Kace (Allen Securities) (18 page)

Finn sneered and turned the computer screen back to Meg.

“Drain it,” he said dangerously.

Meg nodded and set back to work.

Alyssa passed by and put the ice into the sink at the bar. She turned back to Jessica.

“Are you switching the schedule around?” Alyssa asked.

Jessica frowned and shook her head.

“No, why?” she asked.

Alyssa pointed to the sheet in front of her.

“Oh, well, I just saw you were looking at the days Dale works.” Alyssa smiled at her.

Jessica looked down at the paper. She had highlighted all the times days when there were shortages in the alcohol. She frowned at the paper and then looked up.

“Do you remember when I was attacked?” she asked Alyssa.

She nodded her head.

“Why did you get Kace when that happened?” She felt Kace tense next to her as he followed her logic.

“Oh, well Dale was on a smoke break,” she said. Her cute little pixie face fell as she sorted through things.

Kace shifted next to her. “And did you ever see him leave on a smoke break?”

Alyssa shook her head. “No,” she whispered.

The room fell quiet.

“Well, it looks like you found me out.”

Dale stood near Finn, his meaty arm palming a very large gun he had pointed at Finn. Jessica shifted closer to Kace.

“Oh, Dale,” Jessica said. Her heart fell.

“So it’s come to this,” Finn said to his cousin as he turned to face him. “You and Ennis?”

Dale laughed. “Oh it doesn’t just end at me and Ennis. There are plenty who don’t like your new direction. Think you’ve gone soft.”

“Not soft,” Finn said, dangerously quiet. “Smart. Money in the old crap just isn’t what it used to be. People aren’t buying guns and drugs like they used to. Well, not enough to make up for all the heat that comes up with it. Why do that shit, when you can make more being legit?”

“There will always be a need for guns, as long as you look for the right people,” Dale said.

Jessica watched as Finn’s jaw tightened. “So you just make a deal with anyone? Even the Russians?” he spat out.

“We make deals with people who pay,” Dale growled back. “Ennis wasn’t thrilled with that little trick you did with the arms boat. That was going to pay for the hit on you. Luckily,” he gave a giggle, “you pissed off the Russians enough they were willing to do the hit all on their own.”

Jessica shivered when he grinned.

“Looks like party has already been started,” an accented voice said from the back.

A medium-built man came from the back door to stand near Jessica and Kace. A group of large men trailed behind him. His hair was cropped close to his head, and he wore a dark suit. She was a little surprised to see a thug would be so well put together.

“Viktor,” Finn hissed.

She shivered when one of Viktor’s men winked at her. Vulgar tattoos littered his exposed skin. Kace stood and moved his body in front of her.

“Just stop right there, pig,” Dale said.

Jessica cringed. The last thing they needed to have happen was Kace being called out for being a cop. None of these guys were fans of the police, and most would be more than willing to put a bullet in one, especially now that they were exposed.

She glanced back to Finn. He sat calmly at the table, his hands out where they could be seen. Pure rage glittered in his eyes, and she knew, if he had the chance, these men would all be dead.

Kace stood quietly in front of Jessica. If they all played this right, things could still turn out right.

They still hadn’t seen Liam, and if he wasn’t already dead, then he had sent in a call to Reed. It still might turn into a gun battle, but at least the odds would be more on their side.

“Where’s that little fuck Liam?” Dale said and moved in front of Finn.

“Out on detail,” Finn said with a wicked grin. “Maybe you should go out and say hello.”

Dale glared at him. “Think you’re fucking funny?”

He pulled back and clocked Finn on the nose with his gun.

Blood burst from his nose and dripped on to his white button-up shirt.

Alyssa, who was still standing near them at the bar, gasped.

“You,” Viktor pointed at the men near them. “You go check.”

Four of them filtered out through the back door, their clucky boots knocking against the back door. This would be nothing for Liam.

Kace surveyed the room. Aside from Viktor and Dale, they had just three men to spare. This was doable.

He glanced over to the table where his sister was still sitting. Meg was a hell of a shot. If he could just get a gun in her hands, she could easily take out the others.

“Put the women with him,” Viktor said to one of his men. He shivered when the man’s blank stare shifted to Jessica. “We figure out something special for Mr. Piggy.”

