Chapter Thirteen
FBI Las Vegas
Monday
Early
W hen he showed up, no one was expecting it, and that was exactly what Ethan Blackhawk had wanted. He wanted to catch them all off guard so he could do his thing. This office had been a pain in the ass for years. It started with corruption under Director Green, and it had been cleaned up with Greyson Croft, only to be a mess again with Robert Lee.
This was taking time from his busy life, and that made him cranky. Plus, he knew that the FBI was only as good as the law enforcement agencies around it.
That was an issue in Vegas.
The police there…
Yeah, a mess.
So, as he walked up the stairs, his security in tow, there were stares. Then phones came out, and the call went out. He wanted to laugh.
They were warning the minions.
Well, he could deal with that.
Once inside the building, he cleared security without even having to go through the detectors. His team walked him toward the elevators, and the man he was looking for magically appeared.
Perfect.
“Your office,” Ethan said, not mincing any words. He was over this, and he’d promised to buy Greyson some time. If he wanted the FBI to be cleaned up, he needed the cops policed, and there was no way to do that without a little good old vigilantism from the friendly neighborhood mob.
He trusted the Crofts to handle their city or he was going to be coming back, and that didn’t entertain him at all.
It was time for the fun to begin.
Robert Lee took him upstairs, and all the while, he was watching him. Ethan Blackhawk was known to catch people off guard, and this surprised him.
He was doing his job, hitting up meetings, and making sure that they were above the rules. Robert was doing his best in a city that didn’t stop oozing trouble from every single entity.
Before now, he thought he was doing a good job, and Robert didn’t get why he was here.
He was just about to ask him.
“We have a problem,” Ethan said, as the elevator opened.
There were stares as agents stood and peeked over their cubicles to get a look at him. Ethan knew he was an enigma to them all, and that was amusing in itself.
He was simply a Fed doing his job—the job of policing his and Gabe’s minions.
When he turned his head to glance at them, they sat to avoid his gaze. His reputation had preceded him, and he was glad. This place was a mess, and he was going to fix it.
Las Vegas was becoming his pet project.
Lucky them.
When they found out, there’d be a lot of unhappy Feds running around.
He wanted to laugh.
“What kind of issues are you talking about, sir?”
They headed into his office, and Ethan didn’t sit on the couch, or the guest chair.
He sat behind the desk.
It was a power play, and he’d had Gabe do it to him while he was running FBI West. The higher man on the totem pole got the leather seat at the big boy desk.
That’s how they rolled.
“Why the bloody hell are there three undercover units assigned to sit outside Greyson Croft’s home?” he asked, calling Robert Lee out on his shit.
Ethan didn’t like to waste time.
The man’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
“It had better not have anything to do with the police in this town requesting surveillance on them because that request was denied.”
Director Lee opened his mouth again.
“Don’t.”
He closed it.
“I already know my answer, and I’m not happy. You can say that’s why I’m here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you out of your mind, Director Lee?” Ethan asked. When he opened his mouth again, Ethan stopped him. “That was rhetorical.”
The man began sweating.
Ethan continued, “We have a lawyer breathing down our necks, and I don’t have paperwork that correlates with any valid surveillance requests. Here’s where you talk and you had better pray I like the answers or someone’s head is rolling out of here, and it won’t be mine.”
Director Lee was NOT going down for anyone outside the FBI. The commissioner was on his own from this point out. Director Lee wanted to keep his job, and lying to this man was a bad idea.
Once you did that, and he found out…
DEAD career.
“Sir, the commissioner asked for assistance. The Crofts have been…”
He stopped him.
“The Crofts have been cleared of everything the police have thrown at them, correct?”
“Yes, sir, but they just came to me yesterday with intel that Greyson is forging police documentation in an attempt to frame the homicide captain.”
He stared at him. “Proof.”
He didn’t have it.
That was the issue.
“Sir.”
“I want the proof, or I want those vans pulled out of there in the next five minutes. I get that you’re trying to corral a whole lot of crazy, Robert, but we answer to the taxpayers. I, personally, answer to Gabe Rothschild and the President of the United States, and you don’t want to be on that call, now do you?”
He shook his head.
“We cannot afford a million-dollar lawsuit or bad press at this point. Vegas is a mess, and do you know who goes down for that one? The answer is not ME.”
He got it.
“Call them off.”
Robert grabbed the phone and made the call. While he did, Ethan sat there trying not to smile.
