by Bella Juarez
“You’re my wife and I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks or says. You come first now in my life. Stop worrying and concentrate on getting well.”
Chapter 39
Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
US Naval Special Warfare Group Five
Office of the Commander
October 3, 2008/1917 Zulu
Mac was briefing Rock on the last update from the NCIS unit out of Virginia. They finally had a break. Anna’s shooter had been arrested in Brownsville, Texas, near the border, and the accessory to the crime was being hunted down. They were reviewing the report at Jack’s conference table when Steve rushed in and interrupted.
“Sir, Colonel Spivey, the base commander, is here and wants to see you, sir,” Steve said.
Mac raised an eyebrow and looked at Jack as he smiled slightly.
“Are you expecting a visit?” Mac asked.
“No,” Jack said, shaking his head. He turned slightly to address Steve. “Okay, Friday, as soon as Mac walks out, send the colonel in. We’re almost finished.”
“He said ASAP, sir,” Steve said.
Jack faced Steve, giving him a sharp look.
“Are you expecting me to snap to, PO Montgomery? I will be just a minute. You’re dismissed,” Jack snapped.
“Aye, Captain,” Steve said, retreating.
Steve walked out and Jack returned to the report. They were involved in conversation when Colonel Spivey bullied his way into Jack’s office.
“You fucked up, jackass!” Spivey announced.
The pair seated at the table turned and stared a moment. Jack calmly turned to Mac and let out an exasperated sigh.
“Mac, take a break. I’ll call you when I’m ready to finish,” Jack said.
“Yes, sir,” Mac said as he rose to leave.
“Don’t they teach any customs and courtesies in the Navy, Chief? Don’t you know you’re supposed to get up and stand at attention when a colonel walks in the room?” Spivey taunted Mac as he walked past him.
Mac stopped and faced Colonel Spivey. Mac’s laughing blue eyes suddenly turned ice cold as he locked stares with Spivey.
“Close the door on your way out, Mac,” Jack said casually.
“Yes, sir,” Mac replied.
Mac walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.
“You and your men need a lesson in humility, O’Malley. And I’m about to hold class, starting with you,” Spivey said.
“Oh?” Jack simply asked.
“You really fucked up this time, and I’ll see your ass in Leavenworth before it’s all over,” Spivey taunted.
“Okay, Spivey, I’ve got things to do. Get to the point,” Jack said dismissively.
“Civilian. Female. Works for the 1427 Comm Group, on loan to you. Ring any bells?” Spivey asked as he charged the table Jack was sitting at.
“Are you referring to Anna Santiago?” Jack asked innocently.
“You ought to know her name. You’re fucking her, aren’t you?” Spivey demanded.
Jack’s demeanor suddenly grew dark as he looked at Colonel Spivey and gave him his full attention.
“Be careful with that, Spivey,” Jack warned.
“That’s just for starters. You also almost got her killed! Here, in this hangar, and didn’t report it to the security police. You’re making it so easy to hang you. Hell, and to think all it took was a piece of ass. You navy guys never do think with the right head.” Spivey laughed.
Jack had to fight the urge to flatten Spivey. He had a lovely vision of him snapping Spivey’s neck with his bare hands and it wouldn’t even take a minute. He decided to hear Spivey out before he figured out how he would dispose of the base commander’s body.
“I had a meeting yesterday with Colonel Jackson, remember him? You went to him and asked him to move your piece of ass so you could have better access to her. Let’s see, let’s just start with the fraternization part of all of this. I hear you even moved her into your house. That’s illegal. She has to be your spouse to move in, jackass!” Spivey charged.
Jack was getting angrier with each word Spivey uttered but let him continue. He was would enjoy burying Spivey when his turn came.
“Now let’s get to the whole NCIS episode you had going on here, as well as the reallocation of resources that you took upon yourself to do. You’re supposed to call the cops when something like that happens here! You fucked up this base for a month. You didn’t go through the chain of command and you allowed a civilian to get caught up in your bullshit here. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that you morons were doing some kind of covert shit and she just happened to get in the way!” Spivey said laughing.
