by Taylor Lee
Chapter 22
Gratified by her shocked gasp, Jax refused to let her pull away from him. Instead, he held her close to him. Tipping up her chin and holding it firmly between his thumb and forefinger, he forced her to meet his gaze. He hadn’t planned on having this conversation with her at this time, but it was obvious he needed her to understand that he’d been as upset as she was at Deidre’s appearance. Particularly Deidre’s obnoxious insinuations.
He said softly, “Viviana, I apologize for Deidre’s unexpected arrival yesterday. Apparently she wanted you to know that I had been with her the evening before.”
When Viviana flushed and tried to break away, he tightened his hold and shook his head. “Uh-uh, Viviana, you need to understand . . . ”
Managing to jerk free, Viviana shook her head violently from side to side and moved back as she spoke. Her face was flushed, and Jax didn’t miss the angry tears welling in her stormy indigo eyes. She said angrily, “You’re wrong. I don’t need or want to understand anything about that awful woman or any of your other flings . . . ”
As she whirled toward the door, Jax caught her before she could get away. He captured her in his arms. Pulling her backside toward him, he held her trembling body firmly against him. Brushing his lips across her neck, he was gratified at the shiver that shook her. Knowing he was playing with a potential firestorm of emotions—his as much as hers—he said carefully, “Hear me out, Viviana. Yes, I was with Ms. Cummings the night before last. And yes, she apparently wanted the world, and especially you, to know that. She had no business coming to my office, and I’ve made it clear that she isn’t to do that again.” When Viviana tried to break free, he tightened his hold. “I also told her that I won’t tolerate her being rude to you.”
Feeling her tremble, he wasn’t surprised when she shook her head and said fiercely, “Damn you for the arrogant asshole that you are! I don’t need anyone, especially you, to protect me from that bitch.”
Not letting her break free, Jax demurred. “I disagree. Not with your description of me but with your assertion that you don’t need anyone to protect you.” Feeling her body-shaking tremors, and aware of the fact that she had to feel his aroused cock pressing against her ass, he lightened his hold. He knew if he didn’t, there was no way that he could control his need to take her. Stunned at how close to the surface his desire for her was, he gently eased her away. Taking the coward’s way out, he latched on to her assertion that she didn’t need protection.
Reaching for her hand, he led her over to the conference table. Pulling out a chair, he seated her, then reached for the chair at the head of the table and sat down. Doing his best to ignore her ravaged expression, he hoped that the move established his position as her commander. Allowing a smile to quirk his lips, he said, “Now that we have relegated Ms. Cummings to her appropriate place—that of an annoying and persistent woman—let’s discuss you and me.” At her shocked expression, he shook his head and said with a grin, “No, not that you and me. I believe we agreed to put that particular issue on the back burner.”
Seeing her cheeks flare with heat and her eyes spike with anger, he held up his hand. “Settle down, tiger. This is a conversation that we’ve had before, but this time before we’re done, you and I are both going to agree that we are on the same page.”
When she frowned and her damnable chin went up in the air, it was all Jax could do not to jerk her out of her chair and turn her over his knee as he’d threatened to do. She must have seen his intent, because she flushed brighter and backed away in her chair. He nodded in agreement.
“Smart move, Sergeant. Please know that I’m done trying to convince you that you are not alone in this world. Whatever the fuck you are into, you do not have to do it alone. In fact, you’re not going to, because I’m not going to let you.” Seeing her guard go up, he said, “Listen to me, sweetheart, and listen well. I’m not only your commander; I’m also your confidant. In the event that you don’t know the meaning of the word, it means that you can trust me to keep your information in confidence.”
When her chin shot up, he narrowed his eyes and moved forward a threatening inch. Gratified when she pulled away, he laid down his marker. “I asked you this twice last night, and you chose not to answer me.” At her scowl, he almost laughed but instead focused a narrowed gaze on her and said quietly, “Last time, Sergeant Moreau. Where were you last night, and who were you with?”
