Chapter 2
Was that necessary, Jax?”
Grabbing a bottle of Maker’s Mark and three glasses from the side bar, Jax glanced over his shoulder and met Viviana’s stormy gaze. Nodding to Greg Bannon, who was coming into the room behind the bristling sergeant, he asked, “Was what necessary, Viviana? That I spirit you away so that obsequious, annoying lieutenant can stop surmising about what is going on between us and instead make it clear?” He placed the whiskey and glasses on the coffee table, his grin widening. “Besides, I assumed that you would want to renew your acquaintance with your old friend Marcus. As I recall, the two of you seemed to have a bond, an affinity of sorts, when we three were previously acquainted.”
Viviana’s chin shot up in the air, confirming that the festering sore between them—their experience in Belize—while not as raw as it had been, was still painful to his feisty woman. Deciding that Greg needed to understand the dynamics, Jax poured them each a couple fingers of Greg’s favorite libation and pointed to the comfortable armchairs in the sitting area of the spacious office.
“Please, both of you, sit down.” Seeing Viviana’s resistance, Jax shook his head with a slight frown. “On second thought, Greg, you take a seat while I deal with this beautiful young woman who, like Lieutenant Jensen, appears to have a stick up her ass.”
At Viviana’s outraged gasp and attempt to back away, Jax reached for her arm and reined her in next to him. “C’mere, you. It’s clear that we need to have a conversation. In case you didn’t hear all of those accolades about yours truly from every power broker in this fair city, I am your new police chief. While that position of authority isn’t necessary for me to command you, as I’m perfectly capable of doing that and more, it does put a little more oomph in my orders.” He winked at Greg over Viviana’s shoulder and said, “Don’t you agree, Commander Bannon?”
Greg reached for his glass and took a deep draft, then shook his head. “I dunno, Jax, I seem to remember that no less than a murderous cartel thug learned the hard way not to tussle with Sergeant Moreau—or Maja Nilsson, for that matter.” He raised his glass to Jax. “You might want to guard your stones, buddy. I watched this little wildcat take on the Morales cartel’s queen bee without thinking twice.” Smiling at Viviana, he shook his head as if in wonder. “Damn, Maja, I mean, Viviana, you had every one of us tied in knots, especially the big guy, who couldn’t believe that our high-level mission had been invaded by a slip of a girl.”
Seeing Viviana’s lips curve slightly and feeling her resistance lighten somewhat, Jax tugged her closer. “You’re right about that, Commander Bannon. Frankly, I still can’t believe that this force of nature waded into the middle of one of the most dangerous ops I ever led.” He shook his head with a groan. “Talk about FUBAR! A potential disaster if there ever was one.” He shot a narrow-eyed grin at Viviana and added, “But you’ll be glad to know that the feisty sergeant and I are working together to make sure that going forward we are always on the same page.” Brushing his lips against the sensitive spot beneath Viviana’s ear, Jax reveled in her untoward shiver and murmured, “Aren’t we, Sergeant Moreau?”
Viviana broke Jax’s hold, flounced over to the table, and picked up one of the glasses. Raising it to Greg, she said, “Welcome, Marcus, I mean, Commander Bannon. Not that I’ve forgiven you for your little charade in Belize.” Frowning at Jax, she sniffed. “But at least you didn’t decide that the only way you could deal with me was to get in my pants.”
“Whoa, whoa!” Greg glanced from her to Jax, then shook his head in mock distress. “Damn, Jax, you didn’t tell me when you convinced me to join you that I would be putting my life and treasured body parts between you and the most unpredictable woman any of us has ever known.”
