Epilogue
Terrace Glen
Tuesday
Noon
W hen they arrived at the house, he was inside waiting for them. They’d called to tell him they were on their way back to the safety of their home, but he still paced like an expectant father, dying to get his chicks back into the nest where they’d be safe.
Not being able to be out there with Greyson was killing him. Dimitri actually felt like he was letting his family down. He was supposed to keep them safe, but how was he supposed to do that locked inside Terrace Glen?
As the monitor beeped, signaling the gate was opening, he headed to the foyer to greet them. It didn’t take them long to enter the house, Emma first, Greyson behind them, and Chris blocking their bodies with his own.
Well, at least they weren’t completely unguarded.
“Well?” he asked. “What did you find at the house?”
She told him about it, then headed into the living room, and to the bar.
Dimitri watched as she poured three bourbons and grabbed a bottle of water.
“We’re drinking in celebration of him being dead and the woman on the run?” he asked, as Emma lined the drinks up on the table.
She handed one to Dimitri.
“Drink it.”
He did.
It burned all the way down.
“I’m drinking alone?” he asked, staring at the two other men.
Emma handed him a second glass.
“Bottoms up.”
Now he was worried. “You’re trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?” he teased, even as he drank the next two fingers of bourbon.
Emma still didn’t say anything.
She handed him the last glass, and then sat in his lap.
He stared at them. “It’s going to be bad. You’re trying to get me inebriated as Emma keeps me from freaking out.”
Greyson nodded.
“You’re fired.”
Dimitri stopped mid sip. “What? I’m fired from what exactly,” he asked.
“From our security.”
His heart began thumping in his chest, and he was ready to be sick.
“What did I do?” he asked.
Emma wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and rested her head against his.
“Max.”
He was getting more nervous by the minute. “Just say it, Emma. Just rip the bandage off for me.”
She whispered to him in Russian.
He knew it was going to be bad if she was soothing him before the news.
“Here,” Greyson said, handing him the note.
Dimitri kicked back the last of the bourbon and placed the glass on the coaster on the table.
He opened the note and read it.
He was fine all the way through until he got to the final part of the letter. That’s when he began getting red.
“If he even thinks I’ll let him touch my sisters, he’s insane. I’ll cut out his heart.”
“And that’s why you’re done,” Emma said. “We can’t let you play bodyguard when he’s aiming for you.”
“I’ll be…”
She covered his mouth and left a gentle kiss on his temple. “Please. Don’t say it.”
He leaned back on the couch.
“Emma,” he finally said, when she moved her hand. “I’m hard to kill.”
She was going to go with what she knew.
“He’s had years to study you. All I’m asking is you don’t follow us around. You can stay here, study your prey, and we’ll help you. He’s not even going to make you suffer, Dimitri. He’s coming right at you.”
“I’m not afraid to die.”
She got up and began pacing.
As she did, she fought the tears. Only, they weren’t so easily pushed down.
“I’m afraid to watch you die. You matter to me, and you’re mine, Dimitri. Please. You tell me I’m like your sister, so don’t let him break me with your death. I need you to care. I need you to be afraid.”
Greyson agreed. “Until we can figure him out, you need to stay in, Dimitri. Kat will be here, Curtis will be here, and Natasha…who the hell knows where she is. I never can find her.”
He was aware of where his sister was. He could smell her perfume. “She’s here.”
“For us,” Chris said. “We can hire bodyguards. That’s easy to replace, but you are valuable to us.”
At that moment, Sam came running into the room.
He saw Emma, and ran to her.
“Guess what!” he asked.
Immediately, she buried her fears.
“What?” she asked, ruffling his hair.
He was bouncing like a ball. “Dad signed the papers. They came. Uncle Dante got them rushed through like Uncle Grey said. I finally have a family.”
She hugged him and stared at Dimitri over the boy’s shoulders.
“Oh, Sam! I’m so happy! Today is going to officially be your birthday! Today you became all of ours!”
The boy grinned. “But guess what the best part is?”
She couldn’t imagine. “What, sweetheart?”
“I got to finally get a middle name. I finally am whole.”
She smiled at him. “Please tell me he didn’t let you pick Deuce.”
He laughed. “No way, babe!”
“Sam,” Dimitri warned.
“No way, Aunt babe.”
She snorted. “What did you pick?”
He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. “I wrote it down.”
