CHAPTER ELEVEN
The room was still dark, and Joel figured it wasn’t even six yet. As he lay on his side, holding Vivi close, he realized how relaxed and calm he felt. It seemed that making love three or four times was just what he’d needed. And Vivi too. She been an enthusiastic participant, and he appreciated the hell out of the fact.
Feeling all her warm curves pressed up against him made him realize how much he enjoyed the smell of a warm woman. Why the hell had he denied himself this pleasure for so many years? Rubbing his hand over her skin, he realized that it had taken a woman like Vivi for him to change.
He wanted to explore all the crazy feelings that were rolling around in him and see if he and Vivi could make something real between them.
Slowly, he released her and rolled on his back. Looking up at the ceiling, he considered the possibility of having her in his life long-term. What would that look like? Did he even know how?
Vivi rolled over, laid her head on his chest, and draped her arm over him. Running his hand up and down her back, he smiled to himself. Somehow, there was a spot on his chest that Vivi’s head fit into perfectly. He had spent thirty-eight years totally unaware of the fact.
“I’ll get up in a bit and make some coffee,” she murmured.
“How are you feeling?” he inquired.
“Good. I’m sore, but not in the places you would expect.” Rubbing her foot up and down his leg, she hummed quietly.
“We experienced a traumatic event yesterday, and the best way to recover from something like that is to commit to a vigorous physical therapy regimen. And that’s what we did.”
Lifting her head, she gave him a skeptical glance. “Having sex a bunch of times is physical therapy?”
“Absolutely.” Sliding his hand between their bodies, he cupped her and grinned. “Let’s get started on today’s schedule.” Moving his fingers around her slick folds, he was satisfied to see that she was on board with his plan. Her body told him that she was ready, and the grin she was giving him let him know that she would enjoy what he had in mind. “I just want to make sure that you’re soft and ready for me.” Lifting her gently on top of him, he made sure that her hips were open to him. When he was satisfied that they were lined up, he thrust himself into her tight heat. “The rest is up to you, Viv. Show me what makes you feel good.”
Pushing herself up so that she was staring down at him, she wiggled around. “I’m out of practice, so it may take me a while.”
He held on to her hip with one hand and let the other move up the center of her body. “I’m at your service, you do whatever you want.” When she leaned down and her long hair draped over them like a curtain, he was pretty much in heaven. Leaning up, he kissed her and plunged himself deeply into her core. “Good morning.”
Lifting her hips, she moved up and down his length slowly and tightened herself around him. “Yes, it is.”
After that, few words were spoken, and they let their bodies communicate. It was a ride of pleasure that lasted longer than he could’ve imagined. When she convulsed around him, he joined her and emptied himself. “That was fuc…I mean amazing, Viv.”
Releasing him, she lifted herself off and rolled away. “That has never happened to me before. Jeez, it’s a little scary how well it works for us. And with so little effort.” Covering her face with her arm, she breathed deeply.
“I beg your pardon. I put a lot of effort into making you happy.” He watched her arm lift off her face as she stared at him.
“That’s not what I meant.” Sitting, she pulled the sheet to cover her body. “I meant that I don’t have to work myself up to it. One touch from you, and I’m ready.” She lifted her hair off her neck, twisted it, and then fiddled with the ends.
Heaving himself up, he took her hands and held them. “What is happening between us is rare. At least it is for me.” Lifting his hand, he traced her fine cheekbones and rubbed his finger across her lips. “I think we may have the beginning of something, Viv.” His phone buzzed loudly and broke the spell between them. “I should answer that.”
Turning her head, she kissed his hand. “I’m going to take a shower, and then I’ll fix us something to eat.”
Watching her slip off the bed and stroll into the bathroom made him want to ignore reality for the first time in his life. All he wanted to do was stay in their little cocoon of happiness and let the world implode around them. Scrubbing his face, he answered his phone. “McDade. This better be good.”
“Either I’m interrupting something, or you’re pissed that there is nothing to interrupt.” Ben laughed into the phone.
“Do I ask you what is happening between you and Ruby?”
“No. And I wouldn’t tell you if you did. Quit being an asshole.”
“What did you call for?” Joel barked back.
“Gideon and the Feds have some intel on the person who took a run at Vivi yesterday, and they also have an update on what the neighborhood is up to. We are going to meet in two hours down at the precinct.”
“We’ll be there,” Joel replied. “Thanks for letting me know. I would like to start acting instead of reacting to this shit. I’m ready to put Vivi on the plane and take her to Florida. The threats are coming from all directions, and I can’t have her out there as a target.”
“Agreed. See you in a couple of hours,” Ben replied.
