by Taylor Lee
He turned to Sam and spoke directly to her. “Chief Delgado, the DPD is just now becoming aware that various cartels see this county and your reservation is an entry point for expanding their control. It is my belief that—and I use that term inclusively—our organizations are the tip of the spear. By working together with the DEA and other national and international agencies, we can ensure that the bastards don’t get a toehold either on the reservation or in the Upper Midwest.”
Sam knew she should take the olive branch Jake was extending. It was certainly what her grandfather would do if he were in this meeting. Hell, he would join hands with Jake and sing Kumbaya, pledging them to eternal cooperation. Sam snorted. As long as they were clear about who was in the leadership role. It sure as hell wouldn’t be her. She rose to her feet and nodded to her deputies, who quickly did the same.
“Thank you, Commander Justice, for your conciliatory words of wisdom. I’m confident we all appreciate them. As I said to Special Agent Reynolds, I will immediately contact my fellow tribal law enforcement colleagues at the involved reservations to ensure that I have the most accurate and pertinent information regarding the crisis as it affects Native people. I will, of course, relay any information that I think you need to know.”
Striding to the door, she turned and flashed a tight smile. “It was a pleasure, gentlemen. And definitely informative. Thank you for inviting us.”
Not waiting for a response, Sam sauntered out of the room, her deputies behind her.
Jared broke the silence. With an ironic smile he said, “Well, that went well.”
Jude and Jake nodded in appreciation at the impertinent assessment. Ignoring the angry flush on Agent Reynolds’s face, Jake said with a sigh, “Probably as well as it could, given that we obviously blindsided Chief Delgado with the seriousness of the issue, particularly as it relates to the cartel’s focus on the reservations.”
Reynolds broke in scathingly. “One would think that if Chief Delgado was as important as she seems to think she is, she would be updating all us uninformed assholes with her knowledgeable assessment of the international crisis. As it was, she doesn’t seem to have a clue what’s going on in her own backyard.”
Jake frowned and shook his head. “Don’t underestimate her, Brian. She is a force to be reckoned with. And we sure as hell want her working with us, not against us. And, yes, you’re correct. She is new and needs to be updated, which is why I invited her to attend this briefing.”
He rose to his feet and headed for the door. “Please excuse me. I want to thank the chief and her deputies for attending on such short notice and see when we can meet again.”
Chapter 8
“Wait up, Sam.”
At some level Sam had known that Jake would follow her. There was no way that he would let her have the last word. She’d hoped that she could make it out to their waiting van before he caught up with her, but he was too fast. Hearing him call out, she looked back and saw that he was within feet of her. Before she could quicken her pace, he caught her arm and had the audacity to grin at her annoyed flinch and attempt to pull away.
“Now, now, Chief Delgado. You don’t think I’m going to let you leave my precinct without letting me say good-bye and thanking you all for coming.” Jake nodded to the two deputies who were standing back uncertainly, clearly aware of the unspoken issues between their chief and the man who prevented their exit. “Thanks, Mark, and you too, Henry. I’m glad you came with Chief Delgado. There’s a lot going on, and you need to be aware of the issues we are facing.”
Sam twisted free from his grip and said curtly, “I agree. We have important issues to address, and you can be sure that my deputies and I, in concert with other tribal chiefs, will do just that. Now, if you don’t mind, we need to get back to the reservation so we can begin.”
Jake shook his head and although his smile didn’t reach his slate-hard eyes, said pleasantly, “Actually, Chief Delgado, I do mind. I need to take advantage of you while I have you here. I also want to be sure that we’re on the same page before I turn you loose.” He turned to Deputy Staples. “Did you all drive together?” When Mark Staples nodded, Jake said, “Tell you what, Mark, you and Henry can go ahead. I’ll see to it that Chief Delgado gets back to the rez.”
Acknowledging that she could either make a huge scene that Jake would likely label a temper tantrum or concede that he was not going to let her go until he was damn good and ready to, Sam addressed her men. “It’s okay, Mark. You guys go ahead. Clearly, Commander Justice isn’t finished telling me all the ways we can work together if I will just agree that the DPD runs the show.” She added with a sarcastic sniff, “Obviously, the commander doesn’t know me as well as you do. But for now, I will humor him.”
