“She’s awesome. Jaxon works for the FBI, too, only less secretively.”
“It runs in the family, huh?”
“I guess.”
“What does she do?” Roxy asked, trying to get him to open up to her. She liked what she was seeing. Honestly, she didn’t like men much. Yes, she’d fornicated with a ton of them, but it wasn’t out of love. With Jagger, there was more there. She was crazy about him, and she couldn’t fight it.
She’d tried.
She’d run.
She’d hid.
Still...
Fate helped him find her, and she was glad.
“She’s a doctor. Well, she’s a forensic anthropologist. Before the FBI, she worked for the government, helping them dig up mass graves.”
“Why?”
“She did it to help give them back their dignity. I guess, in her own way, she was paying her penance too.”
It seemed like it.
“Is she married? Single?”
He pulled out his phone and flipped to the pictures. On his screen saver, there was a shot of a pretty redhead. She had the freckles, and she actually looked like some woodland sprite.
“She’s beautiful, Jagger. You both look alike.”
He knew it.
“We look like our mother. While our father was Irish too, he was more back alley with the dark hair. She was the redhead, and our mother, Claire, is where we got it.”
Roxy listened as he talked openly to her about his family. She was more than curious. She needed to know everything about this man. Over the last two months, she’d prayed for a sign, and this had to be it.
He found her.
Somehow, he’d been pointed at her twice.
That meant everything.
“Jaxon is married to another forensic anthropologist, and she’s teaching at a university in DC. She flips back and forth, because she’s a burial rat at heart—her term, not mine.”
“Will I meet her one day?” she asked.
He stared at her, measuring the question. Jagger kept his personal life private, for obvious reasons, but he had the overwhelming desire to share Jaxon, his whole world, with this woman. It had to mean something, right?
“Do you really want to?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” he asked.
“She’s important to you, and she’s going to be an aunt. She’s going to want to meet our child, won’t she?”
“She loves kids. In fact,” he said, hitting the one icon on his phone. It immediately started dialing so they could video conference. It was a huge risk, but he was willing to do it.
What wouldn’t he do for Roxy? She had him tied up in knots from day one.
“Jagger, are you okay?” came her voice over the screen, and then her picture appeared. She was in her office at the university. There were books behind her. “It’s not like you to call this time of the day. Are you hurt?”
He laughed. “Someone has been playing in the dead a little too long,” he teased.
Roxy watched him.
He was alive.
She wanted that with him.
“Well, someone doesn’t tell his sister where he is, so when he calls, she has to freak out.”
“How’s that old husband of yours?” he asked, getting her to refocus. He hated that he couldn’t tell her everything about his job, but loose lips sunk ships.
“Shut up! He’s not that old. He’s barely in his forties,” she said, laughing at her brother. This was his way of teasing Tony. He definitely liked him.
Jaxon knew her brother.
If Jagger really hated him, he would have intervened a long time ago.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Uh oh. Who did you kill? Are you on the lam?” she asked. “Do you need me to come get you?”
“Uh, no. It’s a sad testament to my life that you always think I’m in trouble.”
“You usually are,” she pointed out.
She had a point.
If Jaxon only knew the half of it. Some of his jobs would have given her nightmares.
“I’m not in trouble.”
Well, that was actually a lie. He was screwed seven ways to Sunday on this one. His heart was on the line—AGAIN.
“I wanted you to meet someone.”
“What? As in a person? You want me to meet a person? A real living person? If you tell me it’s a woman, I may need a drink.”
He was amused.
“Yes, she is very much a female. By the way, you’re on speaker, so mind your manners,” he stated.
This was risky, because he wasn’t quite sure how his sister would react. Jaxon loved him, and she was just as protective as he was.
“I need to sit down. Okay, hit me with it.”
“Jax, this is Doctor Roxanne Faust.”
Jagger turned the phone around.
“Oh. My. God!”
Roxy wasn’t sure what to say.
“It is a real woman, and she’s not a made up voice in your head.”
He snorted. “Yeah, no, she’s real, and she’s sitting here with me too.”
Jaxon knew this was huge. This was the first and only time he’d ever called and introduced her to a woman. She was wise to her brother’s life. Jaxon knew he blew through the babes like a man with a cold through tissues.
They both had daddy issues.
He’d scarred them both.
This was monumental. All Jaxon could hope was she was a permanent fixture in her brother’s life. He needed love. Everyone did. This might heal him, like Tony healed her.
“Are you a couple?” she asked.
Jagger stared at Roxy.
“In a way, yes,” he offered. They had created another life. That tied you to the person for a very long time.
Your whole life.
“You actually found a woman who will put up with your shit. I had better get to a fallout shelter. It’s the end of the freaking world.”
He started laughing.
“Shut up. You’re being a brat, as usual. Roxy, this is my sister, Jaxon. She’s the only woman in the world who talks smack to me and gets away with it.”