That was easier than it should have been.
As the man got the person he needed on the phone, he rattled off his order, “Authorization on ‘Operation Grey Menace’ is cancelled. Everyone back to the office.”
Ethan wanted to laugh.
That was the lamest code name…but at least he’d bought Croft some time. Greyson had been his choice to run FBI West at his departure, but his choice to kill Dominic Marianna ended that. Now he was dealing with Miles Lane, and this jackassery as Greyson took the heat.
Robert Lee hung up the phone.
“All done, sir. How’s your lovely wife?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
Ethan didn’t bat an eyelash. Instead, he stared the man down, daring him to say something stupid.
“Elizabeth is good, but if you see her here, be afraid,” he said, leaning back in the chair.
Oh, Robert was aware.
There were rumors going through the FBI that she’d been tasked to handle a few of the issues that were not quite in or out of the scope of the FBI. She was taking down some people who’d crossed the line as the President’s ax woman.
Robert didn’t want to see her in Vegas.
Ever.
“Since we’re talking about bad shit being mismanaged,” Ethan said, “I want to direct your attention to a case you’re handling.”
“Yes, sir, which one?”
“The sex trafficking issue that the FBI has been working on for the last six months.”
Ethan waited for the whining and belly aching over it. He knew it was coming.
Three.
Two.
One…
“Sir, that wasn’t my mess. Greyson Croft…”
He cut him off.
“He started the investigation, and you were to finish it. What’s going on?”
“We can’t find anything. We have that one name, and that’s it.”
“Refresh my memory. What’s the name?”
“Anthony Delmarco. We’ve been tracking him, and he went off the grid about two weeks ago. We think he’s lying low in Vegas until we back off.”
Perfect.
If they pulled the Feds, that would spread like wildfire, and it might draw the man to the surface.
Here was one more gift to Croft.
“I need you to call off the operations for about a week. If they see the FBI backing off, maybe they will come out of the woodwork.”
“Yes, sir, that’s an excellent idea, sir. I should have thought to do that, sir.”
Ethan fought not to laugh.
“I mean, it’s your office, but that’s what I’d do in a stalled case that’s been picking up cobwebs the last year.”
He picked up the phone and dialed.
Ethan smiled.
Well, his work here was done.
It was up to Greyson to do his job, and find him a sex trafficker. He trusted him to do it.
Ethan pulled out his cell, and texted his wife.
‘The raven is clear. Eagle has pulled out the hunters. Head in and do your thing.’
He waited a reply.
‘Copy. Raven heading in. See you at the bird, Eagle. Pick me up some breakfast. I’m always hungry after a game, and it better have real freaking butter!’
Ethan smiled to himself.
Well, some things didn’t change.
“Now, since that’s done,” Ethan said, standing from Robert’s desk, “how about you show me around? I haven’t been to this building before.”
The man scurried to the door.
“Yes, sir! Let’s grab a coffee, and I’ll show you what Vegas has to offer in law enforcement.”
He grinned.
Yeah, show him.
Ethan had a feeling this was far from over, and he would be coming back.
Only, it wouldn’t be alone.
And that was a problem.
For Robert Lee.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Terrace Glen
Greyson was searching for the two men, and he had a sneaking suspicion where they would be. It was training time in the gym before work, and he knew Dimitri and Chris would be working out to get ready for their day.
Awesome.
They had to have a little conversation, and by that, he meant someone had to have their ass handed to them for the stunt they’d pulled last night.
Yes, it ended well.
Yes, he’d had the hottest sex with his wife.
No, it wasn’t forgiven. He wasn’t mad, but sometimes, you had to teach an important lesson to people you loved.
Heading in, he could see the two men sparing in the corner. They were both getting sweaty, and Greyson was going to bide his time. As soon as they both turned around, so they weren’t facing him, he crossed the mat, right for the bigger threat. He grabbed Dimitri’s wrist, twisted, and took him to the ground, only to lock a pair of handcuffs on his wrists.
Then he face-planted him on the mat.
Dimitri looked surprised.
Then he went for Chris, and the two of them began fighting, Chris was trying to block each swing, but Greyson wasn’t exhausted from an hour of working out.
Chris was backed into the corner, and he took a shot to the chest, taking him to his knees. He just happened to see Dimitri trying to sneak up behind him and moved just in time.
The men went down in a sweaty pile of limbs and grunts.
Greyson stood over them, his hands on his hips.
“Now, was that a fair fight?” he asked, staring down at the two men.
