by Lee Taylor
Stiffening his shoulders, Dameon made a point of keeping her in his line of sight. Now that he knew that, in addition to his own lawmen, Raoul and his moll were also armed, this little soiree was getting more interesting. He’d positioned his men around the room, cognizant of the status of the attendees. The guest of honor, a former councilman who’d thrown his hat in the ring to become New Mexico’s next U.S. Senator, was standing in a crowd of well-wishers. A crowd that now included Raoul and his mistress. Even saying it to himself hurt. Dameon was self-aware enough to acknowledge that it was his pride that was injured. The sexpot had short-circuited his vaunted professional savvy. Not an easy thing to do, or so he’d thought.
Dameon watched Raoul introduce Jesse to Councilman Hernandez. The slight flush on her cheeks and the wariness he’d noted earlier were still apparent. If the garrulous Raoul noticed, it didn’t stop him from pushing her forward. Soon Jesse was in the center of an admiring crowd of men, many of whom Dameon had seen her give the stink-eye to only minutes earlier. Clearly she didn’t appreciate the gang surrounding her. Her nervousness was obvious. At least he hadn’t been wrong about that. But now he knew it was more likely jealousy, possessiveness, rather than simple anxiety. She kept looking over her shoulder, keeping a close eye on Raoul. Dameon wished her luck. In addition to his shady associations, Raoul was an inveterate womanizer. Dameon felt a pang of satisfaction watching her jealous reaction to the bevy of women who’d surrounded Raoul as tightly as their spouses were crowding Jesse.
Dameon had to give Raoul credit. He was moving among the elite as though he were one of them. And dammit, he was. His boyhood friend had asked Dameon on several occasions to give him the benefit of the doubt, to see that he was trying to change his ways, shake off his heritage. In Dameon’s cop mentality, Raoul was attempting the impossible. Nephew to Victor Morales, the declared head of the Morales cartel, Raoul insisted he was determined to cut the ties that bound him to the family. He told Dameon that in deference to Raoul’s dead father who was the big man’s brother, his uncle had warned off his goons. Supposedly that left Raoul free to build his own legitimate collection of related businesses. Dameon guffawed at the thought. He could have told Raoul—indeed he had, on several occasions—that if you wanted to go straight, carving out an empire that was as questionable as the one he’d supposedly left behind was a problematic choice. The police force under Dameon’s leadership didn’t buy Raoul’s nominal conversion. Neither did the cartel. In the unlikely event that Raoul was serious about his reformation, he was riding the edge of a very sharp sword.
Jesse felt Dameon’s hard gaze. She knew he was watching her. Now that he had her pegged, his cop’s antennae must be sending a barrage of signals. It wasn’t hard to guess what those signals were. She’d seen his distaste; his dark frown had said it all. For a moment she allowed herself to remember the teasing light in his spectacular eyes. The curve of his full inviting lips. Fortunately she was as accomplished as he was at reading people. But unlike the police chief, she was never wrong. She’d learned early on, men saw one thing when they looked at her. Even the good ones saw the redheaded bitch with the big tits. Jesse didn’t mind. Hell, she knew what she looked like. Instead, she used that knowledge to her advantage and never gave a man the benefit of the doubt, even the supposed nice ones. Her attitude had been cultivated by years of experience. The men she was close to earned their way into her trust. It was a tight circle and a small one.
Raoul was a character. Jesse couldn’t help but smile at her client while at the same time wanting to wring his neck. For God’s sake, how do you protect a guy who was not only a chick magnet but had important men crowding around him three deep? She gave up being subtle and fastened an eagle eye on the women encircling her employer. Let them think she was a jealous shrew. At least that way she could stay within several feet of Raoul without being caught in the snare of men around her. Maybe the men and the women hovering close would get the picture that the disgusted-looking police chief had clearly gotten. She and Raoul were together and she for one was going to make sure of that.
