing to do was walk away from Tony before someone got hurt because of her.

A
t the request of the Cannon Police Department, the courtroom remained closed to the general public. Only the press, witnesses, and those directly related to the case were given permission inside of the courtroom. That included every off-duty officer from Cannon and Bay City, and a dozen officers from the county sheriff’s department.

Rocki stood from the stand and walked back to her seat after Marcelli’s attorney drilled her with questions. Her stomach knotted and she forced her shoulders back and her chin up. Seated beside Tony, she allowed herself to inhale a deep breath when he laid his hand on her thigh. The steely warmth from everyone studying her heated her back.

To the others in the room, Tony showed his support silently and unconditionally. For her, she zoned in on his constant, strong hand as a lifeline. The glares and mistrust she’d viewed from the other officers sitting behind her cut to the bone. They were called in as witnesses for the defense. Marcelli’s ties went deep in the department.

Wearing a shield meant she’d dedicated her life to the force. She’d sworn to protect not only innocent citizens, but also every one of the officers sitting in the room decked out in their dress uniform. What they didn’t understand fully was she was protecting them by bringing the evidence forward.

In time, she hoped they’d understand she did the right thing, the expected thing. The only thing her heart would allow her to do.

Once they grasped the seriousness of what Marcelli had done, they’d come to accept her actions for what they were. She’d cleaned the streets of yet another drug dealer and murderer.

The judge cleared his throat. “We’ll recess for one hour.”

Tony leaned toward her and whispered, “I need to find Kage.”

“Okay.” She stood, holding his hand. “I’ll go with you.”

Tony’s concern over Kage touched her. She’d tried talking to him before, many times, but the topic of Kage was off-limits. His worry about Darrell coming after Kage remained heavy on Tony’s mind. Although Darrell had seemingly gone underground after she’d captured Marcelli, because no one had seen him.

Ignoring the others in the courtroom, she left through the back door. Tony led her to his Camaro. She glanced at him while buckling her seat belt.

He’d stayed quiet all morning, worrying that the details of the case would come out before he had the chance to talk to Kage. A high-profile media frenzy would speculate and announce the verdict the moment the recess ended, and they couldn’t guarantee the death of Kage’s mom by Marcelli wouldn’t be leaked.

Three blocks away, they pulled into the parking lot of an apartment building and Rocki took in the area. She’d been called there plenty of times while on duty. It was known for housing illegals, drug dealers, and a more unsavory crowd, and every officer from Cannon knew the place personally. She exited the car and met Tony in front of the vehicle. He threw his arm around her shoulders.

“Stick close,” he muttered.

“Is there a reason Lance lives here?” she asked. “I mean, he’s got a good job. Not that he can’t live wherever he wants, I’d just think he’d want to…I don’t know, be safe.”

“His grandmother, a very proud Irish woman, owns the building and refuses to move. Lance stays close to his granny to make sure she’s protected and safe. His reputation is well known here as someone people don’t want to mess with.” Tony climbed the steps without letting her go. “He does as much as he can to keep out with the troublemakers, but his grandmother believes everyone deserves to have a roof over their head and the right to live somewhere they can call home…so he watches out for Granny McCray.”

Okay, her respect for Lance rose to a megalevel. His granny. The guys from Beaumont Body Shop never failed to amaze her.

Tony knocked on the door. “Yo,” he called.

At the return answer, Tony opened the door. She followed him inside. Janie, Sabrina, and, to her surprise, Charlene swept her up into a cluster hug. She squeezed her eyes closed as their arms surrounded her from all sides and pulled her away from Tony. Their unexpected support hit her hard. Until she’d walked inside, she had no idea she’d been holding herself tense and putting up a front.

She laid her head on someone’s shoulder—Sabrina’s, if she went by the faint whiff of jasmine. Her throat tightened and words of thanks got caught in her mouth. All she could do was hold on and let them help relieve some of the pressure she was under.

Eventually, she straightened and pulled herself together. Janie swept her finger under each of Rocki’s eyes. Lighter for their show of friendship, she inhaled deeply. She moved her mouth, not knowing if she was thanking them or babbling like an idiot, but they told her she was welcome.

