Page 36 of The Criminal’s Cure

“I’m not so sure about this.” Maddie frowns, pushing her plate of barely touched tacos towards the center of the table.

We met for a quick lunch before I had to head into work, and she’s been distracted the entire time.

In fact, she’s been a little aloof since she came back from St. Louis, but I haven’t pressed her on it.

I know how raw and personal family issues can be, and I know she’ll come to me on her own time.

It doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, or that it isn’t irritating the fuck out of me that I can’t figure out what is on her mind.

But I’m trying a new thing where I am respectful of people’s boundaries, so instead of prying it out of her, I focus on the issue that she is talking to me about—the hospital fundraiser gala this weekend.

“What exactly aren’t you sure about, babe?” I reach across the table and take her hand in mine. “Going to the gala or going with me as your date?”

Maddie looks at me like I’m crazy, but it’s a valid question. I’ve been to this gala before, among others, but this is Maddie’s first time and she doesn’t know what to expect. That uncertainty, plus all the stress she’s been under, has her completely strung out.

It’s been that way since she got back, but she hasn’t elaborated much more than what she told me in the hospital that night.

That little snippet was enough to make me detest her father, and her whole family, for that matter.

What kind of father wouldn’t help his child if he could?

Especially when she’s worked so hard for it and he so readily did it for her brothers.

While Maddie didn’t tell me directly, Ernie’s colorful account of how the conversation went down made me want to hop on a plane right then and confront the bastard in person.

I could kill him for speaking to her the way he did, but I’ve managed to bite my tongue and not interfere out of sheer respect for her.

“Trust me, you aren’t the issue. If you didn’t agree to go with me, I wouldn’t even consider going at all.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

She lets out a heavy sigh. “I hate this kind of thing. It’s so over the top and excessive when all I really want to do is to be at home with you and Ty.”

“As much as I like the sound of that, I’m looking forward to showing you off as my girlfriend.

And think of how much fun you and I will have sitting in the shadows and making fun of all the pretentious people there.

” I’ve been to these kinds of parties a thousand times before, and if nothing else, the people watching is good.

It usually is when you mix a bunch of Las Vegas elites with free alcohol and a chance to flaunt their wealth.

At the silent auction last year, a signed Vegas Vipers jersey went for half a million dollars, and the whole damn team isn’t even worth that.

One thing about old rich men, though, is that they rarely pass up an opportunity to throw their money around and that certainly benefits the hospital.

“Do we have to?” Maddie’s glossy lips pull into a pout.

“Yes.” I let out a sharp laugh. “It’s not like this is some sort of torture. Most girls would love a night out like this. A fancy dress, four course dinner, open bar…And besides, aren’t you required to be there for work?”

“Yeah,” she grumbles, twisting a golden curl between her fingers. Her shoulders slump as she stares off toward the busy street beside us. “I’m just nervous about seeing Bauer. I haven’t run into him since I’ve been home and I know he’s going to push me for my answer about LA.”

Maddie’s been over this LA thing backwards and forwards and a thousand times over, and she still isn’t any closer to making a choice.

Now that she knows her dad got her the spot, the whole thing has been tainted, but she’s not quite ready to give up on everything she’s worked for.

That program has been her dream, and it’s right in front of her now, but her bastard father ruined it.

Obviously, I’d rather she stay here, but I won’t be the holdup.

She deserves to live out her dream, however she sees fit, and if that’s LA, then that’s LA.

I’ve gotten used to the idea of commuting if that’s what needs to happen, and I’ll support her, regardless. The fact that her father hasn’t makes me want to snap his spine—not that he has one to begin with. God help the man if we ever meet in person.

“You leave Bauer to me, Maddie. He won’t bother you about LA.”

She’s skeptical, but doesn’t fight me on it and comes back with yet another excuse of why we shouldn’t go. “I don’t even own a fancy dress. What am I supposed to wear?”

“You can leave that to me, too.” I reach for my wallet and slide out a business card. “A friend of mine owns this shop. Stop by there this afternoon and she’ll take care of you. Put it on my account.”

Maddie clicks her tongue. “You’re not buying me a dress, Roman.”

“Relax.” I chuckle, taking a drink of my water. “I’ll figure out some way for you to repay me.”

She narrows her eyes, not appreciating my innuendo as much as I thought she might.

“Just humor me, okay? I want to do something special for you. I’m sure you’ll find something you like.”

“If you’re so set on this, why don’t you come with me and we can find something for me to wear that you like?

” She flutters her eyelashes at me as she leans forward onto her elbows.

The view I get of her cleavage is almost enough to make me cancel my afternoon plans.

We haven’t even been together all that long, and yet Maddie knows how to push every button I’ve got. Some I didn’t even know I had.

“I’d love to come with you, but I have to work this afternoon. But feel free to send me some sneak peeks from the dressing room.” I wink at her.

“God, you’re impossible sometimes.” She rolls her eyes, laughing at me. “Speaking of work…aren’t you supposed to be there at one?”

“Damn,” I growl, glancing down at my watch. “I am. But I can always rearrange things for you.”

“I appreciate it, but I promise I’m fine.” She smiles, squeezing my hand gently. “I’ll see you for dinner?”

“I’ll be counting down the seconds.” I nearly vomit as the words came out of my mouth. What the hell is happening to me?

