by C R Riley
Jaxon shoves her farther inside. Motions for one of the female officers to jump in next to Martin, who happens to be laughing unapologetically. "Get in and stop embarrassing my men."
"I don't think I embarrassed them. They are laughing, even waved back. You know you should be nice…" She isn't able to finish, because Jaxon stops her with a kiss, a very passionate kiss. "That will suffice. Take me home with you, I'm beat."
Jaxon buckles her in, and then wraps his arm around her, as he nods for Martin to start driving. Before they even begin moving, Johannah is out and snoring rather loudly. That sound ends up being the sweetest sound he has ever heard.
Chapter Thirty-One
Johannah opens her eyes and starts to stretch when her body screams at her to think again. The room is dark and nothing about it appears familiar.
It takes a few minutes for it all to come rushing back to her. The car, her shoving Jaxon out of the way, the impact her body took not long afterward. Tears fill her eyes as the realization of what could have happened sets in.
The movement on the mattress next to her catches her attention.
A large arm seizes her aching body and shifts in close behind her. Arms that make her feel safe, send a flood of emotion through her like never before. Her body trembles uncontrollably as she allows them to take over and spill out for the first time since it happened.
"Shhh. I got ya." Jaxon whispers in her ear. "Are you in pain?"
"Yeah, but that's not… not why I'm crying." She gradually flips to her back, so she can get a good look at the man next to her. "I could have been killed."
"Trust me, I am very well aware of that. It's all I have been able to think about since witnessing you flying through the air." Jaxon kisses her cheek, then reaches behind him, where he grabs a pillbox and a glass of water. "Here, you need to take these."
Johannah tries to sit up but is having a tough time accomplishing that simple task.
Jaxon doesn't let her down. He slides his arm under her and assists until she is up, keeping his hand on her back to support her.
She swallows the pill he dumped out and chases it with a nice cool glass of water. "Thank you. I need to get up and start moving so I don't get so stiff. Probably eat something too, so my stomach doesn't revolt."
Jaxon is off the bed and by her side fast, ready to help her stand. It takes some effort on her part to force her body to cooperate as she fights through the pain. But she is able to accomplish it with his assistance.
"Slowly, love. Don't worry, we have all the time in the world right now." His patient and caring ways are affecting her again. Never in her adult life has she leaned on anyone other than her family. Not that she has ever really needed them to physically take care of her like this. She rarely got sick and never once has she been injured on the job. She did however, sprain her ankle once playing backyard football with her brother. Had to spend a few days at her parents' place because her mother insisted on it.
Once she is on her feet, Johannah releases a few controlled breaths. Patting Jaxon's arm, she shuffles her feet forward. "Wow, I feel like I'm eighty. Every muscle in my body is rebelling and begging me not to move."
Jaxon doesn't leave her side and resists picking her up. He wants her to do what she can, knowing how important that is for an independent woman like her. When she reaches the door and grips onto the frame to steady her body, then groans out in pain. He decides that's good enough.
"Baby steps." He tells her as he scoops her into his arms and carries her the rest of the way into the sitting room. He expected her to protest, but instead, she leans her head against his shoulder and sighs.
"A girl could get used to this." Johannah conveys as he lowers her onto the couch. Propping her against the back cushions and stretching her legs out lengthwise. "Thank you."
Jaxon squats in front of her and leans forward, so he can plant a sweet kiss on her lips. "Stop thanking me. My job is to take care of the woman I love."
"Lucky woman." She pats his cheek as she stares into his sky-blue eyes. "I love you too."
"Never gonna get tired of hearing that. What do you want to eat?" Jaxon stares at her carefully. He notices her eyes have a glossy appearance to them. "We need to feed you before you pass out on me again."
"Surprise me." Johannah blinks several times.
Jaxon has his staff bring up some soup and sandwiches. Along with some sweet tea and fruit. He wants to make sure she has something later if she needs it. The fruit will keep and is better than all that junk food he has seen her scarf down.
He serves her on the couch using the lap tray he requested. She slurped down most of her soup and nibbles on about half her sandwich before declaring she was full. He can detect she is getting sleepy again. He deposited the tray on the floor next to the couch and then scoops her up in his arms again.
Johannah doesn't fight him. While she knows she should move on her own, having a man carry her like she weighs nothing is rather flattering. "Bathroom please."
Jaxon carries her as close to the commode as he can, before setting her feet down. "Do you need help?"
"Probably, however, I will manage. It may just take me longer than normal." Johannah gestures for him to give her some privacy.
"I'll just be right outside the door." He informs her as he shuts it.
Johannah tucks her thumbs under the waistband of her yoga pants and tries to shove them down. She gets them as far as her thighs before she stops and deems that good enough.
Lowering her body onto the toilet is harder than it should be. Once there, she decides she is not in any hurry to get up again. And then when she is finished and ready to move, she tries to stand but fails.
Reality slaps her in the face and Johannah knows she has two choices. Admit defeat and ask the very willing man outside of the door for help, or keep trying and keep failing until the man outside the door charges in.
"Jaxon." Johannah knows her voice is weak and no louder than a whimper.