Sliding his phone off, he tossed it on the nightstand. He glanced around the room and noticed that their clothes were still on the floor. There was a trail leading into the room, and he grinned as he remembered how eager they were to have their hands on one another. Chuckling to himself, he rose and strode into the bathroom. Vivi probably needed some help in the shower, so he should join her and make sure that she was clean. He entered the steamy room and heard her singing quietly to herself as he opened the shower door. “Hey, honey. Do you need some help scrubbing your back?”
Vivi pushed her hair out of her face and studied him. “Is that why you came in?” Her hand moved to his chest and moved down the center of his body. “It seems that you have something else in mind.”
Pulling her in, he hugged her tightly. “I will always have that on my mind, but I’m trying to be considerate.” Grabbing the soap, he lathered up his hands and slowly stroked her back. “I’m going to leave you alone until tonight.”
Resting her head against his chest, she laughed. “I’ll try and do the same.”
“I knew you were going to be trouble when I met you, and I’m glad to see that I was right.”
***
Joel walked along the sidewalk toward the precinct with Vivi under his arm. He checked the surrounding area as they moved toward the front door. Not knowing where the threat was coming from wasn’t something he enjoyed. He’d spent all his time in the navy hunting evil and being in harm’s way, and he never gave it a second thought. It had been a way of life for him, and he embraced it. Having Vivi under constant threat wasn’t something he was going to tolerate. If he could figure out a way to put her in a protective bubble while he hunted the threat down, then he was going to do it. It didn’t matter how much she protested. “Are you ready for this, Viv?”
“I guess so.” She smoothed down the front of her dress and tightened her hold on the strap of her purse. “Based on what has been happening for the last couple of days, I don’t think that I’m going to like what they’re going to tell us.”
The front doors slid open, and they walked into the building. “Probably right. Let’s keep an open mind and hear them out. Then we can come up with a plan for you and the girls.”
“I know you already have a plan and what we’re doing here today is just a formality. Don’t think that I’m easily fooled.”
“I do have a rough outline, but I need some real intel before I know what the best approach is. I believe in gathering as much information as I can and working with my team to come up with the best solution.”
Ben and Dane ambled up, and they all shook hands. “I was explaining to Viv that we always gather as much intel as we can before we deploy.” Glancing down, he noticed her shaking her head.
“It’s true, Vivi,” Dane said. “We always have a strategy, whether it seems like it or not.”
“Is that why the three of you went out the other day and faced two gangs? That was especially dangerous and not worth the risk.”
“That wasn’t risky,” Ben said.” He crossed his arms and smirked. “That was child’s play.”
Before Vivi could respond, a group of men entered the building. Joel recognized several faces from the meeting the other day. Wyatt was part of the group, and Joel wrapped his arm around Vivi and smiled in the man’s direction. It was probably best to let him know that he and Vivi were together and that she was his. Wyatt tipped his head in acknowledgment, and Joel felt a river of satisfaction run down his spine. He had staked his claim and felt damn good about it.
Gideon came out of the back and held the door open. “The conference room is ready. You all can come on back.”
The Feds were the first to move down the hall, and Joel and his group followed. When Gideon’s and Joel’s gazes met, he was surprised to see a look of approval on the man’s face as they passed. It seemed that Gideon was being honest the other day when he said that he wanted Vivi to be happy. Glancing down, Joel noticed how relaxed and calm she was, despite what they were about to face. Silently, he congratulated himself, because he was the man who had made her feel that way. Holding her against his side, he leaned down and kissed her head. “You need anything, Viv?”
“For none of this to be happening. But I guess that’s not possible. So it’s probably time to figure out what my next move will be.” Sighing, she leaned against him as they entered the room.
Wyatt stepped up to them and waited. Joel tightened his grip and waited to see what Vivi was going to do. “Hello, Wyatt.”
Vivi stepped away from Joel and hugged Wyatt. “Nice to see you. Hope your trip was informative.” When Wyatt kept his hand on Vivi’s arm, Joel almost pulled her away. But she saved them all by stepping away and standing next to Joel.
Wyatt studied them and then answered, “I believe it was. I think we uncovered some information that will prove to be useful.”
“I look forward to hearing the updates. It’s gotten a little crazy around here, so we’re looking forward to finding a solution.” Grabbing Joel’s hand, she smiled and then tugged Joel behind her toward two seats near the front. “Now that the pissing contest is finished, let’s listen to the latest information.”
Joel pulled out a chair and waited until she was seated and then settled himself next to her. “Nicely done, Dr. DuMond.”
Smiling graciously, she took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you, Mr. McDade.”
