Blood Money (Bad Money #1) by Ali Parker Page B

forward, stifling a moan as the aroma of his cologne washed over her.
    She was a fucking liar - he was exactly her type of guy. Tainting the good to join in the depravity that she could provide him... delicious.
    "Hush and listen," he growled and moved to the edge of his chair, his brow narrowing as his features tightened. Her body reacted violently to the subtle shift in his persona, but she kept her facade in place. Crossing her arms over her chest she simply nodded at him, as if giving him the floor.
    "I wasn't around when Adam was going through that shit with mother because I'm fourteen years older than him. He was seventeen before he died and I'm thirty-one. I was home a few times during his teenage years, but he wasn't my responsibility. I tried to help when mother called and said he had gone off the deep end, but he was pissed at me for living my life."
    "What about your dad? Where was he?"
    "He died when we were younger. Cancer."
    "And your mom."
    "I love her, but she's a crazy old bitch. Her religion has become a weapon and Adam was the one she wielded it against most, unfortunately." He sighed, leaning back in his seat and running his fingers through his dark hair.
    "Why are you here, Jon?"
    "I need to close this case down. I need to move past this, but I can't until I have resolution. This isn't some number on a file to me, Kate. It's my baby brother. I might not have been the most active member in his life, but it was me that showed up at the hospital every time he OD'd. It was me that rescued him from more ass whoopings by thugs than I care to admit." Jon stopped and closed his eyes, a long painful sigh leaving him. "It was me that had to stand over his body in the morgue last week. I can't let this go."
    Kate watched him closely, the painful emotions of loss so familiar to her. Her heart constricted with need to help the beautiful man in front of her, but what would that decision do to them? How much farther would they be willing to traverse through the viper’s den to find the source of Adam's murder? Was it really worth it to put their lives on the line for the answer? For justice?
    She had to help him. No, she wanted to.
    "If we do this, we do this my way. You step out of line from what I tell you we can do, or where we can go, and I'll feed your ass to these sharks so fast it will make your head spin. I've lost too much in this life. I'm not willing to give my life up for you or for anyone else. Got it?"

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Jon
     
     
    "Do you always threaten cops?" He chuckled as he stood, moving to look at the large painting of the ocean on her wall.
    "Do you always accuse the innocent because the guilty are good at what they do?" She moved to stand beside him, the soft skin of her arm brushing against his. He glanced down before looking over at her.
    The black t-shirt and slacks fit her persona well. Clean, simple, dangerous as fuck.
    "Kate. Did Adam say anything to you that night?" He turned toward her, looking down as she shifted her gaze up to rest on him. The light orange rays of color that stretched from her irises mesmerized him. She was one of the vipers she spoke about, but increasingly more dangerous. Her beauty would drag anyone in, her pseudo-innocence drowning them before they even knew what happened.
    But would she strike?
    How long had it been since he wanted a woman so badly? He shifted his eyes to take in the beauty of her features, little nose so perfect and cute, her lips thick and luscious. He moved back, his heart pounding in his chest violently just before his hand lifted to touch her.
    "He asked me not to find you. Said not to get you involved." She turned from him, walking back toward her desk. She broke the spell and for that, he was grateful.
    "Why?"
    "I didn't get to ask that, Jon. I was trying to call the ambulance and trying desperately to stop his bleeding." She reached up, her fingers pressing to her lips as her face softened. She couldn't have been more beautiful. Innocence