Emma read it, and tears filled her eyes.
“Sam Maximillian Gideon. That’s a beautiful name,” she said, as the tears began falling.
“Are you sad?” he asked.
Greyson was watching Dimitri. His face said it all. He was worried about Sam.
“No, Mr. Gideon,” she said, tickling him. “I’m just glad you’re ours. When you love someone so much, you just want them to be safe, happy, and loved. Now we’ll never lose you, and that’s why I’m crying. Family is precious, Sam. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Emma,” Dimitri said.
She didn’t look at him.
“I’m going to go make you a cake. Since it’s your birthday, you get whatever kind you want. Would you like to help me?” she asked.
He grinned. “I used to think a place like this wasn’t possible. I got really lucky. All I have is sisters, and all of you. All I need, now, is a brother.”
Emma held out her hand.
“Brothers are important,” she said. “I’ve been blessed with quite a few of them.”
Sam walked with her to the kitchen.
“Can you tell me about them?” he asked. “I need to know how to deal with siblings—especially girls.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Dimitri.
“Yeah, Sam, I can tell you about them. One is your dad.”
She took him into the kitchen.
Dimitri leaned back and closed his eyes.
“What am I supposed to do?” he asked.
Chris took this one. “She lost Gage, she nearly lost me, and if she loses you, that will break her. We know the approximate location of Viktor’s home. You stay in, you work on that, and we find a way to beat him.”
“And if he comes at our family?” he asked.
“Then we deal with it when it happens, Dimitri. He wants you to do this. Be smart. Think,” Greyson stated.
He did think.
He thought about Emma and Sam.
“Okay. I’ll stay in, and I’ll work on finding where he’s at, but on one condition.”
“What?”
“We all stay in. He may be coming at me, but if he grabs one of you, he knows I’ll trade myself for you.”
Greyson agreed.
“And we hire new guards—until it’s over.”
“Who do you have in mind?” Greyson asked.
“I have a few favors that are owed. I can call them in, and they’ll help.”
“Mercenaries?” Chris asked.
Dimitri lifted a brow. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it does.”
“If it offends…”
He held up his hand. “You’ve gotten it wrong. Get us the biggest, baddest killers you know. This is my, family too, and we are going to make a stand.”
Dimitri stood.
“And fight?” he asked, holding out his hand.
Chris stood and took his hand in his. “We fight.”
Greyson joined them, adding his hand to theirs. “It’s war, boys. We go down swinging.”
The three men stood there, and they took a vow.
They weren’t going down without one hell of a battle.
For them.
For FAMILY.
For Vegas.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Commissioner’s
Home
It had been a tumultuous week at work. Honestly, he didn’t think he could pull off another like that.
Jeffery Raye had learned a valuable lesson.
Playing with crazies could get you burned.
He’d come so close on this one and having a set of eyes on the detectives was imperative, but allowing the police captain to run it was bad.
He needed someone to take the pressure off and make him look good.
Detective Poppy Wayne was the one for the job.
She was a straight arrow, but he was good with that. He owned enough cops that she’d take the heat off him. Blowing Thomas Christ’s brains out had been necessary, but a risk he was NOT going to take again.
Now, he wanted a little calm.
The Crofts were leaving him alone, and for now, he wanted to stay under their radar.
If not, who knew what could happen.
All he knew was they owned one detective.
Well, he was going to pair the man up with the crookedest person he had on his private payroll.
He’d make him uncomfortable.
Maybe, he’d quit.
If Detective Riley Henderson was banging that barracuda, he wasn’t provoking that. He’d let his hired help watch the man, and let the chips fall where they may.
It was part of his master plan.
He was close to ruling this city.
As his driver dropped him off, he headed to his house. Before he could even get there, he had company.
“Did you forget about me?” Heath Spencer asked from the bushes.
The man jumped.
“Jesus! What are you doing here?”
“I want the Crofts. You all let me take the rap for that little drug thing, and I lost my career.”
“Heath.”
“Oh, it’s not going to play out like that. I have proof you were involved, Commissioner, and I heard about your lap dog Christ. I’m going to bet you sacrificed him to save your ass, like you sacrificed me.”
“What do you want?”
“Help.”
“With?”
“I want to put a bullet in Emma Croft’s brain, and I want to make her husband pay,” he said, lifting his shirt to show him the gun he’d bought thanks to Thomas Christ.
He meant business.