Jack couldn’t take anymore.
“You know something, Spivey, you’re fucking hilarious. I should’ve let my master chief stay just for the laughs,” Jack cut in.
“Fuck you. I have you and you know it. And another thing—” Spivey shouted, red faced.
“All right, asshole, you’ve spewed enough shit. Now it’s my turn so shut the fuck up and pay attention,” Jack said sharply, cutting him off again.
Spivey went silent. Jack’s tone left no room for disobedience.
“Even though I don’t have to explain shit to you, I’m giving you the rest of the story. Anna Santiago doesn’t work for the Air Force anymore. She was reassigned two weeks after she was put on loan. And she doesn’t work for me either, dumbass. She worked for SOCOM. And fucking SOCOM was paying her salary, so she wasn’t your concern or Jackson’s. The project she was working on is classified, so was the fact that she was reassigned. It was designed that way for her safety. Thank you, now I know where this all came from and why they decided to try and take her out. There was only one person outside this organization that knew what was going on. Colonel Jackson. So if he’s running his damn mouth to you, you both are in deep shit right now. Operational security. Look up the fucking definition! You fucking Air Force assholes need to learn how to keep your mouth shut!” Jack charged.
“Bullshit! And who the fuck are they?” Spivey yelled.
“None of your fucking business! As for the rest of the shit that happened it’s also classified, and you and your people don’t have a need to know. Your general was briefed. That’s all the information you need,” Jack snapped. Spivey looked away nervously and Jack could tell he was backing down. He came almost nose to nose with Spivey. “I’ll tell you something else, Spivey. That piece of ass that you keep referring to is my wife. I’m only telling you this once. Back-the-fuck-off. And leave her out of this.” He growled.
“You were fucking her long before that.”
“My wife and I are none of your business. You need to watch it, Spivey. This is personal. You ever say anything like that about her again I’ll snap you in two,” Jack warned. Spivey backed away. “Now get the fuck out of my office before I lose it and throw your useless ass through the fucking hangar wall!”
“Yeah, jackass, you don’t do your own dirty work anymore.”
“Don’t tempt me, Spivey. In your case it wouldn’t be dirty work. It would be fun and easy to do.”
Jack walked toward his desk and seated himself behind it. Spivey wasn’t worth the effort, he decided.
“You haven’t heard the last of me, jackass,” Spivey said as he started to walk out. “You fucked up somewhere here. And when I get you so you can’t get out, I’ll be there for the hanging.”
“Good luck with that.”
* * * *
Jack entered the kitchen and inhaled deeply because what he smelled was quickly becoming his favorite scent, fresh-baked bread. As he took off his heavy BDU uniform top he watched Anna scurry around the kitchen. She hadn’t heard him walk into the house. They had found their groove and fallen into a routine. It was hard to believe it had been a whole month because the days seemed to pass so easily. Since finding the shooter and moving in on the target, he was starting to release the grip he had on her freedom. She’d started job hunting again
and he’d managed to talk her into going back to cooking instead of computers for a living.
“Hey, you’re home early,” Anna commented.
“I’m going out with Mac and a friend who’s coming in from Coronado tonight,” Jack said, kissing Anna lightly.
“Really, I don’t recall you asking permission to go out tonight.”
“I’ll be in the garage. I’m expecting something and I want to make room for it.” Jack turned to walk out of the kitchen.
“Jack…come back here…”
“Gotta go, baby. Got lots to do,” Jack said, never looking back.
Jack busied himself combining and throwing away boxes that they had retrieved from Anna’s storage rooms. It didn’t seem like a very long time and it was a mild day. He didn’t see the truck pull up into the drive way.
“Christ! You’re still a captain and not in jail, yet?” a gruff voice asked behind him.
Jack smiled and turned.
“JJ, did Dixie finally let you retire? What will he do without you? With all that bullshit you’ve been pulling what did you finally get out as, PO3?” Jack asked innocently.