“No,” Jessica said and struggled in the thug’s hands.

Kace tensed and rushed forward with all his might. Another thug stepped in front and nailed him in the stomach. He dropped to the ground and watched as they sat Jessica next to Meg. Alyssa was next. The two women shivered at the table while Meg and Finn continued to play it cool.

When Kace turned his eyes on Finn, he winked at him and then looked back to Viktor.

“So, Vic.” Finn smiled. The blood from his nose had seeped into his mouth and coated his teeth when he smiled. “I hear Boris is on his way. I’m sure Stefano must be so proud of the work you’re doing.”

The Russian’s face fell, and Kace’s stomach twisted. He didn’t know what angle Finn was going for, but taunting the angry Russian didn’t seem like the best idea.

“He be happy after tonight,” Viktor said, his black eyes fixed on Finn. “One less problem.”

Finn laughed loudly. “We’ll see.”

“Cut the shit.” Dale glared at him and then turned to Viktor. “Where are your men?”

Kace watched as Viktor turned to look at the door and then back to his men.

“You two go look,” he said to the men next to him. They trudged slowly to the back door and disappeared when the door closed with a click.

Kace looked over at Jessica. The man who had grabbed her stood firmly behind the three women. He narrowed his eyes on Kace when he noticed him staring.

“I will say Dale,” Finn spoke, pulling all eyes back to him. “I’m surprised my brother isn’t here.”

Dale smiled. “He’s on a ship with loads of witnesses.”

“Ah.” Finn nodded. “He was always good with the alibies.”

He shifted in his seat, and Dale jumped.

“Although, I’m a little insulted at who he’s picked to carry out his plan.” Finn wrinkled his nose.

Dale’s face filled with rage as he raised the gun to Finn’s head.

“You really shouldn’t taunt him like that.”

All eyes turned to Liam. The barrel of his gun was pressed against Viktor’s head. The thug near the women cursed in Russian.

Kace yanked his gun from his holster and pointed it at the thug near Jessica.

“Took you long enough,” Finn said to Liam.

Liam sighed loudly. “That’s what happens when you leave all the work up to me.”

Finn laughed as he stood. “I suppose.”

Liam looked over at the Russian thug near the women.

“Move the fuck away,” he said. His face contorted as he stared at the man. “Or my cop friend is going to make you move.”

The man stared back apparently weighing his options.

“Pretty sure there isn’t a win with this,” Finn said. “Boris isn’t a fan of loose ends. From what I hear, you don’t want to get on his bad side.”

The thug moved slowly around the women, his eyes fixed on the gun and Kace, waiting for the opportunity. Kace followed him without hesitation.

“I suggest you move over there with your new friends,” Finn said to Dale.

Dale’s face flamed as he moved away. His gun still pointed at Finn as he made his way to the Russian. Liam pushed Viktor to the other man and steadied his gun.

“Seems like this didn’t go at all like you were told it would,” Finn said to Viktor. “Wasn’t as good a plan as Ennis might have told you.”

“We will see,” Viktor said and smiled.

“If you think there’s still a payday after this, I’ve just drained all the money.” Finn grinned when they turned to look at Dale.

“He’s lying,” Dale said, pale.

Finn shrugged. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he said to Dale. His cousin glared at him complete hatred.

Kace sighed. This standoff had to end before someone got hurt.

“As far as I can tell,” Kace said to Viktor. “There is really only one person responsible for all the problems.”

He glanced to Dale and then back to Viktor.

“Fuck you,” Dale said and spat on the floor.

Viktor looked to his associate and then to the back door. “And what about my men?”

Finn piped in with, “Either take them, or I’ll dispose of them.”

“You got to be kidding,” Dale said to Viktor. “Ennis isn’t going to like this.”

Viktor laughed loudly. “Fuck Ennis. We’re not working for free.” He turned to nod to Finn. “Boris is not going to like this.”

All laughter faded from Finn. “You let me worry about Boris.”

Viktor gave a wicked grin. “Oh, I will.”

Kace watched as they made their way to the door and out into the alley.

“Conor,” Finn said into his phone. “I need a cleaner.” He listened for a moment and sighed. “I’m already aware. We just got done having a little heart to heart with the Russians.”

