Vegas, Baby (18 page)

CHAPTER 25

CHRIS Bradley drew a deep breath before going back inside the room where Rivera had stashed Perzinsky. He pulled a chair out and sat down with his arms folded over his chest, staring at his mark.

“What?” the perp said, braving standing up to Chris.

Perzinsky’s bid for equality carried little weight with Chris. They weren’t on equal footing, not even close. “Why don’t you tell me about your little numbers scam?” he said, taking away the control his perp thought he had.

“Huh?” He might have wanted to hide his panic but his wide-eyed expression forbade it.

“Your markers scam,” Chris said calmly, holding his tongue.

Any dismay Perzinsky was feeling over being found out slid off his face as it turned stoic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, avoiding eye contact.

“A couple of your accomplices say differently.” Chris kept his tone calm, but determined.

“Do I have the right to know who my accusers are?” Perzinsky tried on a gritty tone but his eyes shifted wildly. His composure was crumbling.

“I’m sure you’re familiar with a young lady known on the streets as Melody.”

Lester snorted heartily. “Who do you think the judge is going to believe?” he asked, as if he had the upper hand. “Some drug-addicted hooker, or me?”

“That’s what my boss said, too.”

“Am I free to go?”

“No.” Chris shook his head with an air of justification.

“And why not?” he asked, the anxiety creeping back into his voice. “Who else is accusing me?”

Right about now, Perzinsky was probably starting to wonder about Melody’s cousin. It was a logical conclusion. One even a guy like Perzinsky could easily conceive.

“Mel’s cousin,” Perzinsky said aloud, confirming Chris’s suspicion. His eyes rolled back and his head followed suit. His hesitation lasted a mere seconds. Long enough for Perzinsky to gather his courage and prepare to defend himself. “So you have two hookers to testify against me.” And it would’ve been a good defense too, if he’d been right. “Make you feel better? You think it’ll mean something to the judge to have the word of two deviants instead of one?”

“Well, not a couple of hookers. Probably not,” Chris said with a bit of a shrug. “But how about a hooker and a cop?” Chris tossed it out there as if asking his perp’s opinion.

It got Perzinsky’s attention. “What?” he uttered the word over a weak, cracking voice. He cleared his throat and asked, “What do you mean, cop?”

“As you might have guessed by now...” Chris let a bit of silence fall between them just because the stillness might bring more agitation to the guy. “Melody’s cousin isn’t really her cousin.”

“I refuse to say another word without speaking to a lawyer first.”

“Oh, and we’re arranging that as we speak,” Chris said and waited, just long enough to give Perzinsky hope so he could take it away again. “But as you probably know...the system can be slow. It could be a day or two before the courts appoint one for you. Of course, if you have your own private attorney you’d like us to contact for you...oh wait—” Chris smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “—you don’t have an attorney.” He leaned closer to Lester. “I don’t think your girl’s going find one for you, either.”

Lester stared at Chris. He sensed the hatred burning in the guy’s pale eyes.

Hump. My work here is done
.

“I’ve got some other stuff to take care of.” Chris pushed himself up from the chair. “When you decide you’re ready to talk about your markers scheme—” He gave Perzinsky a lope-sided shrug. “—just tap on the door and somebody’ll get me.”

Chris left him alone again. The guy needed the chance to further contemplate his plight.

Laraquette and LaCall had been camped out in the hallway. They perked up when Chris exited the interrogation room. “Anything?” Rio scrutinized his face. She hated being kept in the dark. They had that in common.

“He’s not ready yet,” Chris said. “Let’s give him some time to think about the fact that one of his accomplices is a Fed...” His words trailed off as a sour look crossed LaCall’s face. The guy didn’t like bending the rules, Chris was coming to learn. “Well, she works for the Feds, so that makes her one by default,” he added, for LaCall’s benefit. It must have appeased him because he tried on a half-smile.

“Good idea.” LaCall nodded and then turned to Rio. “You hungry? Want to grab a bite to eat?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Eddie looked at Chris. “You want to come too?” he asked. “We can strategize while we eat and give the bill to Gabe when we get back,” he added with a clever chuckle.

Rio giggled. “That’ll drive Gabe nuts.”

On their way out to the parking lot the trio picked up Rivera, Victoria, and somehow Blake Switzer had joined the party. Rio couldn’t figure out how since no one had extended an invitation.

The group headed for Chubby’s, a local bar and restaurant often frequented by those in the law enforcement community.

