by Dakota Trace
Jackson tipped his head back. What the hell had he been thinking when Jude and he decided to lure Ethan away from his lucrative job as the Head of Security at the prestigious Tulane Hospital in Atlanta? Oh yeah, how he’d be an asset to us after the way he’d handled the situation with Micah.
“You do realize I’m your boss, right? And I can make your life much more miserable than you can make mine?”
The idiot had the audacity to laugh. “Of course, why else do you think I needle you? So you can keep me on my toes and my skills sharp.” He tossed a report onto Jackson’s desk. “But all kidding aside, Jude requested I drop this file off to you. It’s a copy of the list the DMV sent over of possible vehicles based on the partial I got off the getaway car. He asked you to pass the information on to the investigator who Jude replaced Levi with when you go meet her at his condo today.”
Picking up the file, Jackson once more was all business. “So he finally took my advice to keep Rogers on guard duty only? I don’t know what Rena was thinking when she recommended him as her replacement.”
“Probably that he was a competent replacement for the majority of her duties. Didn’t you tell me her primary duty was guard duty here at headquarters?”
Jackson nodded. “That’s where she started out, but damn…she’s a fine investigator. I worked with her in Ireland, and damned if she doesn’t have fast reflexes, even coming out of a dead sleep.”
Ethan stared at him. “Do I even want to know how you know that?”
Jackson grinned – the first time since the incident last night. “Probably not. It might scar you for life.”
Shaking his head, Ethan stood. “You and Dickens with your fetishes for ropes and whips…”
“And paddles…” Jackson added mischievously.
Ethan groaned. “I don’t want to know. I just don’t.” He turned to leave.
“Hmmm, guess I shouldn’t tell you about the handcuffs Maria asked me about?”
If he hadn’t thought it possible he’d have been shocked at the red flush climbing up Ethan’s neck. Standing as if frozen in place, Ethan gave a perfect dime-store Indian impression. “What about them?”
“Well, who do you think gave them to her? Evidently a certain injun likes to be handcuffed to your bed…” Jackson’s eyes widened as Ethan spun, locked the door, and dived over the desk at him in one smooth motion. He grunted, catching the man as they toppled over his chair and onto the floor laughing uproariously.
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Rena pulled into the underground garage a few blocks away from Olivia’s condo. Flicking off the ignition switch, she rested her head against the headrest. It had been one hell of a day so far. After taking the day off from the mall, she’d gone down to the local precinct only to go around and around with the detective assigned to Jude’s case. As usual, Chicago’s finest wasn’t thrilled with the idea of her poking her nose into an ongoing investigation. But that’s too damn bad. Jude wants me here.
It had taken every trick in the book and finally a call from Olivia to get them to allow her into an active crime scene. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know how to handle herself because she did. She had done counter-intelligence while she’d been stationed overseas. She figured it was because she was a woman. Despite everything, security was still very much a male-dominated field. Pulling the keys, she pocketed them before grabbing her tote of essentials. It was time to get to work.
It took her less than five minutes to walk the two blocks to the entrance of the condo. Pushing her way inside the foyer, she grimaced as she caught sight of a familiar face. Anthony Samson, the most unprofessional security guard she’d ever met, was sitting behind the desk. What the hell’s he doing here? I thought the condo board fired his ass.
“Well if it isn’t Ms. Badass.” The man smirked down at her as if he knew something she didn’t. “I’m afraid Ms. Metjka isn’t home right now, and I have it from a higher authority her condo is off limits to everyone – including…” He gave her a disdainful look. “…people like you.”
Sighing, she set her tote down on the desk, before leaning over it. “Do you have to work at it or were you just born an idiotic asshole who can’t fight his way out of paper bag?” Her deliberate taunt was meant to remind the fool of the last time they’d tangled.
She had been on guard duty for Olivia after the attack at her home. Sometimes she swore the woman was a trouble magnet. That’s when the fool in front of her had tried to deny her access to the building on the grounds she was what he called an “overweight” nigger who wouldn’t be able to protect anything. She knew her luscious curves were misleading but they were a good disguise. Most weren’t expecting her to be anything more than what her outward appearance indicated - until they challenged her. The fool in front of her was no exception. She’d wiped the floor with his ass just to prove why her superiors had always put her on the front line. While she didn’t look like a threat, in reality she was truly dangerous.
“I have the law on my side. Officer Anderson gave me specific instructions about not allowing anyone in or out of Ms. Metjka’s condo – and that includes you. So I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”
Giving the man a mocking smile, she pulled out a paper from her tote. “You know that might actually work with another person, but I have express permission from the Chicago P.D. to go into Olivia’s home.” She shoved it under his nose.
Picking up the official document, he frowned then flushed as he read it. “Where the hell did you get this?”
It was her turn to look smug. “From Detective Anderson after I stopped by the precinct this morning. He’s planning on meeting me here in the next hour or so. What do you think he’ll do if he finds me still out here arguing with your stupid ass?”
He tossed the paper back at her. “You can go up but I don’t have a key to let you in.”
