Free Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files 2) by Kennedy Layne Page B

Emily.”
    “Which is why I’m waiting for Crest to gather more intelligence before taking action on our part. It’s obvious the minute the Attorney General started confirming the evidence Emily handed over, it alerted Alekseev that she was still alive.  He’s now eliminating the threats and will be coming after her.  Either that or this flunky you’re talking about.  We both know that he won’t get his hands dirty, which means he’ll hire an independent contractor.”
    “Give me time to get things together on my end ,” Jax said, “before you clear out.” 
    * * * *
    Emily placed her empty bowl in the sink.  They’d warmed up canned soup for dinner, although Jax hadn’t joined her at the table.  He’d stood at the kitchen counter, eating his meal and looking over several maps that were now spread over the granite.  It was as if she didn’t exist and that cut her to the bone.  She wanted…needed…to be a part of his life again.  Or else this was all for naught. 
    “Who is Elle?”
    The question obviously startled him, although whether it was because the silence was disturbed or the subject matter, she wasn’t sure.  Emily tried not to feel the sting of jealousy that whipped through her, knowing that she had no right to experience it.  But the name had weighed on her since Kevin had mentioned the woman.
    “She’s the manager of a club that Connor and I own.” 
    The spoon clanked against the ceramic bowl.  Emily leaned her hip against the small island that he was using as a desk. Jax shifted and placed the empty dish on the counter behind him.  He then returned to studying the maps, as if his answer was good enough.  It should have been, but it only fueled her to ask more.
    “What kind of club?” Emily asked, already suspecting the answer, but wanting to hear it from him.
    Jax sighed in resignation as he stepped back and leaned against the sink.  He crossed his arms in the usual manner and the white shirt that he was wearing stretched across his broad chest.  As usual, his shoulder holster cut into the material on either side of his thickly muscled chest. 
    “That’s a pretty naïve question, considering you know the lifestyle I enjoy.”  Jax let his gaze roam over her body and Emily instantly felt the slack taken up on the trigger that only he could pull.  A low hum seemed to originate from deep within her.  “It’s a kink club revolving around BDSM.  A case that we were working on caused the owner to go belly-up, so I figure since I play there most weekends anyway, why not salvage what’s left and keep a sane, safe, and consensual place for fellow lifestyle friends to enjoy.”
    Emily couldn’t prevent her hands from fisting and crossed her arms to hide them from his view.  She didn’t want him to know how much it bothered her that while she had been sacrificing everything these last two years, he’d been surround ing himself with submissive women.  He was making it more than obvious that her death hadn’t affected his life.  Their reunion had not been what she’d hoped it would be.  He seemed angry more than anything else that she’d come out of hiding and inconvenienced his life.  She needed to change the subject before she revealed too much.  What was the old adage?  Never ask a question when you’re not prepared for the answer.
    “I heard at the office the other day that Connor had met someone,” Emily said, hoping to take advantage of the fact that he was talking.  She didn’t want to know anymore about his club, but didn’t want to sever this connection.  “I never thought he would settle down.”
    “Lauren’s good for him,” Jax replied.  He was now studying her, as if he knew exactly what she was doing.  Emily glanced toward the door, thinking maybe she better retreat when he continued, keeping her glued to his story.  “She was involved in the same case that allowed us to purchase the club.  Lauren modifies BDSM implements by adorning