Chapter 19
Gemma had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach as the elevator made its ascent. Up until now she hadn’t technically done anything wrong, but this car was about to open on the threshold of the point of no return, and she had little choice but to cross it.
Logan took her hand. “You’ll be safe here.”
“I know.” She was grateful there was someplace she could go. The elevator slowed and stopped, the door opening. Too bad she had to sacrifice her career for her own safety.
They stepped into the HERO Force lobby, dramatic lighting and sleek designs in the carpet making Gemma feel like she’d just walked onto a movie set.
“Jax here yet?” Logan asked the man at the reception desk.
To his credit, the receptionist didn’t bat an eye at their outfits. “Yes, sir. He just got back.”
“Great.” He held his palm on a pad on the wall and opened a door, holding it for Gemma to precede him.
He moved beside her and led the way, past offices and a glass-walled room filled with computers and monitors and a large panel of lights and buttons along the side.
It looked like some high-tech control room, making her think of War Games.
No point in mentioning that reference to Logan.
“Maybe I should just lie low in a storage room or something,” she offered.
“Jax and Cowboy need to know you’re here.”
They rounded one final turn and a man’s voice could be heard speaking in clipped, even tones in the distance.
“Let me change my clothes, at least.”
He stopped. “Okay. There’s a ladies’ room right over there.”
She changed quickly and rejoined him, the man’s voice she’d heard before getting louder until Logan pulled her inside the room it was coming from.
Jax Anderson was standing, a telephone to his ear. His eyes met Gemma’s, recognition like a spoken accusation. “Let me call you back,” he said, replacing the receiver.
“Gemma Faraday, Jax Anderson,” said Logan.
“You’re the judge from court this morning.”
“She needs somewhere safe to stay,” said Logan.
Jax frowned. “This isn’t a shelter.”
Gemma touched Logan’s arm when he would have spoken. “Someone’s trying to hurt me. Someone related to Anthony Royce’s kidnapping.”
Jax’s eyes shot to Logan. “Explain.”
“I was guarding her apartment when I was attacked by a man, clearly there to do her harm.”
“What were you doing guarding her apartment?”
“We’ve been seeing each other,” he said. “She was attacked on her street yesterday, but insisted on returning to her apartment last night. I was concerned.”
Jax narrowed his eyes at Gemma. “Dating coworkers of defendants, Your Honor? You realize that’s a conflict of interest.”
She raised her chin. “There are extenuating circumstances that make it impossible for me to recuse myself.”
“Go on.” Jax crossed his arms. “If you’re seeking protection under my roof, I’ll need all the information.”
Gemma looked to Logan, who nodded. She licked her lips. “The man who attacked me told me to find you and Leo Wilson guilty, or Royce will die. They said they’d kill him if I told the authorities.”
She felt like Jax was looking through her, as if he could see every truth and lie she’d ever spoken, and she bristled beneath his assessment.
“What can you tell me about this man?” he asked.
“Nothing. It was dark. He tackled me from behind. All I remember is the body odor. Then in the courtroom today, ‘we’re watching you’ was scraped into the handle of my gavel.”
“That’s why you hightailed it out of there.”
She nodded. “That’s when Logan suggested I come here.”
“Have you told anyone else?”
“No.” She thought of the news footage of the burning car with Barbara trapped inside, and she bit her lip. “I was too scared.”
“One last question, Judge Faraday. Who is Anthony Royce to you?”
Gemma felt her face heat. “We’re both judges, though in different courts. I see him at political functions, mostly.”
“I mean personally.”
From the corner of her eye she saw Logan turn toward her. A knot formed in her throat and she considered what to say. “We had an affair eight years ago. I wasn’t aware he was married at the time.”
Logan’s voice was heavy with disappointment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was ashamed. It was in the past. I didn’t think it mattered.”
“It matters to the kidnappers,” said Jax. “They knew you would try to save his life.”
She laughed without humor. “If anything, I’d be more likely to kill him myself.”
Jax sat behind his desk, touching the fingertips of one hand to the fingertips of the other. “You can stay in the empty office at the end of the hall. I’ll have my secretary take care of whatever you need. Logan, I’ll see you in the conference room for the briefing.”
“Gemma should be there.”
Jax nodded. “Fine. Bring her along.”
Gemma followed Logan out of Jax’s office. He didn’t talk to her or turn around. He entered a small room with a desk and a file cabinet, waited for her, and closed the door behind her.
He was angry.
She was sure of it.
She licked her lips. “I’m sorry I lied to you about Royce and me.”
He moved close to her back. “I’m putting myself on the line for you. Will there be any more surprises?”
“No.”
“Good. I don’t like surprises.” He whipped her around and kissed her, taking her mouth like he had every right.
One arm held her tightly against him while the other fisted in her hair, pulling her head back.
All she had to do was open herself to him and he did the rest, plundering her mouth with his own.