Chapter 11 #2
“You’re working undercover. You’re probably walking a very delicate balancing act.” Emerson’s statement was mild. “I’m not going to spill your secrets to anyone.”
“I don’t know you, lady, and you don’t know me.”
“Actually…” Gray couldn’t help but smile as he delivered this taunt. Cass had it coming, after all. Poor timing, cuz. Poor timing. “Emerson’s specialty is understanding killers. So she probably understands you perfectly.”
Cass flipped him off. He also took another step away from them. “Psychopaths, huh? That’s her thing? Totally makes sense then that she’s sleeping with you.”
Not yet, she wasn’t. But it was on the agenda.
“I wouldn’t say that psychopaths are my thing,” Emerson’s measured response. “But I do like profiling. By the way, not all psychopaths are killers, just as all killers are certainly not psychopaths.”
“Great. Thanks for sharing that.” Cass swung away and headed for the door. “I get enough of that psychological bullshit from him. And, FYI, I do not need you profiling me, too.”
“You’re highly protective,” Emerson noted.
“Hell.” Cass froze in his tracks. “She’s profiling me. Didn’t I just say I did not need this in my life?”
“You defend those that you believe belong to you. You’re an eye-for-an-eye type.
Someone hurt—someone killed an individual that you believe belongs to you.
And whether you are just pretending to be some hardened criminal or if you’ve crossed the line and done things you regret, this Anzo was still one of yours.
You won’t rest until his killer has been punished. ”
He looked over his shoulder. “I’m not pretending to be a hardened criminal.” His smile showed way too many teeth. “You don’t get to be the leader without proving yourself. There are some sins that will never vanish.”
Gray’s fingers slid over Emerson’s knuckles once more. Then he let her go. “I can get you out,” he told Cass. It was an argument they’d had before. “You know I can. I can make it all go away.”
“Sure. If I die. If I lose the life I have.” He snapped his fingers.
“It will all go away, just like that, and what? I’ll become some farmer in Wisconsin?
Get a new life as a computer programmer in Denver?
Nah. Not enough adrenaline for me, but thanks.
” His hand fell back to his side. “I’ll just let you two get back to…
business, shall I?” He took another step toward the door.
“Wait!”
He stilled at Gray’s bark. “What, now?”
“Did you really see someone approaching us—a would-be mugger—when we were near O’Sullivan’s?”
“You know that I don’t lie to you, Gray.” Cass turned toward him. “Just to the rest of the world.”
Right. “Describe him.”
“Hard to do. Only saw him for a second, and it was from the back. Probably a few inches shorter than us. Male. Dressed in black, probably because the dick wanted to hide in the dark.” His lips pulled down. “Knife was gripped in his right hand. So, right-handed attacker.”
A tremble slid over Emerson’s body.
“He was intent on sneaking right up behind Gray. Gray, Gray, Gray.” He clicked his tongue. “Try to be less distracted by your partner in the future, would you? I can’t always save your ass from muggers.”
He didn’t think it had been a mugger. O’Sullivan’s was well known as a cop and Fed hangout.
Most muggers avoided the place because they were trying not to get their asses tossed in jail.
He was surprised Cass had just ridden straight in with his crew.
But then again, Cass was typically never afraid of anyone.
Another trait they shared.
He decided to lay a few more cards on the table because he was gonna need Cass’s help. “Emerson had a break-in at her place tonight.”
A slight hardening of Cass’s jaw. “But you were there. No harm came to her.”
“Not this time.” Not ever again. “It’s sure a very unlikely coincidence that we had a near mugging and a break-in all within such a short timeframe.”
“You know I never believe in coincidences.”
Gray typically thought they were BS, too. “Let me know if you or any of your members hear chatter focused on her. I want to know exactly who has too much attention centered on my partner.”
“Done.” That was all. Typically the way with Cass. His word was his vow. A reason he was respected in the more shadowy parts of the world—well, that and because Cass was one wicked and dirty fighter. Dude had always been way too into adrenaline.
And violence.
Following orders? Yeah, like Emerson, Cass couldn’t follow orders for shit. That was the reason he’d never been a Marine. Gray had signed up, but his cousin had gone down a very different path.
Those paths were colliding now.
Gray trailed him to the door. He started to slam the door shut, but Cass’s gloved hand flew up and pressed against the wood. “A word, Gray? Outside, away from the partner?”
Gray thought he’d made it clear that Emerson should hear everything.
“Go,” Emerson urged from behind him. “It’s okay.”
Body tight, he crossed the threshold as Cass retreated a few steps. Gray pulled the door closed behind him.
“I don’t want you ending up in a body bag,” Cass muttered.
“Aw, you do care. So sweet.” He put a hand to his heart.
A rough sigh broke from Cass right before he pointed at the closed door. “Do I need to be worried?”