“I do believe I’ve thrown down, Jagger,” Roxy offered. “We’ve gone a few rounds.”
Yes, yes, they had.
“I like her already,” Jaxon said, and then she focused on the woman. “It’s nice to meet you, Doctor. Why are you with my brother? Is he holding you at gunpoint? Just nod. I’ll talk him down. When he comes off his meds, he does shit like this. Oh, and farm animals.”
“JAX! I do not! What the hell?” He knew this had to be his payback for riding Jaxon about her husband, Tony.
Roxy laughed at the blush that raced across his face.
“I think I like you too, Jaxon, and he’s not holding me at gun point.”
“What kind of doctor are you?” she asked.
“Coroner.”
“Cool. Did you lose a bet in a poker game, and he was the booby prize?”
She laughed. “No, we met on one of his assignments. I think that’s what he calls them.”
“Holy shit. I don’t know what to say. Jagger is actually focused on something other than killing people. This is an odd day for me.”
Jagger turned the phone so she could focus on him. “There’s more.”
“So help me God, if you tell me you’ve found Jesus, I'm getting on a plane and coming there. She’s not in a C.U.L.T is she? That’s the only way I can explain this,” Jaxon whispered, as she spelled it out.
Roxy laughed.
She thought back to how she spelled bastard when talking about Lucian.
“I think I love your sister. She may be me from another mother and father.”
“I am lovable,” she admitted. “He’s the cranky one, and I’m the sweet one.”
“Focus, Jax. Like I said, there’s more.”
“What? What could you possibly tell me today that’s going to top the fact you found a woman who tolerates you?”
Jaxon stared at him.
Then she burst into tears.
“Jesus! Jaxy, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I swear. Stop! You know it freaks me out when you weep.”
It was true.
There was nothing that would level him like a weeping woman.
No.
That wasn’t true.
The women he bedded would cry and weep when he walked out, and he never gave a shit. When he loved a woman, it mattered.
Jaxon mattered.
Roxy mattered.
Maura mattered.
The entire time, Roxy said nothing. She simply watched the whole thing. He was completely different with her then with the rest of the world. Here he was, trying to soothe his sister.
It was sweet.
It was gentle.
It was…endearing.
“I’m sorry I told you this way, but I didn’t want you to find out three months from now.”
“Oh, Jagger,” she sniffled. “I love you so much. I’m so happy for you. God! This is the best day ever.”
“Thank you, Jaxy.”
“Turn the phone around.”
He did what his sister said.
“Congrats on your child, Doctor. I haven’t gotten to say this often, or at all, but here you go. You’re getting a great man. He may come across chilly, or an asshole, but he’s going to be there for you, and that child. Jagger, if anything, is honorable. He makes a commitment and sticks with it.”
She was aware.
That was something missing from her life. Roxy never had stability until Silas took her in.
“He’s not chilly at all. If anything, he’s passionate and loves people. He’s a very special man.”
Jaxon burst into more tears.
“Jax, sweetie, you’re at work. Have some dignity,” Jagger said, trying to tease her.
“I was going to call you later,” she sniffled. “I needed to talk to you, Jagger.”
“About what?”
“Tony and I just found out yesterday that we’re expecting. I’m pregnant too.”
He dropped his phone.
Roxy laughed.
He picked it up and stared at her. “That asshole knocked my sister up?” he stated, tears filling his eyes. He couldn’t pull off the faux outrage. It just wasn’t possible. His baby sister was going to have a child of her own.
It staggered him.
She was right.
This was a really good day.
“We both created something beautiful,” Jaxon said. “We made little miracles.”
There was only one way to break Jagger.
Well, until Roxy, there was only one way. Seeing his sister weep over this warmed the chill. She was genuinely happy, and in that moment, Jagger realized something.
He wanted to feel that.
He wanted to be someone’s old husband. He glanced over at Roxy, and she was even wiping her eyes. He recalled a moment in his past before his mother died. She’d told him to take care of Jaxon. No matter what, to make sure she was okay in life.
Well, that moment was here.
She was beyond okay, and so was he.
They were both complete—or he was nearly there. This moment healed. The fact that they were both having children wasn’t coincidence. Fate had a plan, and he was done fighting it.
This was definitely one battle that he was willing to lose so he could win the war.
“I hope our children have much better lives than the ones we had, Jagger. We’re going to be good parents, right?”
She needed him to reassure her.
“We are going to be the best. Have I ever lied to you?”
Roxy watched the interaction. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen in her life. He was showing her a whole different side of him, and she needed this.
The wounded part of her needed to see how he’d love her and their child.
It was complete.
Unrelenting.
Bottomless.
Roxy wanted that with him.
“When you’re done, Jagger, will you come to DC? I really need to see you. I need my big brother.”
He wiped his eyes. “I’ll be there, Jax. I’ll get to you no matter what. I promise you.”