Kace watched as Finn nodded.

“Good.” He hung up the phone and stared at Dale. “So who else are you working with?”

“No one.” He shrugged.

Finn glanced over to Alyssa. “Are you sure?”

Alyssa opened her mouth to say something, but the room bust into chaos as the front door flew in.

Chapter Nineteen

Jessica screamed as the front windows shattered, armed men in helmets and bulky vests bursting crashing through. She crouched to the table but heard Alyssa’s shout over the noise.

“Watch out!”

When Jessica looked up, she watched in slow motion as Alyssa launched herself at Finn. Arms outstretched, she shoved Finn back.

Alyssa stood for a moment and turned to stare at Dale, his arm outstretched and gun still smoking. Jessica screamed when she turned back. Two growing blood spots marred Alyssa’s chest. She crumpled to the ground.

“You son of a bitch!” Liam yelled. He pulled the trigger of his gun. Dale yelled and fell to the ground.

Shutting out the sound around her, Jessica crawled over to the small woman. Finn was already applying pressure to the spot at her breast. Jessica scrambled to sit near her head and pressed against the hole at her shoulder.

“Why did you do that?” Finn asked her. His face was nearly as pale as Alyssa, and he shook.

Her breathing was labored as she tried to talk. “I would not betray you.”

Jessica saw the guilt flash over his face.

“Just lie still and wait for the paramedics,” Jessica said. She jumped when a pair of hands slipped onto hers. She looked at the person and sighed when the blue uniform focused into sight. She glanced around realized the room was filled with police in bullet-proof vests, pistols and shotguns ready. A discarded black battering ram lay next to the door, the likely destroyer of their front door.

A few seconds later, Reed and several his men filtered in, also in vests. The cavalry had apparently arrived at twice the required strength.

One of the officers yelled back, “We’ve got two victims in here. Look like gun shots.”

Moments later, a pair of paramedics pushed through the throng with a gurney.

Jessica crawled to the other side and pulled Finn away. “You’ve got to let them take care of her.”

He nodded and followed Alyssa with his eyes as they loaded her onto a gurney.

“I’m riding with you,” he said to the paramedic.

“That’s only reserved for family,” the paramedic replied.

Finn tightened his fists as he stared at her. “I’m her fiancé.”

The man looked at him skeptically but nodded.

Jessica jumped when strong arms circled around her but turned in his embrace.

“Oh, Kace,” she sobbed.

“I know,” he said and smoothed her hair.

“Is Dale dead?” she whispered.

“No,” he said. “Liam just clipped him in the leg.”

Jessica turned her head to look across the room. Dale was strapped onto a gurney while someone messed with his leg. She could hear him cursing from all the way across the room.

“Liam, you son of a bitch, I’ll get you for this,” Dale screeched loudly. “You and your slut mother will pay for this. Or maybe I’ll find another way.”

Jessica’s stomach rolled as she followed his line of sight to Meg.

“Listen here, you piece of shit.” Liam started to march over. “Maybe I should have just taken the kill shot.”

Kace let her go and whirled to a few of the other cops nearby. “Get him the fuck out of here.”

They jumped into action, a few held Liam back while the others helped the paramedics rush Dale out of the building.

“I need to get to the hospital,” Jessica said quietly.

Kace nodded. “I’ll have Reed drive us.”

She looked up to him shocked. “Don’t you need to see to things?”

He looked around. “Maybe, but some things are just more important.”

Jessica smiled and followed him to Reed’s car. When she climbed into the car, she thought about the support someone like Alyssa would need.

She pulled out her phone.

“Irene,” she said. “I need you and the girls to meet me at the hospital.”

* * *

Kace looked silently around the waiting room. His family always was one to offer support when needed. It was nice looking around and seeing family and friends.

“They have been in surgery for such a long time,” Jessica whispered.

“You heard them,” Kace answered. “The bullets ripped through a lot of muscles. The one in her shoulder is the least worrisome. At least the one in her chest didn’t hit her heart, but it’s going to take a lot of work.”

Kace glanced to the corner where Finn sat with Liam and one of his men. His face was still ashen, and he knew the guilt of the whole thing must be eating at him.