Waiting until the two men were out of earshot, Jake grinned at her. “In truth, Chief Delgado, I wanted to invite you to lunch. My team planned to meet up at the Shipwreck after our briefing. I hoped you would join us.” He added, his eyes twinkling, “Don’t worry, Agent Reynolds has a luncheon meeting with the Fibbies, so won’t be joining us.”
Given that her transportation was walking out the door, Sam decided she would accept his invitation even though the last thing she wanted to do was to have a casual lunch with Jake and his men. God, talk about being overwhelmed. Jake was daunting enough, but add two more Justice brothers, and her anxiety rose to an eleven on her personal Richter scale.
As if seeing her concern, Jake gave her a winning smile, then tossed her what could only be described as a dare. “C’mon, Chief Delgado, surely you aren’t intimidated by all us ‘legitimate poleeze with our pearly white asses.’ Afraid we’ll gang up on you?” He squeezed her arm. “I promise you that you can count on Solly and me to be chivalrous. I can’t speak for my brothers. For some reason all my grandfather’s admonitions didn’t affect those two the way it did my older brother Jorden and me. But don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
Sam was horrified that her contemptuous description of Jake and his police officers had gotten back to them. That he was laughing at her when he said it only made it worse. His reference to chivalry, a reminder of how he’d taken her on in the meeting, confirmed that she obviously amused him. She could either throw a genuine temper tantrum and insist that he take her back to the rez or give in to his audacious teasing and try to turn the tables as much as she could.
Shrugging his hand off of her arm, Sam looked up at him and met his amused gaze with what she hoped was a smile as impertinent as his. “Not a problem, Commander Justice. Putting wussy men in their places always spikes my appetite. So if you pearly white poleeze don’t mind adding color to your luncheon table, I’m pleased to join you. But I think I’ll pull out my own chair if you don’t mind. Something tells me that you and your brothers probably enjoyed sucking in the ladies and then when they least expected it, pulled the chair out from under them.”
Jake threw back his head and laughed aloud. “Damn, Samantha, I gotta tell you, the thought occurred to me many times at those damnable cotillions our grandfather forced on us. But I don’t believe even Jared was ballsy enough to drop a fine young lady to the floor on her assuredly pearly white ass.”
“Hey, bro, is that my name being taken in vain? Although the fact that you’re laughing and the scary chief is smiling must mean that you two have made up and are buddies again.”
Grinning at his incorrigible brother whose emerald eyes were dancing with amusement, Jake said, “Don’t know that Chief Delgado considers me her ‘buddy,’ but at least she has agreed to join us for lunch.”
Jude came from behind Jared and sidled up to them. He gave Jake a playful punch, then winked at Samantha.
“And all you had to do to convince her to stay, big brother, was to send her deputies home with her ride. So the choice you gave the chief was ‘join us for lunch or walk ten miles back to the rez.’ ” He grinned at Jake and shook his head with an admiring smile. “Hardcore, man.” Turning to Sam, he said, “But I’m glad you agreed to c
ome, Chief Delgado. Anyone who can take down that supercilious pansy ass Brian Reynolds is A-OK in my book.”
Working hard to regain her composure, Sam settled back in the passenger seat in Jake’s snazzy Jag. She couldn’t help but admire the high-end car that had a dashboard worthy of a seven-forty-seven jet. She snuck a glance at the distinguished man beside her and wondered about his choice of the flashy ride. Because of his commanding presence, she would have pegged him for a Bimmer or maybe a souped-up Hummer. The sporty Jag, bright red at that, spoke to an adventurous streak that was at odds with his professional aura. Remembering him saying good night at her door, she realized she had a glimpse of that streak when he pinned her against the wall and warned her with a salacious grin that they had some interesting days ahead.
Sam glanced around the table at the surprising participants. She’d expected Jude and Jared, and of course, Solly Solberg. But as they were being seated, two women sauntered up to their table. The tall, blonde woman in a DPD uniform, whose nametag read H. Michels, smiled when Jared Justice leapt from his chair and planted a kiss on her rosy cheek. Not to be outdone, his brother Jude captured the diminutive spiky-haired woman with Clark Kent glasses and reeled her in next to him.