“Well, you skipped training,” Dimitri began, only to take a shot to the gut from Greyson’s booted foot.
“Someone’s cranky,” he muttered, lying on his back, arms pinned behind him.
“Get up, Captain Ford,” Greyson said, glaring at him.
The man knew he couldn’t take him. His body was sore from Dimitri beating on him.
All he could hope was Greyson wouldn’t make him bleed too much.
Chris stood.
Greyson moved toward him and hugged him.
It caught him off guard.
“Thank you for having the courage to face me when I was in a bad place. Thank you for always putting my wife’s heart first, even if it meant me being pissy. I can’t tell you how much that means to me,” he said, holding him.
“Um…”
“And if you ever do that again, I’m going to break your freaking fingers, and then shove them down your throat.”
He laughed.
Now that was what he was expecting.
“It’s no problem,” he said, still picturing himself swallowing a fist full of fingers.
“Seriously, thank you.”
Chris stared at him. “I love your wife, and I’d do anything for you. You’re my brother.”
“If died tomorrow?” he asked.
“I’d have her ass at that little chapel on the strip,” he teased.
Only Greyson got it.
The man was being honest. Whether they liked it or not, Chris had feelings for Emma, and they were reciprocated. Greyson wouldn’t let it bother him.
It mattered.
“I’m not shocked.”
Chris didn’t look away.
They shared a look.
“Um, you seem to be forgetting my sister,” Dimitri said, kicking his leg out and sweeping Chris to the floor. “She’s attached to you.”
Chris landed with a thud.
“Commie bastard,” Chris muttered, back on his ass. “You are a total asshole.”
“Get up, Dimitri,” Greyson said, making a key appear.
“If I died tomorrow,” he began.
“I’d kill Chris so I could have Emma and her piano playing all to myself.”
“HEY!” Chris said from the floor.
“You’re in a relationship. Let’s be realistic. She’d be mine,” Dimitri teased. “Who are you kidding?”
He had a point.
As soon as Dimitri was free, Greyson hugged him.
“I know that you’re not big on affection, but here it is. You’re the second person in charge of this family. If I go down, it’s on you. I want you to watch my back from the most dangerous person.”
“Dimitri?” Chris muttered.
Greyson laughed. “No, I meant…”
“Himself,” Dimitri stated. “We are all our own worst enemies.”
And it was true. Greyson’s anger sometimes got the best of him. Chris let his heart get him into trouble, and Dimitri…his past haunted him.
“Exactly,” Croft said. “Sometimes, I forget that I have to follow the rules.”
“Greyson.”
“I have to be a better man than they give me credit, for my wife and for my son.”
They stared at him.
“Yes, Emma thinks it’s going to be a boy. I don’t want them calling him crooked or bad. I have to do this the right way, but when I go over, I need you to reel me in—if not for me, then for Emma. I know you both love her, and you will both make sure I do right by her. You’re both my best friends, and my accountability.”
They were both touched because the feeling was mutual. Somehow, an ex-Fed, a retired cop, and a criminal had become as thick as thieves. They were strong because of their friendship.
They were unbreakable because of love.
Dimitri patted him on the arm. “I will.”
Greyson relaxed.
Dimitri helped Chris up.
“I’m in, but I still get Emma, right?” Chris stated, taking an elbow to the gut.
“That was for my sister,” Dimitri said, knowing the man was only trying to lighten the mood.
“You’re an asshole,” Chris said, nearly puking.
“Ah, if I only had a dollar…”
Greyson dropped his arms over their shoulders. “Let’s grab breakfast, get the family ready, and then head out. We have another club to hit.”
“I’ll go with Emma,” Chris offered, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Dimitri?”
He slugged him again.
“You suck,” Chris said, this time blocking the shot.
Greyson laughed. “I like having someone to do my dirty work,” he teased.
Chris…
Not so much.
In the kitchen, the family was convening to get the game plan for the day. Every morning, they had breakfast together before heading out.
Kat was there with Curtis, ready for their first Lamaze class.
Nat was having a yogurt, leaning against the counter. Dante was sitting with Steele in his lap as they talked about the wedding in less than a week.
Then Emma came in.
She was dressed, and looked a bit frazzled.
“Has anyone seen Greyson?” she asked.
“He was looking for Chris and Dimitri a few moments ago,” Curtis said, giving her a hug. Then it hit him. “Are you wearing body armor?” he asked.