Seeing her process his question and knowing that he’d get a half-answer at best, he continued to hold her gaze. Confirming that he’d read her correctly, she shrugged and said, “I was with my CI.”
Not letting her look away, he pressed on. “The entire night?”
When she didn’t respond, he asked, “Did you meet with your informant? The young informant?”
Seeing her slight hesitation, he said with a smile, “You’re not nearly as impervious as you think you are, Viviana. But let’s try another tack. And please know, Sergeant Moreau, my patience is wearing thin. If I haven’t convinced you of that, you’re not nearly as perceptive as I know you are. How about I put it this way instead? How can I help you, Sergeant?”
She seemed to consider his question, but even he was surprised when she responded, “I need more money.”
“How much?”
She started and then said quickly, “At least twenty-five hundred dollars.”
Jax nodded and walked over to his desk. He pulled out his checkbook, then returned to his chair and sat down beside her. He held her gaze for a long moment, then signed the top check, ripped it off, and handed it to her.
She looked at it and shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure how much I’ll need. It may be more than before.”
“Let me know so that I can account for it.” When she just frowned and looked down, he took her hand and squeezed it, forcing her to look at him. He nodded at the check.
“In the world of confidants, Viviana, this is what is known as a show of faith. However, do know that this one comes with more strings than the previous blank check I gave you. When you tell me the amount you write on it, I also expect that you will tell me to whom you gave the money and what information you received in return. That’s how it works between confidants, Sergeant. Trust is mutual.”
Not letting go of her hand, he said, “Are we agreed, Sergeant?”
She hesitated for a long moment, not meeting his eyes, then nodded and said, “Agreed.”
****
Viviana strode to her desk, knowing that likely everyone in the squad room was looking at her—either directly like Mick was or discreetly like the ones who glanced up and then quickly looked away. According to Mick, the interaction between her and Jax was the hottest gossip in the squad. Apparently, Deidre’s stunt yesterday had driven the chatter up the Richter scale to earthquake levels. Knowing that she was flushed, Viviana did her best to assume a nonchalance she was far from feeling. Nodding to the men she passed and stopping to shoot the shit with some of her drinking buddies, she made it to her desk. She didn’t know how she could face her perceptive partner given what had happened with Jax. Fortunately, Mick’s eagerness wasn’t about her and the overbearing commander.
“Wondered when you were going to get out of there, Viv. I wanted you to know that the package was delivered as you requested. By the way, that little girl was scared shitless. I’m not sure what her role is in this case you’ve been unwilling to bring me into, but if it’s as dangerous as you think it is, I hope that little girl ain’t in the middle of it.”
Viviana knew that she owed Mick at least a little background; besides, she desperately needed to get away from the squad, specifically the tall, domineering man she’d just escaped. She motioned to Mick. “How about we go get a little java, partner, and catch up?” At Mick’s quick agreement, and knowing that he likely thought that she was going to confide in him, she grabbed her Glock and shoved it in her holster. Seeing Mick’s eagerness, she knew she should be embarrassed at her duplicity. But how could sh
e explain that there was no way she could bring him into her confidence, that the mission was far too dangerous to trust with anyone, most especially the daunting man she’d just left?
She was grateful that unlike Jax, she knew that Mick wouldn’t push her when she grew silent and chose not to answer his questions. At least the Irishman understood the requirements of partnering with her. The unspoken but well understood rule between them was “ask no questions and expect no explanations until and if Viviana is ready to give them.” She’d never known how much she appreciated Mick’s deference until she ran into the overbearing man who thought that trust was mutual. It was a foreign concept to her and one she’d fight to the end. Remembering Jax’s stern gaze and implied punishments if she tried to hold back, Viviana was shocked at the sparks of sensations that shuttled across her core. She admitted that while she would never let him do any of the things his provocative threats implied, the thought was hard to dismiss from her overwrought nerves and body. She blew out a despairing sigh and conceded her untoward reaction was precisely what he’d intended.
