Kace (Allen Securities) Read online

  “No,” she said and smoothed her apron over skirt. “I’m just very busy.”

  “Are you still going to go with me over to the house?” she asked.

  Irene creased her pretty brow and stared at Jessica. “Of course I’m going.”

  Jessica looked back to Ryder. “Well, he’s our ride.”

  They walked further into the shop, where Irene was working on a new batch of cookies. The still warm sugar cookies rested on pans. Jessica snatched one from the pan before Irene could tell her not to.

  “Oh you know how much I hate that,” Irene complained.

  Jessica grinned at her. “Maybe I know and just find it funny.” Irene continued to glare, and Jessica started to feel bad. “So how has business been?”

  Irene smiled brightly.

  “Things are going great,” she said. “Business is really starting to boom, and the girls have been such a help.”

  She smiled warmly toward the front. It was hard not to see the love she had for her cousin and Jessica’s sister.

  “So.” Jessica clapped her hands and walked around the small kitchen. “You ready to go to my place?”

  Irene stepped closer and glanced toward the door.

  “Is it really that bad?” she asked. “I mean, I know you got the letter, but is it really so bad you can’t go back to the house still?”

  Jessica shrugged. She knew Kace might be over-reacting, but honestly, putting her sister at risk wasn’t something that she wanted to do. Ever.

  There’d been reports on the news of an explosion at sea. Finn wouldn’t confirm if it’d been the arms shipment, but Kace and Jessica assumed as such. They’d been surprised the Russians hadn’t already retaliated. A little extra safety definitely wasn’t out of line.

  “It’s a risk,” Jessica said. “I honestly can’t even guess when this will all be over. I thought that things would come to a head after they shot up the club, but it’s been nearly three days, and we haven’t heard anything.”

  Irene washed her hands and then grabbed the dough on the table. She rolled it out with the ease and precision of someone who had been doing it for years.

  “I just don’t know how you do it there,” she said. Jessica noticed her hand shook as she picked up a cookie cutter. She placed her hand on top of Irene’s.

  “I’m being as safe as I can be,” she said and squeezed her hand. “I know you worry, but it will all blow over. Last thing the Russian mob wants to do is make this into something where the police want their heads on a pike.”

  She pulled away and moved to the other side of the metal work table.

  “Wanting to take out Finn and some of his guys makes sense.” She looked into Irene’s clear green eyes. “I’m just an easy way to make a point to Finn. It’s not something against me, I just happen to be around.”

  Irene stopped slapping the cookie cutter into the dough and looked up. Her eyes were filled with tears, which she quickly dashed away.

  “If anything happened to you,” she started.

  “It won’t,” Jessica said firmly. “I’ve got Kace protecting me.”

  Irene gave a small smile and nodded.

  “So what’s going on with that?” Irene asked shyly.

  Jessica sighed and leaned against the table as her friend finished cutting the cookies. She watched as Irene lined them up on a tray.

  “Kace is…” Jessica giggled. “He’s complicated and amazing and…” She shrugged. “I’m in love with him.”

  Irene whirled around and jumped when the oven door snapped shut.

  “Love?”

  The reaction wasn’t totally unexpected considering Irene had very little experience with men in general.

  “Isn’t that a little fast?” Irene set the potholders on the table.

  Jessica laughed and nodded. “Yup. And crazy, but it doesn’t change how right things are with him.”

  “So are you going to start dating?”

  Jessica cringed. “He’s asked me to move in with him.” She giggled after she thought for a moment. “Actually, he asked me to move in, get married and have babies.”

  When she looked at Irene, she burst out laughing. Her eyes were so huge, they looked like two saucers.

  “And you told him yes?” she whispered.

  “Well,” Jessica said. “Actually, I think what I said was okay.” She grinned at her friend.

  Irene frowned. “You shouldn’t joke about this.”

  Jessica reached for Irene’s hands and gave a squeeze. “Life is too short. We’re taking it day by day, and for now, we are focusing on getting past all this shit.” She smiled. “But I’m really not rushing into this. I’ve dated. I know what I want and don’t want. Kace makes me happy and it’s not often that I’m happy like that.”

  Irene came around the table and wrapped her in a warm hug. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

  Ryder cleared his throat at the doorway.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” he said, looking directly at Irene. “But we need to get going.”

  Irene hurried to busy herself with the stove.

  Jessica turned to Ryder and gave a nod. His eyes turned back to Irene, and he gave a sigh before walking back to the front. When she turned around, Irene was placing the hot sheets on the table.

  “You know,” she said when Irene looked up at her. “You might give that whole happiness thing a try.”

  Irene wrinkled her brow and glanced to the door.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said firmly.

  Jessica held up her hands. “Okay, just saying.”

  Irene yanked off her apron and slammed it onto the table.

  “Shouldn’t we be going?” she asked.

  Jessica laughed and followed out the door.

  * * *

  “I see you decided to grace us with your presence,” Lt. Jackson said from across the desk.