“Heath.”
“I won’t be making my trial. You’re going to make my life so much easier, or I’m going to spill my guts on the stand.”
He stared at him. “Are you threatening me?”
“Yes. I need you to host a little function. I’m going to be there. Emma Croft, she’s going to die. Do you get it?”
“Then are we done?”
He laughed and headed down the sidewalk. “Maybe.”
Raye watched the man go.
He knew he was screwed.
He’d handled one killer, and now he was playing with another. There had to be a way.
Something.
Then, he had a plan.
And it might just work after all.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Saturday Morning
Wedding
Detective Henderson’s
Home
Maybe being temporarily unemployed was a good thing. For the last five days, he’d been able to spend copious amounts of time with Delilah, and he was having a damn good time.
They’d worked out in her gym together, and then ended up having really hot sex.
They’d watched TV on his couch, trying to keep up with the news, and he’d gotten a blowjob that nearly killed him.
Now they were getting ready to head to the Crofts’ home to witness the marriage of Steele and Dante.
It was going to be a good day.
He could tell.
As he was drying off, Delilah came into his bedroom holding two dresses.
Only, that wasn’t what he was looking at. It was the sexy girly things that would be under the dresses that had his attention.
“Riley, which one?” she asked.
“Hold them up and turn around.”
She did what he asked.
He whistled.
“RILEY!”
He couldn’t help himself. Delilah was wearing a sexy corset in black and there were no straps. It was barely containing her assets. The sexy little straps attached to her thigh highs was enough to make him go stupid.
The towel around his waist tented from his reaction.
“Delilah, that’s just so wrong.”
She looked down. “What’s wrong with it?” she asked. “I thought you like the things I wear under my clothes.”
He pointed at his erection. “I was talking about showing me that and then covering it with a dress.”
She finally got it and laughed.
“Oh, is that so,” she purred, heading his way. “Care to make a little wager, Detective?” she asked.
Delilah licked a drop of water off his chest and he swore his dick twitched.
“Yes. Whatever it is, yes.”
She found that amusing. “I say that I can have you drunk and disorderly before we get home from the wedding.”
He laughed. “That’s an easy one.”
“If you can abstain from my charms, there may be handcuffs in your future.”
“On me or on you?” he asked.
She whispered in his ear. “Delilah! Holy shit! You’re a very bad girl.”
Delilah ran her hand down his chest and over the rock-hard bump beneath his towel.
“If you can fight me off, you get that.”
“Deal.”
He wasn’t stupid.
“If I can make you jump me before, during, or after the wedding before we get home, I win.”
Riley was good with that.
“I can be tough.”
She slowly kissed him until she made him moan. Then, she backed away from him.
Riley watched her.
Delilah flicked open the little ribbons and stepped out of her panties. She tossed them to him. “I won’t need these.”
He stared at her. “Wait! You’re going to go commando under your dress.”
“Pick,” she said, holding both choices up. One was more conservative.
He picked that one.
She immediately chose the other.
“You’re evil,” he said, still holding the tiny pair of panties in his hand.
“Detective Henderson, I hope you’re ready.”
He stared at her. “Delilah, do your worst.”
She winked and headed out of the room, her bare ass swaying. Riley had to laugh.
He was a winner either way, and he knew it, but he was going to teach the counselor one hell of a lesson.
Cops were tougher than they looked.
* * * G r e y s o n C r o f t * * *
Ten Days After
The Wedding
Terrace Glen
The house was relatively quiet.
Chris was sitting in the kitchen making a list of things for their little vacation away from the chaos, and he couldn’t wait to go. A soon as Emma and Greyson returned from New York, after making Greyson’s little deposit of sperm for Tessa’s artificial insemination, they’d be heading out.
He was so damn grateful that Emma and Greyson had agreed to take some time to hide out and regroup.
After the last case, and the way Dimitri was wearing a target, it would be nice to have some time away to relax. Dante and Steele were off on their honeymoon, Tessa and Paris would be coming back to rest until they found out about the baby, and the remaining family would be heading to Chris’s vacation home.
It still amused him.
As he sat there, Natasha came in smiling.
“What are you doing?” she asked, leaning against him.
“Making a list and checking it twice.”
“Oh, am I on it for being naughty?” she asked.
He laughed like a lunatic.
Sexy young babe plus mountain get away meant one thing to him.
Hot sex.
