Chapter 12
Thanks for meeting with me, Raphael. You’re a hard guy to hook up with. Don’t tell me you’re intimidated by uppity women?” Viviana was glad to see Carlos Mendes and the three other hard-eyed gang members’ surprise that she’d addressed their leader by his first name and appeared to be taunting him. She sniffed, hoping that the five law enforcement hotshots listening to their conversation—not the least of whom was the infamous SJPD police chief—were as surprised.
Viviana gave Raphael credit when he replied coolly, “How could I not be intimidated, Sergeant Moreau? To be in the presence of the Enchantress is a frightening prospect.” With a knowing smile, he added, “Although, I’ve been told that I can be somewhat intimidating. I trust you will not find me so.”
Viviana shrugged and said with an impudent grin, “Frankly, Raphael, I stopped being intimidated by men when I was fifteen years old and understood what suckers they were for a decent pair of boobs and a nice ass.”
Raphael raked his eyes over her body, then smiled salaciously. “Please, Sergeant, don’t minimize those attributes, which I must say are even more enticing in person than they are on television.” When Viviana merely raised her hands in a bored gesture, the drug kingpin pressed, “May I assume that having that arrogant police chief as your wingman adds to your ability to intimidate?”
Viviana laughed. “Let me put it this way, Raphael, it doesn’t hurt for me to let him think that.”
His lips pressed together, apparently to keep from smiling, the diminutive badass nodded. “Now that I’m thoroughly intimidated, what can I do for you, Sergeant Moreau?”
“For me, Raphael?” Viviana gave a dismissive shrug. “Nothing. It’s what can I do for you.” She added flippantly, “Not to put too fine a point on it, Raphael, I came here to warn you.”
At his surprised start and the gasps of his minions, Viviana continued. “I don’t much care about the ‘whose dick is bigger’ contests you and the Padrones seem to get off on. However, I get a bug up my butt when gangbangers think they can torpedo a rival by dosing their China White with fentanyl.” She tossed him a saucy smile. “Competition is to be expected, but killing off your rival’s clients goes a bridge too far in my worldview.”
Raphael’s smile was distinctly absent when he replied carefully, “Tell me, Sergeant Moreau, what happens when the Enchantress gets a ‘bug up her butt’?”
Viviana laughed, then tossed her head. “Let’s just say, Raphael, the result ain’t pretty. You might ask Santiago Torres for more details. That may be difficult, given that the former pimp and my one-time ‘friend’ is now in solitary confinement at Loganwood Penitentiary. My understanding is that Santiago’s visiting hours are extremely limited.”
****
Knowing that after Viviana’s coup with the menacing gang leader she was heading for a meeting with Enrique Vega, Jax swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Waiting until she was safely out of the Diablos headquarters, he sent her a text. “On behalf of your impressed team, congratulations. You were sensational. On a personal note, I’m glad to know that you don’t require a wingman to be as intimidating as you are. I’ll content myself knowing I’m the only guy intimately familiar with your butt and what you like put up in it.” Allowing his pique to surface, he added, “In fact, when you get home tonight, how about I demonstrate just how familiar I am not only with your butt but every damned inch of you? Understand I’m not trying to intimidate you. I just believe that forewarned is forearmed. And, my provocative wench, whether you admit it to the gang badasses or to your luncheon companion, we both know I am more than armed and prepared to deal with you.”
****
Viviana was still smiling at Jax’s text when she heard someone call her name. She quickly forgot her pleasure from knowing that she’d gotten a rise out of her arrogant lover when she looked up to see the impressive man crossing the restaurant toward her table. From the heads turning as he passed, it was clear she wasn’t the only one impressed with the gubernatorial candidate approaching her. Making an effort to quiet her unease, she was glad to see Francis Fleming close behind Enrique. She really didn’t want her luncheon meeting with Enrique Vega to be any more of a scintillating piece of gossip than it was certain to be. Thinking of how she’d arrogantly dismissed Raphael’s assertion that Jax was her wingman, she was glad that for the upcoming lunch meeting Francis was not only her wingman, but a much-needed buffer.
