by Taylor Lee
Jesus, if anything confirmed how fucked up he was, all he had to do was remember his “date” tonight. He laughed in disgust. It was truly laughable that he’d actually thought that accepting Deidre’s offer to cook dinner for him would allow him to think about something other than Viviana. Although he was confident that Deidre wouldn’t get the joke. Remembering her greeting him at the door of her palatial home, her attire alone should have indicated that cooking was the farthest thing from the coquettishly smirking woman’s mind. For the tenth time, Jax wrestled with what it was about this flagrantly sexual woman that was off-putting rather than enticing, as she had clearly intended to be?
He chastened himself, admitting that ordinarily, a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a virtually transparent lounging outfit would have at least gotten a show of interest from his ever-ready prick. Indicating just how bad the evening was going to be, not only did his staff not rise to the occasion, he could swear that it had gone into seclusion, hell, maybe even shriveled a bit. Following her down the terrazzo staircase to the lush garden below, replete with a phantasmagoria of colorful, fragrant flowers and verdant shrubbery, Jax made himself focus on her undulating hips swaying seductively from side to side. To his surprise, instead of enticing him, he was struck by how lacking in curves her ass was—indeed, her whole body. Apparently Deidre had bought into the shibboleth that a woman could never be too rich or too thin. While he knew that model-thin was all the rage, unfortunately for the aggressively provocative woman, Jax belonged to the category of men who preferred sumptuous curves to stylishly slender. Take for example, Viviana, whose lush breasts, curvy hips, and sweetheart ass brought his prick to attention at the mere thought.
Following what should have been a pleasant meal of elegant food and superb wine, as the evening progressed, Jax found himself sneaking glances at his phone to see if he had messages. Specifically messages from his sergeant, who should have met with her CI by now. Deidre’s caustic jibe shouldn’t have been a surprise. Compared to her gay repartee, liberally sprinkled with sexual innuendo throughout the evening, her blunt question confirmed that his inattention had been obvious.
“Are you expecting a call, Jax? Surely you can allow yourself one night without babysitting your staff.” Her arched eyebrow and thin-lipped glare belied her quick attempt to soften her annoyed query. When he merely frowned, Deidre gave up any pretense of subtlety. “Seriously, Commander Hughes, I hoped that you and I could spend a quiet night getting to know one another better. I’m confident that we have much in common.”
Apparently Jax had done something right in his life because at that moment, his phone buzzed in earnest. Excusing himself, Jax walked to the edge of the patio and took the urgent call from Lieutenant Jenkins. Ordinarily he would have been annoyed that the eager-to-please lieutenant had interrupted him for a minor issue. Instead he blessed the man for his propitious timing. Pleading a police emergency, Jax excused himself from the clearly infuriated woman. He wasn’t exaggerating when he noted that rather than swaying seductively, Deidre literally flounced up the stairs as she showed him to the door.
On the doorstep, seeming to catch herself, a practiced mask settled over Deidre’s lovely features. Gazing up at him, she said seductively, “Jax, just so you know, I’m an excellent judge of character, particularly men. Given that, I’ll forgive your hasty exit. But do know that I insist on a rain check.” Moving next to him, she traced a scarlet-tipped fingernail over his lapel and murmured in a throaty voice, “Admit it, Commander Hughes. We both know that we share interests. Interests that beg to be explored.” Not waiting for him to agree, she turned and strolled into the house, closing the door behind her.
Done with examining the challenging evening, Jax grimaced at the blank screen on his cell and not trying to stop his determined fingers, he tapped out a text message and hit send.
****
At the hum signifying an incoming text, Viviana broke from her agonized musings and glanced at her phone. The message was short, to the point.
“Checking in. Were you able to meet with the young girl? Jax.”
Startled at the wave of sensations that flooded her, Viviana cautioned herself not to read more into the message than he’d intended. In fact, she reminded herself that more than likely he was making it clear, unlike her former captain had, that she owed him a report. Exhaling a hard sigh, Viviana took her time responding. The last thing she wanted him to think was that she’d been waiting, make that hoping, he would reach out. After considering various responses, including not responding—which is what she would have done if the message was from her old captain or even her annoying lieutenant—she couldn’t keep her fingers from hitting the keys. Aiming for detachment, she texted, “Yes. She was credible.”