Dameon was the first to spot the thugs. Goons were goons, no matter how they tried to clean themselves up. Silk shirts and classy sport coats couldn’t hide the double rigs under their jackets. Catching Charlie Rockford’s eye, Dameon was glad to see his lieutenant was as quick as he was. Dameon’s Glock had barely cleared his belt before the shots rang out. In the screams that followed there was a barrage of gunfire.
He hadn’t realized that his first concern would spontaneously be the very woman whose presence had bedeviled him throughout the evening. Locating her across the room, Dameon saw to his shock that the redhead’s Walther was out as quickly as his and Charlie’s weapons were. Clearly reacting to the bullets that were headed their way she landed on Raoul, covering his body with hers and throwing them both to the floor. Dameon felt a modicum of begrudging respect. Hanging with a drug kingpin had clearly sharpened her reaction time.
Assuming that she was safe, Dameon turned to the trial at hand. His first shot had taken the renegade leader down. He assumed Charlie’s bullet had winged the guy behind him, but now he realized it might have been Jesse’s. In a matter of seconds two of Dameon’s men had surrounded the trio and Sergeant Munk Stephens, his three-hundred-pound former Texas Longhorn linebacker, had the lone remaining gunman in a chokehold.
In the ensuing panic, Dameon rose to his full height and took on the leadership role that had served him well in hellholes across the globe. His Army Ranger skills came in handy as he sought to bring order to the terrified crowd that was scattering frantically across the ballroom. His voice was clear, confident.
“Everyone, be calm! Now. Listen to me. The gunmen are down. There are no additional shooters. You are safe. BUT! Hear me loud and clear. No one is to leave this room. My men need to check the perimeter to ensure that these three individuals are the only gunmen here. I’m Police Chief Macarios if any of you don’t know me. I repeat, no one is to leave this room. That’s an order.”
Jesse pinned Raoul to the ground until she heard Macarios’s order. She had to trust his instincts. If he said the shooters were down they sure as hell better be. She knew she’d gotten one of them. Her heart was banging in her chest. That was too damned close. If she hadn’t leapt when she did, they would have gotten Raoul. Ignoring the blinding pain in her hip, she dragged Raoul to his feet. She’d figure out later if she’d been hit. The most it could be was a graze.
Taking advantage of the pandemonium, she rushed Raoul to the side door. Her instincts told her that if there were more shooters, they’d enter from the back. Relieved to see Raoul’s limo in the side lot where they’d agreed he would park, she shoved him toward the open door and into the arms of Ricardo, his startled driver. Ricardo’s eyes were wide with shock.
Jesse did her best to reassure him.
“We’re fine, okay. Just get him out of here. Now!”
She turned to Raoul who had hold of her arm.
“Get in and leave, now.”
Raoul tugged at her hand.
“For Christ’s sake, Jesse, come with me!”
She shook her head. “No, I’ll take my car. I have to get it out of here. Believe me, Raoul, if I don’t, I won’t get it back for days. Now go!”
To her relief with a squeal of tires tearing at the cobblestone driveway, Ricardo had the limo out on the street before Jesse had crossed the lot to her waiting Jeep.
She hastened her steps when she heard the threatening shout behind her. It was the guy she’d seen pull his gun almost as fast as she and the Chief had. She had the door open and her key in the ignition when he hollered out a warning.
“Stop! Now! Dammit, Miss, you can’t go. The Chief said no one can leave! Everyone is to stay inside!”
Ignoring the gun he was pointing at her, Jesse smiled at him as she swung by and headed for the street.
“Sorry, Officer. I’m not ‘everyone.’ ”
~~~
Ro
cky’s shocked voice rang in his com.
“Wolf, you’re not fucking going to believe this. The redhead? She just shoved Raoul into his big limo and then headed for her car. I told her you said no one could leave, everyone had to stay. She just shrugged and said I’m not ‘everyone.’ Christ! She’s driving out of here now. I can’t fucking believe it!”
Dameon’s voice was harsh. “Stop her.”
“How, for Christ’s sake? I’m tellin’ you, man, no one is stopping that babe.”