"Yes, my love." He responds through the partially closed door.
His endearment gives her the strength she needs to admit defeat. "I uh mmm… I need some help off the toilet." And then she finds herself laughing out of complete embarrassment.
The door opens slowly. "Not a problem."
"Could you just not look at me, please?" Johannah sees him nod as he steps toward her. "How humiliating."
"No more than having someone undress you inside an interrogation room," Jaxon informs her. He keeps his eyes on hers and helps her stand. "Shall I pull your…"
"I got 'em." Johannah reaches down and tugs her pants up. "Thanks."
Jaxon believes her face is a lovely shade of red. "Paige and Kendra will be here in about an hour. They are bringing you some clothes from your place. I thought you might like to have some clean ones and perhaps wash up. A bath would hopefully help."
Johannah gently shoves him back so she can shuffle to the sink and wash her hands. "That sounds lovely."
When Jaxon starts to pick her up again, she stops him. "I think I can make it to the bed on my own."
Which she does, she is even able to crawl in it on her own. Although she doesn't move once her body collapses against the mattress. Her head hits the pillow, and it's like her body shuts off. The last thing she remembers is Jaxon kissing her cheek, as he pulls the covers over her tired form.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jaxon stands next to the bed and watches Hannah for several minutes after she falls back to sleep. The angry he bears inside at the moment has him frozen. He wishes he could remember more about the accident, so he could offer them a lead that would end in an arrest. He has been racking his brain since he got her settled the first time. But all he visualizes when he closes his eyes is her body flying through the air.
The visible bruises on her legs and arms are awful enough. He caught the ugliest of all bruises on her right hip and down her thigh when he walked in the bathroom and had to hold back. He wanted to rage and howl out his fru
stration about the horrid incident. Wanted to drop to his knees and kiss it. Thankful for the dang horrible looking mark that proved she was alive and well. He wanted to scoop her in his arms and worship her body like no other man had before him. Touch her all over, while reassuring him she was real and alive, and not a figment of his imagination.
Reluctantly, he pulls himself away from her side, and heads back into the other room. He is on the phone almost immediately, "I need this taken care of now."
"Sir, we are doing our best to track down the vehicle. It's not so easy since we are trying to not interfere with the FBI or USSS investigations. My men have already found out more than they have since we are not obligated by the same regulations." Raphael explains.
"Tell me."
"Lucas' death was linked to a man known as Verdugo, which means executioner. They found his signature in his hotel room. A smiley face drawn on the mirror with a bullet hole placed in the forehead. It was a hidden message, one that could only be seen once the shower was turned on and the mirror steamed over. It is his way of letting you know you are a walking dead man. I am going to assume Lucas discovered the message earlier that day. This assassin works for the cartel—several in fact—takes care of some of their more challenging situations."
"I should be surprised, but I'm not. I suspected Lucas was involved in something dangerous. So, is this Verdugo, also tied to the other cases?" Jaxon hopes the answer is no.
"No. Verdugo makes sure you know he is after you before he strikes. He doesn't go after kids or other people you love to send a message. He goes after the source and eliminates it. Hannah is probably familiar with him."
Jaxon finds he is smiling at the knowledge his nickname for Johannah has caught on to his security team. "The cartel, then?"
"Possibly. What I am about to tell you is for your ears only. You can't share this with your woman, because she will most likely report it to her boss. Then they will question how we got it. Understand?" Raphael sounds serious.
"I don't like keeping secrets from her." Jaxon stares out the large window and watches the sun begin to set off in the distance.
There is a harsh complaint, followed by uncomfortable silence before Raphael decided to let Jaxon make the final call. "Fine. I'll share it anyway, and then you can decide if you want to disclose it with her or not. She likely already knows this, so if you share, be aware that it's not public knowledge. She will demand to know how you acquired it.
"The report on Colton Andrews has been altered. They no longer believe he was the target. They came to that conclusion long before they integrated you. They now believe the target was Special Agent Kohl. And their reasoning for this was because of when the shot was taken. According to all reports, including Agent Kohl's. It wasn't until she stepped in front of the beam that the shot was administered. Agent Garris was believed to have gotten in the way. Taking the bullet precisely where it was intended to hit Agent Kohl. It wasn't a kill shot or intended to be one. It was intended to be a shot that put her on leave and took her out of the field. The question is why? They haven't pinpointed that yet.
"The attempt on her this morning only strengthened that theory. According to an eyewitness, the black car was definitely on a mission. Although once you got shoved out of the way, the mission seemed to have altered. The witness claims whoever was driving the car tapped the breaks and swerved as if trying to avoid impact. Although once it was clear that it was unavoidable. It was as if the driver sped up just enough to ensure minimal damage was achieved. The witness is some driving instructor for the police and other agencies. He appears to know what he is talking about."
"What are you saying?" Jaxon drops into a chair as he lowers his head.
"That you did the right thing by assigning my team to her. Someone has plans for Agent Kohl or needs her off the job. Taking you out would have accomplished that, since most likely she would have been hurt as well. But why they thought twice about it, once you were out of the way, that has my radar going off. I don't like it." There is a very noticeable tone in his security guy's voice, one that makes Jaxon want to throw up. "So you know, her friends are here. I'll send them up. I assume you don't want me frisking them."
