Kace (Allen Securities) (19 page)

“Mr. Kelly?” the surgeon called from the door. Finn jumped up, and they all stood with him.

The doctor looked worn and when Kace thought about how long they had been in there, he marveled at how surgeons were able to last that long.

“She’s going to be okay,” the surgeon said. A collective sigh overtook the room. “However, we’ve noticed some,” she glanced around the room, “problems with several of her bones. They were prevously broken and healed slightly off.”

Kace cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Alyssa was in an abusive relationship previously and that man is in custody.”

She glanced at Finn, still clearly uncertain. “I’ll be checking into that.”

“How long before she’s awake?” Finn asked, his voice low and harsh.

“It will be a few hours before she’s really awake enough to have visitors.” The doctor scanned the group. “What I would suggest is to go home. Take a shower. Get some rest, and come back in the morning. Every one of you looks like you could use a good night’s sleep.”

Kace looked around. They were a pretty rough-looking crew. Large men aside, most looked like they hadn’t slept well for weeks. Jessica and Finn had the worst of it. Caked in dried blood, they could have been easily mistaken for victims themselves.

“Thank you, doctor,” Jessica said and shook her hand. “I’m so relieved.”

The doctor gave her a squeeze. “She’s in no danger, but she’s going to have a long road ahead. The damage to her shoulder was pretty extensive. It’s going to take a lot of therapy for her to get back the mobility.”

“She won’t have use of her arm?” Finn slumped and ran a hand through his hair.

The doctor stared hard at him. “We suspect that it will be limited, but with work she will go back to a more normal use.”

Kace patted him on the arm. “It will be fine. Go home and get some rest.”

Finn shrugged the hand off. “I’m staying here.”

“Finn,” one of his men said, “let me take you home.”

Finn shook his head. “Conor, bring me a change of clothes.”

Kace watched as the man pressed his mouth in a firm line and nodded. Finn gave Kace a nod before returning to the corner of the room. He watched as the mob boss sat down. He looked worn and defeated sitting with just Liam.

“Honey, we’re going to take Olivia home.” His mother came up next to him, and he was glad to have her there. She looked over to Jessica, and he could see the tears in her eyes. “Now you just call if you need anything.”

He smiled when she wrapped Jessica in a big hug. When the two separated, Jessica wiped her eyes several times.

Slowly, his family made their way out of the room, hugging the two of them and nodding to Finn and Liam. It appeared that despite his background, Finn had worked his way in as part of the fold.

Kace sighed. Things were hard enough with his job. It was going to be even harder to explain his connection to a mob boss. But then, he wasn’t really certain staying on the force was the way to go. He had spent all his life believing that things were different, only to find that corruption really did depend on who was telling the story.

Jessica held on to Kace for her support as she said goodbye to his family. She only let go when her sister was standing in front.

“Oh, Jess,” Victoria said and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I know,” Jessica said into her sister’s hair. “It’s going to be fine.”

Victoria sighed. “It’s not, but that’s okay. We can deal.” She stood back and looked at Jessica hard. “You should go get some sleep.”

Jessica laughed. “Little role reversal?”

Victoria winked. “Only when I need to.”

She sighed and pulled her little sister back to her. “I love you.”

Victoria wrapped her arms around. “Me too.” She pulled back and gave a wave to Kace. “Take care of her.”

Jessica linked fingers with him when he nodded. She gave a tired wave to the others as they left and pulled Kace over to Finn.

“You didn’t cause this,” she said directly to Finn. He slumped in his chair and seemed more drained than she had ever seen him.

“Like hell I didn’t,” he said.

Jessica crossed her arms and stared down at him. “We all knew the risk working for you,” she said. Finn’s eyes shot up. “But the truth is, you pay well. You pay on time, and you aren’t a dick.”

“Maybe not to some people,” he mumbled.

Jessica threw her hands in the air. “So you made a mistake. It’s not like you didn’t have reasons.”