His response was immediate. “As in how? What did she have to say?”
Debating how much she was going to tell him, Viviana remembered Sly’s admonition that they “not let some interfering guy who thinks he’s your boss fuck things up.” Deciding that now was a good time to establish boundaries and not able to squelch a tiny grin, she texted, “Lots. I’ll hand in my report in the morning.”
The almost immediate buzz indicating an incoming call put their relationship in perspective. Viviana reminded her pounding heart that as much as she’d like to be the one in control, as Sly had ordered her to be, when it came to her imperious commander, clearly Jax was the one holding the leash.
Chapter 18
Yet another reminder that we need to work on our communication, Sergeant Moreau?”
Viviana swallowed hard, stunned at the electric sparks exploding between her thighs at the sound of his deep voice. God, she should have known that all he’d have to do was speak to her in that commanding tone, and her determination to take charge would turn to mush. Sinking onto the recliner, knowing her trembling legs wouldn’t hold her, she forced herself to reply. “I . . . I don’t understand.” Before she could castigate herself for her shaky response, he cut through the ether.
“While I’m quite sure that you do, Viviana, I will humor you. Obviously I wouldn’t have texted you at twelve-thirty in the morning if I was willing to wait until morning to get your report. So let me be clear. What did the young victim have to say?”
Struggling to bridge the gap between Sly’s cautions and Jax’s assertiveness, Viviana tried not to sound as agitated as she felt. Aiming for calm, she pretended to be surprised. “Sorry, you caught me by surprise. I . . . I was sleeping.”
Horrified that she’d actually lied, underscoring how much he agitated her, Viviana wasn’t surprised at his blandly derisive response. “Since we both know that isn’t true, let’s ignore your need to dissemble for the moment and address the question I asked. You indicated that the girl was credible. One more time, Sergeant, what did she have to say?”
His obvious annoyance had a galvanizing effect on her shaky nerves. Forcing herself to sound much calmer than she felt, she sucked in a deep breath and said, “It was a challenging meeting, Jax.” Surprised at the emotion welling up in her throat, she tried to explain. “She was . . . a kid. I doubt she was sixteen.” She forced herself to speak calmly, to add details to her abrupt admission. “She looked like a hooker. The garish makeup, every color of the rainbow streaking her hair, and an outfit that made the most of her figure all spoke to her profession.” She paused, then added with a pained sigh, “Except that she was so damned young.”
Viviana let the silence stand, not knowing why she felt so emotional. To her surprise, Jax broke the silence. “That sounds tough, Viviana.”
Surprised at his sympathetic on-target response, she sighed and agreed. “Yeah, it was.” Forcing herself to remember her fury upon knowing what those hideous men were doing to the young girl, she found her voice. “Her story was compelling, Jax. While she wasn’t exactly forthcoming, we did get some important information.”
“Who’s we?”
“Uh, my CI was with us. There’s no way that she would have met me wit
hout him.”
Jax snorted. “Would that be the madam who runs a string of hookers of his own? Who is actually a tranny?” He added, humor tingeing his query, “The CI who requires you to dress like a whore when you meet him?”
Knowing how absurd it sounded coming from Jax, Viviana laughed. “I know it’s ridiculous, but I have to humor him. His information is worth the hoops he puts me through.”
“Hmm, knowing you as I do, Viviana, it’s clear you enjoy those hoops or you’d tell him to go to hell.”
Viviana laughed more freely. “You’re right. Besides, I like to dress up.” Knowing that he had to be smiling at her admission, Viviana forced herself to return to the unsettling conversation with Ariel. “I did dress as I always do with Sly, but a couple minutes into the conversation, I told the girl that I was a cop.”
He emitted a surprised whistle. Before he could ask, she tried to explain. “She was so shaky, Jax. Obviously scared out of her mind. I needed to assert my authority. Let her know that I could protect her.”
