As with Knight, I hadn’t seen Quill in a couple of months eother. He was also stationed in the Netherworld, helping to set up the new order. And he and Knight weren’t the only ones. Christina Sabbiondo, Knight’s second in command, and also Quill’s girlfriend, was actively planning for the new Netherworld, along with my very good friend, Dia Robinson.
Dia had been the head of the ANC in Moon, here on the Earthly plane, before business in the Netherworld drew her there. I was the only one, well, Sam and I, were the only ones stuck here with not a hell of a lot to do and all day to do it in.
Not that I was complaining …
“Morning, Sam!” I called out as I passed by her desk. I aimed straight for the break room, where I could already smell a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Coffee was the one benefit of the morning that compensated for the fact that I was awake.
“Morning, Dulce,” Sam said as she came up behind me. I could hear her heels clicking on the tiles in the break room. I never understood why Sam bothered with heels; she was already so damn tall. Not to mention how uncomfortable heels could be. I always opted for tennis shoes because in my line of work, they could mean the difference between life and death. If you aren’t able to run, you’re as good as dead …
“I brought Blue with me to work today,” I said as I rescued my mug from the sink.
“I saw that,” Sam responded. She watched me inspect the mug to make sure whatever was previously living in the bottom of it wasn’t life-threatening. But growing ever more suspicious of the gunk in the bottom, I decided to wash it.
“Good thing Knight isn’t here,” Sam continued. “I doubt he’d be too happy to see Blue.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” I agreed before rinsing out the suds in the mug and drying it. The coffee was ready so I poured myself a cup and gave my best friend a broad smile as I added cream and sugar until the coffee was the color of caramel. “How are you?” I asked.
“Probably not as good as you are,” she answered with a quick smile and a knowing expression. “I heard Knight came into town last night?”
I smiled more broadly at the memory of our evening. “Yes, he did.”
“No wonder you look like a giddy schoolgirl this morning.”
“Oh, stop!” I said, waving her away with an embarrassed smile, which I then hid behind my mug as I attempted to take a sip of the hot coffee. At her insistent grin, I realized there was something she wasn’t telling me. “Okay, out with it! What’s that smile all about?”
“You aren’t the only one who is giddy this morning,” she announced.
“Really?” I asked as I took another sip of coffee. “And who is the very lucky man?”
A blush stole across her cheeks as she leaned against the refrigerator and crossed her arms against her chest. “His name is Jordan and he’s this cop I met at Starbucks a week or so ago.”
“Wow, look at you! And what is he?”
“He’s human,” she said with a sigh that belied her disappointment. I immediately felt my shackles rise because I’d had a long relationship with a human once and it hadn’t led anywhere good. In fact, I regretted it completely.
“Does he know you’re a witch?” I asked.
She frowned and then shook her head, her expression one of concern. “Not exactly.”
“Be careful, Sam,” I said as I inhaled deeply. “Remember my whole situation with Jack, the shithead. You know not all humans accept us.”
“I know,” she answered immediately. “And it’s not like I think I’ll ever see him again. I mean, he’s cute and what not, but I wouldn’t be that bummed out if he didn’t call me again.”
“You sure?” I asked as I eyed her, trying to decipher if she was being honest with me, well, and herself, for that matter.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she insisted and then shrugged. “Sometimes a girl just has to get a little bit of action, you know? I mean, I don’t want my fun parts to shrink up and fall off due to disuse.”
I laughed and nodded. “Amen to that!”
“Speaking of, was your reunion everything you hoped it would be?” she asked. Her expression told me she wanted to hear all of the juicy details.
“Everything and more,” I answered instantly. Then, with a sigh, I remembered the part about waking up alone this morning. “And then he had to go back to the Netherworld.”
“He’ll be back, Dulce, you know that,” Sam said in her best understanding voice. When it came to sympathy, Sam could have written volumes.
“I know, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult.” Sam nodded and I could tell she was searching for another subject to lighten my mood.
Luckily for her, I was ready to help her. “Listen, Sam, I can’t really talk at the moment because the reason Knight came by last night was to drop off a very high-profile prisoner who will be spending some time with us.” Then I remembered why Knight brought Jax to Splendor rather than letting him do his time in a Netherworld prison. “Oh, and keep this all on the DL because it’s very hush-hush,” I added, knowing that I could trust Sam to keep any and all information to herself.
“I’ll zip my lips,” she said, pretending to do just that.
“Thanks,” I answered with a hurried smile as I walked past her, being careful not to spill my coffee on the way. “Anyway, I’ve gotta go find out what this guy’s story is,” I said with a quick, apologetic smile. “But let’s catch up over lunch today? I’m dying to get all the juicy information about your cop.”
“Sure thing,” Sam said while nodding. “Oh, and Dulce?”
I stopped walking, turning to face her again. “Yeah?”
“Be careful, okay?”
I smiled at her warmly and nodded, feeling suddenly extra grateful that she was such a good friend. She was definitely one-of-a-kind. “I will,” I said as I turned back around, wondering what type of person Jax Rochefort could be.