“Yeah, Dimitri has insisted, and the men ganged up on me. We should all be wearing it,” she stated.
Curtis laughed. “You lost your boobs in it, Mom.”
She pointed at him. “You’re going to lose your tongue when I yank it out for saying that in mixed company. You know better.”
“Someone is cranky today,” he teased, when she winked at him. “No one likes Mondays.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I am.”
“Morning,” Natasha said, as Emma poured her coffee. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m good, Nat.”
The woman said nothing else.
What was there to say?
Kat had sworn there was nothing going on between Emma and Chris, but she was afraid. She didn’t want to lose him. A part of her wanted to ask Emma, but the family was growing closer, and she didn’t want to damage that.
They all heard the men coming.
When Greyson walked in, his arm was over Chris and Dimitri’s shoulders.
Emma lit up when she saw her husband.
Chris did the same when he saw Natasha. He went to her, and gave her a big kiss.
“God! I missed you,” he said, as she went into his arms. “I don’t want another night away from you.”
Immediately, she felt better. All the worries were gone, and she felt silly. It was clear that Chris cared about her.
“Tonight, want to cuddle in bed?” he whispered in her ear. “By cuddle, I mean sex. Just to be clear.”
She giggled.
Dimitri made gagging sounds. “Jesus, it never ends. I have to watch my sisters being mauled.”
Greyson gave his wife a huge kiss, just to egg the man on for his stunt the previous night.
Dimitri pointed at him.
“Et tu, Brutus?”
That made Croft laugh. “I’m more Caesar, and you know it,” he teased.
Before he could say anything, Sam came running in, and he headed right for Dimitri. “Hey, Dad!” he said, giving him a big hug. Then he tried to pick his pocket.
“Hands off my wallet, or I’m going to take away your video games,” Dimitri stated.
“AW! Come on! I’m practicing, Dad!”
Over the last few weeks, Sam was really bonding with all of them, but especially Dimitri. It was clear to see that the man was good with kids, and the kid…he wanted to be part of the man.
Dimitri smiled at him. “Yes, I will be soon, won’t I?” he asked.
Sam grinned.
“When you get your cast off, you’ll be better at pick pocketing,” Dimitri said, “but that was a good try. You get a B plus.”
That made him happy.
The boy grabbed a donut.
Emma grabbed it back. “Not happening, kiddo. He may not tell you no, but if I don’t let Greyson eat crap, I’m not letting a growing boy eat it,” she said. “Fruit, yogurt, or oatmeal.”
Greyson laughed.
At least he wasn’t alone in that shit fest.
“I feel for you Sam,” he offered.
“Babe, you’re cramping my style,” he said, grinning at her. “What if I promised to have fruit for a snack?” he asked. “You know, maybe you and I can get together and negotiate.”
She found him endearing and amusing.
Emma sighed and handed him the donut. “There had better be a glass of milk to go with that fruit snack, Sam!”
“I swear.”
She believed him. Sam was fitting in with the family, and he hadn’t tried to run away again, especially after the coyote fiasco.
“School!” Dimitri said.
“I’m on it. I am heading to my tutoring, but I promise there will be chocolate milk and a banana split later!” he said, racing out of the room.
Then he was gone.
“Dimitri!”
He laughed. “He likes to rile you up. I know for a fact that he eats better during the day when you’re not hovering because I’m hovering.”
Greyson snorted.
She pointed at him. “I will make you eat kale.”
He shut up and changed the topic of discussion. “Where are you two heading?” he asked Curtis and Kat.
“We are going to pick out baby furniture, and then we have Lamaze class later this morning. Kat wants to do natural childbirth, and I want to support her in any way I can.”
Emma gave him a kiss on the top of his head. “You always were my favorite.”
Dante snorted. “Yeah, yeah, no fair. I can’t make you a baby, but I’m giving you Steele. Shouldn’t that count?” he asked, grinning like a fool.
She laughed. “Well, I do love me some Steele,” she said, kissing them both on the cheek. “He actually is my favorite. Who am I kidding?”
Curtis sputtered. “Seriously. You get your token gay, and I’m out. That hurts.”
Greyson smacked him in the head before continuing, “Natasha was supposed to follow Delilah today to court, but I think she’ll be okay,” Greyson offered. “Instead, she’s going to be following you,” he said. “We have some shit coming, and I don’t like it,” he stated.