“Enough of the drama,” Charlene said. “We need tequila to put a smile on everyone’s faces again.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. We need to get back to the courthouse soon. I’ll be so glad when the trial is over and behind me. The others”—she swallowed—“God, they hate me.”

“Screw them.” Janie grabbed her shoulders and faced her. “You’re doing the right thing. Good always trumps bad. Remember that.”

She nodded. “I need to use the bathroom to wash my face before we head back.”

“I’ll show you were it is.” Janie pulled her through the apartment and walked her to the bathroom.

She closed the door, went about her business, and when she was done, she washed her face before exiting the room. Janie stood with her arms crossed, watching her. The overbearing-best-friend act should’ve humored her, but for some reason Janie made her feel guilty. Yet it felt natural and she was hit again with how close she and Janie had grown since that awful meeting when she’d returned Bluff after Darrell stole Janie’s cat for leverage.

“He’ll be okay,” Janie said.

“What?” She swiped the back of her hand across her cheek.

“Tony. He’s a good guy, and I’ve known him my whole life. I can tell when something’s bothering him.”

She leaned her hip against the door frame. “I don’t know what to do for him.”

“You’re doing it. Whatever is going on inside his head has nothing to do with you. He watches you. Not like a man who doesn’t know where he stands, but like a man who is in love,” Janie said. “He’ll work through it.”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

He was in love with her? Rocki set the towel on the counter. Her heart raced. He hadn’t said the words, but he’d shown her how much she meant to him time and time again. He’d tattooed a picture of her on his arm. She reached out and squeezed Janie’s hand. “Will you make sure he stays okay?”

Janie stiffened. “Me?”

“Yeah.” She peered down the hallway and lowered her voice. “You know, in case things don’t work out for Tony and me. My life…I’m a detective. Tony was shot because of me, my mom was kidnapped, and Tony’s parents got involved just to keep my mother safe. I can’t have my job hurting Tony or the people he loves, because he’s involved with me.”

“Bitch,” Janie whispered. “You’re leaving him.”

She steeled her back. “I have a career.”

“So does Tony.” Janie clamped her lips together. “I thought you were the one.”

Several seconds ticked by, and Rocki said, “So did I.”

She returned to the living room and found Tony watching her intently. She smiled, knowing he worried about her. She’d be okay.

Later, she’d explain to him the emotional drama girls could have when situations got too tough. Not that she’d experienced many meltdowns in her lifetime, until meeting Tony and the others. Now tears came often for the craziest reasons, some of them warranted.

At Tony’s side, she leaned against him and put her hand on his stomach. She took the time to look around Lance’s place. The inside of the apartment belied the rough exterior.

The walls were a rich cream color, except for the dark maroon–painted wall behind the dartboard that entertained Garrett and Lance. The accent worked with the throw pillows on the couch and the rug covering the hardwood floors. Tastefully decorated. She wondered if Lance had a girlfriend and why she’d never met her during all the times they’d gotten together to hash out the case.

Garrett shoved Lance away from the board on the other side of the room in a friendly competition. Kage reclined on the couch with Janie now on his lap. Rocki warmed. Seeing those two together gave her confidence that she and Tony could work something out between them.

A private investigator and a detective would always butt heads, but they were good together. She trusted him and though he never said it, he showed her it was okay to lean on him for support without him judging her. That devotion would get him in trouble. She pressed tighter against Tony.

She loved him.

Not once had she met a man who put everyone else first in his life and could still take time for himself. He loved his dog, his friends, and his family, which told her everything she needed to know. The respect for the guys, the creativity he put into the cars he built from scrap into showroom classics, and the ability to show her how much he cared for her made him the perfect man. It didn’t hurt that he had the most beautiful smile that took her breath away, and that smile came often and easily.

“Have you decided whether you’re going to see Darrell like he requested?” Tony asked Kage.

Kage watched the game going on across the room, not facing Tony. Rocki wondered if he was even aware of Tony speaking to him, except for the slight chin dip Kage gave and the softening of Tony’s body.