###
One thing I could say about Jax was that he was definitely a Loki. Even though I wouldn’t have said he looked like Knight, they both shared similar physical features. Jax was about as tall as Knight and maybe even as broad. Lokis generally gave people the impression of power; they were intimidating, both in height and breadth, but that’s because they were bred for their superhuman strength.
But where Knight had a certain roguish appearance, owing to the shadow of stubble on his cheeks and jaw, Jax just looked scruffy—like he hadn’t had a shower or a shave in who knew how long? His hair was longish on top and a deep chestnut color. It looked like a good haircut at some point in the past, but now it had grown out and no longer had style. The top section reached the tips of his ears, and the bottom was shorter, but uneven. A brown beard covered half his face. But neither his sloppy haircut nor his unkempt beard could mask the fact that Jax Rochefort was very handsome. And even worse, he carried himself in such a way that hinted that he was very aware it.
And that was just as well. If there was anything I couldn’t tolerate in men, or women for that matter, it was narcissism.
“Why don’t you two go out and take a break for a few?” I said to the two guards, Ernie and Judah, who had been with Knight when he came through the portal. Having taken their posts on either side of Jax’s cell and refusing to utter a single word, they looked like beefeaters for the Queen. All they lacked were those tall, black, furry hats. Wally was sound asleep in his chair at the end of the hallway, snoring.
“Many apologies, but we have to man our posts,” the one nearer me answered. I had a feeling he was probably Judah, only because the other guy had a country bumpkin sort of look to him and “Judah” didn’t exactly strike me as a yokel sort of name.
I could hear the weres in their cells at the front of the hallway. They were talking amongst themselves, no doubt, wondering who their newest cell mate was. And the pixie was blatantly staring at us which didn’t come as much of a surprise considering pixies are, by nature, damn nosy.
“It appears the lady would appreciate some alo
ne time with me, boys,” Jax announced with a sly smile. He stood up from his cot and lumbered over, wrapping his fingers around the prison rails. The shackles around his ankles had been removed, but remained around his wrists. When he was directly in front of me, I had to crank my neck to look up at him, he was so tall.
“Why is he still cuffed?” I asked the guard nearest me.
The guy shrugged as if the answer were obvious. “Can’t trust him.”
I wondered what there really was to trust when the guy was behind iron bars, but I didn’t have to ask. Jax answered for me.
“Ah, yes, of course, no one can trust me as I’m a Loki and, therefore, the strongest they come.” He laughed acidly and then wrapped his hands around the bar directly in front of him, pretending to pull it apart. “Perhaps I could even bust right through these cuffs and pull these bars apart before any of you can say ‘oh, fuck.’”
I couldn’t help my smile, but a millisecond later I forcefully banished it because I didn’t want Jax to think I found him entertaining. When his attention moved from me to the guard, his smile dropped.
“Apparently I need to repeat myself. The lady said she wants some time with me alone, Barney Fife, so I’d appreciate it if you’d appease her.”
“We got our orders,” the guard to Jax’s right said in a gruff tone, the one I guessed was Ernie. With his Southern twang and poor grammar, I thought the name “Ernie” suited him perfectly. Well, so would Barney Fife, for that matter.
“Now you’re taking your orders from me,” I announced, throwing my hands on my hips to let them know there was no room for argument. I had lots of questions for Jax and the sneaking suspicion he’d be more likely to give me the answers I sought if he didn’t have a crowd.
“With all due respect, ma’am,” Judah started, but I immediately shook my head.
“Don’t ‘ma’am’ me! I’m the head of this branch of the ANC, meaning, I make the rules,” I snapped, taking turns glaring at both of them. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Wally waking up. He jerked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes before focusing on the guards and me for a few seconds. Then he hopped to his feet, but not before stifling a yawn.
Note to self, you need to write Wally up for falling asleep on the job, yet again, I told myself. Freaking gnomes…
“Dulce, you good?” Wally asked in a deep voice.
“I’m fine,” I replied without bothering to look at him. Instead, my attention was fastened on Judah. I figured he was the guard in charge. But maybe that was just because he appeared to be more intelligent than Ernie. “I was just informing these two that I want some alone time with the prisoner.”
“And I was informing her that we are under strict rules from Vander to stay where we are,” Judah interjected, his attention never leaving my face.
“Not only am I in charge of this office,” I started, narrowing my eyes at him, “but I’m also Vander’s girlfriend.” Truth be told, I didn’t want to play that card, but I couldn’t really see any other way around it. Jax made a whooping snort of a laugh and slapped his thigh with his mitt-like hand as he continued to chuckle. I ignored him, as did everyone else in the room. “So unless you want me to call him right now, and report that you aren’t obeying a word I’m saying, I suggest you vacate the premises, and pronto!”
Judah paused for a couple of seconds before he glanced down at Wally, who had already made his way up to me. Standing beside me, all five feet of him, he said, “I’d listen to the lady,” before nodding. “She’s telling the truth; and she’s got one hell of a temper!”
Judah paused another few seconds before he glanced at Ernie and then turned back to face me. “How long do you need?” he asked.
“Twenty minutes,” I answered while continuing to stare him down. He just nodded as the two of them started up the hallway. A wave of relief washed over me.