He said quietly, “Good move, Sergeant. That’s exactly what you needed to do. What did she say about the parties?”
Viviana knew that he was pushing her, apparently assuming that she would tell him everything that had happened. Almost reflexively, she found herself resisting. It wasn’t only Sly’s cautions that made her hesitate. She realized that she wasn’t ready to tell Jax everything she’d learned. She’d barely begun to process the startling possibility that members of Mayor Simpson’s inner circle, potentially including Deidre Cummings, were involved in the crime. Reminding herself that at least according to Sly, Jax was likely involved with the haughty socialite, Viviana drew back. She couldn’t believe how close she’d come to truly confiding in him. Stunned at how easily he’d broken down her resistance, she quickly reverted to form.
Knowing that she had to answer his question somehow, she fudged. “Uh, when it came down to it, she didn’t say a lot. She implied that important people were at the parties but that she didn’t know any of them.”
Jax asked, “Did she mention any names?”
Knowing how perceptive he was, Viviana was as non-committal as she dared to be. “No, not in so many words.”
“I see. Where were the parties? Were they at a club or someone’s home?”
Viviana hesitated, then fibbed, “I asked her that, but she was noncommittal.”
“Hmm, how many girls were involved?”
Viviana heard the impatience in his voice and decided to throw him a bone and then figure out a way to end the conversation.
“She didn’t say, although she did say that in preparation for the parties their pimp gave them what he called vitamins. From how she described her reaction, I’m assuming that he gave them crystal and MDMA.”
When he didn’t respond, Viviana acknowledged that she couldn’t hold him off anymore. He was certain to press, dredge every bit of information out of her that he could. Determined not to let that happen, she said flatly, “At a certain point, the girl seemed to decide that she wasn’t going to answer any more of our questions.”
Jax had heard the change in her voice. He’d been pleasantly surprised in the beginning of the conversation when she’d been relatively open. She’d even betrayed her emotional response to the young prostitute. But for some reason, she’d shifted. Instead of describing what had happened, she stopped volunteering information. To his probing questions, her answers were short, strained. When he pressed her, she became defensive and illusive. Not sure what had caused her to pull back, Jax was silent for a long moment, then said, “Hmm. Much like you have decided, Viviana?”
When she chose not to answer his perceptive question, he let the silence stand for a moment, then said, “It seems that in addition to working on your communication skills, Sergeant, we also need to work on your trust.”
When she still didn’t answer, he said, “Tell you what, Sergeant, let’s plan to meet tomorrow morning at eight thirty sharp. At which time you can give me that full report you alluded to in your dismissive text when you thought you could blow me off. In that report, I expect a detailed description of everything you learned from your informant tonight.”
He waited for a moment, then asked softly, not hiding the command undergirding his question, “Are we clear, Sergeant?” When it was obvious that she wasn’t going to respond, Jax pivoted. Assuming a good-natured tone, he said, “Maybe after a good night’s sleep, Sergeant Moreau, you’ll decide that you can trust me, which will make both of our lives easier. At least that way I won’t have to beat information out of you.” He added with a short laugh, “Or perhaps I’ll put you back on desk duty.” Hearing her sharp intake of air, he mused thoughtfully, “I’ll have to decide which tactic will better convince you to behave. Keeping you chained to my side or spanking that perky ass of yours.”
At her shocked gasp, he chuckled softly. “On that note, I’ll say good night. Sleep well, Sergeant Moreau. I’m looking forward to our meeting tomorrow. I hope you are as well.”
After he closed the call, Jax noted that in addition to other remarkable elements of their exchange, his dick had clearly decided to participate. Unlike the dormant role it had played in the time he’d spent with Deidre, his fearsome staff was back to normal. He wasn’t surprised. It had joined the party the moment he’d received Viviana’s brazen text defying him. By the end of their provocative conversation, his formidable prick had hardened to nail-pounding strength.
****
Hearing the light knock on his door, Jax called out, “Come in.” He was on his feet and halfway to the door when it opened, and Viviana walked in.