The jovial party gathered in a back corner at one of the larger round tables. Rio had claimed a seat against the wall and Eddie had quickly nabbed the chair next to her. She liked that he had taken on the role as her protector, whether it was a conscious endeavor or not. In light of the current situation, namely with a stalker on the loose, Rio didn’t want to be exposed. Not even in a crowded place like this.

The colleagues chatted, laughed, and joked with one another while dining on burgers and fries. All were in high spirits over forcing Lester Perzinsky’s back against the wall.

No one but Rio seem to pay much attention to Eddie’s cell phone chiming with the sound of race cars zooming by. “LaCall,” he said into the phone. He listened intently, and didn’t seem surprised by the caller. “Right now?” he asked and glanced briefly toward the door. After another bit of silence, he added, “Thanks, I’m on it.”

Eddie disconnected the call and draped his arm over the back of Rio’s chair and then turned his attention back to his colleagues. Attentively, he joined in the conversation as an observer.

“You should’ve seen that guy’s face when I told him she was a cop.” Chris laughed, pointing at Victoria.

“God, that guy’s so gross.” Her entire body shuddered, a visible display of her disgust for Perzinsky.

Eddie’s fingers tangled with Rio’s hair, his actions well-concealed behind her back.

“Good thing you had Rivera to come to your rescue.” Rio’s soft giggle could’ve been a response to her verbal observation, but in reality it was a reaction to Eddie’s clandestine touch.

“Yeah.” Victoria laughed and turned to Paul. “Took you long enough.”

Rivera shook his head. “Man, I wanted to kill that guy.”

“Not yet, killer.” Chris laughed. “Perzinsky’s got a little job to do. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Laughter traveled around the table. They all seemed to enjoy the tight spot Lester had gotten himself into. Rio hoped this could somehow help solve the poker tournament’s mystery.

The amusement diminished around the table, stopping abruptly at each of Rio’s colleagues as they looked up and found Naomi towering over them.

As it turned out, Eddie seemed to be the only person who wasn’t surprised at her arrival. That’s probably because he’d been tipped off by her father’s private investigator. Eddie didn’t know she knew, at least she didn’t think so, but she made it a point to stay on top of things that indirectly involved her.

Naomi studied Eddie and then let her gaze drift to Rio. She scrutinized her like she knew Eddie’s hand was on Rio’s back. Even though the girl’s appearance was stoic and serene, something about the evil in her eyes made Rio uncomfortable. Still, she hadn’t dismissed the idea that it could be something as simple as a bout with jealousy because Naomi was Eddie’s ex.

“Can I speak to you in private, Eddie?” She stood there, tall and proud, and refused to look at or acknowledge anyone else at the table. Rio almost felt sorry for her.

Eddie cleared his throat, drawing Rio’s attention. His eyes were cold and callous as he looked straight through Naomi. “No,” he said, probably a bit more harshly than necessary. “You need to go home, Naomi. There’s nothing for you here.”

Naomi didn’t move. It was like she was frozen in place. She was staring at Eddie and fighting the tears that were on the verge of spilling over from her eyes.

“Good, lord!” Victoria said in a scolding voice. “Why do you do this to yourself?” She spoke directly to Naomi. “Evidently—” She wasn’t cutting the girl a break with her hand gestures bouncing back and forth between Eddie and Rio. “He’s into her. Why would you want someone who clearly does not want you?”

Snickers of futilely restrained laughter traveled around the table.

Naomi’s focus stayed on Eddie. She ignored Victoria and the laughter her advice brought. And then desperation seemed to overtake her eyes, widening them. “I’m pregnant!”

Silence fell around the table, choking the life out of the party.

Rio drew a deep, vocal breath and tried to trample the fears before they bullied her into doing something she’d feel pretty stupid about in the morning.

Eddie stood. “If I’ve gotten anybody pregnant around here...” He pointed a confessing finger at Rio—which horrified her. He was going to tell their secret. “It’s her!”

Naomi practically swooned.

Rio quickly forgot about Eddie’s offense as other, more alarming thoughts rushed in.
Don’t women oftentimes get lightheaded when they’re pregnant
? Rio’s heart went cold.

Eddie gave Rio a sympathetic smile and extended his hand to her. “Let’s go.”

Rio wasn’t convinced of the prudency of this idea. Leaving right now with the baby-daddy? Pure insanity.

Still, she placed her hand in his and rose sluggishly. Her head swam with a million different scenarios. None of them good. They all included a baby that belonged to Eddie and Naomi, and that left Rio—the chick he’d just openly admitted to sleeping with—out in the cold.

Nothing good would come from the disclosure of their onetime rendezvous. This was a revelation she’d never live down.