“I’m feeling a piss and a coffee break comin’ up for me,” Wally announced, his way of exiting politely. He offered me a quick grin, which revealed yellow, uneven teeth. They actually resembled unpopped kernels of popcorn.
“Thanks, Wally,” I said to his retreating back. When I returned my attention to Jax, I found him staring at me unabashedly.
“We finally find ourselves alone,” he said, with another suggestive smile. I was more than sure that seductive expression had landed him more than a few bedmates. Well, that is, until he got locked up.
“You can cut the Casanova crap with me,” I announced matter-of-factly. “There’s zero chance that I’ll let you out of here.”
He threw his head back and chuckled heartily. “You do have a temper, don’t you? Yosemite Sam wasn’t lying.”
Yosemite Sam was actually a pretty perfect nickname for Wally, considering how short he was, not to mention his flaming orange long hair and beard. But, regardless of the humor that image evoked, I wasn’t interested in funny conversations. I had crucial information I had to squeeze out of Jax, and that was the only purpose for my visit. “I want to know why you turned yourself in to the ANC,” I stated, studying him pointedly.
“Well, you certainly go straight for the jugular, don’t you?” His eyes settled on my bust for a few seconds. I could tell it was a ploy; he was trying to make me uncomfortable.
“Answer the question.”
“I already have.” His eyes found mine again and he purposely yawned. “Go ask your boyfriend.”
“Unfortunately, for both of us, he isn’t here right now,” I responded in a steely tone.
“Unfortunately?” he asked with a mock laugh. “Speak for yourself.” Another suggestive smile appeared on his mouth. “I gotta admit, doll, I prefer it just the two of us.” He studied me for a few seconds. “I believe in quality time.”
“Enough of the sexual innuendo,” I warned him, trying to keep my temper under control, because if he knew he could get to me, he’d just keep doing it.
“I apologize,” he said with a pout. “I just can’t help it when you’re so damned sexy.”
“Close your eyes then and try to pretend I’m a man.”
Jax chuckled and shook his head. “Too late, madam, the truth has already been exposed.” Then he sighed like it was a shame as he studied me for a few more seconds. “You’re a fairy …”
“Not important,” I answered, and then figured I was just wasting my time. He wasn’t going to give me any answers because he was too busy flirting with me. And I had no patience for someone who wasn’t going to respect me. Spinning around on the ball of my foot, I started down the hallway.
“That’s it?” Jax called out behind me. “That wasn’t twenty minutes!”
“I’m not in the business of wasting my time,” I responded over my shoulder, not bothering to slow down.
“I turned myself in because I wanted out!” he called after me. I stopped walking, but didn’t turn around. Instead, I allowed him to continue talking. “I figured, with a new regime coming into power, now was as good a time as any to get out; so I turned myself in.”
“And you pled for immunity in the bargain?” I asked, turning around to face him. I didn’t take any steps closer though. I still wasn’t sure if he were truly cooperating or not.
He nodded. “That I did.”
“What about money? Relocation?” I asked, eyeing him narrowly. Of course, I could have gotten this information from Knight, but I wanted to hear it from Jax first. I planned to cross-reference his answers later.
“I didn’t ask for anything, other than protection.”
“What is the name of your operation?” I inquired, committing all of this information to memory. After our little interview, I’d be sure to write down everything he told me. That way, I couldn’t forget any of it later.
“Crossbones,” he answered stiffly.
I couldn’t mask my surprise. Crossbones was the name of one of the larger underground potion operations in the Netherworld. They were probably right at the top of the list when it came to exporting the illegal stuff and dist
ributing it on the Earthly plane.
“Turning yourself in was a pretty gutsy move,” I played along, taking a few steps nearer him. “Apparently, you pissed a lot of people off.”
“Of course, I did,” he agreed with a nod. His smile seemed almost boyish due to the deep dimples on either side of his lips. “But you already knew that—it’s the exact reason I’m standing here having this conversation with you.”
“Because you wouldn’t be safe in the Netherworld,” I finished for him.
“If I were still in the Netherworld, I’d be dead by now.”
I raised my brows, but didn’t comment. Instead, I took the five or so steps that still separated us until we were soon facing each other, only the prison rails separating us. “So why did you want out?”
“Because crime doesn’t pay?” he asked with a sidelong grin.
“Cute,” I answered with obvious disdain. “But what’s the real reason?”
“Can’t a guy just ask for a change of scenery?”
“It’s not that simple,” I replied as I shook my head. “You’re willing to risk death, or something even worse, by acting as an informant?”
“Isn’t that pretty apparent by now?” he asked with a chortle. “But, damn, I have to admit: if I’d known how many hits I’d have out on me, I would have seriously reconsidered my decision.”
“You still haven’t told me exactly why you made the decision.”
He shrugged. “You’re obviously looking for an answer besides the one I’m giving you. But the one I’m giving you is the truth. I got tired of being a thug. And taking orders to kill people I didn’t even know.”
“You take orders?” I nearly interrupted him, finding this information interesting because I wasn’t sure where he fell on the food chain.