“Goddamn it, Charlie. I saw her pull a gun. Fuck, she may even have got one of the shooters.”
Charlie hesitated. “Yeah, I saw her gun, but….”
“Lieutenant, listen up. Call dispatch. Put out an APB. Stop her now. That’s an order, Lt. Rockford. If she resists, arrest her.”
Chapter 3
“Okay, Wolf. I’ve got her. She resisted so I arrested her. Now what the hell do I do with her?”
With an effort, Dameon controlled his anger. “How many times have you arrested someone, Lieutenant? Book her.”
Charlie’s voice was incredulous. “Christ, man, for what?”
“Let’s see, Lieutenant, where should I start? For pulling a gun in a crowded ballroom? For disobeying a direct order from the Police Chief? For resisting arrest? Or, I’ve got it. How about booking her for her real crime—possession of illegal drugs.”
“Are you serious, Wolf? Christ, man, that’s a felony with certain prison time.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant, for telling me something I may not have known.”
“Yeah, but, Wolf. Suspected of transporting drugs? You know what that means. What that entails. A strip search at the very least—”
Dameon cut him off.
“Yes, Charlie, I do know what that means. But I have a feeling it won’t be the first time for her. When you get her sheet I’m sure we’ll see she’s been in this spot before.”
~~~
Inside the interrogation room, Jesse fought to control her emotions. Huddling in the orange jumpsuit the matron had given her she replayed the horror of the last hour. She knew she was wrong to leave the Country Club, but she also knew there’d be too many questions she didn’t want to answer. Plus her primary duty was to get Raoul away safely. Hopefully if anyone saw them, they’d think he was with her and come after her, not him. Which was in fact what had happened. The upshot was that she’d been booked for a felony and was looking at one night in jail—at the very least.
Jesse’d never been through the indignity of a strip search. She hadn’t believed the matron when the grim woman ordered her to take off her clothes and bend over. When Jesse protested, the woman, Francesca, had replied, “I’m sorry I have to do this. I can see that you’re upset. And I gotta admit you don’t look like the usual mule I search. But the Chief ordered that we thoroughly search you for illegal drugs.”
Outrage flared in Jesse’s gut. Of course the arrogant fucker had ordered her searched. If nothing else, to humiliate her. Jesse gave him credit. He’d succeeded. She wasn’t only humiliated, she was terrified. She also was hurt.
Jesse refused to let the matron examine her wounds. Instead, she’d pushed her away with a curt warning.
“Unless I’m mistaken, you were ordered to do a cavity search—which you’ve done. Now leave me alone.”
She’d called her lawyer. Other than her son and ex-husband and of course her erstwhile client, Raoul, Eric Grant was the only other person she knew in this godforsaken town. Unfortunately, she’d gotten his voicemail. No telling when he would get her frantic message. And no telling what would happen to her in the meantime.
At the knock on the door, Jesse looked up to see Lt. Rockford, the officer who’d arrested her, standing in the doorway. To her surprise, he was carrying her clothes and had a distinctly sheepish look on his face.
“I’m… I’m sorry ma’am… about tonight. You’re free to go.”
Her surprise quickly changed to anger. “What happened? Did your fucking Chief of Police decide he’d had enough fun for the evening?”
Rockford flushed uncomfortably. “No, ma’am. But your lawyer, a high level guy in this community, just sprung you, bailed you out.”
Jesse snatched the bundle of clothing and hurriedly stripped off her orange jumpsuit. Ignoring his shocked expression and that of the men she was sure were peering in the one-way mirror, she stood dressed only in her bra, thong and thigh high silk stockings. She yanked her ripped dress over her head and smoothed it over her hips giving a muffled cry when it hit her wounded areas. Grabbing her shoes, she saw to her dismay that one of the heels on the expensive trappings was broken. With an angry sigh she took them off and strode past the line of gaping officers in her stocking feet, her shoes clutched to her chest.
Lt. Rockford called after her.
“Ma’am, please wait! Let me call you a cab, or one of us will take you home.”