Anyone in the family might be in trouble once they started digging. Since Delilah was still alive, and Thomas Christ’s plans had been thwarted, she would be safer at work.
The detective too.
“What’s going on?” Curtis asked. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
Oh, you could say that.
Greyson told everyone what was going on.
As he did, the patio door opened and Delilah strolled in with the detective behind her. It was clear why he was behind her. Someone was checking out her ass.
Curtis whistled. “The FBI still hasn’t closed it down?” he asked.
“No, so we’re going to do it. We think that Marissa Pierce’s sister was a victim of it, and if we’re right, we’re trudging into a storm.”
No one like the sound of that.
Emma noticed their guests.
“Hello, Riley and Delilah,” she said.
“Morning! It’s a wonderful day,” the woman said, hugging Emma.
“Who broke our man hating attorney?” Emma asked, looking at the detective. “She was freaking perfect, and now she’s smiling and looks like Snow White!”
He laughed. “She broke me. Why is it always the man’s fault?” he asked.
Curtis was slapped by Emma in the back of the head before he could even say it.
“Come on!”
Delilah poured both herself and the detective a mug of coffee. It was obvious that she was attached to him. When he sat, she dropped herself in his lap.
Someone was staking her claim.
“Do you have anything to work with?” Delilah asked, discussing what they had been talking about before they had walked in on them.
“Very little,” Greyson admitted.
Riley could help. “I can ask around.”
Delilah looked worried. “Be careful, Riley.”
Croft agreed. “Do it on the DL. We don’t need this blowing up and sucking you two into it too.”
Riley would be careful. As long as Delilah was safe, he could do his job and watch his back.
“Anyway, back to today,” Greyson said, “Emma found some leads while she and Chris were out at the strip club.”
Dante laughed. “Chris found some lips,” he teased.
“Son, don’t be a hater. The ladies love me.”
Natasha lifted a brow.
Emma stared at him.
Chris swallowed his coffee. “Apparently, less and less each day.”
Dante laughed.
“As I was saying, we have to head out today to handle this case that I took on. In hind sight, it was a bad idea,” Greyson said, telling them about the sex trafficking and Marissa being back.
“Do you need my help?” Curtis asked.
“Later, after you get back, you’re on tech searches. Paris and Tessa are heading here shortly, and I’m going to have them help if they aren’t busy.”
“Works for me,” Curtis said, getting up. “We have to be at the boutique for our appointment,” Curtis offered. “You have to make appointments to view baby things. How weird is that?”
Emma stopped Kat. “You buy whatever you want for my grandchild. It’s on me. I want you to have everything you need.”
Kat kissed her. “Thanks, Mom. If you’re free, before the wedding, can we have lunch? I want to show you some ideas for the baby’s room.”
Greyson laughed. “Thank God this place has as many bedrooms as it does. We’re going to fill it up fast.”
“We can get our own place,” Kat said.
Dimitri shut that down. There was no way in hell that was a good idea. The family needed to be kept in one location where they could be watched. They were already down one person with Katerina being with child.
“You have two choices, Katerina,” he said. “You can stay at Sky Villa, in my place, or here. If we poke this sex ring, we are in danger. I will not have my sister hurt because of a case.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Yes, Dimitri,” she said. “We can stay here. Now that the pool is far enough away, Curtis won’t worry about the baby being safe.”
“We have to baby proof the house,” Curtis said. “No cigars, no alcohol, no weapons. Oh, and Chris, no porn,” he teased.
“HA. HA. HA. You’re funny. Let’s see how you feel when you’re wearing baby vomit and poop. I’ll be lurking with the camera.”
Emma laughed. “Go shopping.”
Natasha gave Chris a kiss. “Later,” she said.
He wiggled his eyebrows lecherously. “Oh, you had better believe it, gorgeous.”
He watched her leave. When he turned around, Dimitri was right there.
He jumped.
“Jesus.”
Dimitri laughed. While he really liked Chris, that was still his sister. He wasn’t letting him get away with anything. That wouldn’t be responsible of him.
He still had to watch over her.
“What are you two doing today?” Greyson asked his brother.
“We have to meet with the officiant for the wedding, we have to do our final fittings for our suits, and I have to get me some kinkery for the honeymoon.”
Steele didn’t say anything.
It was mildly uncomfortable for everyone who knew what Steele was overcoming.
“I was kidding on the last part,” Dante said, feeling the tension. They were both worried about the wedding night.
The whole sex issue was looming, and Dante might need to call in backup on this one. He hoped his big brother was ready—since he was also the best man.