She didn’t say anything until they were halfway to the door. “Are you out of your mind?” she asked. “What possessed you to say something like that? That was supposed to be a one-time deal that stayed between you and me.” She slammed her palms against the door, forcing it open. “Now everybody knows about it.”

* * *

Chris was starting to feel like he was in the midst of some clichéd soap opera after watching LaCall nearly knock down his Phoenix plaything when he’d fled the restaurant with Laraquette on his arm.

And Naomi just stood with tears materializing around her eyes. He almost felt sorry for her. But if she was lying, she got what she got.

As if in a trance, she moved slowly toward the bar at the same time Switzer jumped up and knocked his chair back. Naomi sat down. Switzer barreled for the door. Chris looked at Naomi, then Switzer. After a brief bout with hesitancy he went after his colleague, corralling him in the open doorway.

Chris saw Laraquette’s tears, and he was pretty sure Switzer did, too. Then LaCall pulled her away and they disappeared inside the limo.

“You’re just going to let this go?” Switzer’s words cramped around Chris like a straitjacket. “You’re going to let him take her off and fill her head with God knows what kind of lies?”

But Chris was determined to remain neutral. “This is between Laraquette and LaCall.”

“I thought she was your friend.” Switzer was pulling out all the stops. “You’re going feed her to the wolves just because some jerk’s screwing her.”

For a fleeting moment Chris thought he saw a bit too much anger, or maybe it was envy, in Switzer’s eyes over the intimate relationship LaCall had just openly confirmed that he and Laraquette were having.

CHAPTER 26

RIO had no idea why she’d left the restaurant with Eddie. If he should be talking to anybody right now, Naomi was his girl. Still, here Rio was, sitting beside him in the limo. She tried to wrangle in the tears, but it did no good.

Eddie closed the privacy window between them and the driver and then brushed Rio’s tears away. He urged her with a simple request, “Don’t cry.”

“God...” She’d fallen for a man who wasn’t available. Those words were painful to admit, and she’d picked a hell of a time to let them erupt in her mind. Rio laughed at herself. There wasn’t much else she could do. She swiped at her tears. “I have no idea why I’m reacting this way. It’s not like I have a dog in this race.”

“If she’s pregnant—” he said in the calmest of tones, “—it’s not mine.”

That declaration was like a powerful magnet, forcing her to look at him. She searched his face. Her heart thumped against her chest. She wanted to believe what she was hearing. She needed to believe it, for her own sanity. But logic had its own ideas. “And you know this how?”

“Because, it’s been more than six months since she and I
…
” His voice faded. Clearly, he didn’t want to say it out loud.

Good. She didn’t want to hear it, either. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to respond. Maybe it was the prospect of Naomi carrying his child, or Rio’s realization that she’d fallen for Eddie—either way, she was speechless.

“If she were pregnant by me, provided I hadn’t been using protection with her,” he said as if he sensed Rio’s insecurity and uncertainty. “It’d be clearly visible by now.”

Rio believed his claim. Why, she didn’t know. But why would he lie? To think Naomi a liar made more sense. She had plenty of reasons to lie, and much more to lose.

“I have no idea what she hoped to accomplish with her outburst.” Eddie’s slow nod substantiated his words.

It was like someone had flicked on the light switch and illuminated Rio’s brain in bright-red neon. “Oh, I do.” She tried to rein in her agitation. “That display was not for you. It was for me. She wanted me to doubt you.” She laughed at herself, feeling the butt of a bad joke. “And she succeeded.”

“You’re here. With me.” He tilted his head and gave her a crooked smile. “Perhaps she didn’t succeed as much as you’re determined to believe.”

“No wonder she’s chasing you halfway across the country,” Rio said. “You’re very charming when the mood suits you.”

“Does that mean, if I leave here...?” he asked with a soft chuckle. “You’re going to come after me?”

“There you go again.” Rio tilted her head back and rolled her eyes. “Thinking you’re all that.”

“Come on, Laraquette.” He moved closer to her. “Why fight it?” He couldn’t resist her strawberry blonde ringlets, and tangled the soft tresses around his fingers. “You and me, we’re connected.” It was like his lips had a will of their own as they searched out hers. “At least we should be.”

Contact. The heat of her lips scorched his, melting them into each other.

He thought she uttered something close to, “uh uh.” But an instant later her hands were on his arms and traveling up and around his neck. Her contradictory actions didn’t collaborate her weak verbal protest. They said she wanted him. And who was he to deny her?

