Pulse_Chicago Underground Read online

  “And what would that be?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at him. Authority is something I’ve always had trouble dealing with. I wasn’t a troublemaker but I was on the receiving end of their hostility when I was growing up. People knew who I was being the daughter of Byron Gregoria.

  “He wants to meet with you, doesn’t he? He wants to get you on board with his businesses. Like I said, Tala, I’m here to counter his offer with one of my own.” He stands in my small living as if he owns it. Both of the Frost men are handsome and good looking. Where Cole has that darker, broodiness, Jamie is the opposite. He’s laid back and seems to be at ease.

  “Why would I listen to your counter? I never accepted any arrangements with your brother,” I tell him. It’s not exactly a lie. I wasn’t given much of a choice in the matter.

  “Look, Cole is into a lot of illegal things. I’m pretty sure you are aware of that. You don’t want to get mixed up in things with him,” He says. I shake my head and run a hand through my hair.

  “Mr. Frost, I have no intentions of getting into anything illegal but I thank you for your thoughtfulness.” Quickly dismissing him, I move toward the door when he grabs my wrist. Heat races up my arm. I cock my head to the side to take him in. Dragging my gaze from his hand to his eyes.

  “He’ll drag you under, Tala. Is that what you want? Do you want to end up like your father? I’m heading the task force against him.” His words are like a slap to the face. It shocks me that he would turn on his own brother. I pull my hand out of his grasp and turn to face him.

  “You are going against your own brother?” I have to ask. It just amazes me that there are people out there willing to do that. I wouldn’t know because I was an only child but I never betrayed my father no matter how many times the cops talked to me.

  “Yes. What he’s doing is wrong. His connections go across the country and further, Tala. He has connections with the Mexican mafia, Columbian cartels and more. Everything illegal that happens in this city is run through him. Do you get that? Drugs, death, murders. That’s all on him,” he stares intently at me as he runs through a small list of the things Cole dabbles in.

  “What is it you want from me, Mr. Frost?” I ask once again.

  “I want you to get in with him. I want you to get me all the information you can. Turn on him, Tala. Help me take him down. Rid this city of the filth that he causes.” I small giggle escapes my chest. Jamie watches me clearly not happy that I let that slip but how could I not?

  “You want me to infiltrate his world and help you bring it down?” I ask amused.

  “You will be compensated. When it goes to trial, you will be in a safe house. We can protect you, Tala,” He says. Another laugh from me.

  “Are you insane? I thought you were smarter than that, Mr. FBI but clearly you aren’t. Do you think that I’m naïve enough to believe that you could keep me safe from him and his people? I’m not a stupid person, Mr. Frost. I know how things work in this world or do you forget that I grew up in it?” I snap at him. I can’t help it. The shit that comes out of his mouth is unbelievable.

  “I know what you grew up with, Tala but this is different. Times have changed. We can protect you. I will protect you.” Although his words are meant to be soothing, they aren’t.

  “You are going to have to find someone else. I’m sorry,” I tell him. Frost drops his head, his shaggy dark hair falling over his eyes. He blows out a breath before reaching into his pocket and pulling a card. Passing it toward me, I take it in my hand.

  “If you change your mind or you need me. For anything, Tala. You don’t know what kind of world you are walking into. I can’t help you if you don’t let me. Be careful around him. He’s ruthless.” Watching him walk out the front door, something settles inside of me. I’m walking into a war between brothers. Now I have to decide who I’m working with. It would easy to take Jamie’s offer. It would smart to take it. Stepping into Cole’s world would be doing the exact same thing that my father did and that was never something I wanted for myself. Patty rubs against my leg. I lean down and run my fingers through her soft fur.

  “What are we going to do, Patty?”

  Chapter 4

  Cole

  My day has been full of annoyance. I’ve done nothing but deal with people the whole morning. I’d planned on picking up Tala hours ago but that didn’t work as planned. As we pull up in front of her house, I adjust my suit jacket. My driver, Don, climbs out and walks up to her door. I watch as he knocks a few more times. I’m nervous that she changed her mind and that I’m going to have to go about this the hard way. Finally, she opens the door, stepping out with a smile for Don. I wonder if I’ll get that same smile. My assumption is no. Don offers his hand as she steps down the stairs in her at least three-inch heels. She’s dressed in a long silk dress that seems to hug every damn curve of her petite frame. My eyes travel over her as she makes her way to the car. Don releases her hand and opens the door, ushering her inside. I try to calm my raging cock as she climbs in, her dress sagging and showing the tops of her breasts. Tala sits next to me, making sure that she keeps her distance.

  “Sorry for the delay. This has been a day from hell,” I tell her. Tala nods but doesn’t say another word. The car begins to move but the awkwardness that fills the air settles.

  “Is this the way you plan on handling business? With silence?” Tala shifts her in seat so that she is now facing me.

  “What would you like me to say? That I’m absolutely thrilled to be here? That this is my dream job? It isn’t and I’m not particularly happy about being forced to do things that I don’t want to do,” She says with her head held high. She has to be the strongest woman that I’ve ever met in my life.

