Chapter Five
Jace explored what seemed to be every street of Baton Rouge looking for the black sedan, but his search came back as empty as his gas tank. He stopped at the marina in hopes Vic heard something. “You need to get yourself a cell phone, man. I’m not your secretary,” Vic said as Jace pushed through the screen door. “Ursula called. She said she needs to talk to you and to meet her at this address.” He pushed a pad of paper across the counter as his attention moved to the television. “The guy who got popped in New Orleans wasn’t that mobster after all, just someone who looked like him.”
Jace watched a few seconds of the report which confirmed his fear. Max had set him up and he wondered how much Ursula knew. The fact she’d found another job was like a smack across the face and Jace couldn’t help but wonder if Max was her new employer. Was she setting a Black Widow web to lure Jace to his death? Or was Ursula in danger? Either way, he’d never leave his partner hanging. He was too late to help his first partner and he prayed history wasn’t about to repeat itself. Jace ripped the page off and read the address. “Did she say anything else?”
“Yeah. Something strange. When she gave me the address she said the street is near the place where she used to take piccolo lessons. That make sense to you?”
Ursula’s veiled message tugged a smile at Jace’s lips. “Music to my ears, Vic.” He pocketed the address and headed for the door.
Jace stopped at his bungalow before racing to the address scrawled on the scrap of paper. He hoped he wasn’t too late. Cutting the engine as he rolled into the driveway, he spotted a black Jaguar parked near the front door. He slid his revolver from the holster, palming the cool metal as he crept along the perimeter of the house. The window shades were drawn and no sounds came from within. He stepped to the side door and it opened freely. No surprise there. He was an expected guest. He stepped inside the kitchen with his gun drawn to his shoulder. “Ursula!” His voice carried through the house. He stepped into a large room devoid of furniture except for two chairs in the center of the floor. “Show yourself, Chantal. This is your party.”
A muffled whimper sounded. “Ursula?” He crossed the room as Ursula shuffled from the hallway, wrapped in the arms of the bald man Vic described. Her clear eyes narrowed, sending Jace a silent message even with the barrel of a pistol held to her cheek. She flinched when Max groped her breast through her shirt. An angry fire licked at the pit of Jace’s stomach as he assessed his chance of burying a bullet in Max’s head from where he stood.
As though Max read Jace’s next move, he pulled Ursula closer. “Drop the gun!” he yelled.
“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you my gun if you let her go,” Jace countered, his voice low and even.
“I’m not in the mood for deals. I’ll tell you one more time. Drop the gun,” Max barked.
“This is our battle. She has nothing to do with it,” he said as he steadied his gun at Max’s forehead.
“She has everything to do with it because we both want her, don’t we? You may pretend you don’t. You were stupid enough to give her up. Look at you. You can’t stand to watch me touch her.” He squeezed her breast again. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her.” Ursula winced as Max’s hand traveled down her body and slid into the waistband of her shorts.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Jace spat as rage boiled up his throat.
“Make me,” Max challenged and pointed his gun at Jace.
“He’s trying to goad you, Jace. Don’t listen to him,” Ursula cried.
Max grabbed her waist and yanked her against his body. “Just as I thought. You’re on his side.” He laughed. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to turn on your boyfriend.” His hand traveled from her waist to her chin and cupped her face in his palm. “Your consolation prize for failing my test is watching him die.” Max turned the gun on Jace and fired two bullets into his chest.
“No!” Ursula’s scream filled Jace’s ears as the force of the shots sent him stumbling backwards, his pistol skidded across the floor coming to a stop in the corner. The room spun as Jace grabbed his chest and fell to the ground.
With his arm still around Ursula, Max retrieved the gun before shoving her toward Jace’s crumpled form. She knelt by his side, placing her hands on his chest, she bowed her head to his. “Jace,” she pleaded.
The ends of her hair skated over his face. “The piccolo,” he whispered into her ear.
Their eyes met under the veil of curls. Ursula threw him an understanding glance before turning to Max. “You didn’t have to shoot him. I told you I’d work for you.” Seated on the floor, Ursula positioned herself in front of Jace, near his legs. She reached back, placing her hands protectively on his body. “He didn’t have to die.” Her palm crept down his leg to the hem of his pants. Her fingers slid inside.
“There’s only room for loyalty in my organization. The only loyalty you proved today is that for your ex-partner. Correction. Your dead ex-partner, and you’re about to join him.” Max took a step forward as Ursula’s hand curled around Jace’s semi-automatic pistol he’d concealed in his ankle holster.
“Screw off, Max,” she said, drawing the gun from its hiding spot and pumping four bullets into Max’s chest, causing him to fall to the floor in a heap of bloodied flesh and clothes.
“Jace.” She turned as Jace pulled himself up to a sitting position and shrugged his jacket from his shoulders. She smiled as his fingers found the two bullet holes in his shirt over the bullet proof vest. “Vic told you. I wasn’t sure he would.” She helped him pull his shirt and vest over his head.
“Glad this thing actually worked. First time I needed it.” He said, examining the bullets lodged into the material.
“Guess you actually do need someone,” Ursula said.
Jace stood and tucked his jacket under his arm. He took her hand in his and helped her to her feet. “Let’s get out of here,” he said with a final glance at Max’s bloodied body.
He draped his arm around her shoulder as they strode from the house. She reached for the door handle of his truck and he grabbed her hand, swiveled her around so her back leaned against the door. She searched his eyes. “What?”
Heat, anger, pain, and passion bubbled to the surface, but he couldn’t find the words. He’d spent years snuffing out any flicker of emotion. He didn’t know what to do with it all. His lips crashed down on her waiting mouth, pulling her into his arms. Her throaty sigh caressed his tongue and he was convinced he was as close to heaven as he’d ever be allowed. Regaining control, Jace raked his hands up her arms and untangled her grasp from his neck. “Let’s go.”