Jax stepped back, then motioned for Viviana to sit down. When her eyes flashed and her chin went up in the air, he said, “Please, Viviana. Sit down.” At her continued resistance, he moved toward her. Not masking the edge in his voice, he said smoothly, “Unless, of course, you’d prefer to sit on my lap . . . ”
Seeing her cheeks flush a bright, rosy red, he waited until Viviana, with an exaggerated sigh, sank into the chair next to Greg. Jax took the seat across from them and met Greg’s questioning frown. “I need to give you fair warning, Commander Bannon. The Enchantress, as she is known in these parts—for good reason, I might add—harbors residual ill feelings for the subterfuge we were forced to enact in Belize.” Seeing Viviana tense, he raised his hand to stop what was sure to be her heated disagreement. “However, you’ll be glad to know that it’s an issue the prickly sergeant and I are dealing with on a daily and, particularly, nightly basis.” Raising his glass to Viviana, he inquired softly, “Agreed, Sergeant Moreau?”
Viviana seemed to collect herself, then shrugged. “If that’s what you want to believe, Chief Hughes, who am I to disagree?” Turning to Greg with a coquettish smile, she said, “Fortunately, you are now my superior officer, not the arrogant police chief. Which I can tell you is a very welcome change.”
Jax laughed. “Uh-oh, Greg. Methinks that the feisty sergeant thinks she is rein-free. Ask any of her compadres how she ran roughshod over her benighted commander who preceded me. According to VCU lore, Captain Michels decided that dealing with his two ex-wives, his current wife, his mother-in-law, and thirteen grandchildren was preferable to trying to corral one Sergeant Moreau.” At Greg’s impressed whistle, Jax reassured him, “Just remember, Agent Bannon, you managed to overcome a band of al-Shabaab terrorists threatening to bring down a small town. Keep that in mind when one of the most persuasive and devious young women out there puts you to the test. But no worries, I wouldn’t have brought you on board if I wasn’t sure you were up to the beguiling sergeant.”
Viviana snorted and took a sip of Maker’s Mark, then tossed her head. “Fortunately, as always, Jax overstates. That is true of both my ‘deviousness’ and his power to do a fucking thing about it!”
Both Jax and Greg laughed at her haughtiness, clearly enjoying her spirited response. Jax shook his head and smiled at her. “Thank you for making my point, Sergeant Moreau. But enough.” Settling back in his chair, he turned to Greg, his eyes narrowing. “I wasn’t shooting the shit, brother, when I said that I wouldn’t have accepted the chief’s role if you hadn’t agreed to come on board. As you can imagine, we’re in a hell of a mess here. Yeah, we did take down that scurrilous bunch of assholes. However, given that Paul Davis, our mutual friend and police commissioner, no less, and five dirty vice cops were involved, the reputation of this police force has suffered a gutshot. Hell, I was just beginning to get the VCU under control when the shit hit. Suffice it to say, we have a long way to go to prove to this city that the SJPD is worthy of their support and respect.”
“I’m honored, Jax, that you invited me to join you. You know how I feel about you as a commander and as a man. Like you, I’m sickened that our former Special Ops buddy was one of the miscreants. Know that I’ll do my damnedest to be worthy of your trust.” Grinning at Viviana, Greg added, “I also appreciate the fact that you believe I can keep this amazing woman somewhat tethered.”
Jax raised his glass. “Welcome, Agent Bannon.” Turning to Viviana, he said with a smile, “Be nice to your new boss, Viviana. He may look like the agreeable bartender you flirted with in Belize, but, except for me of course, he’s one of the hardest badasses you’ll run up against.” Shooting Greg a narrowed gaze, he added blandly, “Oh and, buddy, as for tethering this indomitable spirit, no worries. Any ‘binding’ required to keep her in check, I’ll handle.”
Seeing the knowing grin he shared with Greg, Viviana tossed back the remaining whiskey in her glass, then rose to her feet. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take this opportunity to leave. Clearly you gentlemen need time to discuss all the ways you think you have to keep one helpless little woman thoroughly contained. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your smack talk.” Tossing each of them a saucy wave, she headed for the door.
