by Honey Jans
"Almost there,” Santos said, turning the corner to the old fort and turning off his headlights as he cruised up to the pier.
It reminded her of the night she and Ace had run away together, and it made her heart twist. He had to be all right. Had Uncle Harry kept his word? She kept her fingers crossed. When Santos drew to a halt, she tore open her door.
"Don't go in there like gangbusters, you could get him killed,” Santos cautioned.
She frowned at him but knew he was right. “So lead the way."
He got out and walked around the car. “So where's your mafia connection?” he asked, scanning the empty lot.
Damned if she knew. She scanned the area, her heart sinking.
* * * *
Ace spun around, hand going for his gun as a shot rang out. He feinted to the left, shooting in the general direction of the shooter. Then a sound behind him made ice go through his veins.
"Drop it,” Miles Vance hissed.
He dropped his weapon, hoping Harry's men were expert shots because there was no way Vance could miss this close up.
"Hands up and back up to me,” Vance ordered.
"Why'd you do it?” Ace demanded, wanting the truth. “Why'd you send me to kill an innocent?"
Vance chuckled. “Some innocent. Damned geek was getting too close to the truth. She had to die, and what better way to get rid of my major pain in the ass operative, you. It would have worked if you hadn't started thinking."
Ace suppressed the rage running through him and focused on the clues. “So she got too close to finding the truth about you, on the computer."
* * * *
Melanie let out a gasp when she thought she heard a muffled shot. “Oh, my God, no."
"Stay put,” Santos said, pulling out his gun. “I'm going to check it out."
"No, I'm coming with you,” she said, but his sympathetic look made her hesitate.
"That's the quickest way to make him lose focus and get killed. Stay here for now."
"I'll give you five minutes and then I'm coming.” Melanie watched him go and then paced in front of the car. She smelled Jeb's cologne and stopped dead in her tracks. What the hell was he doing here? She turned to look at him. He looked harmless like always, but she saw the gun in his hand. Either he was scared or ... hunting her? Sucking in a steadying breath, she thought of Ace and got ready to make her move.
He slunk by her and she stepped out of the shadows. “Going somewhere, Jeb?"
He practically jumped a mile and then spun toward her. “Melanie."
"Who were you expecting, a ghost?” she said, thinking of Ace. She only hoped his foe was equally inept.
"What makes you say that?” he asked, looking her over.
"I guess I've been hanging with one too long."
Jeb's leering stare raked over her. “You've changed, Melons, become..."
"Looser,” she filled in for him.
"If you'd have looked this way, I might not have wasted you,” he said to himself.
"Why'd you set me up?"
"Who said I...” his eyes narrowed and he raised his gun. “What the fuck?"
* * * *
Ace watched Vance flinch and moved to the side just as the other man took a shot at him. He rushed Vance, taking him down before Leone's men could kill him. He wanted the bastard alive and singing. Wanted to make sure there was no backlash for Melanie. He punched Vance, knocking him out and heard footsteps running his way. He spun around to see Leone come out and walk up to him. The look of rage in his eyes matched Ace's own feelings.
"The bastard will pay."
"Eventually,” Ace said with a nod. He was startled when Santos ran into the square. “What the hell are you doing here?"
"Melanie wanted to rescue you.” Santos said with a smile. He looked at Harry. “Mr. Leone."
"That's my Mellie,” Harry said with a grin.
"How'd she get you to cooperate?” Ace asked Santos.
"Extortion. She threatened to blow the whistle on me with my cartel competition if I didn't help her get to you."
Ace smiled at the disclosure. That was just like his woman, and then he realized what else Santos was saying. “She's here?"
"In the parking lot. I convinced her to let me go in alone."
Ace turned to go to her when a shot rang out. “Shit,” he muttered and took off running.
* * * *
Melanie tried not to flinch as Jeb fired a shot into the ground at her feet to scare her. “Stop that. Why did you set me up? I never did anything to you."
"You kicked me in the balls,” he spat at her. “So back the fuck up."
"Besides that,” she said, wincing.
"You were getting too close, so you had to go."
"Close to what?” she asked, puzzled.
"The San Sebastian Mines."
"The data I was in-taking,” she said, surprised, recalling the contrary data she'd picked up before Jeb had whisked her away. A supposedly played out emerald mine was all of a sudden putting out quality gems. She'd been convinced it was a smuggling operation and had passed the data on to those above her, but they hadn't been able to find anything. Still she'd kept a watch on it.
"Bingo."
"But that was just names, bank accounts, and data. Why would anyone...” Then she saw the big picture. “It was a shell, set up by you.” She saw him preen and knew he wasn't the head of the operation. “Who were you working for?"
He frowned. “You're too nosy, bitch, that's why you have to be shut up.” He looked to the left and she took the chance to dive behind the car.
"Fun and games, sure, I'll play,” he said with a laugh, going after her.
She doubled back, pulling out the Glock Ace gave her and waited. When Jeb came around the vehicle, a maniacal glint in his eyes, she raised the gun. “Stop or I'll shoot."
"I'm gonna enjoy this,” he said, firing.
She squeezed the trigger as she felt a sting in her right shoulder and saw Jeb gasp before he toppled like a toy soldier.
Ace swept in just as Jeb hit the ground. Ice chilled his veins when he didn't see Melanie. What the fuck had happened to her? She got to her feet behind the car and his heart started beating again. He rushed up to her and pulled her into his arms. “My God, woman, I thought he'd killed you."
"I told you he couldn't shoot straight,” she said, shivering in his arms.
His hand came away sticky with blood and he pulled back to see the graze on her arm. “He shot straight enough to count,” he said gruffly. “I told you to stay at The Aerie."
"So spank me for disobeying your commands,” she said with a smile.
She looked up at her Uncle Harry and Santos as they stood nearby. “You came."
"Would I ever let you down?” he asked cupping her cheek. He pulled a poker chip from his pocket.
"Another poker chip,” she said, clutching it, feeling his approval as he glanced at her in Ace's embrace.
"Anytime you need me,” he said.
Just then, Santos walked up to the group with Nina Banks and Dot in tow.
"My boss,” Melanie said with a smile.
"Mine too,” Ace said, looking at the other woman.
Melanie swept a glance over Ace's boss, sensing an animosity between them. “The one that thinks you don't work well with others."
"That'd be her,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
"But won't she mind?” Melanie protested, not wanting him to jeopardize his position.
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn,” Ace said, nuzzling her neck.
"Me neither,” she said, kissing him back.
Nina, Dot, and Santos stood together watching.
Nina and Dot looked at each other saying, “We've got to get them on a team together."
"Something tells me they already are,” Santos said.
"Forever,” Ace whispered against her lip.
"Forever,” she agreed with a sigh of surrender.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Honey Jans lives in a small Midwestern town with her husband and true inspiration. She is a born romantic with an extraordinarily vivid, and kinky imagination. Honey loves writing erotica and hopes that her stories add a little spice to her reader's lives.
[Back to Table of Contents]
For your reading pleasure, we invite you to visit our web bookstore
* * * *
* * * *
WHISKEY CREEK PRESS TORRID
www.whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com
* * *
Visit www.whiskeycreekpress.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.