by Taylor Lee
Apparently forgetting his rupture with Jax, Mick whistled appreciatively. “I admire your stones, boss man, but how the hell are you going to do that? Ortiz has to be protected up the ass with a battalion of Padrones. It’s fuckin’ unlikely he is receiving visitors today, even ones as compelling as the indomitable SJPD chief of police.”
Jax shrugged. “Don’t forget, Detective, that as indomitable as I am, which is saying something, I have a surefire door opener.” He nodded at Viviana, who was frowning at him, and said with a narrow smile, “That being none other than your alluring partner, the unparalleled Sergeant Moreau.”
Viviana spoke for the first time since she had arrived. Jax didn’t miss the edge in her voice or the determination lighting her azure-tinged eyes. “I disagree with your assignments, Chief Hughes, for several reasons. First, Mick and I are partners and accustomed to working together. Second, I would think since you are the big bad police chief, you will have dozens of important people seeking you out. Finally, as you are aware, when meeting with honchos like Mendes and certainly Manuel Ortiz, I prefer to work alone.”
Jax gazed at her through narrowed eyes and allowed a fleeting smile to quirk his lips. He kept his voice cool, pleasant. “Those are all useful considerations, Sergeant, and perhaps on another day I will consider them. As for today, my assignments stand as stated.” Ignoring Viviana’s frown and flashing eyes, he turned to Greg. “Knowing that Sergeant Moreau and I will likely be in high-level conversations that we can’t interrupt, I’ve asked Serge to contact you when they get more on the El Blanco connection. As for Sergeant Moreau’s concern about leadership for the rest of the squad, that’s why we call you Commander Bannon.” He added with an adroit smile, “Command away, Lieutenant.”
Viviana stood back as Jax moved to the door with Greg and Mick. She didn’t know which was more infuriating, Jax’s arrogant directive separating her and Mick or pairing her with him. She knew what he was doing. He thought that by partnering with her, he could control her. Remembering the way he’d shunted her off to Mick last night when she would have given anything to be in his arms, she was determined to stand up to him. To not let him push her around like this or presume he was in charge of her. When Jax closed the door behind Greg and Mick and turned to face her, she struck.
“This isn’t going to work, Jax, and if you weren’t such an arrogant asshole, you’d admit it. I work better with Mick as a backup or best, by myself. I was able to meet with both Raphael Torres and Manuel Ortiz without help from you or anyone else. The least you can do is acknowledge that, as you said, I’m more strategic than ninety-nine point nine percent of all cops, and let me do what I do best.”
Jax pursed his lips together with a thoughtful frown and then said with a slight smile, “Ah yes, I did say that. However I believe I qualified that statement, indicating the only person more strategic is me.”
When she clenched her hands in tight fists at her sides and prepared to respond, Jax held up his hand, stopping her angry words. “That’s enough, Viviana. We are in the middle of a fucking gang war with the likely involvement of one of the most dangerous cartels in the hemisphere. No one, most especially you, is flying solo on this mission. Accept that or don’t. Just know that you and I are going to be interrogating badasses as dangerous as we are likely to meet. Also know that the man standing beside you isn’t going to let you out of his sight.”
Chapter 27
You don’t get it, Sergeant, you fucking don’t get it.” Carlos’s voice was contorted with anger and pain. His face was stippled with myriad bruises ranging from ugly yellowish hues to darkening shades of purple and black. One eye was swollen shut, the other a mere watery slit. His upper torso was swathed in bandages, and his left arm was anchored to his side by a sling-like contraption. As badly as Carlos was physically injured, his fury was striking.
Turning on Viviana, he practically shouted at her. “You’re asking me to tell my men to stand down? Not fight back? To act as though our leader and my best fucking friend wasn’t gunned down in the street like a rabid dog? And that those cock sucking Padrones didn’t kill Bento Morales and Ricki Sano?” His voice sank as he fought angry tears. “And fuck it all, would of killed me if Ricki hadn’t jumped in front of me.” He stopped, choking on a sob and managing to contain a coughing spell, then glared at Viviana. Before the irate man could resume his diatribe, Jax stepped in.