"No. I trust them. Kendra took a bullet for her unknowingly. Paige is involved with Austin." Jaxon pauses as if he is thinking about that.
"Don't. I have seen them together. It's the real deal, Jaxon. Paige McGraw has been a friend of Johannah's for a very long time. They are tight, and she would never do anything to put her in harm's way. And as far as Austin and her… he has it almost as bad as you and vice versa. You can't fake that, and I have been at this a long time. I'd have picked up on it by now, and so would have the rest of my team. Alicia and Evie like her."
That makes Jaxon feel so much better. "Thank you. Let me know when you find out more." He hangs up with him at the same time he hears a knock on his suite door.
When Jaxon opens the door, he finds both women scowling at him. Uncertain what that is about, he invites them.
Kendra limps over to the couch and drops in it, while she waits for Jaxon to join her. Paige is behind him, as if making sure he follows her friend. Once they are all settled, it becomes very clear to him that this is going to be one of those conversations he isn't going to enjoy.
"I want to like you, Jaxon." Kendra props her bandaged leg up on the small table in front of her. "But I am finding that harder to do with all the information flooding my inbox."
Jaxon is confused. "What information?"
Kendra nods at Paige, so she passes him a folder. This feels all too familiar. He opens it and discovers the same pictures, yet again. Quickly he browses through them, to make sure they are the same ones he has seen twice now. They are.
"Care to explain." Kendra gets right to it.
"I wish I could. I was just as surprised to see these the first time, the second, and now. I have no idea who took them, or who ordered them to be taken. It wasn't me, that is for sure." Jaxon tosses them on the table in front of him. "I'd like to know what is going on myself."
Kendra and Paige exchange a look again. This time Paige is the one to talk. "Why don't you tell us about the recent purchases you have made?"
Jaxon leans back and crosses his arms, offended some by that question. "Have you interrogated Austin about them, as well?"
Paige blushes, and if he isn't mistaken, he catches a hint of pain flash across her face. "Yes. However, I want to hear what you have to say about them."
He tells them exactly why he purchased them. He even explains that he had planned on purchasing more properties from Lucas Jackson over the next couple of years. Slowly at first, until it became clear to the man that his bastard son was liquidating him. Explains why he planned on doing it and whom he planned on involving with each and every purchase so that there would be no doubt on his reasons why.
When Jaxon is done, he looks carefully at the two women to see if he can get a read on them. Unfortunately, they are just as good as his Hannah, making it almost impossible.
"That's pretty much what Austin told me, just with more detail." Paige slumps as if she wishes it was different. "Sometimes, I genuinely hate our job."
Kendra leans forward and takes her friend's hand. "Hey, you had to ask. The accusations and implications were too in our face to ignore. Once he cools down, he'll realize that, and if he cares about you like he claims he does, he'll man up."
"You didn't see his face, Kendra. Didn't hear how angry he was. Have no idea how what I did without going to him first, hurt him." Paige stands and clears her throat. "Excuse me."
Jaxon watches the other woman retreat to the kitchen area. She gets a glass of water before heading through the door of the spare bedroom. "She investigated us?"
"She was ordered to." Kendra doesn't sound at all bothered by that fact. "When your superior orders you to run reports, you run the reports. You don't go behind their backs or ask questions. And honestly, when it all went down, I completely understood why they w
anted the reports. I wanted them once I became aware of all the crap tied to your name and company."
"She confronted Austin?" Jaxon is surprised he is just now hearing about this.
"They had it out last night, way into the wee hours of the morning. She invited him over to Wesley's place. He departed around four this morning. Told her he was disappointed in her and wasn't sure what this all meant where they were concerned." Kendra throws her hands in the air. "That destroyed her formerly damaged heart."
A loud knock on the door of Jaxon's suite has him jumping up to answer it before it wakes Hannah. He glances through the peephole before he opens it. "Austin."
"I just heard about Jo. Man, I'm sorry. How is she?" Austin looks like he has been put through the wringer.
"She is about as good as you'd expect. She's resting right now." Jaxon steps back so he can come inside. "You should know…"
"Paige and I broke up… I think." Austin blurts out sounding devastated. "Man, I screwed it all up." Austin runs his fingers through his hair, making it stand up worse than it already is. "I overreacted. Said some pretty awful shit to her. I'm such an ass. I told her it was no wonder her ex did what he did, and then walked away, leaving her to believe I meant it. I'd honestly like to hunt down that prick and…"
He stops talking when he spots Kendra glowering at him from across the room. Then it's like a revelation sets in, and he frantically searches the room.
"She's in there." Jaxon helps a friend out. "You should probably give her… or not."
Austin is across the room like that, only slowing down once he reaches the partially open door. He pauses briefly before he steps inside it, shutting the door behind him.
You can hear muffled voices that are challenging to make out. Then something slams into the door, causing it to bounce against the frame several times. After several long minutes, all you can hear are Paige's shriek followed by a giggle. Then you hear Austin curse, and a thud against the door again, followed by his low mumbles and moans.