The sound of race cars echoed from his front pants’ pocket. A phone call now? Talk about bad timing. He thought about ignoring it, but in light of everything going on, that was probably a bad idea.

He backed off and reached for his phone. She didn’t stop kissing him. Instead, she continued to blaze a sensuous trail over his face and neck. Eddie retrieved his phone with one hand and left the other snarled in her hair. He used his chin to pry the phone open and propped it against the ear opposite Rio’s display of affection.

“LaCall.” He became quiet and listened to the update from James Laraquette’s private eye. As Eddie expected, Bradley and Rivera had escorted Naomi off the premises. “Great. Keep me posted.”

He closed the phone, disconnecting the call, and deposited it next to him on the seat.

“Who was that?” Rio asked, kissing her way back to his mouth.

“Who was who?” He buried his fingertips between her slacks and the steaming skin of her waist.

Devilish laughter echoed from Rio as she pulled away from him and began the slow, teasing process of unbuttoning her blouse.

He was caught, momentarily, off guard by the sight unfolding before him. The car maneuvered through traffic and merged onto the 15’s on-ramp and the driver accelerated, throwing them back against the seat.

Eddie gave the car a quick once-over and decided that no one, not even the driver, could see them through the black-tinted windows.

His carnal urges escalated as erotic visions invaded his mind. The thought of making love with her while the car cruised the streets of Vegas was such a turn-on.

She removed her blouse and his eyes got caught up in the sight of her. He didn’t want this to go by too quickly. He wanted to savor every minute of it and fumbled for the car’s intercom phone.

Upon hearing the driver’s voice, Eddie cleared his throat and worked at sounding ‘routine’. “Martin,” he said, in the calmest tone he could muster, not sure if he’d made the mark. “Don’t take us directly home. Cruise the city until we advise differently.”

After the driver’s verbal acknowledgment, Eddie replaced the phone and no longer felt the need to tamp down the growing desire that was now bulging in his Levi’s.

They shimmied out of their pants. Rio straddled his lap, dressed in nothing but a red silk bra and matching panties.

He tossed his T-shirt aside and drew Rio to him, enjoying the feel of her near-nakedness against his bare chest. Encasing her in his embrace, Eddie showered her with soft, sensuous kisses.

She shivered beneath his hands tracing over her arms and up to her shoulders. He followed the straps of her bra down to the mounds of her breasts and slipped a fingertip underneath the edge of her undergarment.

Rio tilted her head and arched backward, releasing a soft, satisfied sigh.

Eddie latched onto her buttocks and raised her up until her bosom was nearly level with his mouth. He played with the garment’s straps at her shoulders.

“You’re going to drive me crazy,” she said.

“I wouldn’t do that to you.” He dug a finger under one bra strap and skimmed it down her arm. “I aim to please,” he added, and then followed with the other strap. His gaze fell over her and then he peeled the garment’s fabric away from her breasts.

The way he looked at her was driving her nuts. She could tell by the hunger lighting his eyes, and his half-opened-mouth smile that he was enjoying the view.

His lips brushed over her aroused nipple and she pressed herself against him with urgency.

He trailed his hands over her shoulders, down her back and latched onto her bottom. “Slow down.”

“I don’t want to slow down.” She wriggled under his touch. “I want to go fast and furious.”

He moved her swiftly onto her back and gently laid her on the seat. He ripped her skimpy panties away and tossed them aside. His hand, skilled and gentle, left a teasing trail between her legs and spread them apart so he could work his magic.

Eddie seduced her into total submission, dipping his finger inside her and then dragging it back out. She rocked beneath his touch and, wanting to reciprocate the pleasure, she sought him out. He throbbed as she closed her hand around him. Rio stroked, gently at first, but quickly hastened into a frenzied pace, matching his speed.

“Now, Eddie...now,” she urged him. “I need to feel you inside me. Now.”

“As you wish.” He pushed his way inside.

Rio let out a delightful gasp and wrapped her legs around him, encouraging him to plunge deeper.

Eddie’s gaze fell over the wonder beneath him, the gorgeous body begging for climactic relief. He pumped faster, harder, wanting to satisfy her every desire and whim.

She tightened around him in rhythmic spasms and his shaft hardened like the strongest steel. He responded to her conclusive tremors, pouring himself into her.

He fell atop her, exhausted and satisfied.

But for all the pleasure they’d just brought one another, Naomi seemed determined to extinguish their fire long before it had a chance to ignite.

And then there was the stalker—who’d been amazingly quiet as of late. Perhaps Switzer had lost interest or realized that Rio was out of his league.