“Listen up, Mendes. Neither Sergeant Moreau nor I expect that your gang won’t retaliate. Frankly, we don’t give a damn if between you two, both gangs are decimated. Those who survive the war we’ll arrest, and you can take up your battle lines in the confines of ADX Florence, better known as the Alcatraz of the Rockies. The problem, in our view, is the number of civilians who will get caught in the crossfire.”
Viviana interjected. “Carlos, you have to know we are after the Padrones. Trust me, they will pay for their carnage. Chief Hughes and I are meeting with Manuel Ortiz to make that clear after we leave here. At this moment, our team is hard at work trying to identify the specific men who killed your gang members. We need your help.”
Carlos spluttered, “You’re meeting with that cocksucker Ortiz? Why the fuck aren’t you arresting him? What the fuck does it matter if he pulled the fucking trigger? He’s the one who ordered the kill and you fucking well know that.”
Jax lowered his voice, seeking to connect with the irate man. “You’re right, Carlos. It’s a given that Ortiz ordered last night’s raid. You know that and we know that. You also know that he had help.”
Jax let the assertion stand, waiting to see how Mendes would respond. After a lengthy silence, he said, “When did the Padrones hook up with El Blanco? And hell, man, how come that formidable cartel chose the Padrones over the Diablos?”
When Carlos twisted away, refusing to answer, Jax said quietly, “You have to know that a gang war among relative equals is one thing, but having El Blanco’s thumb on the scale changes the odds dramatically. And it goes without saying, Carlos, not in your favor.”
Carlos was silent for a long moment, then said gruffly, “Word is that they have an inside guy. Someone high up in the food chain who put more than his fucking thumb on the scale. And don’t bother to ask his name. We don’t know, but we will soon.” He glared at Jax, his eyes blazing with anger. “Tell you what, Chief Hughes, in deference to Sergeant Moreau, I’ll pull my guys back for two days. If you haven’t captured the motherfuckers who killed our leader, it’s all out war and I don’t give a flying fuck how many ‘innocents’ get caught in the crossfire as long as we avenge our leader’s death.”
****
“Thank you for meeting with us, Manuel.”
The suavely handsome man met Jax’s gaze with a lazy smile. Removing an Insignia cigarette from its distinctive black box, he nodded to the dark-skinned man next to him. The sycophant quickly stepped forward and struck a match, lighting the cigarette for his boss. Motioning the minion away with a careless wave of his hand, Ortiz took a deep drag off his cigarette, then blew a hazy cloud of smoke in the air. Flicking a nonexistent speck of tobacco from his full lips, he nodded at Jax, then let his gaze rest appreciatively on Viviana. Dragging his gaze over her body, he said with a dismissive shrug, “Surely, Chief Hughes, you of all people know how difficult it would be to refuse an opportunity to meet with the stunning sergeant, even if she comes accompanied by a guard dog.”
Jax chuckled. “Come now, Manuel. We both know the last thing the formidable sergeant requires is a guard dog, given her extraordinary ability to put powerful men in their place.” He added with a caustic smile, “Much less impudent gangbangers flexing their muscles.”
Ortiz’s smooth countenance hardened, and three of the henchmen beside him stepped forward, their fierce expressions signaling a warning. Once again, Jax chuckled, then waved his hand at the menacing trio. “Speaking of guard dogs, Ortiz, apparently unlike Sergeant Moreau, you require them. How about calling yours off so that we can have an adult conversation?”
Ortiz glared at him, then made an obvious effort to speak carefully. “Perhaps it would be well, Chief Hughes, for you to state the reason for your visit. As much as I enjoy feasting on the sight of your companion, we have a number of issues that require my attention. I’m sure you understand.”
Jax nodded. “Indeed. Which brings me to the reason for our visit.” He cocked his head to the side and said with a dismissive shrug, “Not to put too fine a point on it, Manuel, we are here to warn you. We came from a meeting with Carlos Mendes, who is recuperating from a bullet wound as well as mourning the loss of his friend and leader, Raphael Torres, and others. Sergeant Moreau and I reassured him that we will soon identify the criminals who killed his compadres and tried to kill him.” Jax paused for effect, then added, “And when we do, we will arrest and charge them with first-degree homicide and ensure that the motherfuckers spend the rest of their sorry lives in the highest security prison we can find.”