Reaching for her hand, Enrique intoned in a reverent voice, “Tell me, Viviana, what does it feel like knowing that every man in this bar will go home happy tonight knowing that he spent his lunch hour in the presence of the most beautiful woman this town—hell, this state—has to offer?”
She hoped that she wasn’t blushing, although the heat on her cheeks and Francis’s wide-eyed surprise at Vega’s over-the-top praise confirmed that he’d undone her. Attempting to put the meeting in perspective, Viviana blew off Vega’s praise. Glancing at her watch, she said, “Oh good, Enrique, I’m glad that you and Francis arrived together. I’m afraid I only have a few minutes to talk and won’t be able to join you for lunch. However, our host, Francis Fleming, the owner of this establishment, is one of the most knowledgeable people I know regarding the hideous arena of child abuse. Francis can be a significant advisor to you and your campaign.”
Vega didn’t hide his disappointment. “I’m sorry to hear that you won’t have lunch with us, Viviana. I was hoping that I could pick your brain. Flesh out some of the things we discussed last night. While I’m confident that Mr. Fleming is a resource—”
Horrified that he mentioned their meeting last night and that he called her by her name, Viviana interrupted him. Because of the surprise on Francis’s face and knowing that he was sure to tell Jax every damn thing he heard, Viviana was curt. “No, Mr. Vega. Francis is as close, if not closer, to the scene than I am. He can introduce you to all the important players working to thwart the scourge of abuse.”
Seeing Enrique’s frown at her use of his formal name, she rose to her feet and quickly added, “Besides, as Francis can tell you, I abhor luncheon meetings. I’d much rather run Telegraph Pass than eat on my lunch hour.”
Viviana was nonplussed when Vega’s eyes lit up. “My goodness, Sergeant, it seems we share another passion. I’m also an avid runner. Even on this crazy campaign, I’m not fit for polite company until I’ve run my ten miles at daybreak. Perhaps one day we can run together.” Letting his eyes roam suggestively over her body, he added with a slight grin, “Although seeing how in shape you are, you’d likely leave me puffing in your wake.”
Fighting the urge to run from the compromising conversation, Viviana forced herself to plant a pleasant smile on her face. Ignoring Francis’s raised eyebrow, she focused on Enrique. “Forgive me for dashing off. I have another appointment, but I’m sure that you will find Francis to be a font of knowledge.”
Before she could leave, the persistent man reached for her hand. “Thank you, Sergeant Moreau, for arranging this meeting. I appreciate your help.” To Viviana’s dismay, he squeezed her hand. “I hope we can find time to meet when you aren’t in a rush. I am a huge fan of yours, Sergeant.”
Viviana merely nodded and sped across the room after making it a point not to say good-bye to Francis, her one-time confidant and now Jax’s spy. She breathed a mammoth sigh of relief when she walked out into the bright summer sunshine and headed for her car. Struggling to decide what she should make of Vega’s obvious interest in her, she decided that a fast run up the mountain was exactly what she needed to clear her head. The “team” was scheduled to meet at 2:00 p.m. to discuss her meeting with Torres and decide how and when she should meet with his archrival Manuel Ortiz, head of the Padrones.
Not looking forward to the collaborative exercise, she allowed herself to focus on Vega. Damn, the guy really was something. He was handsome as sin and didn’t he know it? Rather than being put off by his arrogance, Viviana admitted she found it attractive. With a dismissive sniff, she chided herself. Apparently she liked men who thought they were God’s gift to women. Plus, the fact that Enrique was genuinely interested in the same issues that consumed her made him even more compelling. God, what if the guy did become governor and could actually do something about the scourge of abuse? Not wanting to remember Francis’s clear dismay at Enrique’s obvious interest in her, she dismissed his troubled frown. A wave of unwanted sadness washed over her. Francis had been one of the few people in her life she’d ever trusted. That he’d now become Jax’s spy hurt as much as it angered her.