“Fuck you. Congress made me a chief and only Congress can take it away,” JJ said as he extended his hand.
The two men shook hands heartily.
“I’ll piss on Dixie’s Benz for you on my last day,” JJ said.
Jack laughed out loud.
“Is that your idea of a going-away present?” Jack asked.
“Don’t you have any manners? I thought I raised you better than that,” the old chief reprimanded.
Jack walked to the outside fridge and took out a beer.
“Would you like a beer, Chief?” Jack asked.
“That’s better,” JJ said as he took the bottle and twisted open the cap. Taking a long swallow, he said, “Damn! That’s good beer.”
“Where’s my baby?” Jack questioned.
JJ smiled and looked behind Jack. “I think she just walked outside.”
Jack turned around and saw Anna.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. Mac just called. He said to tell you that he’d be ready by six. He said you’d know what that means,” Anna said.
“Anna, you remember Master Chief James Jones,” Jack said, turning back to JJ.
“Hello, Master Chief. It’s nice to see you again,” Anna said.
“The pleasure is all mine,” JJ said, smiling broadly.
“If you’ll excuse me, please, Master Chief, make yourself at home,” Anna said as she walked back into the house.
“Thanks!” JJ said, raising his beer in salute. “Damn it, Rock, how’d you manage that one? She seems like a really nice girl.” He shook his head.
“You think?” Jack asked.
“What the hell is she doing with you? Does she really know anything about you? Does she know that you have a black book that would put the fucking White Pages out of business?” JJ asked.
“She’s doesn’t need that kind of information. You don’t know my wife,” Jack said under his breath.
“What was that?” JJ asked. Jack started moving more boxes out of the way. “Does she know you’ve fucked on every inhabited continent?”
“Shut up, JJ. Where’s my damn bike?” Jack asked irritably.
“Come on, married! Where’s the punch line?” JJ asked, tossing Jack the empty bottle.
They unloaded Jack’s Night Rod Harley from the trailer that JJ had attached to his truck. After unhooking and dropping the trailer, they went back into the garage and tested the bike. It started fine. JJ fished his wallet out and took out a wad of cash.
“This was the deposit,” JJ said, handing it to Jack.
‘“Keep it. Thanks for bringing the bike from Cali.”
“Hell, I ain’t turning away free money. I’m retired now. I’m on a fixed income,” JJ said, returning the money to his wallet.
“Retired, my ass. Mac told me you were going to work here with some private security firm out of Austin. You’ll be working for twice your pay.” Jack took out two more beers and handed one to JJ. “And do a hell of a lot less,” he teased.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Just what I said. Security training consultant.”
“What about you, Captain? When does the head of this house tell you when to hang it up? At least I still have a pair,” JJ snapped.
Jack didn’t take the bait. He knew JJ too well to show weakness.
“She knows what I do. She also knows she’s not my career adviser,” Jack said.
“The hell she isn’t! She says jump, you say how high. You’ve been neutered, just like Mac. All that training, wasted,” JJ said, shaking his head in disgust.
“She’s just like Liz. In fact, Anna and Liz have gotten to be pretty good friends,” Jack teased.
“Thank God there ain’t another Liz. Damn Dragon Lady!” JJ grunted.
“You’re right. Mine’s better.”
“Jesus! Does she at least give you your balls back on the weekend?” JJ wondered aloud.
“Jealous?”
“You’re damn right I am,” JJ said with a smile. He cocked his head and appraised Jack and said with recollection, “Now I remember why she looked so familiar the last time I was here. Isn’t she the one you had with you at Coronado?”
“I don’t know.” Jack shrugged.
JJ took another drink and chuckled. “That’s why Dixie threw that shit fit! Come look me up when he kicks your ass out of the Navy. This place needs a planning and tactics guy.”
“He hasn’t kicked me out yet, JJ,” Jack commented.