Ortiz took a long drag on his cigarette and pinned Jax with a fierce glare. “Thank you for explaining why you are here, Chief Hughes. It won’t surprise you I surmised you have been to see that lily-livered punk Mendes, who I understand has reason to be upset given that several of his gang met a well-deserved death.” Taking another drag off of his cigarette, Ortiz’s gaze hardened further. “However, I will assume that you are too smart, Chief Hughes, to think you can intrude on my hospitality, not to mention my forbearance, by insinuating that we had anything to do with the Diablos’ unfortunate circumstances.” Flicking the ash off the end of his burning cigarette, he added, “Without, shall we say, suffering the consequences.”
Jax studied the scowling man thoughtfully, then said with an arched brow, “Apparently, I didn’t make myself clear. Far from insinuating that you and your international colleagues are responsible for the Diablos murders, I am accusing you of them. When we have sufficient evidence to support our accusations, we’ll be back. Until then, Manuel, I suggest that you make it clear to the El Blanco hooligans that they chose to support a losing cause. As we agreed earlier, no one, including a bunch of gangbangers and their insipid international goons, should underestimate the indomitable Sergeant Moreau . . . or . . . me.”
****
As they strode toward the Romeo, Jax’s firm grip anchoring her to his side, Viviana found it impossible not to be impressed with the singular performance of her lover. Once he’d parked her in the passenger seat, closed the driver side door, and turned on the ignition, she turned to him. “What can I say, Chief Hughes, except that was a masterful takedown. I almost didn’t mind being relegated to the cheap seats rather than participating in the square off.”
He shot her a distracted frown, then appeared to understand her dig. “Christ, Viviana, I’m sorry if I offended you.” Shaking his head, he scowled, “It’s just that it took everything I had not to kick that fucking asshole’s nuts up through his gut if he ogled you one more time. I swear to God, Viviana, that son of bitch is lucky he can still take a piss without passing blood for the rest of his sorry life.”
Jax slammed his eyes shut as if to regain his composure, then shot her a sexy grin. “Masterful, huh? Hmm, that’s high praise from the woman who has taken on those assholes singlehandedly and come out with their balls as a trophy. Hell, sweetheart, it was all Ortiz could do to keep from creaming his jeans just looking at you. Even with me standing beside you.”
Ignoring her annoyed sniff, he added, “I know you are aware, Sergeant Moreau, what your enticing mix of sexy and sweet combined with hardcore insolence does to us alpha males. I’m surprised that Ortiz kept from attacking you.” He hesitated, then added with a wink, “But then, he would have had to go through me. And even Ortiz understood that was not going to happen.”
Rather than chiding him further about excluding her, Viviana focused on the surprising fact that Jax was convinced that the El Blanco had joined the gang war. “You seem convinced that El Blanco has thrown in with the Padrones. What makes you so sure? Who are your sources?”
Jax frowned and then blew out a hard sigh. “If I wasn’t such an asshole, I would tell you that if you and Mick had bothered to show up for our morning meeting, you would have been party to Serge Stryker’s update, which was compelling to say the least. According to Serge, not only is the cartel backing Ortiz and his gang but they have high-level support from impressive circles.”
Before Viviana could agree that he truly was an asshole, Jax’s phone buzzed. He put up his hand, halting her response. “Sorry, baby, I have to take this. It’s Serge.” Speaking into the phone, he said, “Yeah, man. What have you got?” After what had to be an important explanation, Jax blew out an audible breath. Glancing over at her, he shook his head as if responding to Serge. “Uh, no. Not until we have more information.” A moment later, he ended the conversation and hit the off button.
“What is it, Jax? It must be important. You never look that serious except when you’re angry with me.” She shrugged. “Which seems to be most of the time.”
He shot her a distracted frown, then said, “I need to get back to the precinct, Viviana. Serge has run down some critical info, and I have to contact some of my off-the-grid spooks to test out his findings. Right now, we need to find Mick. I’m sure he can use your help. We only assigned him to interview every goddamned Diablo and Padrone he could find. You could be a godsend.”