“About what? My partner shooting you? Maybe, if you get on her bad side. She’s a really good shot, just so you are aware. Tread carefully.”
“Thanks for the tip about the shooting skills. I’ll remember that. What I meant, though, was do I need to be worried about you?”
Gray did not change expression.
“You don’t bring lovers home. You screw them in hotel rooms and don’t call them back later.”
“Ouch.” Gray winced. “Pretty sure that’s your style. I always try to properly thank a lady for a good time.”
“You don’t let lovers close. You know it. I know it. But you’ve got Ms. Gorgeous Eyes looking rumpled and recently sated?—”
Hell, it had been that obvious.
“Even as you stare at her like you’re dying to eat her alive.”
He could go for another meal. He was feeling snacky.
“You let the woman know our secrets,” Cass accused.
“Uh, for the record. I didn’t let her know anything. She’s observant. She picks things up.”
“Because she’s a mind fucker, just like you.”
“I really don’t like that particular term.” Gray sniffed.
“Too bad, mind fucker. She plays head games. Dr. Emerson Marlowe. Yeah, frown at me all you want. I’m gonna dig deep on her because I want to make sure you aren’t getting played. That prick with the knife was coming up way too intently on your back.”
“Emerson had nothing to do with that attack.”
“I’ve done some preliminary poking already,” Cass revealed.
Like that was surprising. Emerson had dead-on pegged him when she said Cass was protective. That was one serious understatement. If you belonged to Cass, he would scorch the earth for you.
Sure, they might be cousins, but to both men, the link had always been deeper. More like brothers. Even when the world said we should be enemies. He would never, ever turn his back on Cass.
“Your lady has a thing for psychopaths.”
Gray tilted his head to the side. “You heard her. Not all killers are psychopaths and not all?—”
“Fine. Your lady has a thing for monsters. That better?”
Not really, no. He scraped a hand over his jaw.
“Oh, what? Come on, I knew that detail about your partner even before meeting her in person. Word travels in my circles. She likes to go into prisons. Interview killers. The more dangerous, the better.”
“She’s a psychiatrist. That’s her job—interviewing killers. Understanding them. Trying to figure out how to stop them.”
“Her current job is helping you, right? Partner? ”
Yes, that was Emerson’s current job.
“I just want to make sure none of her exes are out there, causing trouble. Getting possessive and deciding they don’t want to share her with you. Because maybe that guy who was sneaking up on you in the dark is one of the monsters who took a liking to her.”
“Emerson isn’t what you think.” And I’m the monster who will fight to the death for her.
“Do tell.”
He did not, in fact, tell. Because this is Emerson, and she is mine.
After silence that stretched too long, Cass nodded. “Understood.”
“There is one ex I wouldn’t mind you and your guys keeping an eye on. A covert eye.” Because Gray had his own suspicions about the things happening around Emerson.
Cass sent him a slow grin. “You know covert is my middle name.”
No, it wasn’t.
“Spill it,” Cass added. “Tell me who I’m hunting.”
“Dr. Nathaniel Hadaway,” Gray said. “Her ex appeared in town right around the same time our mystery mugger did. And Nathaniel was close when her apartment had that unwelcome visitor who decided to smash up all her mirrors.”
Cass nodded. “I can put a ghost on him.”
A ghost. The term Cass used for an MC member who would not be seen or heard but would follow his prey to the ends of the earth. “Thanks. Report anything suspicious, would you?”
“And you’ll report when you find my killer?”
No, he would not. Because Cass might eliminate the guy before Gray could get him locked away. “I’ll take care of the situation. Justice will be served.”
“Don’t go getting your uptight ass killed,” Cass warned. “The world is a bit more fun with you in it.” He turned away. Seemed to immediately blend with the shadows near him.
Yeah, man, thanks. Love you, too. “Same,” Gray tossed out. He waited, making sure Cass was gone, then Gray entered his house. He’d owned the home for years, and, no, he did not make a habit of bringing casual lovers to his place.
He shut the door. Locked it. Set the alarm.
Emerson wasn’t in the den. He frowned. The gun was gone, too. Not on the table where she’d placed it. “Emerson?” Gray sprinted forward.
“In the bedroom.”
He kept right on sprinting. Entered the bedroom. Froze just beyond the doorway.
Emerson was in bed. The covers were pulled up to her chin.
She looked incredibly good in his bed.
“Is he gone?” she asked.
Gray nodded. Her shoulders were bare. Did that mean the rest of her was, too? Oh, yes, please, let the rest of her be bare.
“Do you have any other secret family members who will be making an appearance tonight?” she inquired politely.
He shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Any other guests slated to pay you a visit?”
Again, Gray shook his head.
“Good.” A long exhale. “Then how about we pick up where we left off?” She pushed down the covers to reveal that, hell, yes, she was completely bare.
And she was about to be completely his.