Chapter 12
Francis glanced at Viviana, then said haltingly, “I assume Chief Hughes wasn’t aware that we were meeting today, uh, right, Sergeant?”
Viviana sniffed. “Why would he be? He’s not my supervisor.” When Jax glared at her, not hiding his rising anger, she quickly added, “It was nothing, Jax. Francis merely told me that Ariel, the young victim that helped us bring down Santiago Lopez, is back on the street.” She hesitated, then shrugged dismissively. “Unfortunately, an all-too-familiar story for girls who have been systematically abused.”
Jax glanced from one to the other of them, not missing Francis’s surprise at Viviana’s nonchalant response. He frowned and pinned a narrow gaze on Viviana, not letting her look away. “May I presume that when you rudely bolted from your meeting with your new commander this afternoon, you didn’t bother to tell him that you were going to meet your CI?” When she just tipped up her chin and didn’t answer him, he added, “And may I also presume that you haven’t told your new commander that Francis is your CI?”
Viviana pushed back from the table and stood. She tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the table, then inched toward the exit. “No, and I don’t intend to. Until . . . ”
Jax’s voice was low, silky soft as he rose to his feet. “Until what, Sergeant Moreau?”
She shrugged as she quickened her pace. “Until I’m sure I can trust him.”
In seconds Jax was beside her, capturing her arm and jerking her up next to him. Ignoring her outraged demand that he release her, Jax said to Francis, “Please give Commander Bannon my regrets. He and I were looking forward to making a serious dent in one of your most expensive bottles of scotch. We had even hoped that you and Sergeant Moreau would join us. Unfortunately, it appears that I have a more demanding mission that requires my attention.” He glared at Viviana and murmured, “You can make this easy or hard, Sergeant. But you and I are leaving, and we’re leaving together. We can do that in a civilized manner, or, if you prefer as I most certainly do, I will throw you over my shoulder and cart you out of here with your delectable ass up in the air.”
At her heated shriek, he tightened his grip on her arm and said coolly, “Your choice, Sergeant. What’ll it be? We walk out together or . . . ”
When Viviana shoved his hand off her arm and marched toward the door, Jax threw Francis a cocky smile. “She really is getting better behaved, don’t you think, Francis?” He gave a dramatic sigh as he caught up with her. “Although even I admit we have a long way to go.”
Jax caught up with her in the parking lot. “Slow down, Viviana.” Seeing the storm clouds raging in her flashing azure eyes, he reached for her arm. “Listen up, feisty woman, I’ll take you home if that’s where you want to go.”
Her voice was crisp as she wrenched free of his grip. “That won’t be necessary, Jax. I have my car and will be driving myself home.”
Jax walked her to her car without speaking. Approaching her Mazda3 MPS, he took her key fob from her hand and unlocked the door. Guiding her into the driver’s seat, he leaned down and said, “I’ll meet you at your house. Drive carefully, Sergeant. We have an important discussion on our agenda.” Brushing his lips against her cheek, he said with a grin, “Bet my Giulia is faster than your Mazda.”
Viviana wasn’t surprised to see Jax’s snazzy Alfa Romeo Giulia in the driveway when she arrived. Or to see him lounging by her front door. His Ferragamo aviator shades masked what she was sure were laughing emerald eyes, given the sexy smile curving his full lips. Determined to keep him from entering her condominium, she went on the offensive. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, she said firmly, “Just so we are clear, Jax, I do not appreciate you running me to ground like a fugitive criminal. Or embarrassing me in front of my commander and Francis.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting, Viviana, I viewed my actions more as a man who had spent a passionate night with his woman and was eager to see her again. That was until she didn’t bother to return any of my three telephone calls. It was then that I stopped thinking about how glorious our night had been and began wondering what the little hellion was up to now. Particularly when I learned from her commander that she’d blown off their meeting—their introductory meeting, no less.”
“I was busy, Jax.” Seeing his expression harden visibly, she added, “Besides, you are not my supervisor, and I don’t need to let you know every little thing that I’m doing.”