Viviana couldn’t hide her surprise. “I don’t understand, Jax. This morning you informed me that you and I would be partnering for the day, that I couldn’t be trusted to work with my usual partner or, God forbid, by myself. Now something’s come up that’s too important to share with me? And you’re sending me back to the also-rans?”
Knowing she sounded petulant, Viviana was surprised when Jax didn’t respond to her jibe but instead hit a button on his phone. From his one-way conversation, it was clear that he’d connected with Greg.
“Yeah, man, change of plans. I need you to meet me in my office ASAP. Serge will fill you in. Where are you? No, not yet. I’m going to drop off her off now. She can help Mick work through the rest of the gangbangers. Let him know we’re coming now. Oh and, Greg, we might want to bring Mac in.”
Too surprised at the implications of his terse conversation with her commander, Viviana could only ask, “What’s happening, Jax? It’s clearly important. And why aren’t you including me and Mick in the conversation?” Seeing his distraction, she couldn’t keep the rancor out of her voice. “And once again, the team that seems to be so important when you are trying to control me suddenly has no standing? I don’t get it, Jax.”
At that moment, they pulled up to the Hellion, a bar the Diablos were known to frequent. Greg and Mick were standing in front. When Greg stepped forward and opened her door, Jax squeezed her hand. “I’ll call you when I can, Viviana, to let you know when we can meet. Meanwhile, go help your partner scare the bejesus out of those gangbangers.”
When she could no longer see the taillights of the Romeo speeding down the avenue, Viviana was still trying to come to grips with what had happened.
Chapter 28
You do know how fucking unbelievable this is, don’t you, Serge?”
Jax glared at the screen, knowing that his expression had to be as fierce as his agent’s. The problem was that Serge’s deeply etched frown only confirmed that the astonishing news he’d conveyed was true. Jax sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. Glancing at Greg and Mac, who were both staring at him in apparent disbelief, he sighed again and turned back to Serge.
“Agent Stryker, for Commissioner McElroy’s edification, please start at the beginning. And yes, you may indicate that I charged you with the investigation.” Turning back to Mac, Jax said, “Before he begins, I acknowledge that I had a personal interest in pursuing this track. But damn, man, I can assure you never in a million years did I suspect this outcome. Little did I—”
Stryker interrupted. “Jax is right, Mac. I came to him when I began picking up information that require
d me to follow up. Neither of us expected the mother lode that I discovered. To recount—our team was dealing with the national repercussions of the gang war erupting in your city. We had tips that the big guys, specifically El Blanco, were involved. The surprise information we acquired was that they had signed on with the Padrones. My primary goal was to confirm that was true. As you know, Joaquin Blanco doesn’t wipe his ass in the morning unless an underling first used the fucking toilet paper and survived. The guy is paranoid beyond belief. And while he is everyone’s worst enemy, according to the lore, he is loyal to a fault to his friends. Which made the possible connection to the Padrones a hell of a lot more interesting to Jax and me.
“It didn’t take us long to discover the link between Manuel Ortiz and Blanco. They went back a long way—since they were badass kids terrorizing the streets of Tijuana. Apparently El Blanco has been supplying the Padrones for some time and wanted to help them get rid of the competition, particularly the Diablos. That was when they began sending fentanyl-laced H that the Padrones put on the street and blamed on the Diablos.” Serge stopped for a moment, then said, “That might have been the beginning and end of our investigation if I hadn’t picked up on some intriguing threads that bore following. It so happened that Jax had asked me to do a background check on Enrique Vega.” He grinned. “Always willing to help a buddy with his love life, I uncovered about what you’d expect from a charming Lothario who’d clawed his way out of the ghetto.” Serge’s smile faded into a frown. “Aside from the usual political shenanigans that both Jax and I were expecting, imagine my surprise to learn that while Joaquin Blanco and Ortiz were connected, the third member of their teenaged terrorizing gang was none other than Nicolas Garza. It’s worth noting that while Garza was always known as the leader of the twosome, he apparently never went anywhere without Enrique Vega, his golden boy buddy, tagging along after him.”
