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“That’s another reason I didn’t want you up that mountain. Not only for your safety, but I didn’t want you interfering with any possible federal investigations. The FBI had been in contact with me in the past, but only gave me minimal details. Info they could share, but info I had to keep close to my vest. Certainly not info I could share with my most junior officer. Who, if you’ve forgotten, is you.”
“Chief—”
Max cut her off. “They told me to keep my people clear, Jet. That’s why I told you to keep your ass off that mountain. Though, I shouldn’t have had to tell you why. You should’ve obeyed my order without question. They have a Joint Task Force up on the mountain right now comprised of ATF, FBI, DEA agents and others. Once they gather evidence, they plan to destroy the stills, confiscate the guns and ammo, dismantle the meth labs and remove any children they find. So, there you go. Now you know what you could’ve screwed up. All without discussing it with me first. If you thought taking the ‘initiative’ would get you ahead, you were wrong.” Max planted his knuckles onto his blotter, rose from his seat, leaned over his desk and barked, “You disobeyed a direct order from your chief.”
The blood drained from Jet’s face.
“What else are you keeping from me, Jet?”
She needed to tell him. He’d only be more pissed if he found out about her and Rook from someone other than her. He’d be furious if he stumbled upon her connection with a member of the Fury.
“Um…”
Max plunked back down in his seat. “I’m assuming I need to be sitting down for what you’re about to tell me next. Especially with the way you look right now.”
“How do I look?”
“Sick and a bit worried. If you’re hiding something else from me, something that might affect this PD or your position on my force, and you don’t spill it right now, I will fire you the second I find out. You might not be on probation any longer, but that doesn’t mean I can’t can your ass. I will not have you undermining me or risking the safety of my officers.”
“It’s not like that.”
“No? Then how is it?”
“I’ve been,” she squeezed her eyes shut for a pounding heartbeat and swallowed, “seeing someone.”
His brow scrunched low. “Why do I feel this doesn’t warrant a congratulations?”
“You might not feel that it does.”
Max drew a hand down his mouth and chin. But he said nothing, only waited, which made it worse for Jet.
“I’ve… um… been seeing Rook Dietrich.”
“Rook Dietrich,” Max echoed flatly.
Jet didn’t know if he forgot who Rook was or was just in shock. “You know… Rook. Dutch’s son. Cage’s older brother.”
Max sat back in his chair, a dumbfounded look on his face. “Didn’t he just get out of prison not long ago?”
“Yes, he—“
“Wasn’t his last charge and some of his prior charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers?” His questions were getting louder.
“Yes, he—”
Max growled, “Isn’t he still on parole?”
“Yes, he—”
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Max roared.
She opened her mouth, but the only thing that escaped was, “Didn’t you tell me on Thanksgiving something along the lines of how I should learn to separate work and my personal life?”
Lame!
“He’s a fucking felon, Jet!” Max slapped a hand on his forehead. “Holy shit. Do I need to schedule you for a psychological evaluation?”
“No, I—”
“In what reality are you living in?”
She couldn’t answer that, so she didn’t. She figured she’d let her cousin get out whatever he needed to get out of his system, then once he did, she’d try to explain.
Hopefully by then she could actually think up a good explanation because sitting in this office in front of her chief, she realized how reckless being in a relationship with Rook was.
She could easily ignore reality when her and Rook were in their bubble. But last night that bubble had popped and there was no patching it up. The contents were revealed when it burst open. Their relationship had been exposed. They couldn’t go back, they couldn’t fix it, they couldn’t erase it.
They had to deal with it like two adults, especially if they wanted their oddball relationship to work.
Rook wanted that. She wanted that, too.
Everyone else in their lives might not want that.
Especially the man sitting on the other side of the desk.
“Did you ever consider what would happen the minute you had to arrest one of his club brothers? Or even him? He’s no angel, Jet. It hasn’t been long since his last stint in County. I’m assuming you ran him and saw everything on his sheet.”
“Yes.”
“Then, I just can’t wrap my head around this.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.” She grimaced at the lame cliché. This was not the explanation she had wanted to come up with. Even though it was true.