“That’s not necessary. I have my car unless the Police Chief had it impounded for evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors.”
“Uh, no, ma’am, he didn’t. Your car is in the lot and your keys are in that bag. But, ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying, you don’t look like you’re in any condition to drive.”
Jesse could only imagine what she looked like. Her hair was hanging in a tangled mess around her shoulders. She knew her mascara had to be running down her face, evidence of the tears she couldn’t hold back. And her fucking $1,500 dress and $1,200 shoes were ruined! Striving for control, she turned on the solicitous officer who was regarding her with concern.
“Let’s allow me to be the judge of that, Lieutenant Rockford. Now if you don’t mind, get the hell out of my way.”
~~~
Dameon had seen Rocky’s stream of messages but hadn’t had time to listen to them. Hell, he was dealing with a panicked crowd and at least one dead gunman. He didn’t give a flying fuck how much trouble the redhead was giving his team. Let her stew for a while. He’d go down to the jail and see her when he was good and ready. They’d be having a different kind of conversation than they’d had earlier this evening—that was for damn sure. He gave a satisfied grunt. We’ll see how haughty she is now….
Finally he had a break and answered the latest buzz. Rocky’s voice was taut.
“Christ, Wolf. I’ve been trying to reach you for an hour. Obviously you haven’t been getting my messages—”
“Uh, no, Charlie. I’ve been a little busy here. What’s the matter? She putting up a fight?”
Charlie replied in a flat tone. “She’s not here.”
“What the hell do you mean she’s not there? Goddammit. Did you book her like I told you too?”
“Yeah, Wolf. I arrested her, and I booked her…. Wolf, check your phone, man. I sent you her sheet. I’m tellin’ you, bro. You need to see her sheet.”
Dameon pulled up her sheet expecting to see a long list of arrests, everything from possession to dealing to prostitution. He both expected and dreaded seeing her record in black and white—after all, there was a thing or two he liked about Raoul’s moll. When the sheet came up a double sucker punch to his gut couldn’t have shocked him more. For several long moments he stared at the detailed sheet—speechless. Sucking in a deep breath, he blew it out and uttered the most appropriate response. “Fuck.”
Charlie’s voice echoed in his com. “Yeah, Wolf, that’s an understatement. In case it’s hard to see it all on your phone, let me give you the highlights. You’re looking at Retired Major Jesse Elizabeth O’Donnell, highly decorated U. S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, with a stint in Korea, Somalia… hell, you name it. And currently the owner of L.O.T.N. Protective Services Agency, whatever the hell that is….”
“What the fuck?” Dameon struggled to make sense of the information and the clanging alarms ringing in his ears. “I’ll be right down.”
“Save it, Wolf. I told you. She’s gone.”
“What do you mean she’s gone? Where? How?”
“Yeah, well
, Raoul and your lawyer friend, Eric Grant, bailed her out. Seems she’s got friends in high places. By the way, Wolf, I know this is a shock but I gotta tell you, she was really upset. Francesca said she was practically in tears during the search. She didn’t look good when she left. She insisted on driving herself home—”
Dameon broke in. “Follow her. Make sure she gets home safe.”
Charlie’s voice was strained. “Okay, Wolf. I’m on it. But, man, I don’t want to lay any more on you but Francesca also said she’s been hurt. She wouldn’t let Francesca help her.”
Dameon grabbed a harsh breath and repeated his order.
“Go after her. Make sure she’s okay. Keep me posted.”
He clicked off the connection then took several minutes to digest the impressive background of one very beautiful and, no doubt, very angry redhead.
~~~
Moments later Charlie called back over the police transmitter.
“Uh, um, Wolf? She picked up my tail and stopped right in the middle of the road. She’s now marching back here at about fifty miles an hour. I wanna tell you, man, your grand pappy was right about redheads. Damn. That is one pissed off woman.”
Dameon heard the sounds of what seemed to be a struggle and then heard Jesse’s angry voice over the com.
“Who are you taking to, Lieutenant Rockford?”