Steele continued for his fiancé, “We have to pick up the marriage license,” he offered. “That’s really important.”
Dante agreed, giving his fiancé a kiss. He could feel the tension in him, and he didn’t know how to handle it. Sex had never been a problem until after his abduction.
Now it was the core of their issues.
For Steele.
For him.
“Well, take the limo,” Greyson offered. “I don’t want you out wandering around either. This city is on the verge of blowing up, and we can’t risk anyone.”
They understood that.
AND…
Dante had already had to deal with Steele being hurt once. He didn’t want to go there again.
Ever.
“We’re going to do all that stuff, and Steele is going to head to the office with me. Is there anything you need done?” he asked his brother.
“Yeah, contact that judge. I want Sam’s adoption pushed through. Pay him off, but the kid is going to be Dimitri’s by the day you leave for your honeymoon.”
That worked for him.
“I can grease some palms at the courthouse. I’ll be there. I’ll take care of it.”
“If you’re heading there, can you give me a lift?” Delilah asked.
Riley touched her arm. “I’ll take you.”
“Then you’ll be seen with me.”
“So?” he asked.
She didn’t know what to say, but staring into his blue eyes, she couldn’t say no.
“Okay, Detective. You can give me a ride to work any day.”
Dante laughed at the innuendo behind that one. No one had ever seen their attorney attached to anyone, but especially a cop?
Yeah, that was new.
Emma pointed at him in warning.
It shut him up.
“Come on, Steele. Emma is cranky. Someone had better take better care of his wife’s needs. She needs to get laid.”
They all laughed.
No one there doubted that Greyson was definitely taking care of her sexual needs. Last night, he’d been pissed, and today, he was smiling.
That meant one thing.
As far as they were concerned, she was the ONLY one who could soothe the savage Croft beast.
“Get out of here,” Greyson said, growling.
When he was gone, Emma kissed him. “Your kitten is just fine,” she said, leaning against him.
Dimitri heard the beep for the gate, and reset the alarm as soon as Katerina and Curtis were gone.
“I need to check on ‘Aquarius’ today,” he admitted. “With Marissa back, I want to make sure she’s acclimating well. Plus, you have the stripper coming in for a start on a new life.”
Chris snickered, and then sipped his coffee as he tried to hide his amusement. He heard it in the man’s voice. There was definitely something Dimitri wanted to check out, and he was sure it wasn’t the business or a new employee.
Emma faced him. “You’re not busting his ass, are you?” she asked.
“Hell no. Why would I ever do that?”
“I didn’t think so, Christopher. That would make me want to bust your ass, and you won’t like that.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “You win.”
Dimitri winked at her. “Thank you, Emma. It seems I might be your favorite.”
Chris whipped an apple at him.
Hard.
Still, he caught it.
“Thank you. Breakfast. I’m in a hurry to shower and get ready for our trip to the strip. You should do the same, Captain.”
Emma tossed him an apple too.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, as he finished his coffee. “Can I have a donut too since your husband kicked my ass this morning?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have that donut since he could,” she teased, but handed him one anyway.
Greyson heard the alarm on the gate and he checked the monitor. The vehicle was familiar, so he hit the code to unlock it for them.
“That’s going to be Paris and Tessa,” he said. Then he’d realized what he’d forgotten. “I probably should have told you, but I called and had Delilah draw up legal papers for them,” he said.
Emma knew why.
“Are you suing them?” Chris teased.
“No. They want to have a baby, and I’m donating.”
Emma didn’t flinch. She figured as much.
Chris opened his mouth and just stared.
“Say it,” Emma stated. She trusted his opinion, and the family would put two and two together once Tessa showed up pregnant.
“Jesus Holy Christ,” he said.
“What?” Greyson asked, lifting a brow.
“That’s your plan to take over the world, isn’t it? You’re going to make an army of little Crofts.”
“The baby won’t be a Croft,” Greyson said, watching his wife. He could see the tension, but she was holding up. Greyson wished there was an easier way of doing this.
Only, there wasn’t.
“Technically,” Chris began.
“Chris, drop it,” Greyson ordered, and this time, there was no humor in his voice.
Chris glanced over at the man, and then at Emma. It didn’t take him long to get it.
She was struggling with it.
“I think it’s a beautiful, selfless gift,” he said.
Emma simply drank her coffee, and Greyson had to wonder.
Was this a huge mistake?