Pulling the key ring Jude had given her out of her pocket, she smiled. “Not to worry, I have my own.” Lifting the tote off the desk, she made her way to the elevator. She gave the fuming guard a quick wave as the elevator doors closed. “Asshole.” Her smile fell as the elevator climbed. She was here to try and figure out why someone targeted Jude and Olivia.
When the elevator opened, she walked down the short hall to Olivia’s door. On this floor there were only two condos. She wasn’t sure who owned the other one since she hadn’t met anyone during the short time she’d guarded Olivia. Making a mental note to check out who the neighbors were, she slid the key into the lock.
The moment she crossed the threshold the smell of ammonia coming from the vandal’s urine hit her nose. Her nostrils flared as she shut the door behind her. “Damn it stinks in here. Olivia’s going to have a bitch of time getting this smell out when she comes home.”
Depositing her tote on the coffee table in the living room, she pulled out a pair of gloves. “Now according to the reports, the perp came in through the balcony doors, so I guess I’ll start there, see if I can figure out how they entered.” Grabbing her notebook, a pen and tape measure, she headed into the kitchen. She picked her way across the kitchen, taking note of the way the glass was scattered. “Not that it matters. Lord knows how many people have trounced through here, disturbing the fragments.”
Measuring the size of the glass doors, she jotted them down. No one mentioned in the report of any of the witnesses or neighbors hearing the glass break, but it was worth a shot. Before she left, she’d have to stop and make their acquaintance. Moving around to the doorframe, she looked at the jamb, tracks and finally the motion sensor. There was something off here, but she just couldn’t figure it out, and the plywood the security company had put up wasn’t helping matters.
According to Jude’s statement to the police, he’d moved the sensor higher, thinking birds had set it off originally. But after studying it, she wasn’t sure if the breaking of the glass was what had disturbed the sensor. The slider was spider-webbed up from the middle of the pane in such a way it didn�
��t seem consistent with that theory. “I’d be surprised if there was enough force to make the sensor go off, like the police notes suggest.” She scribbled another note down on her pad.
She was just about to measure the hole in the center of the pane when she heard a familiar masculine voice behind her. “Hello?”
Freezing, she wanted to find Jude’s ass and kick it so far up between his shoulder blades he’d be spitting out shoe leather for the next week. “Unbelievable. Just un-fucking-believable.” Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she prepared herself to come face to face with Jackson.
His scent reached her first. The moment he appeared in the doorway, his cologne wafted over to her, then his sheer presence engulfed her with the need to submit. It was the same desire she’d been battling every time they’d been in the same room since she’d met him. She was a big girl, she could do this. Act like the professional you are, Rena. He can’t force your submission.
“Rena?” He seemed just as shocked as she did. As she took in his work clothes, rumpled hair and blackened eye, she wondered what the hell had happened but forced herself to concentrate on the issue at hand. If she gave him an inch, he’d surely take a mile – and she knew it.
“Well get your skinny white ass over here. I need to bounce something off you.” She moved back to the sliding door. Resuming the measuring of the hole, she felt him join her.
“So that’s how you’re going to play it, ma peekôn?”
“Play what? I’m here to do a job. To help Jude figure out who’s targeting Olivia.”
“You’re assuming Olivia’s the target. It could be Jude or Micah. All three of them live together – love together.” The heat from his body radiated towards her as he stepped closer. There was only an inch separating their bodies. “Damn you smell good. Good enough to eat.”
It took all her willpower to not melt at his feet when he nudged aside one of her braids with his nose to access the side of her neck. It was one of the things she’d loved about being near him. Their height was close enough he didn’t have to bend to kiss her. “Hmmmm.” The brush of his lips against the back of her ear coaxed a betraying shiver out of her.
“White boy…” What she meant to come out as a rebuke ended up sounding more like a plea as he wrapped his arms around her, trapping her against his hard body.
“I’ve missed you, Rena.” He nipped at her earlobe. “You left me while I was ill. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t know you were the one at the hospital who harassed the nursing staff or you were the one who brought the Christmas Cactus in because you knew flowers stirred up my allergies? Or your scent was the one I woke up with each morning and went to bed with each night I was in that miserable place.”
“You had plenty of care, Jackson, and more than enough friends around. You didn’t need me at your bedside once I made sure you were getting the proper care.”
She pulled away, surprised when he released her. He was quiet for so long she wondered if he’d left. Finally she gave in to temptation and turned to check if he was still in the room. Her eyes widened as she took in the stormy expression on his face.
“I’d like to know who the hell hurt you so badly, Rena MacAllister, that you’d doubt your worth to me as a friend, let alone a beautiful submissive woman.” Then he turned and strode out of the room.
Neither surprise nor shock could cover the emotions that hit her as she tried to take in what had just happened.
Chapter Eight
Jackson wasn’t sure if he should go out and find the asshole who’d done such a number on the woman he’d just left standing in the kitchen, or if he should bend Rena over his knee and paddle some sense into her for believing it. Raking a hand through his hair, he paced back and forth in the living room. One thing was sure, he needed to get a handle on his temper before he did both.