****
“Damn, sweet cheeks. Talk about a home run! I don’t know who was more shocked at your impudence, Raphael or his goons. Hell, Raphael Torres looked like someone had shoved his nuts in a blender and turned it on puree.” Glancing at the three national agents on the monitors who were participating via Skype, Mick was ecstatic. “I guaran-damn-tee you, fellows, that no one, especially a woman, ever taunted the Diablos hotshots and lived to tell about it. I’m telling you boys, those assholes are still lookin’ in their pants, wonderin’ what the hell happened to their balls.”
Jax broke in but didn’t try to hide his amusement at Mick’s over-the top recital. “Under ordinary circumstances, I might try to dampen Detective O’Reilly’s assessment. However, colorful language and all, I think we all concur that Sergeant Moreau was the consummate star we all know her to be.” He allowed a slight frown to darken his expression when he focused on Viviana. “Not that I particularly appreciated your taking on three hardened killers and their boss quite so dramatically, but no one, including me, can be anything but impressed at your audacity.” He smiled at her and added, “Mick is right, Viviana, you truly did hit a home run. I imagine that all of the Diablos, including their feared leader, are surreptitiously sneaking a peek in their trousers, wondering what happened to those supposedly clanking cojones of theirs.”
Jax let the conversation play out, pleased that each of the other agents and Greg Bannon added to his and Mick’s praise—though not as colorfully as the indomitable O’Reilly had. When they’d all commended Viviana, he turned the conversation to the next issue. “Okay, team, let’s move on to the Padrones.” He focused on Viviana, not hiding his amusement at her colleague’s fulsome praise, and pressed the point. “As we’ve all made clear, you are the expert here, Sergeant. How do you plan to connect with Manuel Ortiz—who I’m sure by now has heard that you met with their arch rivals.”
He saw Viviana’s frown and knew she was annoyed that he was asking her for details. He wasn’t surprised when she tipped up her chin and shot him an irritated glance.
Shrugging, she said impudently, “Are you asking what I would do if I was working the case alone, the way I usually do, Chief?”
Jax smiled and said evenly, “Yes, Sergeant Moreau, I’d like to hear how you would approach the Padrones.”
Viviana blew out an audible sigh and said flippantly, “If I was working the way that I work best, I would know that the news of my meeting with Raphael is topic number one among the gangbangers. Given that both gangs have plants in their rival gang, they no doubt know every word that I said to Raphael and his boys.”
Jax held her gaze and nodded in acknowledgment. Knowing that he was pressing her but insisting that she articulate her goals and actions, he said, “I’m confident that is true, Sergeant. Given that, what do you recommend? And, Sergeant Moreau, please be specific.”
Viviana shrugged. “Obviously, the next step—which by the way, I’ve already taken—is to reach out to Ortiz’s goons, indicating that I need to meet with their hallowed leader. I expect to hear back today or tomorrow at the latest.” With an impudent shrug, she added, “When I get the word, as with Raphael, I will go alone.”
Not responding to the fact that she’d already contacted the Padrones and her declaration that she would be solo, Jax chose to ignore her obvious provocation. Instead, he pressed his lips together in a firm line and spoke to the group as a whole. “Once Sergeant Moreau confirms the details of her meet with Manuel Ortiz, we will outfit her with the same equipment we did with the Diablos.” Nodding at the monitor screen, he singled out Matías Rocha. “I’ve got to tell you, buddy, that equipment you sent is beyond sensational. It was as though we were in the room with Sergeant Moreau instead of within arm’s reach.” Turning back to Viviana, he said with a pleasant smile, although there was no mistaking the import of his words, “I’m confident our inimitable sergeant is grateful, Mat. Without your high-end surveillance toys enabling us to protect her, there’s no way that Sergeant Moreau would be meeting with these assholes alone.”