Femme Fatale

Chapter Fourteen: Two Truths And A Lie

"There's been a new development, gentlemen," Jax announced as he walked through the French doors of the study. He settled into a leather chair at the head of the table.

Frank, Michael, and Corey immediately stopped their conversations and made their way to the large mahogany table. They assumed their seats: Frank sat to the leader's right, and Michael and Corey sat to the left.

"What happened to your back?" Michael asked, eyeing the bloodstains on Jax's shirt.

Jax ignored the question. "Thomas Bennett didn't take our money. His sister did."

It took a few seconds for his words to register with the men. Michael's eyebrows knitted together in thought, and Frank narrowed his eyes.

"What?" Frank hissed.

Corey was shocked. "But..." he started to stammer.

"Well, he tried," Jax cut in. "But Johanna was the one who hacked our account."

"That thieving bitch," Frank said venomously.

"So... what's the course of action here?" Michael asked. Jax cleared his throat.

"She says she'll pay us back and more if we keep her alive," Jax said carefully. "And I believe her."

"Of course you do, mate," Michael said cheerily as he slapped him on the back.

Jax winced in pain and gritted his teeth.

"Fine. Let's get our money back, then kill her," Frank said matter-of-factly.

Corey nodded in agreement. He had a white bandage over his nose, and purple bruises were beginning to form under his eyes. Jax shook his head.

"She wants my word that we'll let her go," Jax said.

"Give her your word, then go back on it," Frank replied.

"I'm a man of my word, Frank," Jax shot back angrily. Plus, she'd know if I were lying, he thought to himself.

If nothing else, Jax truly was a man of his word. It was part of the reason why the others had so much respect for him. But even if he wasn't a man of his word, Jax had a feeling that Jo would able to read him like a book regardless. There was something unnerving about the way her big, hazel eyes studied his face as if there were answers written all over it.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Alright boys, say goodnight to Johanna before you wash up for bed," Noah told his son and son's friend as they returned from the theatre. Jake's parents were on a prolonged "vacation," which was code for mission, and so he was staying with the Bennetts for the time being.

Noah had taken the teenagers to see Mission Impossible III, but Jo had opted to stay home with her mother. Ever since she lost the last sparring match, she had been taking extra lessons in addition to her normal training. Jo would wake up early to practice martial arts with her father, and she would forego the down time after dinner to study psychology with her mother.

"Last one up gets the bottom bunk!" Thomas declared before punching Jake in the stomach. Jake doubled over in pain, and Thomas sprinted to the backyard where his sister was stargazing.

"Goodnight!" Thomas called out. He sprinted back inside and up the stairs before Jo could even respond.

"Dirty cheater," Jake grumbled to himself. Once he finally caught his breath, Jake collected himself and made his way to the backyard. He straightened his shirt and fixed his hair before opening the door.

"Hey," Jake said to Jo, taking a seat on the grass beside her. She smiled up at him through her dark eyelashes, and his heart flipped. Jake knew it was wrong, but his best friend's sister had him feeling a certain sort of way.

"Why didn't you watch Mission Impossible with us?" Jake asked.

"I don't like spy movies," Jo responded.

Jake laughed at the irony of her comment. "What did you do instead?" he asked.

"I was studying with my mom," she said shyly.

Jo played with a strand of her hair. Jake watched her, entranced. "What did you study?"

She thought for a moment, wondering how she could best explain her studies.

"Here," she said. "I'll show you. Look at me and hold out your hand."

It was a cool night, and a splattering of stars illuminated the otherwise dark sky. Jake turned to face her, and Jo did the same. They sat, Indian-style, in the grass with their knees touching. Jo felt a shiver go through her body, and she wasn't sure it from the cool night breeze or from Jake's body touching hers.

Jake looked into her eyes, and she began to feel light-headed. She took a deep breath and tried to focus. As she looked into Jake's beautiful green eyes, his pupils dilated. Jo put two fingers on his outstretched wrist, and she could feel his pulse quicken. His lips parted slightly, and his chest rose and fell with each breath he took. She could feel her own body temperature rising.

"Do you know that game, two truths and a lie?" Jo asked, trying to ignore their bodies' physiological reactions. He nodded.

"Let's play that. I'll be able to tell if you're lying or telling the truth," Jo told him. Her mother, a human polygraph, had been teaching her how to read a person's microexpressions, pulse, voice, and body language.

"Okay," Jake said with a grin. "This should be fun."

"I'm ready when you are," Jo said, smiling back.

"I missed you at the movie tonight," Jake said.

Jo listened to his voice and examined his face. His pulse didn't change speeds. That was a truth.

"I think you're the prettiest person in the world," he continued.

That was a truth. Jo could feel a blush spread across her cheeks.

"I don't have a crush on you," Jake said.

That was a lie. Jo removed her fingers from Jake's wrist. Her heart was pounding and she could feel her whole face heat up.

"Well?" Jake asked. "Which one was the lie?"

Jo was stunned silent, unsure of how to respond. Her emotions were everywhere: she was happy, flattered, and embarrassed all at once. Jo bit her lip.

Then, she darted forward and kissed Jake quickly on the cheek. His eyebrows shot up like rockets. Jo stood up and sprinted back inside.

**********************

Thoughts? Hope you liked this chapter! Let me know by voting or commenting :)