Free Hard Money (Bad Money #3) by Ali Parker Page A

three. Victor was a must, but the other two...
    It's comfortable.
    Where she would have once given someone else hell about having two men in their life, she couldn't muster the condemnation she imagined herself feeling. It was too right to be wrong, simply put. If they could both accept it, then maybe the future looked even more different than she imagined.
    "This assuming that you let Jon back in," she mumbled.
    "I'm sorry?" The hotel clerk spoke softly, pulling Kate from her thoughts.
    "Oh, sorry. I was talking to myself." Kate took the keys and walked toward Jon. "We're in the penthouse. I assume Zak and Victor will be staying with us. Victor’s weird about keeping everyone together."
    "All right." Jon walked with her to the elevator, pulling their luggage behind them. "I want you to know that I've worked out this shit with Victor in my head. I understand your having to sleep with him. I only ask one thing."
    "What's that?" Kate forced herself to appear calm, though she was anything but.
    "Don't flaunt it in front of me. I know he'll want to, but I'm asking you not to let that happen." He turned and touched the side of her face. "If I did that to you, you'd stab the bitch I was with."
    "No I wouldn't. You're a free man." Kate smirked and held the door open. "But... I will try my best to keep him away from me while you're around."
    "Thank you," Jon bit out between his clenched teeth.
    Kate couldn't help but smile at his reaction. He was jealous, and where she would hate to be in his position, teasing him a little was more than deserved after all the shit he had put her through. She wouldn't do it, but it was a nice devious thought to chuckle about.
    Jon knocked on the door, and Zak opened it, turning his attention to Kate as a smile lifted his thin lips. "Kate. Good to see you again."
    She gave him a quick hug and turned. "Zak, this is Jon. He'll be my bodyguard this weekend. Jon, Victor's brother, Zak."
    "Actually, just a good friend, but we've been calling each other brother since we were kids." Zak extended his hand. "Come in. Don't touch any of the products, and mind your own business and we should be good."
    "Right." Jon moved in and stopped beside Kate as Victor walked from the kitchen.
    "There you are. I was getting worried." He moved toward Kate as she lifted her hand toward him.
    "We're here, and we're safe. You remember Jon, of course." She turned toward Jon as he extended his hand. From the look on his handsome face, she could tell that the next few days were going to be trying at best.
    "Victor." Jon locked his hands in front of him after their greeting.
    "Nice to have you join us, cop." He smirked and turned his attention back to Kate. "Zak and I will be working with Marcus on taking out this new threat that's come back into town. I want you to remain focused on Zandra."
    "Zandra being," Jon butted in.
    "The new drug that you've seen me take. It's a mixture of ecstasy and acid," Kate responded, wanting him to feel like he was fully included. Victor's expression told her that he wasn't too happy with her sharing information with the cop, but she gave him a look back that begged him to test her in it.
    "Anyway," Victor started again, "we made a few adjustments to it to allow the user the ability to stay more aware in the moment. It lowers inhibitions and such, but still lets you play fully aware of your actions."
    "Interesting." Kate ran her fingers through her hair. "Where do we start? Are we gathering test subjects again?"
    "Nope. You or Jon can take it and go out on the town. The other can take notes, video a little for us. I figure it would be better just to keep the goods to ourselves. The full subjection will be tomorrow night when we visit Fredrick Carrington. He's the big shit in the club scene up here in New York. I want him fully wrapped around your finger." Victor touched Kate's chin and smiled at her. "Like the rest of us are."
    Pulling back, she let out a growl. "You know I hate taking drugs, and yet