Jake nodded at both women and turned to Sam. “Chief Delgado, hope you don’t mind, but these two yahoos insist that I keep them so busy they rarely see their women, so they invited them to lunch. Besides, given the arrogant reputation my brothers have rightly earned, I think you’ll be pleased to know that they managed to snare two impressive women who keep them in their place.” He nodded to the tall blonde who’d snuggled in beside Jared. “Officer Hailey Michels is one of my new recruits and a smarter cop you won’t meet, even though she did agree to marry my obnoxious baby brother.” Turning to the pixie with the amazing glasses whom Jude had captured in a bear hug, Jake added, “You hadn’t come back to the rez yet when Skylar Hughes and Detective Justice solved the biggest murder case we’ve ever had. Everyone knows how smart Jude is, but Skylar is scary smart, with the qualification that she agreed to marry Jude. Which makes those of us who despaired of these two badasses ever settling down extremely happy. It is a tribute to these two smart, accomplished women that they don’t let anyone push them around, including my arrogant brothers.”
Before Sam could do more than nod at the two beautiful women, Jake turned to her with a grin. “Sky and Hailey, as you no doubt have guessed, this is Samantha Delgado, the new chief of police on the Crow Lake Reservation. I strongly recommend that you do not refer to her as Miss Delgado, as DEA Agent Reynolds did. I’m confident the hapless agent is still reeling from the blow to his wounded pride at her on-target takedown. However, I’m confident that among friends, the chief will allow us to call her Sam.” He added with a wink at Sam, “Although I recall when I first asked Chief Delgado if I could call her that, she told me in no uncertain terms that I would be putting my life and my manhood in danger if I did.”
Knowing that her cheeks had to be beet red, Sam nodded to the smiling group and managed a saucy retort. “What Commander Justice didn’t say is, and I’m sure you won’t be surprised, that even though I told him in very explicit terms—make that expletive terms—that I was Chief Delgado, he just smiled and said he’d get right on that, Sam.”
At the general laughter that followed, Sam allowed herself to take a deep breath and give into the amazing place she found herself in. Not only was she preparing to have lunch with Jake Justice, the most unsettling man she’d ever met, but two of his formidable brothers and their fiancées had joined them. Solly Solberg was the only other person who wasn’t a member or about to be a member of the infamous Justice family. She should have felt completely out of place, but Jake’s comforting presence and easy ways of ensuring that she didn’t get lost in the raucous camaraderie allowed her almost to relax and enjoy herself. Which was saying something in that Sam couldn’t remember when she last had lunch with friends. But then, she could count on one hand the people over the years she’d allowed to get close enough to her to be considered friends.
In a lull in the conversation, Jude Justice turned his emerald-hard gaze on her and said, “I’m not surprised my brother was willing to risk your wrath and call you Sam. Commander Justice is a brave man. But even he might have had second thoughts about ruffling your feathers when he saw what you did to that perp you arrested the other night.” Ignoring her surprised start, he upped the ante. “Tell me, Sam, who the hell taught you to fight? I understand that the guy you took out will remember you for the rest of his life. At least, every time he takes a piss, or for that matter, tries to walk without limping.”
Feeling her face flame at the reference to what they all knew was an illegal arrest, Sam refused to let Jude’s provocative questions unsettle her—at least on the surface. Instead, she tipped up her chin and shot him a narrow smile. “My first Krav Maga instructor took me aside and said that what he was about to tell me would make me the scourge of any fight. He told me that every guy assumed that the worst blow he could take was to his stones. My instructor said that was a mistake, that a shattered kneecap beat a bruised testicle hands down.” Sam allowed a smile to quirk her lips then added, “I decided, why choose between the two?” She held Jude’s gaze and allowed her smile to widen, then said sweetly, “By the way, causing a man to piss blood and have a lifelong limp is assured if your boots have steel tips.”