“All right. Good. We’ll go directly to the garage after court gets out.” Tony swiped a throw pillow off the couch, and tossed it at Garrett who was in mid-aim. “We’re taking off. We’ll see you back at Body Shop after the trial. Be there.”

The room quieted, and all eyes seemed to land on Rocki. The lump in her throat returned full force, and she buried her face in Tony’s neck and mumbled.

Tony’s chest rumbled beneath her cheek. “I think she’s saying thank you.”

She talked against his skin again.

“And she’d like pizza tonight…” he said.

Rocki laughed on a sob, playfully slapping his chest. “I said, I can’t believe how much they mean to me.”

Tony kissed her forehead. “Yeah, that too. The pizza was my idea. I’m starved.”

Everyone moved at once, and before she could talk individually to the ones who encouraged her not to give up, she was outside, sucking in air, hoping she didn’t ruin her makeup with all the encouragement she received from her new friends.

When they pulled into the courthouse parking lot ten minutes later, Tony turned off the engine of the Camaro. “Ready?”

“Yeah. No.” She remained seated, not even undoing her seat belt. “What’s up with Kage?”

Tony leaned back and sighed. “His uncle contacted him and asked for a meeting today, after the court hearing.”

“Is he going to go?”

He nodded. “Yep. He acts as if nothing is wrong, but I know him. He has no idea what Darrell’s done all these years. I’m worried about how he’ll take the news once he finds out the truth. I don’t want him doing something stupid, or he’ll regret it for the rest of his life.”

“You care about him,” she whispered.

They were men, but their friendship was tight. Tighter than any relationship she’d ever seen. They stood beside each other through thick and thin, and supported each other unconditionally.

“Yeah.” He leaned over and kissed her hard. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

“Wait.” She held his hand. “We need to talk.”

He tilted his head. “’Kay.”

If she had more time and they weren’t obligated to walk into the courtroom, she’d discuss why she’d come to the decision to break things off with him now, rather than later. He was too good of a guy to hit below the belt, in a car, when she needed more time to explain her decisions. But she didn’t have time.

“A lot has happened—”

“I know that, sweetheart,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m a detective. This is only one case, but there will be many more. Some easier, some more dangerous.”

“Right,” he said, leaning back against the seat. “What are you saying?”

She took in the hardness of his mouth, the intensity of his gaze, and wanted to change her mind. She’d known from the beginning that circumstances threw them together and with all the drama in their lives, they ran off pure emotion. They went from needy to hot in a matter of days, and yet acted as if they’d been together years.

Personally, she clung to him. Her defenses were down, and he’d met her at her most vulnerable. That state of mind allowed her to be herself and let him inside her head. She loved every minute having him in her life.

“After this is all over with, I’m going to have to move back with my mom, pick up another case, and, I don’t know…it might be another undercover job. I could be gone for a while.” She glanced away. “I think we should take a break—”

“Fuck that,” he said. “You can work. You can even go undercover, because that’s your job. But if you think you’re walking away from me because you’re saving me from a life of having your smile, your laughter, your hands on my body, then you’re whacked. Sweetheart, I wanted you for almost a year. I never approached you, because you were a woman who wouldn’t settle for a man who’d give you anything less than everything. I stayed away from you because I thought I wasn’t ready for something real. Now I know you, and I know there’s no one else I want. Ever. It’s more than wanting you. I
need
you in my life every day. If that means I have to go weeks or months without you, because of your career, then knowing you’re mine and you’ll come back to me is all I need.”

“I deal with bad people every day. Look what happened to you, my mom—”

“Your mom is fine. I’m good.” He leaned closer. “Got it?”

She shook her head. “I won’t—”

He kissed the end of her nose. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m sure as hell not letting you leave me.”

“I don’t want you to blame me if something goes wrong,” she whispered. “What happens if danger comes to you or your parents because of me?”

“That’s what I’m here for.” He waited until she gazed up at him again, and then he continued. “Let me take care of you. Save your strength for your cases. I have all the confidence that on the job you can take care of yourself. I won’t let anything happen to anyone in our lives, especially you.”