A knock at the door forced him to stop his pacing. Striding over to it, he gave the nob a vicious twist, jerking it open to find Detective Sean Anderson standing in the hallway. Somehow he wasn’t surprised that Jude had requested that the detective be put on his case. It’s good to have friends in high places at the Chicago PD.
“Jackson.” A wry grin crossed Sean’s face. “Somehow I had a feeling you were the reason I was handed this case and then to find you at the crime scene. Well I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Jackson shrugged as if he had no idea what the other man was talking about. “Sorry, I think it was Jude’s hand this time, not mine. But thanks for coming. The report I read afterward showed a blatant lack of good handling.”
A frown crossed Sean’s face. “Well I’ve read the report and did notice some inconsistencies, but nothing suggested the investigation had been handled incorrectly.”
“Well come on in. I’ll let you look around. I’m sure you’ll be able to help us get to the bottom of it. Whether the crime scene was mishandled or not, it’ll get Jude off my ass.” Jackson stepped back, allowing the cop to enter. “I can’t tell you how much grief I’ve gotten from him of late, especially after Olivia’s car was vandalized last night.” Shutting the door behind him, Jackson wasn’t surprised to see Sean wrinkle his nose.
“Damn, the stench in here is unbelievable.”
“Yeah that’s what happens when you have a heat wave going on and the perp decided to defecate and urinate all over the place. We’re dealing with one sick fucker.”
A high pitch squeal came from the kitchen, interrupting their conversation. A muffled thud followed by a feminine curse had Jackson hurrying into the kitchen. Both he and Sean stopped and stared as they encountered Rena standing on a kitchen chair, proceeding to chew out the motion sensor at the top of the slider. Some of the curse words were shocking to hear as she prodded at the damn thing.
“Rena?” His voice rose to be heard over the shrill shrieking of the alarm.
She turned on top of the chair, her hands going to her hips as she glared at them. “Who was the wise ass who decided to rearm the alarm? Isn’t it kinda like shutting the barn door after the horse gets out?”
Next to him, Sean cocked his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Not that Jackson could blame him. Rena had that effect on people when they first met her. From her braids to the heavy metal t-shirt and her ripped jean shorts, she looked nearly ten years younger than she was. Nothing like what anyone would expect a competent investigator should look. She was truly an enigma.
“Dear Lord, it’s true.” Sean shook his head. “She’s an honest to God investigator? I just assumed she was a bike courier, with the way she was dressed when she stopped by the office earlier, for the paperwork to give to the security guard downstairs.”
“Sorry, appearances can be deceiving.” Jackson shrugged. Walking over to Rena, he lifted her off the chair, allowing her body to slide down his. Desire blindsided him as it reared its ugly head. Now isn’t the time, he told his body. But it didn’t stop his traitorous cock from rising at the mere brush of her body against his. And the answering catch of her breath, as he caught her eyes, had him wanting nothing more than to claim her mouth.
Amazing as it was, he’d only tasted her luscious lips once and he was dying for another taste. Not even during that incredible night in Ireland had he indulged. After seeing what that well-needed release had wrought, he’d been content to hold her, his own sexual needs overshadowed by those which were driven to protect. But that wasn’t now, and he could almost feel the plump firmness of her lips against his. His head dipped when there was a clearing of a throat behind him, reminding Jackson they weren’t alone and indulging in his need was going to have to wait.
“You gonna turn that damn thing off, Levough, before we have half the department over here?”
He nodded before slowly stepping back from Rena, careful to keep his back to Sean. As usual his closeness to Rena had tented his slacks and normally he wouldn’t care if another man knew he was aroused. In this case however, he was sure Rena would, so until he had junior a little bit more under control,
discretion was the better part of valor. Punching in the corporate override code into the keypad next to the door, he silenced the alarm. “Is that better?”
“So exactly what were you doing when you set off the alarm, Ms. MacAllister?” Sean moved closer to inspect the motion sensor.
“I needed to see the outside of the door.” Without giving Jackson as much as a glance, she joined the detective at the door. “Please call me Rena.” She stepped outside, her voice coming back muffled. “There’s just not something right here. According to the police report, it’s assumed the perp came in through the balcony, but the point of impact is so low…”
“…that the original responding officer assumed the perp used a rock found inside to break the glass near the lock, so they could reach through to unlock it.”
“And then triggered the alarm when they slid the door open.” Rena took out her tape, quickly measuring the distance between the hole and the lock.
Jackson joined them on the balcony as she measured the size of the hole and did some quick calculations on her tablet. “Okay. We need to take off the plywood, the figures are definitely not adding up here. They suggest the hole isn’t large enough for a person to reach the lock without cutting the hell out themself.”
“And according to the report there was no blood found on the glass or floor.” Sean frowned, before glancing over Rena’s shoulder. “Are you sure about the figures? I can’t imagine C.S.I. made an error like this.”
“Dude, I have a minor in forensics from Berkeley College to go along with my security training. I know what I’m talking about.” She referenced the file again. “It doesn’t say here but honestly I’m not sure if they even did the math, or just made the assumption because of the broken door that it was the point of entry and by…”
Understanding dawned on Jackson. “…unboarding the door, you can see if it’s physically possible or if the broken glass was just a red herring.”