Jude whistled and shot her an approving nod, then turned to Jake. “I’ve always admired your stones, big brother, never more than now. Christ, man, talk about taking your life in your hands…”
At that moment, all three brothers and Solly glanced at their phones. Jake rose to his feet as he read the message. He frowned at Sam as the other men stood, preparing to leave. “Sorry, Sam, but we have an emergency that’s going to require all hands.” He turned to Hailey and Skylar. “Can one of you see that Chief Delgado gets back to the rez? I commandeered her ride in order to force her to have lunch with us.”
Sam shook her head. “No, that’s not necessary, Jake. One of my men will come and get me.”
Skylar stepped up next to Sam. “Absolutely not. Both Hailey and I will be happy to drive you home, Sam.”
Obviously in a hurry, Jake nevertheless pulled her away from the group that was preparing to leave. “I’m sorry, Sam, but this is an unavoidable emergency.”
His stern expression softened when he met her gaze. “Hope you don’t mind that I shanghaied you, Sam. I wanted you to meet my team, at least the ones who are related to me or about to be related.” A teasing grin lit his eyes. “Thanks for coming to my territory, Chief Delgado. Good to know that you don’t mind slumming every once in a while. Heck, you might even discover that you enjoy it.” He squeezed her arm, then winked at her as he turned to join his team.
Chapter 9
“Who the hell was that, Kalani?”
Striding toward her, Mingan’s flushed face was tight with anger. Rather than allowing Hailey or Skylar to overhear the agitated man’s accusations, Sam headed for the precinct building, motioning for Mingan to follow her.
To her surprise, Mingan roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her up hard against him. Jerking his head at Hailey’s squad car turning toward the main road, he repeated his angry question. Spittle spraying from his mouth hit her in the face. “Goddammit, Kalani, if that was one of that fucking Jake Justice’s skanky coppers, so help me, God, I’m gonna…”
Sam twisted free from his fierce hold, certain that she would have a righteous bruise on her arm from where he’d grabbed her. Facing the furious man head-on, Sam lowered her voice but didn’t hide her contempt. “You’re gonna do what, Mingan? Make a fool of yourself like you did last night at the Pit Stop? Are you going to make angry threats and then turn tail and skulk away when you meet someone you can’t take on?”
Mingan’s face flushed a deep purplish red. His voice was shaking with fury as he advanced on her. “What the fuck are you talking about? You think I was afraid of that
motherfucker, Jake Justice? That I can’t take down that cocky son of a bitch…”
At that moment, Bobby Mackey came from behind the precinct building. His cautioning query confirmed that he’d overheard Mingan’s outburst. He faced the frothing man and said carefully, “Hang on, dude. Not sure what’s got your pecker riding up in your ass, but you got more than a little audience. You might want to bring it down a few hundred notches.” Glancing around the dusty yard, Mackey nodded at the groups of people who were surreptitiously eyeing them. He added with a stab at humor, “Gotta tell you, dude, when it comes to picking favorites, I dunno if anyone in this tribe would choose you over the chief. And to press a point, if it’s Jake Justice you’re thinking about taking on, I can show you a few dozen bruises that motherfucker laid on me in a supposed demonstration match.”
Mingan stepped away from Sam and made an obvious attempt to lower his voice. Turning on Mackey, he said scornfully, “Yeah, asshole, that was some demonstration. Fucking Christ, man, you barely put a mark on that arrogant cocksucker. Just know that the next time that prick dares to come on this rez, he ain’t gonna meet up with a fucking demonstration.”
Sam stepped forward and pinned a hard glare on the frothing man. “Mackey is right on all counts, Mingan. You made an ass out of yourself last night, and you’re doing the same now. Jake Justice is no one to mess with unless you can back up your threats.” She added as she turned to go inside, “And, Mingan, no one grabs me by the arm and gets away with it, do you understand?”
To her surprise, Mingan lurched toward her with an angry hiss. “Yeah, right, Kalani! I noticed at the Pit Stop how you don’t let anyone grab you. Unless it’s some fucking Anglo cop who’s out to take over the rez.” Spurred by her surprised reaction, he piled on. “Fucking Christ, Kalani, that’s all anyone is talking about today. Half the men in our gang saw that fucker practically haul you onto his lap and feed you your dinner. And you didn’t so much as try to stop him. Do you have any idea the message that sends to those of us who are going to take down that cocky bastard if it’s the last thing we do?”