“Bring Roxy. I want to meet her in person. She seems like an amazing woman, and you’re lucky to have found her.”
He hoped they’d be together, but he wasn’t sure. Maybe the doctor was simply being nice. Just because he felt something, it didn’t mean she did.
He couldn’t be sure.
She didn’t offer to come.
“I love you, Jagger. God! I really love you,” Jaxon said, before kissing her cell phone. “See you soon.”
“I promise. I love you too, Jaxon. Tell Tony we’re going to have a talk.”
She laughed. “I will.”
The video call ended.
When he looked up, Roxy was staring at him.
“What?”
“I don’t know what to think about you, Jagger. You come across as this tough Marine, but that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He shrugged and wouldn’t look at her.
It was clear he was embarrassed.
Roxy saw him struggling with it, and she opted to offer up the olive branch. Maybe it would bridge some of the hurt she’d done in their brief past.
“Your sister is pretty sweet.”
“Yeah, she is. I’m happy for her.”
“You like her husband, don’t you?” Roxy asked.
“Yeah, I really do. He’s bossy, stable, and he loves my sister as if she’s the only woman on the Earth. That was all I ever wanted for her. She’s finally happy, and now I can stop watching over her like a mad man. I’ve done my duty.”
Roxy wondered what that feeling would be like—to have someone guard, protect, and cherish. Jaxon was lucky.
“So will you?” he asked.
“Will I what?”
“Come back to DC with me to meet my sister?” he asked. It was a huge risk, and he knew it. Jagger didn’t share his life, his family or his personal shit with anyone. The people on his team had yet to meet Jaxon.
There was a reason.
She was his.
Now he wanted Roxy to have someone like Jaxon too. It was a baby step, but he was new at this. The last time he took a chance, she ran. He’d had his heart handed to him, and it sucked.
He held his breath.
“You move fast.”
He closed his mouth.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
She leaned over and kissed him again. “You’re an idiot for assuming. That’s definitely a yes. For the record, I’m glad you move fast.”
He was shocked.
Surprised.
“Really?”
She nodded. “I’d love to meet your sister.”
Roxy realized something.
In that moment, the lightbulb had gone on.
She wanted more.
She was pretty sure she wanted everything Jagger had to offer. She wanted to be safe, happy, and have that dream.
She wanted to be his wife.
Chapter Eight
Thursday Afternoon
As they arrived at the school, Bishop was going to let them run this one. She’d done her thing, and she’d gotten the information out of the reporter. If she was going to work with them, then she needed to see what kind of cops they were.
Yes, she’d been on their team back in Ravenswood, but now it was up close and personal, and she was curious.
Nate Carter was an enigma.
He screamed director when you looked at him. He was always so stiff, formal, and in a suit.
Then there was Lucas Mars. He was like some big kid with beach blonde hair. The two of them were an unlikely duo, but they were obviously close.
Frick and Frack were up to bat.
As they were walking toward the building, they were met with a surprise.
The sheriff was there waiting for them, and he wasn’t smiling.
“Uh, did we have a date?” Luke asked, trying to keep it light. There was a balancing act when working with the locals. Toss in Oracle, and you couldn’t screw it up. There was too much on the line.
“Yeah, we do. I got all the way back to my office and I couldn’t do this. I don’t trust you three.”
Bishop snorted.
“You find that funny, miss?”
She glanced over at him. “Before I was handed this badge, I was a sheriff. I recently said the same thing to them, so I get it. You want to protect your people, and that’s noble, but you have an issue in Happy. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns, my friend. You got a shitload of crazy on the loose. So, you can let us do our jobs, or you can sit in your office, wonder how the hell you got to this point, and pack your shit when you get voted off the sheriff island.”
“You lost your job?”
“Let’s just say that I played fast and loose with the rules, and the only agency that would have me is the FBI.”
Nate listened to her.
She was smart, she was astute, and she handled herself just fine. He could stop worrying about Bishop. She did the job, because she was always meant to be the job.
It was a rare thing in their world.
“I want in.”
She let Nate handle this one. This was more his thing than hers. He was the boss. She wasn’t even a real Fed.
“Sheriff, we’ll let you in when we have something. Honestly, we have Doctor Faust’s opinion that something is going on, but we don’t have anything to substantiate it.”
“So the FBI sends a boatload of agents to a town for no reason?”
Yeah, this was the tricky part.
“We can’t tell you everything,” Nate offered. “We have rules.”
He wasn’t buying it.
Bishop could tell.
“Maybe we have had something like this happen elsewhere in the country, and that’s why we’re here. Maybe this isn’t an isolated incident, and the government is covering its bases. HINT. HINT.”
He stared at her, and then smiled. “Oh, I get it.”
She smiled back. “You’re a quick one, Sheriff.”
Nate knew he needed to get this under control. Bishop had opened the door, and he was taking the lead.
Oracle Saving (The Phoenix Files Book 3) Page 15