She leaned forward and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“You are a good man for the most part,” she said. “You are going the right direction and shouldn’t let anyone else tell you different.”

Jessica sat up and nodded. Regardless, she had said her piece.

She put her hand back in Kace’s and stepped back.

“Call if there’s a change,” Kace said.

She followed him through the door and down a series of halls before reaching the outside. Jessica was glad to have the cool air hit her face.

“Well this has been quite the night,” she said as they walked to his car.

Kace nodded and continued in silence.

Her stomach flipped as she thought of all the reasons he might not be talking. She hoped he was just tired, but with all the things going on, maybe he just needed more time to process things. Or just her. After all, things we pretty much finished for now with the club. Sure, Finn had unfinished business with Ennis, but it didn’t seem like the club would be much a target for the Russians without him.

She climbed in and sat quietly until he started the car.

“If you want to take me to my house, I’ll understand,” she said quietly.

Kace whipped around to her. “Why would I want to do that?”

She pulled at the buttons on her top. “It was a long day. Things are wrapping up. Maybe you need more time.”

“The only thing I need more time on is how much I can spend with you,” he said. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe I should leave the force.”

Jessica gasped and turned to face him. “But I thought that was you dream. What about Paul?”

Kace sighed. “It was my dream until things got all crazy. Now I can’t tell what my dream is, but I know it’s with you. And I think Paul would approve of that.”

Jessica beamed. She wanted to talk, but the words got stuck in the back of her throat. She pulled him to her and kissed him hard.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Let’s go home,” he whispered back.

She smiled and pulled back. Going home. That sounded so loving and normal.

Chapter Twenty

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the prison guard said as he led her through the prison halls. She marveled at how it had only been a week ago she had been to see her father, and now she was having to ID him. A chill crept through her as she walked.

Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea for her to go alone, but Kace was off turning over his badge. She had wondered if it would be hard for him to switch to working for Reed, but the reception had been more than welcoming. He had been even more excited when Reed offered her an office position. It would involve sorting through all the paperwork. She cringed, but with the classes he was offering to pay for, it was an amazing deal.

She shook her head. Who was she kidding? Not taking the job just be stupid. It was really a matter of finding her replacement at the club.

“He just right in here,” the guard said, startling her out of her thoughts. “Now try not to look too long. He was mangled pretty bad when the explosion went off in the laundry room.”

Jessica took a deep breath and swallowed. This was going to be harder than she expected.

The room smelled of chemicals and made her gag. She was certain that when she left the room, her clothes would be saturated with the smell.

“He’s right here,” the guard said and walked back to the door.

She quickly flipped the cover off his face and back again. The heat from the explosion had burned most of his face. Red open skin ate up most of his natural color. She took a breath and focused on his arm. She jumped when it slid down his body and hung limply at his side.

Steeling herself, Jessica reached over and put his hand back on his chest. She patted it a few times and then jumped away quickly. The cross tattoo on his right hand was missing. She looked around and felt her stomach lurch.

She didn’t know whose hand she had been touching, but that was not her father.

Jessica teetered around and then burst through the door. A trash can sat around the corner. She leaned forward and emptied her stomach.

There was only one thing she could do.

* * *

Kace smiled as he walked down the hall to the wing they were keeping Alyssa. She was tough, and he was glad to see she had made such great progress over the week. There was still going to be a lot of work she’d need to do, but it would happen.

He rounded the corner and chuckled at Finn in his normal spot. When Kace neared, Finn looked up and frowned.

“She still not letting you in?” Kace asked.

Finn groaned. “I’ve tried everything, but she starts throwing things if I try to sneak in. She might have one bad arm, but the other is just fine.”

Kace laughed loudly. The meek girl from before seemed to have found her voice.

The sound of running feet made him jump for his gun, but he drew up air. Maybe this would take more time than he thought. Or he’d just need to get one from Reed. Jessica skidded to a stop just outside the door.

“No time,” she panted. “Inside.”