“Yeah, look right here. You’re definitely on my naughty list. Want to sit on my lap and tell me what you want for the vacation?”
Natasha hopped up. “You. I want you.”
He gave her a kiss. “I want you, too, Natasha, and I’m going to have you. I say we bring some sexy fun stuff. You know what happened in the mountains stays in them.”
That made her giggle.
Natasha was going to bring her own list of fun things. She just had to find a way to distract him so she could sneak away. Katrina told her about the store that sold kinky things, and she’d been googling.
Needless to say, her sexy Captain was going to get one hell of a holiday.
When he began nibbling at her neck, she flushed with heat.
“Jesus. I’m going to lose my mind. For a whole week, I’m trapped in the house watching you molest my sister.”
Chris laughed. “Sucks to be you, Dimitri. When we go to the cabin, we’re going to be having lots of sex. I have the room right next to yours.”
“Asshole.”
“Douchebag.”
Natasha laughed. “I’m so glad my boyfriend and brother get along. If they didn’t, that would make it so damn awkward.”
“Want me to take care of him, Dad?” Sam asked.
“Listen up, squirt. Don’t make me grab you by those skinny ankles and toss you in the pool. The cast is off, and I can do it,” he said to Sam.
The boy laughed.
Dimitri had to admit, hiding out wasn’t too bad. He really didn’t mind his sister and Chris. He’d adjusted. Besides, Sam was keeping him busy.
The kid was smart.
“I have to go grab something,” Natasha said, giving Chris a kiss.
“I love you,” he said, stopping her before she walked away. “You’re my girl.”
She went back into his arms and they really shared a kiss.
Sam made gagging noises. “I’m out of here. That’s freaking gross.”
“Tell me about it,” Dimitri said, grinning.
When Chris finally set her free, he was wiggling his eyebrows. “You, me, bedroom?” he asked.
She nodded and blew him a kiss.
Dimitri headed over to the man and opened a bottle of beer before sliding it down the counter to him.
“You’re really excited about this trip,” he said.
“Yep.”
“Why?” he asked. “It’s the woods. There are bugs.”
He reached into his pocket. “This came today.”
He slid the little black box down the counter to him and then took a sip of the beer.
Dimitri opened it.
Inside sat a huge ass diamond ring.
“Wow.”
“I’d like to ask your permission to marry your sister/child,” he said. “I’m not saying it’ll be a fast engagement, but I’m ready to make the next step. I want to ask at the vacation house. I want to make it special.”
Dimitri closed the ring box.
“You may have my sister’s hand in marriage, Captain, and I’m proud to be your brother when you say ‘I do’.”
He pocketed the ring. “Do you think she’ll like it?” he asked.
“She’s going to die from the excitement. It’s gorgeous. Did Emma help?”
“Nope. I did it all by myself. Greyson gave me the name of his jeweler, and I stole one of her rings from her jewelry box. It came and I’m ready.”
Dimitri patted him on the back.
Before he could say anything, there was beeping from the command center built into the wall.
“Someone is opening the gates.”
They both rushed over, and Dimitri pulled up the information on the screen.
“If Sam is stealing a car again, I’m going to ground him until he’s forty,” Dimitri stated.
He saw that it was Emma’s ride, and it had already cleared the gate.
Dimitri turned on the camera inside the ride.
It was Natasha, dressed up as someone other than herself. She was incognito. The only thing that gave her away was the dimples in her cheeks when she smiled and the aqua eyes.
“Natasha, what are you doing?”
“I have to run out to get a few things before the trip,” she said, just clearing the long driveway.
“It’s not safe,” Dimitri said. “Come back to the house before you get hurt.”
“Dimitri,” she said.
“Natasha, I said…”
That’s when it happened. There was the most horrific sound as the car monitor went dead and the house was rocked with the explosion.
Dimitri screamed her name as he tore towards the front door to get to his sister.
Chris tackled him, his heart in his throat.
Curtis, Katerina, and Sam raced for them, along with all the staff.
Everything moved in slow motion.
“Keep Dimitri here!” Chris said, trying to get to the explosion and Natasha. He pulled open the door, only to be rocked back by one hell of a direct hit to his body armor in the center of his chest.
It stole his breath as he slid across the tile and into the pile of people trying to keep Dimitri down.
The war had begun.
The first shots were fired.
And now it was anybody’s game.
To be continued…