  Kace looked up from the computer and sighed. He really hadn’t wanted to have this discussion yet.

  “I think we should have a talk in my office.” The older man leaned over him. Kace knew this tactic. It was one he had perfected.

  “Maybe we should wait until another day,” Kace said slowly.

  Lt. Jackson glared down at him.

  “It wasn’t a question,” he said menacingly.

  Kace sighed and shut down his computer. Several other officers at desks in the area stopped to watch as he followed behind.

  When the door slammed shut behind him, he knew this was going to be a continuation from the other night.

  “I want to know,” Lt. Jackson said as he slipped into the chair across from Kace, “what the hell has gotten into you? Before all this shit, you had your head on straight and were poised for that next promotion.”

  “Things are just different. Nothing is black and white,” he said.

  “Bullshit.” Lt. Jackson slammed his fist on the table. “It’s her. I know it is.”

  Kace sat up straight and glared. “It’s not Jessica.” He looked directly at Lt. Jackson. “Things just aren’t so cut and dry with all this.”

  The other man glared at him, and Kace looked around. There were no personal effects out, and he wondered if his boss even had any to put out.

  “Like hell they aren’t,” Lt. Jackson said and stood. “We put you on this case because you could handle it. Your family would be involved, and that would increase our chances of getting both Finn and the Russians.” He started pacing in the small space. “This isn’t some damn game, and if you think getting involved with someone like her is a good idea, you need to rethink that.”

  Kace gritted his teeth.

  “I heard you went to visit her father,” Lt. Jackson said.

  Kace nodded. “He had information.”

  Lt. Jackson laughed. “I’m sure he did.”

  Kace stood. His anger throbbed in his head.

  “I’ve had enough,” he said finally. “Jessica never was or will be the problem. Her father was once in the fold,
and he ended up in prison.”

  Kace shot up. “You want to write me up for not doing my job well enough, so be it.” Kace leaned forward. “But leave Jessica out of this.”

  “You know she’s trouble, and if you don’t get this in check, you can kiss your promotion goodbye.” A thick vein popped out on his boss’s neck.

  “So be it.” Kace walked out the door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jessica stood at the bar and smiled at Kace on the end. She really shouldn’t be this giddy, but she couldn’t help it. Every time she saw him sitting on the stool, she would remember something with him and smile. She had been doing it more and more the last few days.

  It had never been her intention to move things so quickly with him, but Kace lived life with her by the seat of his pants. Despite how controlled he was with every other aspect of his life, he constantly surprised her and threw caution to the wind. Well, within reason.

  They had spent a large chunk of time talking about the future. She would continue to pay for the townhome. It wasn’t the best, but it was what Victoria wanted. Jessica suspected that Mrs. Masing might have more to do with that than anything. Although it was pretty centrally located, so that limited her commute time.

  Jessica wiped down the bar and broke down the soda fountain to clean. It wasn’t a job she loved, but things had been tight around the place and when that happened, it was her duty to be there in whatever role they needed. Finn had lived up to his word when he contacted the staff about the danger. Unfortunately, that also meant a large chunk decided not to come in, so that left her picking up the slack.

  She tossed her rag in the dirty bin and gathered her paperwork from the office. Being closed off in the office was normally what she wanted, but it was nice being around the others. It had been a long time since she was able to relax and enjoy the company of others she worked with. Although right now was a little different than normal. With Dale guarding the door constantly, Meg popping in with updates, Liam and Finn making the rounds around the room and Kace constantly watching her, it was a wonder they were able to get any work done at all, let alone make any money.

  With her bookwork in hand, she flopped down in the seat next to Kace and smiled when he brushed his leg up against her.

  When she looked up again, Kace was staring intently at her. His eyes burned with the passion she hoped he planned to revisit when she finished work.

  “If you two don’t quick eye-fucking each other, I’m going to get the hose out,” Meg said. She sat at the small table near the bar, a laptop in front of her, with Finn and grinned when Jessica turned to flip her off.

  She paused mid-flip when Meg sat up bolt right, knocking her drink onto the floor. Alyssa, who was cleaning a nearby table, rushed over to mop up the mess.

  “Finally,” she said. “So we’ve been able to trace some purchases from the account.”

  She spun the screen to Finn. Jessica and Kace made their way to the side of the table. Gathered, they looked at the recent transactions.

  “This can’t be right,” Finn said quietly.

  “What is a Knappogue?” Meg asked.

  Finn stared blankly at the screen for a moment. When he sat back, all the color had drained from his face.

  “It’s a very expensive type of Irish whiskey. There were only two men I ever knew to drink it. One is dead and the other…” He looked around the room, pain evident on his face. “The other is my brother.”

  He continued to stare at the screen, and Jessica wondered if he might be going into shock. It was certainly surprising someone so close would make the call to screw over family like that. It just wasn’t what she would have expected.

  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 t
he 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.”