Page 48 of Rogue

He’s now joking around with Declan. And lo and behold, is that the workings of a grin on the cold beast’s lips? Yeah, my lover is a piece of work. If he can break Declan . . . no one is immune from his charms.

Hell, even this week’s drill sergeant, a hard-core former Marine whose motto is “Get real or get out,” fell in like with him. I swear the reason we did so many push-ups is that whatever ungodly number we’d been given, Jaxson always antagonized the sergeant into adding twenty more. Everyone was furious the first few times it happened. Until the sergeant caught on and cut everyone a break except his smug tormentor. Twenty more, another twenty, and so on. I didn’t mind sitting out and eyeballing Jaxson’s fine physique in motion. Wondering why he provoked the drillmaster with his fuck-yeah-give-me-more attitude. Is it his way of redirecting attention off of Francis and me? Or maybe it’s just a veteran thing. But as I’m getting to know Jaxson better, I’d say his motives are questionable.

He suddenly glances directly at me. My pulse races as our eyes connect. Red becomes an entirely different color as it warms my skin after he gives me that same intense, smug, you-don’t-know-what-you’re-in-for look I came to crave last night.

I look away, struggling to get a grip, and hoping no one felt the burst of sexually charged energy that now fills the room.

“Chiquita, a few words of advice,” Diego murmurs from his seat to my right. I jump and turn, forgetting the dangerous man beside me. Without taking his eyes off the group of men circled up, he continues on. “Hayden abhors weakness. Be careful. Don’t wear your emotions on your sleeve or he’ll use it against you.”

“I’ve been keeping my temper in check.”

“That’s not the emotion I’m referring to.”

It takes all my willpower not to look at Jaxson again. To search his face, to see what Diego sees.

Ilikeyou.

No biggie. Jaxson probably likes driving fast cars and sleeping in. I can’t let it mean more than it is. Besides, getting involved with anyone right now—especially a man like Jaxson—would be a major distraction.

“Women are what Jaxson excels at . . .”

I clench my fists then immediately relax them. Not wanting Diego to witness how his words get a rise out of me. Jason . . . with other women . . .

“ . . . but this is different.” Diego clucks his tongue. “He can’t keep his eyes off you. I’ve never seen him like this.Hijole.He’s too obvious. If I’m noticing the difference in him, you can be damn sure Hayden’s clued in. Jaxson should know the risk he’s taking, the consequences—especially after the last time he fucked with him. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“What do you mean, consequences?”

Hayden interrupts before Diego can respond. “It’s time.”

I draw in a breath.Time for what?

“Today, I’m going to test your limits . . .” His challenge hangs in the air as he walks around the room, filling the great room with his presence and the subtle underlying threat it poses. Like a chess master who’s just made his first move. . . .

“Dios mio, this is bad. He didn’t pull this shit last time.”

“How many Hell Camps have you gone through?”

“Two. If you screw up, even once, Hayden will force you back to camp each July and make you earn back your place.”

I sit up straighter. “Jaxson told me . . . he screwed up four times?”

“Just the last time. The stupid fool has a penchant for provoking him. Dumb move. I’m going to warn you right now, I’ve known Hayden a long time. He doesn’t tolerate bullshit. Rule breakers, men who don’t follow his explicit orders. Weak links. Actions have consequences. Never forget that.”

“What happened the last time that was so different?”

“We failed our assignment.”

“You and Jaxson?”

“And Declan. He’s still pissed about it.”

“What happened? You didn’t water boss man’s flowers? What exactly constitutes a screw-up?”

“We tried break into a local mobster’s inner circle. Each of us worked an angle but the man is sharper than the polyester suits he’s so fond of wearing.”

“Franco?” I ask, in disbelief.

Diego’s eyebrow’s lift. Then he lets out a long exhalation and curses beneath his breath. “Ah, I get it now. So that’s why Hayden brought you in. Does Jaxson know?”