Dane sat on the other side of him and leaned over. “Love looks good on you, man. Don’t screw it up.”
“I’m going to do my best not to.” Before he could say more, the meeting started. It was time to focus and come up with a plan so that he and Vivi could get back to what was important.
The lead FBI agent, Terrance Johnson, stood and addressed the room. “It seems that Dr. DuMond’s clinic has become the focal point of a turf war over in Algiers. This isn’t something that we normally become involved with, but the fact that the neighborhood groups have each made alliances with crews outside of the state makes it our business. We are investigating the drug thefts and felonies associated with those thefts as a way of understanding the larger problem. The last thing any of us needs is stronger neighborhood gangs. Up until now we haven’t seen much of it outside the states that border Mexico, or in Florida, where the state is used as a gateway for trafficking to South America. Why Louisiana is getting involved is the question we’re going to answer.”
Vivi sat forward and cleared her throat. “Is there any way for my clinic to continue to operate in the neighborhood safely?”
Agent Johnson tapped his pen on the table and replied, “The fact that you canceled the drug shipment the other day is going to give you a little reprieve. But our intelligence is suggesting that they’re going to continue to surveil the clinic and confirm that you haven’t changed your mind. When I say they, I mean both the local neighborhood gangs as well as the crews from outside the state. It seems that the group from North Dakota has set up a string of businesses and clinics that they target to acquire the supply they need. You are now part of that, and once you’re on the list, you don’t seem to get off. The agent that traveled there discovered that the crew continues to break in sporadically to see if anything has changed.”
Gideon stood and addressed the group. “As everyone here knows, the NOPD is critically understaffed. So our ability to respond to calls is fairly abysmal unless there is a homicide happening. It is my opinion that you would need to have twenty-four-hour security for the clinic if you want to continue to operate. And I’m not talking about rent-a-cops. I cannot see another way for it to work for you and the girls.”
Vivi’s shoulders slumped, and Joel wrapped his arm around her. The prospects didn’t look good for keeping the place going. “Has anyone uncovered any more information about why Vivi’s picture and personal information were found on the phones of the GSW victims?”
Gideon shook his head. “The most that we’ve come up with is that they wanted to ensure her silence. But we’re not completely confident that we have the whole picture or even the correct one.”
Agent Johnson glanced at his notes. “When our agents questioned the local members the other day, they didn’t come up with any additional information.” Studying Vivi, he waited. “Dr. DuMond, have you been able to remember anything that you think might be of help?”
“I have not. My interaction with the community has been positive. I have not had any knife or GSW victims show up at the door, other than the two men that you know about.”
“What about when you were at Ochsner Hospital?” Joel asked.
“What do you mean? I only worked the ER for about six months.”
“You told me that you worked on a lot of people who were involved with the gangs. Maybe you saw something when a body was rolled out of a car at the emergency doors,” Joel responded.
“Or someone blames you for a guy not surviving,” Ben added. “They’ve connected you to something, and it doesn’t have to be true for them to believe it.”
“That could be what we’re looking for,” Gideon replied.
“Why don’t we let my team in Florida take a look at the security tapes from the hospital? We can run some programs and see if we can come up with something. My priority is keeping Vivi safe, as well as Trinity and Ruby. The clinic is a target and it’s not going to be solved. But the threat against Vivi will be,” Joel stated.
A few more people presented information, but nothing came to light that would help Joel and the team solve the question most important to them.
As they walked back to the car, Joel formulated a plan and hoped like hell that Vivi would agree. “Do you want to grab some lunch before we go back to the house?”
“Sure. I need to go to the market after we’re done. I’m going to have the girls over and discuss what we want to do with the clinic. We all have a lot of hard work invested in it, and we should come up with the solution together.”
Vivi’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it out and answered it. “Hi, Mama. Yes, I know. Are you sure? Okay. We’ll come by tomorrow. Love you too.”
Vivi slid the phone back in her purse and groaned. “Mama wants to throw me a birthday party out at the farm this weekend. She wants us to go up tomorrow and take a couple of days off. She thinks it’s time for me to get out of town and out of danger.”
“When is your birthday, honey?”
“February fourteenth, Valentine’s Day.”
“I think a trip out of town would be perfect.” Joel kissed her head and wondered what he should get her for a present. “It will give us the opportunity to relax and come up with a plan that everyone is happy with.”
“I don’t know how that will be possible. I want to keep the clinic open, and I don’t know how.”
He grabbed her hand and studied her. If there was a way to make it happen, then he was going to figure how. “Let’s wait and see.” He might be putting off the inevitable, but if it gave her time to adjust to the idea, then it was worth it. Anything to make sure that she was as happy as she could be.