Kace (Allen Securities) by Madison Stevens Page A

sister being a pain in the ass, he smiled. He liked that Jessica felt safe with him.
    They pulled up outside the club, cutting off any further pokes.
    “Doesn’t look very busy.” Jessica frowned.
    Kace glanced back to Meg and tried to catch her eye, but she was already talking.
    “Lot of people were told to avoid it, or they could have Russian trouble,” she said.
    Jessica turned to Kace. “Is that true?”
    He glared at his sister in the mirror who had the common sense to look sorry.
    Kace turned to Jessica. “That’s the word. Hard to say how much is true and how much is just a threat.”
    Irene’s small voice came from the back. “Are we safe here?”
    Kace nodded. “Liam and Finn are both on duty, and Ryder has been making the rounds. Counting Dale at the door and Meg and I, someone would have to be a fool to come in.”
    Irene glanced from the club and back. Her panicked face didn’t seem to fade much, and he wondered if it was the Russians or Ryder that made her more worried. His heart twisted for his brother and his choice in women. This was not a woman that could handle a man like him.
    “Let’s go inside,” Jessica said and touched his hand. His thumb stroked the palm of her hand. He winked when she shivered.
    “Yes, let’s go in.” Meg rolled her eyes. “There’s only so much eye fucking I can take in one night.”
    Kace turned and stared at her directly in the eyes. “Well then you picked the wrong night to go out.”
    “Kace!” Jessica swatted him.
    He looked back to Meg who grinned openly at him. “Well at least I know what to expect.”
    They climbed out and greeted Dale at the door.
    Jessica checked the table chart and moved them to the back of the club, not quite to the private tables but away from the smattering of others that had braved coming in.
    He nodded to Ryder, who was seated a few tables away. Liam and Finn were at the bar, their heads close together, talking. They pulled apart when the noticed Kace’s party and headed their way.
    Finn gave a stern look to Jessica. “You’re supposed to be resting.”
    Jessica laughed. “Don’t blame me. I got roped into going out.”
    He shot Kace a hard look. Kace threw his hands up and placed one on the back of Jessica’s chair.
    “Don’t blame me, I wanted to stay in.” He smiled when Finn raised an eyebrow.
    He knew it was embarrassing the hell out of her, but he just had to stake his claim. Not knowing what the end game was with Finn was driving him crazy. There were times he was certain Finn seemed interested in her.
    “Really, I’m fine,” she said and looked between then. Kace couldn’t help but run his thumb over the exposed skin at her neck. He smiled when she shivered.
    “Well,” Meg said, standing. “You all continue your pissing contest while we use the bathroom. It would be nice if you were finished by the time we get back.”
    Kace chuckled. For being the baby of the group, she certainly didn’t mince words. But then growing up in a house of boys would do that to you. Jessica stood to walk away, and his hand skimmed down her body. She looked down at him with intense heat.
    “Hurry back,” he said quietly.
    He watched as they made their way across the room.
    “So it’s like that?” Finn asked from next to him.
    “It is,” Kace said, never taking his eyes off of them.
    “It’s not a competition,” Finn said and clapped him on the shoulder.
    Kace turn to look at the man and raised an eyebrow. Finn waved a hand and sat next to him.
    “I think of her more like a guardian,” Finn said and sat down. “It’s my fault her father got taken in.”
    “That’s not true,” Liam interjected and took a set on the other side of Finn.
    Finn glared at Liam, then turned back to Kace. “My father had him set up. He needed him out of the way, and so he paid a guy. Later I found out that he had kids. When she came through my door for an interview, it was just luck that I could fix a wrong.”
    Kace stared for a