  “If you would relax, things would go smoothly. You are worrying yourself over nothing and please, don’t tell me you aren’t. I can see it in your eyes, Tala.” Her shoulders don’t relax even a little. She turns her head and sits looking out the window. She’ll come around. I know she will. I’ve watched her. Not closely but enough to know that she always calms.

  The ride goes by in the same silent treatment until we stop at our first stop. Don opens the door as I climb out. Tala scoots across the seat as I offer her my hand. Surprisingly, she takes it and I help her out of the car. When her eyes move to the building in front of us, I hear her gasp. Her eyes move from the building to me, a shocked expression on her perfect face.

  “This is a children’s home,” She says as if I didn’t know. I chuckle.

  “It is.”

  “What are we doing here?” She asks clearly confused.

  “This is the first business that I wanted to take you. I told you, I want you to see what else it is I do.” Her eyes soften as she looks up at me. I’m sure she’s stunned.

  “Shall we?” I ask. Tala nods her head, her hand still in mine. I walk us toward the door and inside when Mary, the woman that runs the home for me spots us. She comes rushing through the door, her eyes wide.

  “Cole! I haven’t seen you in so long,” she squeals before pulling me into a hug. I have no choice but to release Tala.

  “It’s good to see you, Mary. This is my associate, Tala Gregoria. She will be handling finances from now on.” I introduce them.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mary.” Tala says, grasping her hand in hers. The easy connection I see between them doesn’t surprise me. Mary is a wonderful woman and Tala is, well Tala.

  “I’m going to show Tala around. Brady will be in shortly to get you all of Tala’s information. The sooner you can get her the information in her email, the better.” Mary nods her head before turning on her heel and walking back into the office. I hold my hand out and Tala surprises me yet again. She reaches over, taking my hand in hers.

  “We are looking to expand the facility. Right now, we can house forty teens and twenty infants. In the future I’d like to at least double that and add more staff. The city gets tied up in permits and all that paperwork that it isn’t th
at easy to just add on. We have everything here a home would have,” I tell her as I push open the double doors that leads to the living area. Tala gasps once again as I lead her in.

  “This is amazing, Cole,” She says softly, her eyes taking in everything.

  “I want to keep things as homey as possible. The transition is hard enough on them,” I tell her as we walk in further. “The kitchen is here.”

  I watch as Tala peeks inside but never releases my hand. It’s a warming feeling that settles inside of me. I like Tala and I think she’s going to be good to have on our team. Now I just need to convince my cock that she isn’t here for his purposes.

  “How does your staffing work?” She asks with curious eyes.

  “We have twelve-hour shifts. Some staff live onsite. The children are never left unattended. We have teachers brought in for school purposes. It’s hard on some of the kids to attend public schools and we don’t force that.” Tala watches in amazement as we make our way through the building. I stopped and talked to a few of the staff and some of the kids. There’s one I’m particularly fond of. He’s three and doesn’t speak. So, while Tala went back up front to talk to Mary a little more, I came into the play room.

  “Beverly,” I nod at the woman that watches over them.

  “Mr. Frost. Nice to see you.” She sees where my eyes wander. They always come back to him. I don’t know why I feel a connection to him but I do. “Still hasn’t spoken. The doctor said he looks good health wise but he thinks the trauma may have been too much for him.” I nod my head before walking toward him. His little eyes light up when he sees me.

  “How’s my best friend today?” I ask knowing he isn’t going to answer me. I kneel in front of him, roughing his hair up.

  “Are you being good?” I ask him. His little brown eyes sparkle with life but there’s a darkness in them too. His name is Matthew. The police believed that he watched his parents get killed in front of him. Execution style. When they found him, he was lying curled into his mother’s side. Hugging her dead body.

  “Are you liking your new bed?” I ask him. He nods his head, the hint of a smile crossing his face. That’s all I need. I don’t need his words. He’ll talk when he wants to. I just love seeing that he’s getting better. I may be a bastard and I may rule everything in this city but kids are my weakness.

  Chapter 5

  Tala

  I lean against the wall and watch him. The way he plays with that little boy. The way the little guy smiles and laughs while Cole tickles him.

  “Little guy has had a rough start in life.” Mary says as she stands next to me.

  “Why is that?”

  “Family was killed in front of him. The police found him lying in the blood with his mom. Sad. He doesn’t speak. No one knows why,” She says before walking away from me. A tear rolls down my cheek as his story breaks my heart. Cole ruffles his hair once more before he looks over his shoulder and spots me. The smile that was on his face slowly fades as I swipe at the tears. Cole is in front of me in an instant, his warm hands cupping my cheeks.

  “What’s wrong? Are you alright?” The concern in his voice throws me off. I’ve always heard that he’s ruthless and violent but that’s not what I’ve seen so far.

  “I’m sorry. I’m fine. Mary was just telling me about the little boy,” I tell him quickly. His eyes soften.

  “Matthew. His name is Matthew. I find myself drawn to him more than the others. He has lived through so much in his short three years,” He says, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “You do far more illegal things than legal. Why this? Why a children’s home?” I ask the thought that has been swirling in my head since the moment we stepped foot in the building. Cole sighs and lowers his hands, slipping them into his pockets.