Viviana thanked Mick profusely for delivering the package. Eager to connect with Sly and hoping that he’d heard from Ariel, she threw Mick a bone. “I’m not surprised that the girl was frightened, Mick. She got in a mess way over her head. I’m trying to make sure that some very bad people don’t know she’s my source.”
“Any chance you’re gonna tell me the ‘source’ for what, Viv? Or are you going to keep me in the dark as usual?”
When Viviana just gave him an embarrassed shrug, he shook his head. “I sure wish you felt that you could trust me, Viv. It might make your life a hell of a lot easier.”
As she gave him an excuse for why she had to leave, Viviana acknowledged that his assertion about her lack of trust was becoming familiar. In the last twelve hours she’d heard it from Sly, Mick, and, of course, from Jax. She was confident she could hold Mick and even Sly at bay if she had to. She admitted that she wasn’t sure how she could hold Jax off. But knowing how critical it was that he not learn what she was doing, she was sure that she would find a way.
****
Not trying to hide her excitement, Viviana urged Sly to repeat his message.
“Honest to God, Sly, she really identified four of them?”
“Yep, sugar lips, she sure did. I made her repeat the numbers three times to make sure we were on the same page. She not only got them right, but she described the assholes to a T.”
Viviana said, “Please tell me, Sly, that we are really about to crack the biggest case we’ve ever had!” Her voice rising with excitement, she added, “Can you just see the headlines when I reveal that none other than the circuit judge from the ninth district, along with not one, but two fucking district attorneys and the biggest venture capitalist in the city are involved in an underage trafficking scheme?”
Sly’s voice was taut with exhilaration. “There’s something else, Viviana, and I sure as hell hope you are sitting down. While she didn’t have a name or a number, when I asked her if there were any women involved, Ariel did mention that there was one. She went on to describe a tall, dark-haired woman who, as Ariel said, ‘seemed to be in charge.’ ”
At Viviana’s shriek of excitement, Sly continued. “I pushed her hard, Viv, but everything I asked just cemented the fact that the bitch of all bitches is likely involved right up to that skinny ass of hers.”
After she and Sly had congratulated each other numerous times and she agreed to pay him double what she had before, Sly posed a question. “I’m just thinking, sugar lips, since your righteous commander has apparently given you a blank check, we might be wise to bring him into the equation.” At Viviana’s fierce refusal, Sly persisted. “I dunno, kiddo, I’m thinking we could use a little muscle. We’re tangling with some big fish, sweetheart, and that commander of yours might just be able to help us reel them in.”
Viviana was adamant. “Absolutely not, Sly. That is not an option.”
Sly sighed audibly. “I know you are a loner, sweet cheeks, and that you are as likely to trust someone as the sun is to rise in the West. But . . . ”
Remembering that Jax had admitted he’d been with Deidre and, at least in the horrible woman’s mind, the relationship was layered, Viviana was fierce. “Absolutely not, Sly. Fuck it. You’re the one who told me that my ‘righteous commander’ and the bitch are seeing each other.” Even though she knew it wasn’t possible, she added, “What if Jax is involved?”
Sly snorted. “Jesus, Vivi. You know that isn’t true. That guy is about as straight an arrow as you or I have ever had in our quiver. A hell of a lot straighter than either one of us.”
Conceding the point but refusing to budge, Viviana gave in to her bitterness. She could have told her street-smart CI that yeah, her commander was a straight arrow except when it came to women. It was then that his “ends justifies the means” mentality ruled. God knows she learned that the hard way. At base, Viviana knew it was impossible that Jax would ever be part of an underage trafficking ring. But Deidre’s smirking, Botox-smoothed expression as she’d latched on to him at the precinct yesterday reminded Viviana that she owed Jax nothing. Least of all her trust.