Jax took several slow steps toward her until he was only one step higher than her. Given that he was at least six inches taller without the additional elevation, he dwarfed her with his presence. He nodded and said carefully, “That is true, Viviana. While I’m not your direct supervisor, as the chief of police I’m responsible for your actions even more than when I was your commander. I’m also responsible for seeing that the new VCU commander has as smooth an introduction to the unit as possible. That includes helping him get a grip on his senior staff.”
Viviana allowed her fury to spill over. “And helping your new commander, who happens to be a former special operative, get a grip on his new position includes managing one little woman that he couldn’t possibly manage without your help?”
Jax grinned. “Given who the little woman is, yeah, sweetheart, that is exactly what I mean. Which doesn’t say anything about Commander Bannon’s capabilities as it does about the manageability of the little woman.”
Forcing herself to be calm and determined to take control of the conversation and him, she said, “Can I take that to mean, Chief Hughes, that you plan to interject yourself into everything I do?”
Jax shrugged. “At least in the beginning, I plan to keep an eye on the VCU and the squad that operates within it. Jesus, Viviana, get real. You charged out of a private meeting with your new commander on his first goddamned day without so much as an explanation? Not only was that discourteous but it was extremely unprofessional. Unfortunately for you, your bad behavior piqued my interest. Since you didn’t tell your commander where you were going or why, you can tell me. What’s up with Francis?”
Viviana’s anger spiked. “Oh my God. You really are going to insist that you know what I am doing every minute of the day . . . ”
Jax’s frown hardened. “No, Viviana, not every minute of the day, but every minute of the night? Damn straight.” He started to qualify his statement. “But once Bannon gets on his feet—”
Forcing herself to be calm, Viviana interjected, “You know damn well, Jax, that you brought one of your best buddies in so that you could still control me. Don’t you think the least you should do is butt out and give Greg a chance to deal with me?”
Jax gave a nonchalant shrug. “And I will. Once I’m sure that you’ve given him your allegiance and your trust. The way you did with me, although it took me three solid weeks of browbeating you and then ultimately spanking your ass to convince you that I was your boss.”
Too angry to respond civilly, Viviana spat out, “And that’s what I can expect from Greg Bannon?”
Jax’s voice softened, but his firm jaw and narrowed gaze confirmed his seriousness. “No, Viviana, that is what you can expect from me if you don’t behave and treat your commander and my very good friend respectfully.” Stepping down next to her, he pulled her up against him. Parking his shades on top of his head, he pinned her with his intense emerald gaze. “To make a point that doesn’t need to be made, the only man responsible for spanking your ass is me.” A glimmer of a smile touching his lips, he added, “And just so you know, my prickly princess, I take that responsibility seriously.”
Reaching for her chin, insisting that she look up at him, Jax said softly, “How about we continue this discussion inside? I like your patio deck almost as much as I like mine. Probably because I have some extraordinary memories of evenings we’ve spent there. X-rated memories.”
Viviana shrugged out of his hold, determined to fight the sensations flooding her core. Damn him. Just standing next to him, near his provocative fragrance and compelling maleness, made her long for his arms around her. Which only underscored his power over her. As much as she wished she could give in to his seductive invitation, she knew she needed to stand her ground. Insist that he understand how much she resented his invasive oversight.
Twisting away from his grip, she shook her head. “No, Jax. Not tonight. I’m tired.”
Jax frowned, but seeing the determination etched on her face and her rigid body language, he eased up and said carefully, “Hmm. Tired, Viviana, or angry with me?”
Her response was immediate. “Both.” She looked away, then after a brief moment, she lifted her chin and met his gaze. “I . . . want to be alone, Jax.”
Jax studied her for a long moment, then decided not to challenge her. He blew out a hard sigh and said, “Against my better judgment, princess, I’ll go.” He leaned down and kissed her flushed cheek, then headed to the driveway. At he started to climb into his sleek automobile, he turned and gave her a teasing salute. “Good night, Sergeant Moreau. Sleep well.”