“You might be down to your ninth life, Rock. All that admiral shit has gone to his head. Watch it, by the way, Whiskey’s an ass kisser when it suits him, and Whiskey was pissed that he was passed over for captain.”
“Did Dixie send you down here with that warning?”
JJ’s smile waned and he walked around and grabbed another beer.
“You’ve never gone that far for any woman. I know she got hurt and all, but that’s not you. You don’t get attached that easy. What happened, Rock?” JJ asked.
Jack turned toward the bike and knelt, checking over the engine. He didn’t answer.
“Rock? I asked you a question,” JJ demanded.
“She almost died. I was there and I saw what she went through. I was the one that got her involved in all of this. I was the reason she was in that situation. I love her, JJ, and there was no way in hell I was leaving her hanging. I couldn’t do it. Had she been anybody else, maybe, but I couldn’t do it to her.”
JJ stood on the other side of the bike facing Jack.
“What happened wasn’t your fault. Shit like that happens all the time to us. Marrying her went off the map. Is she worth it?” JJ questioned.
“Is she worth it? I sure as hell hope so because I don’t want her to leave me. I probably wouldn’t have married her if Dixie hadn’t forced my hand. If I would’ve let her live somewhere else, she would’ve been dead inside a week. They wouldn’t have screwed up a second time.”
“It happens, Rock. Most of the time there’s nothing you can do about it,” JJ said softly.
JJ tossed the empty bottle to Jack, who quickly disposed of it. Jack looked at his watch.
“It’s after five. Where are you staying?” Jack asked.
“I’m sure as hell not staying with you. I couldn’t bear to watch my favorite tadpole be neutered right in front of me,” JJ said.
Jack started to protest.
“They all do it. They all know how to bring us to our fucking knees,” JJ said as he exited the garage.
* * * *
Mac, JJ, and Jack successfully had drunk enough alcohol to intoxicate an entire platoon of new recruits. Jack was still wondering how in the hell he managed to make it home from Mac’s house last night. Or was it this morning? He was feeling the effects this morning. He opened his eyes and turned to look at the clock beside his bed. It was just after four thirty in the morning. He q
uietly got up and walked to the bathroom to look for some Tylenol. He decided to start the shower and let the warm water run over him hoping it would make him feel a little better. He dried off, put on his pajama bottoms, and went back to bed so he curled up with Anna.
Jack opened his eyes and rolled over and discovered it was already light outside. Good thing it was Sunday because he needed the extra sleep. Anna was moving so he rolled over and wrapped his arms around her. He had so much to do and really shouldn’t be fooling around with her all day. The Navy Birthday Ball was in a few weeks and Dixie was pissed enough. He didn’t need to fuck up and really piss him off. Anna rubbed her delightful ass against his semihard cock, which was getting harder with every wiggle.
“Can I do something?” Anna asked.
Jack closed his eyes and let his hands roam over Anna’s curvy waist and then back up, cupping her full breasts.
“Jack? I want to do something tomorrow,” Anna said as she wiggled.
He wanted to do something, too. “What’s that, baby? Tie me up, torture me, and then have your way with me?” Jack asked.
Anna froze. Jack shut his eyes and wanted to kick himself for not controlling his runaway mouth because with Anna that was a dangerous mistake. She looked over her shoulder at him.
“Can I?” Anna asked.
Jack’s mind suddenly flashed a picture of him tied and Anna in thigh-high boots and a black leather corset, wearing a strap-on. This evil little freak bitch who doubled as his wife would make sure he would feel every inch of her cock. Jack’s stiff dick deflated at the thought of her trying to shove a huge dildo up his ass. Anna turned around and looked at him. Oh shit! Now he was really scared because her eyes were malevolently lit at the thought he’d just planted in her head.
“Seriously, can I?” Anna asked.
“No!” Jack roared.
Anna, true to that malicious dominatrix streak, smiled wickedly as she reached in between his legs for his cock. As she stroked, Jack fought to get away, but she was on fire as she straddled him and continued her stroking. It amazed him at how fast she could be when properly motivated.