Jax laughed at her impudence, then stood and moved toward her. “Not so fast, Sergeant. We didn’t discuss the bash tonight.” Over his shoulder, he said to Greg, “Damn, it was just six weeks ago that the mayor, along with Chief McElroy, was feting me as the new head of the VCU. Now, for some unknown reason, I’m their first pick for police chief.” He added with a groan, “Apparently, for any major promotion, a must-attend event is de rigueur to allow the bigwigs to tell us how lucky we are to be their chosen saviors.” Reaching for Viviana’s arm, his eyes dancing, he said in a salacious tone, “Regarding the bash, Sergeant, we didn’t discuss what I’d like you to wear and what time you’d like me to pick you up.”
With an impertinent toss of her head, Viviana brushed his hand off her arm. “In answer to both of your unwarranted assumptions, Chief Hughes, let me be clear. I will wear whatever I feel like wearing. As for picking me up, that won’t be necessary. I’ve already arranged to go with Detective O’Reilly.”
Surprised at her apparent pique, Jax frowned and said carefully, “There’s no reason to take umbrage, Sergeant, I was merely ensuring that—”
She interrupted him, not bothering to hide her irritation. “That you are in charge of me? That you can tell me what I should wear and who I will allow to take me to the stupid party? The party where, once again, every woman and man in the room will be fighting to see who can suck your dick?” Her eyes flashing, confirming that she was more than a little annoyed, she added, “For your information, Chief Hughes, I haven’t decided if I’m going to go to your coronation party. But if I do, I will wear whatever I damn well please.” Freeing her arm with a jerk, Viviana stepped back and said curtly, “And by the way, Chief, you can stop telling me what to do anytime now. As you may recall, you are no longer my superior officer.”
Jax narrowed his gaze and moved toward her, a hard frown creasing his brow. Without taking his gaze off her, he said to his colleague, “Greg, will you excuse us, please? It’s clear that I need a word in private with Sergeant Moreau.”
As he quickly rose to his feet, Greg’s response was measured. “Uh, sure thing, Chief. Sergeant.”
When the door closed behind Bannon, Jax stared at her for a long moment, then said quietly, “In the mode of telling you what to do, come here, Viviana.”
Viviana bit down on her lip and shook her head, then looked away, refusing to meet his compelling gaze. She muttered, “Why should I?”
Jax stepped toward her and said smoothly, “That provocative question has a simple answer, in fact, two simple answers. The first is because I told you to.” Closing the space between them, he reached for her. “The second is because I need to hold you.”
Pulling her into his arms, not letting her jerk away, Jax leaned down and brushed his lips against the hollow in her neck. At her involuntary shiver, he bit down on her earlobe, then blew a puff of air against the tender spot. Gratified by her gasp, he reached for her hair. Burying his fingers in the thick, golden mass, he forced her head back, insisting that she look up at him.
Studying her narrowly, seeing the flush on her cheeks and the moisture looming in her dark, blue lace agate eyes convinced him that he needed to tread carefully. When she closed her eyes, avoiding his penetrating gaze, he pinched her cheek.
“Uh-uh, baby. You don’t get to look away. It’s obvious Greg Bannon’s arrival unintentionally opened some wounds that aren’t yet healed.” He held her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I know you haven’t forgiven me for what happened in Belize, Viviana. And we will discuss that troublesome issue. Later.”
Continuing to hold her chin, not letting her look away, Jax said, “But for now, my naughty girl, there are several things you need to know. One, you are going to the party tonight. Two, you can wear whatever you damn well please because no matter what you choose, you will be gorgeous. And three, yes, Detective O’Reilly may bring you to the party, but only because Mayor Simpson wants to meet with me and Mac ahead of time.”
Wrapping his arms more tightly around her, Jax stroked her backside, allowing his hands to drift over her ass. At her soft shiver, he pulled her up next to him and forced her to meet his stern gaze. “Finally, just so there is no confusion between us now or later, you will be coming home with me. And, Viviana, at that time? You and I are going to have a serious conversation about what is going to happen next in this challenging relationship of ours. Oh and, baby, one thing you can count on: that discussion is going to get physical in ways you’ve never known before.”