Chapter 23
Jax was pleased, if not entirely sanguine, that he may have gotten through to Viviana. He sure as hell hoped so. He hadn’t exaggerated when he told her he’d reached the end of his rope as far as her duplicity was concerned. Remembering her lush body as he’d held her hard up against him, he admitted that it wouldn’t be all bad if she lied to him again. There could be worse things than tossing her over his knee and spanking the hell out of her. He dismissed his salacious thoughts, knowing that they were shortsighted at best. His gut told him that Viviana was into something big, and he was sure as hell it was something dangerous. It was also something that by the end of the day he intended to find out.
Hearing a knock, he rose and opened the door, then ushered Mick O’Reilly and Travis Jenkins into his office. Quickly dispensing with the pleasantries, he turned to the task at hand.
“Look, fellows, I need a little help. I’m doing what I can to earn the trust of that challenging sergeant of ours, but I’m the first one to admit that I’m coming up short. Given that you two know her the best, any suggestions on how to convince that hard-headed woman that life could be a few million degrees easier if she chose not to go it alone?”
Lieutenant Jenkins was dismissive, his voice riddled with barely suppressed scorn. “Forget it, Commander. In Viviana’s world, there is one person worthy of her trust, and that is her.” He added with a sneer, “Besides, if she ever included anyone in her fucking cases, she might have to share some of the glory with one of us poor suckers. Take it from me, Commander, and I ought to know, in Viviana’s mind there is only one person who deserves the limelight, and that is the magnificent Sergeant Viviana Moreau.”
O’Reilly frowned and shook his head. Glancing at his flushed, clearly angry lieutenant, he met Jax’s gaze. “Travis and I have had this discussion before, Commander, and just so you know, I think he’s full of shit.” Ignoring Jensen’s angry grunt, Mick continued. “In my mind, Viviana is the most generous person I know. She would and does share the spotlight whenever she can. She can’t help it that she makes better copy and is a hell of a lot prettier than the rest of us. That said, I will tell you, Commander, that my partner is the least trusting person I know.” He was silent for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “I don’t know what happened to her along the way, but something bad did. Even with me, and I think I’m as close a friend as she has, she doesn’t bring me into a case until she has everything solved.” He shrugged and put up his hands in defeat. “Sorry, man, but you just have to accept it. That’s the way she rolls. We’ve all learned that we will know what she’s doing when she’s good and ready to tell us—and not a minute before.”
Several hours later, after Jax had his head and heart handed to him, he remembered how cocky he’d been to think he was different f
rom all the men Viviana had deceived. It turned out that the only difference was that he was an even bigger chump than the rest. He’d actually been arrogant enough to think that he’d gotten to her. That he’d convinced her she needed to trust him or else. He snorted. So much for that threat. Not three hours ago, she’d looked him in the eye and flat-out lied to him. His anger was sharpened by his fury at himself for being such an egotistical fool that he’d believed her.
****
“Vivi, come here please.”
Viviana looked over and saw the serious expression on Madge Peterson’s face. She’d been surprised when Jax texted her and told her to come to his office immediately. Hoping that Madge might know what was going on, she strode over to her desk.
“What’s up, Madge? Is there some kind of an emergency?”
Madge breathed a hard sigh. “I don’t know, Vivi. I only know that Commander Hughes ordered me to find you ASAP and to let him know if you weren’t here within fifteen minutes.”
“I . . . I don’t understand. I came as soon as I got his text.”
Madge waved her closer and said in a conspiratorial tone, “That may be, but you need to know: I’ve never seen the commander angry before, but he sure is now.”
Viviana couldn’t hide her annoyance. “I don’t get it, Madge. Something must have happened.”
Madge sighed again. “All I can tell you is that about thirty minutes ago, Frank Reynolds barreled his way in here, raging like Mount Vesuvius about to blow. He demanded to see the commander, and when I started to announce him to Jax, he practically bit my head off. He said, ‘That isn’t necessary, Sergeant Peterson. I’ll see myself in.’ With that, he marched into Jax’s office and slammed the door behind him. He was in there for about fifteen minutes. When he stormed out looking like he was out for blood, the commander told me to get hold of you. Immediately.”