A taunting smile tugs at Maddie’s lips. “You know, for such a big, tough mafia leader, you’re kind of a big sap.”

There’s that sass I love so much.

“Don’t you dare ever repeat that to my men, or I’ll have to show you just how scary of a mafia man I can be.”

“I’m not scared of you.” She purses her lips confidently, almost begging for me to kiss them.

I happily oblige, giving her a hungry kiss and pulling away at the exact moment I feel her relax into it. “You should be.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” I brush my lips against her forehead quickly so as not to fall even deeper under her spell. I have to get some work done today, and if she keeps looking at me like that, I won’t ever leave. “Even if you are a tease.”

She giggles, waving innocently at me. I don’t even look back because it’s already taking so much restraint to walk away from her. The sooner I can get this over with, the sooner I can go home and thoroughly enjoy her.

Dr. Taylor’s been holding out on me since my injury, claiming sex was too much activity and I might bust my stitches. She cleared me this morning when I all but threatened her life, and I was planning on taking full advantage of it tonight. The girl needs a good fuck to relax just as much as I do.

The warehouse is a quick ten-minute drive from the restaurant.

Joe and Dante located a Chavos leader, and we’re right on the cusp of breaking this entire thing wide open.

I can’t wait to put this shit behind me and finally move on with Maddie and Ty.

They both deserve that more than anything, and I’ve never craved something so much in all of my life. Right now, it’s all I can think about.

I want this to be over as soon as possible, and all distractions have to be on the back burner until I get what I need from him. And that’s a name. The name of the guy who’s been behind all of this.

I find my way to the back room where Joe and Dante are waiting for me.

“It’s about time you got here.” Joe chuckles. “Maddie let you off the leash for the afternoon?” He and Dante share a smirk.

“I have a lot of pent-up aggression saved up this afternoon, boys. I’m sure our prisoner would be glad if I took some of it out on you two morons.” I’m wound just tight enough that their banter rubs me the wrong way today. It’s gone on long enough, and it’s time to get serious.

“Alright, alright.” Joe grins, walking over to the chair in the center of the room.

The prisoner is tied to it, a bag pulled over his head.

Joe removes it roughly, and the guy looks around like a deer in headlights.

He’s already bloody, bruised and worn down.

Dante and Joe obviously made good use of the time they were waiting for me.

“Roman, meet Ryker. He’s a lieutenant in La Eme and was the one who killed Talia, went after Ty, and his fingerprints were found all over your house. ”

Sounds like game over to me.

“That’s not true. I had nothing to do with that shit. I swear!” He shakes his head wildly, trying to backtrack.

Dante rears his fist back, landing a powerful punch on Ryker’s jaw and sending blood sputtering across the room. His brass knuckles clamor to the floor.

I bend so I’m at his level, meeting his glare. “Ryker, I think you’d say just about anything right now to save your own skin. I think it was all you. You killed my wife, and you tried to kill both me and my son. You have thirty seconds to convince me otherwise.”

Quiet at first, he seems to be questioning how serious I am about the time limit, yet as I pull out a jagged, six-inch hunting knife, he changes his tune.

“Okay, okay. It was me. But I was just following orders, I swear! I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, just don’t kill me.

” It’s amazing how many men like this preach loyalty, but sing like songbirds once they’re faced with death.

“How about you talk and then I’ll decide whether you live or die?”

He jerks against his restraints. “I’ve never met the guy. I don’t even know anybody who has. All I know is he is some rich white guy. Doesn’t even live in Vegas. They call him Doc and he calls the shots now.”

“Doc?” Joe repeats.

Ryker nods. “He never shows his face, but everything runs through him. He sends his jobs through a Chinese restaurant. A brown takeout bag showed up on my doorstep with all the details and that’s all. I swear.”

I stare at him intently, trying to decide if he’s telling the truth. He has no reason to lie to us when we’re his only hope of staying alive. Either we kill him, or we let him go with a target on his back. Whether or not he tells us anything won’t matter, it’ll look like he did to his group.

“What do you think?” Joe sneers, the same thoughts running through his mind.

“I think we aren’t in a position to overlook any leads.” I grit my teeth. If Ryker is telling the truth, we’re closer. I hate the thought of this dragging on even longer, but I want to be sure. I have to be sure.

Joe nods to Dante, and he leaves the room, ready to chase down the lead.

“Look, you’ve got to protect me. I can get you to Doc, but I need some assurances first,” Ryker pleads, well aware of his fate the second he walks out of my door.

Joe lets out a sharp laugh. “Protect you? You’re lucky you’re still breathing right now.”

I rub my jaw, contemplating my options. Unfortunately, he’s right. He has the closest ties to whoever this guy is, and he’s our best chance of ending it swiftly.

“You have three days,” I concede.

“It’s going to take longer than that. I told you, this guy doesn’t do face to face.”

Joe shoots me a curious look. Bargaining isn’t a method that I use often.

“Three days. If you don’t deliver him by then, La Eme can have you.” I turn to Joe. “I want eyes on him at all times. And taps on the phone.”

Joe grunts, hauling Ryker off.

The last thing I want is a war with La Eme. It’s too unpredictable, and I’ve got too much to lose if something breaks out. This is all I’ve got right now, and I have to make it work.