  “I don’t know. Children are my weakness. I suppose growing up without a mother has something to do with it. I just hate to see kids put in a position they didn’t ask to be in,” he says with the most honesty I’ve seen in him since I met him.

  “Yet you would kill their parents if your payment wasn’t returned,” I say. A slow smile crosses his face, his eyes darkening.

  “It’s the way of my world. The irony isn’t lost on me, trust me.” He turns his head and looks back at the little blond boy as he plays with a truck before turning back to me.

  “Ready? I have other places to show you before dinner.” Dinner? I never said I would have dinner with him. In fact, I think that’s bad idea. I follow him back down the long hallway and toward the front door. He waves at the staff in the office before holding the door for me. As soon as we step outside, I glance over at him. He’s a contradiction if I’ve ever saw one. His eyes find mine. Neither of us speak as we study the other. There’s a tension in the air that neither of us can place and I’m not sure that I want to.

  “There are many things that you will learn over your time with me, Tala. Some you will learn to agree with, others you will despise me for. Children are my weakness as I said earlier. This place, this home, is where I come to find a little peace in my world. It isn’t very often but when things seem to fall out of place, this place helps me sort them out.” As quickly as our stare down began, he ends it. Turning on his heel, he walks toward the car and climbs in leaving me standing in awe of him. Glancing back up at the building once more, I wonder if people are wrong about him. I wonder if people have pegged him as this horrible monster of a person that society makes him into. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I turn and head toward the car.

  No, this man is a monster. Just because he has one good bone in his body doesn’t mean the rest aren’t tainted. He runs the fucking Chicago underground for God’s sake. Every illegal venture is run through him. From extortion to deaths and murders. No, he isn’t a good man.

  “After I show you around the rest of my businesses we will discuss things over dinner. I want to make sure we’re on the same page and I have the information you will be needing to handle your end of the deal at the bank. We can discuss that as well,” He says, pulling my attention back to him. The man is incredibly gorgeous. With the brightest striking blue eyes, I’ve ever seen on a person aside from his brother. He’s a walking sex god and I have no doubt in my mind that he knows it.

  “If we must,” I grumble. Cole chuckles before shifting in his seat to face me.

  “What bothers you about me, Tala? What makes you so defensive?” God, why does he have to look at me that way? Like he wants to devour me in one bite? And why the hell does my body seem to like that so much?

  “You have forced me into a position that I didn’t ask to be in, Mr. Frost. How would you like me to react?” I ask him, my eyes staying on his although it’s proving to be difficult. The way he stares into my depths has my pussy clenching.

  “Force is a strong word, Tala.”

  “Miss Gregoria would be fine,” I remind him.

  “But Tala has a sweet sexy ring to it. Especially coming from my lips.”

  Chapter 6

  Cole

  Distractions are often a necessary evil in my line of work. After discussing business with Tala, the other night, I needed more than just a drink. I needed to sink my cock into something warm and tight but the only thing that I found relief in was my hand fisted around it. Of course, I have women I can call in to satisfy me. I did just that but those piercing eyes of Tala’s were calling to me like a fucking drug. I wanted to get a hit of her. I wanted a taste of everything that her sweet body had to offer but with her being an employee of mine, that isn’t a wise decision. I sit at my desk with a glass of bourbon as I wait on my next meeting to show. My head is full of thoughts that it shouldn’t be and there is no way to contain them. Taking a long drink, I sit back in my chair when a soft knock sounds at the door.

  “Come in!” I holler as I run my hand through my hair.

  “Mr. Frost. I know you have a meeting scheduled and he isn’t sup
posed to be here- “Sally, my secretary rambles as she tugs at the hem of her shirt, her wrinkled old eyes, worn from years of life.

  “Who is it?” I ask cutting her off.

  “Your brother.” A grunt escapes my throat. My brother. The man that threatens to bring me down at every turn. My blood.

  “Show him in,” I tell her. Sally nods before walking back out. I pour myself another drink knowing that I’m going to have to listen to him and his bullshit. I don’t hate my brother. In fact, it’s the opposite. If only he knew all the things that I’ve done behind the scenes to keep him protected, he may hate me more than he already does. My brother works with the FBI. One of the fucking best in his field but with that lifestyle, there comes threats. He has people that hate him as much as I have people that hate me. I do whatever I can in my power to make sure my little brother is safe. He will never know that though. He can’t.

  “You look drunk,” Jamie says as he walks in my office. I tip my glass to my lip, taking down the rest of my drink before leaning forward, resting my arms on the desk in front of me.

  “I would say that it’s a pleasure to see you too but I assume this isn’t a family meeting. What is it you want, Jamie?” I ask not really giving a shit. Jamie walks closer to my desk, lifting the random photos of us as kids that I always kept close. He eyes the picture before huffing and setting it back in its place.

  “You keep pulling attention when we least expect things to be you. It’s kind of annoying really,” He says, sitting in the chair in front of my desk.

  “And what have I supposedly done this time?” I ask, taunting him. I would never come right out and tell him what I’ve done. I would hammer a nail into my own coffin for him.

  “Michael Brownstone.”