His feet moved without thinking as she shoved them all inside.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Alyssa shouted.

He nearly laughed when Jessica came out from behind them. “I made him,” she said. “Now you just sit back and listen because what I have to say deals with us all.”

Alyssa grunted and sat back. Jessica moved over to the bed table and slapped a key with a piece of paper on top.

“What’s this?” Alyssa picked up the key, and Kace remembered the safety deposit box key.

“My father is dead,” Jessica said. The room fell silent. “Or at least he’s supposed to be, but he’s not really because his body didn’t have the cross tattoo.”

“So he’s not dead?” Kace asked, not quite following her.

“Right.” She nodded. “He didn’t have the tattoo.”

“So who was it that died?” Finn asked, just as confused.

Jessica shrugged. “Some sorry sap.”

“I’m not following,” Alyssa said.

Jessica laughed. “It’s not important. What is important is this little paper right here.”

She opened it up and placed it back on the tray.

“A deed?” Alyssa looked to Jessica.

Kace slid the paper in front of him and read it over. He nearly choked as he continued to read.

“Holy shit,” he mumbled and looked over to Jessica. “Is this legal?”

She was so excited she bounced on her toes. “I sure hope so.”

“Would one of you mind telling us what the fuck is going on?” Finn glared at the two of them.

“I quit,” Jessica said.

Kace watched as Finn reeled back from the bomb that had just been dropped on him.

“You quit,” he said quietly.

“Yes,” she said. “But I have a replacement.”

Finn looked at her a little lost. “Who?”

“Alyssa,” Jessica said simply.

“I don’t think…” Alyssa started to protest, but Jessica cut her off.

“It’s brilliant,” Jessica continued, and Kace laughed at how commanding his woman could be when she wanted. “You’ll work for Finn. He feels bad and will give you prime hours. It’s good pay, and you can do it from a chair.”

“But my friend’s house is clear across town,” she said.

“That’s where this deed comes in. Turns out I own all the houses on my block. Actually, I’ve been paying rent to myself for years. My father bought it and set up an account in my and my sister’s name.” She looked over to Kace. “He did care.”

“I still don’t understand,” Alyssa said, her face reddening in frustration.

“I’m moving in with Kace. That leaves an open room with my sister. I’d love if you lived there with her.” Alyssa opened her mouth to say something, but Jessica charged on. “You help me keep an eye on the property, and you can live there rent free. It’s near the club, and the hospital isn’t far.”

Jessica paused and Kace reached out for her. He wanted to shout out his happiness that she had talked about moving in with him and taking the job with Reed. Ever since the shooting, she had been taking things slow. He didn’t know if it was him or just the situation.

“Take the offer, Alyssa,” Finn said quietly. “I can swear I’ll never let anything hurt you again.”

The room grew quiet as she thought it over. It seemed like hours before she finally spoke.

“I’ll do it,” she said.

Jessica gasped when Finn fell to his knees. “I’ll do whatever necessary to make you trust me again.”

“We’ll see,” Alyssa said after staring at him.

Kace cleared his throat and picked up the paper. He tried to usher Jessica out of the room, but her eyes stayed glued on the two as Finn remained on his knees.

“Well that was amazing,” she said and grinned.

Kace glanced back to the door. “Time will tell.” He looked back to her. “So. Quitting your job and moving in with me? Does that make me your sugar daddy?”

Jessica laughed. “Only if by sugar daddy you mean copious amounts of sex and lots of good cooking.”

Kace picked her up and whirled her around. “I think I can handle that.”

“I’m counting on it.” She kissed him hard.

A Note from Madison

Thank you for reading
Kace
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Author Bio

By day, Madison Stevens is a mom, wife, house cleaner, short-order cook and underpaid custodian. When night comes, she gets to hang up those jobs, enjoy the silence and become a sex goddess, or when she has a headache, cook and read. Her husband is also an accomplished author, and the two have great conversations about both writing and reading.