“Good morning, Sergeant.” He stepped aside and waved to the chair in front of his desk. “Please come in. Have a seat.”
When she walked stiffly to the chair without responding, he closed the door and went back to his desk. Glancing at his watch as he settled into his chair, he said with a grin, “I’m impressed, Sergeant. You’re only fifteen minutes late. No doubt you’ve been writing your report, which explains your tardiness.”
Acknowledging her strained expression that was a stormy mix of anger and what looked like distrust, Jax decided to ease up. Pointing to the elaborate Delonghi coffeemaker on his marble-topped cabinet, he asked, “Would you like a cup of coffee? I can assure you that this baby makes the best cup of java you’ve ever tasted.” He added pleasantly, “In my travels overseas, I became a bit of a coffee snob. It’s hard to go back to the American coffee shop brews when you’ve savored Fazenda Santa Ines, that nectar of the gods they serve in the Brazilian markets.”
At her continuing silence, he rose and made a production of pouring himself a mug of the fragrant brew. Instead of returning to his chair behind the desk, he leaned against the corner of his desk, hooking one knee over the edge. The nonchalant pose gave him the advantage of being within inches of her. She immediately pulled back and refused to meet his gaze. Studying her thoughtfully, he waited until she glanced up at him. Seeing her lips pressed together in a firm line and her sapphire eyes blazing warily, he didn’t try to hold back his grin.
“Ah, I can see that my feisty sergeant is not happy and apparently has chosen the silent treatment.” Nodding as if in agreement, he said, “In that case, let’s move to the topic at hand. Your report, please, Sergeant Moreau.” He extended his hand and frowned when she didn’t move.
Before he could repeat his demand, she raised her chin. “I don’t have one.”
He was quiet for a moment, then nodded as if he’d expected her response. He stood and yanked a chair from the conference table and plunked it down next to hers. At her startled reaction, he sat down, then leaned forward, crowding her space. “Hmm, I seem to remember indicating that I would choose from a couple of tactics should you continue to ignore my orders.” Gratified at the angry flush flooding her cheeks, he let a smile cross his lips. “Tell me. Sergeant, which should I employ? Enforced desk duty or the more immediate physical response I suggested last night?”
Viviana reared up in her chair and spit out, “You’re not funny, Jax. But to answer your inappropriate question, neither!”
Jax continued to pin her with a narrow gaze and then said, allowing his voice to harden, “It’s ‘Commander’ to you, Sergeant. But I agree. In that our conversation last night ended well after midnight, I will concede that I shouldn’t have expected a written report. In lieu of that, I’ll accept your verbal account.” He moved forward in his chair so that he was a mere foot away from her. “How about we begin with this. I gave you a blank check yesterday to get information from your CI. Did you give him the check?”
When she pressed her lips together and nodded, he said, “Good. How much did he take us for?”
For a moment he thought that Viviana might not respond. Given what he intended to do if she didn’t, he almost hoped that she wouldn’t. He must have betrayed his intention because she glared at him and then tossed her head and said dismissively, “Twenty-five hundred dollars.”
Jax didn’t hide his surprise. He gave a low whistle, then nodded. “Good. That must mean that his information was valuable.” He studied her, then said carefully, “Given that, how about you start at the beginning, Sergeant Moreau, and tell me in exquisite detail the information you acquired in return for that handsome sum of money.”
Before she could begin, Jax’s intercom buzzed. Annoyed, he stood and walked behind his desk. Punching on the intercom, he spoke into it. “I’m in a meeting, Madge, please hold my calls.”
His desk sergeant was apologetic. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, Commander Hughes, but Ms. Cummings called earlier to say that she’d forgotten to give you something last night.”
Jax frowned, wondering what the hell Deidre was up to now. Not hiding his irritation, he cut Madge off with a curt reply. “Thanks, Madge. I’ll get back to her later, when I’m free.”
Madge’s voice was strained. “Uh, that won’t be necessary, sir. She . . . Ms. Cummings is here now.”