Their Sin City Showgirl (The American Soldier Collection 7)

“Who is Frank?” Lincoln asked.

“He’s a good friend,” she replied as she looked away.

“A good friend or a lover?” Calder asked.

She shot a look at him.

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is our business if you’re going to be focusing on some guy, instead of letting us in on what’s going on. Our lives are in jeopardy, too,” Calder stated.

“I know that. Don’t you think I know that?” she asked, raising her voice.

“Then who the fuck is Frank?” Brook asked this time.

Conway could feel the tension in the room. They were feeling an attraction to J.J. and she was feeling it, too. But he had to remind his men that she was a victim. She wasn’t a trained professional like they were. She was more than likely some civilian who had gotten caught in the middle of something crazy. But she wasn’t like them.

“Is this Frank guy some drug dealer you were fucking, and then you were picked up by the feds and rolled over to save your ass?” Calder asked.

Conway saw J.J. squint her eyes at Calder and place her hands on her hips. She had changed her clothes. She was wearing a cream-colored blouse with a white

camisole underneath it and blue jeans. She wore no shoes on her feet, and Calder was a few feet in front of her, towering over J.J.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” She raised her voice at Calder. He stepped closer.

“You. Who the fuck are you? Why are you here, who is after you, and who the fuck is Frank?”

“Don’t you think it’s better if you don’t know? Don’t you understand the danger you’ll be placed in if you know all the details?” she asked.

“Fuck, no, lady. We’re trained men. We were Special fucking Forces, not some academy trained federal agents. We’ve seen and done shit that would make your pretty little stomach lose its lunch,” Calder stated angrily. J.J. stood her ground.

“I’ve seen my share of shit, too. The less you know, the better.”

“That isn’t going to work, J.J.,” Conway stated.

“I’m telling you, Conway, she’s a fucking criminal. We’re protecting her, keeping her under wraps and in hiding until a trial or some shit.”

“You are so far off, Calder. For some fucking Special Forces guy, you sure can’t figure out shit,” J.J. said, and Conway realized that this was getting way out of hand. Both Calder and J.J. seemed to be stubborn individuals, and despite Calder’s larger, intimidating appearance, J.J. wasn’t backing down.

“Oh, really? I can’t figure out who you are? Let’s see, you know some self-defense moves. Most women who are smart should know some, but you enjoy boxing more. You probably learned it on the streets, or in the local shitty neighborhood you grew up in. You have an attitude and a mouth on you, always trying to prove that you’re tough and can handle everything on your own. That probably means you’ve had a tough life. Who the fuck hasn’t?” he stated angrily and then Lincoln joined in.

“You carry a gun and have multiple others in your room, so you’re familiar with weapons and how to use them. Could be family background or survival techniques.”

“You thought nothing of playing that role earlier to get rid of Pauline. You’re used to pretending to be someone you’re not or you’re used to using your body to get what you want,” Lincoln added.

J.J. just stared at them.

“And you still can’t figure it out? You still think that I’m some street slut involved with a drug lord who’s going to get locked up for a huge deal or maybe even for manufacturing and distributing drugs, once I testify?” She chuckled.

“She’s a cop,” Conway stated. She turned to look at him.

“Give the man a prize,” she said and then stared at the men.

“You’re law enforcement?” Lincoln asked.

She shoved her finger into Calder’s chest and was filled with attitude.

“The name is Julianna Jacobs. My friends call me J.J. I’m an investigator for the Nevada State Police, and I work undercover for a special unit. Well, I did as of a month ago. Now, I’m a woman with a bull’s-eye on my forehead, just trying to stay alive. My chances are slim. I get that, considering who’s after me, but I’ve accepted it,” she said and then looked away from the four of them. Before they could react, she turned back toward them.