UNDERCOVER TO MY HEART

POINT-BLANK

A trail of fresh blood marked the concrete stairs leading all the way up to the rain-drenched rooftop.

The heavy steel door slammed open into the night as cold ocean wind swept across the landing pad. Through the blinding rain, the loud thrum of helicopter blades whipped the air into a wild storm, throwing freezing water directly into Bella's face. Director Vance was dragging his crippled right leg across the slick concrete, clutching a heavy leather briefcase filled with bearer bonds in his left hand as he stumbled toward the idling aircraft.

Stop right there, Vance! Bella screamed, her sidearm raised with both hands as she stepped out onto the open roof.

Vance spun around, leaning his back against the skid of the landed helicopter to keep his balance. He drew a small silver pistol with his uninjured left hand, his face pale and twisted with rage under the harsh strobe lights of the chopper.

You should have taken the money, Bella! Vance shouted over the deafening roar of the rotors. You could have walked away rich!

I am taking your freedom instead! Bella called back, moving left to spread his attention across the open pad.

Jack stepped out from the stairwell shadow on Vance's right flank, his heavy iron pistol aimed straight at the dirty director's head. Rain poured off Jack's broad leather cut, his jaw set like concrete as he closed the distance step by step.

Put the gun down, Vance, Jack barked, his voice cutting through the whipping wind. You are out of time, out of cards, and out of road.

You think you can judge me, outlaw? Vance sneered, his silver gun trembling as he looked between Jack and Bella. I built this agency branch! I ran this city for ten years! The cartel is going to operate here whether I take their money or not! I just made sure the bureau got its cut!

You sold innocent people for dirty cash, Jack said, taking two fast strides forward. You murdered my father to hide your paper trail.

Your father was a stubborn fool who would not fall in line! Vance yelled, pulling his trigger in a blind panic.

Two sharp gunshots cracked through the storm. The rounds tore through the wet air, pinging off the metal helipad floor right near Jack's boots and kicking up bright yellow sparks. Jack did not even flinch. He lunged forward through the rain like an angry bear, closing the ten-foot gap before Vance could align his sights for a third shot.

Jack slammed his heavy forearm across Vance's wrist, the sudden impact popping the silver pistol straight out of Vance's fingers. The gun skidded across the wet concrete, plunging off the edge of the high roof into the dark abyss below. Jack grabbed Vance by his expensive suit lapels, hoisting him off his feet and slamming him violently down against the slick concrete floor.

The heavy steel skid of the idling helicopter pinned Vance's left leg against the pad, locking the wounded man flat on his back beneath the roaring blades.

It is over, Vance, Bella said, stepping up beside Jack and keeping her weapon trained on the pinned man's chest.

Wait! Listen to me! Vance gasped, his hands holding the cold metal skid as he struggled to breathe under the weight. I have offshore account numbers! I have the names of five federal judges on the cartel payroll! I can give you the entire syndicate network from Mexico to Washington! Just let me get on this chopper!

We do not want your dirty secrets, Vance, Jack spat, reaching down to grab the heavy leather briefcase from his hands. We want justice for the dead.

You cannot destroy me! Vance wheezed, blood dripping from his lip onto his white collar. The bureau will cover this up to save face! They will blame you for everything that happened tonight!

Not this time, Bella said, holding up her small federal data drive. Every transaction on your private ledger was just broadcast live to the Department of Justice servers. Internal Affairs is watching your bank accounts drain right now.

In the distance, the loud, overlapping wail of a dozen federal sirens began to echo up from the city streets below. Bright red and blue emergency lights reflected off the clouds, washing the entire rooftop in a brilliant sea of color.

That is your ride, Vance, Jack said, looking down at the defeated man with cold, quiet eyes.

The heavy roof access doors burst open with a loud thud. A full squad of heavily armed federal tactical officers poured onto the helipad with flashlights flashing and shields raised high.

Federal agents! Drop your weapons and get on the ground! the lead officer shouted through a megaphone, his voice booming over the sound of the storm.

Bella slowly lowered the muzzle of her weapon, pointing it toward the deck while holding her federal badge high in her left hand. It is over, team! The suspect is secured under the aircraft!

Jack stepped back from the helicopter skid, raising his open hands into the rainy air as three tactical officers moved in to secure the perimeter.

Vance lay pinned on the wet deck, his dark eyes watching the officers flood the helipad. His face twisted into a grotesque, desperate grin as he realized his entire life was ending in a federal prison cell.

If I am going down, you are coming with me, rat, Vance whispered under his breath.

While the approaching tactical team focused their flashlight beams on Jack's broad chest, Vance slowly slid his uninjured right hand down toward his ankle. His fingers slipped inside the top of his soaked leather boot, wrapping tight around the small rubber grip of a concealed backup revolver.

He pulled the small gun clear of the leather rim, aiming the short barrel directly at the back of Bella's waist while her attention was turned toward the incoming officers.

Jack caught the tiny flash of dark steel in Vance's hand from the corner of his eye.

Bella, look out! Jack roared.

Without a single second of hesitation, Jack lunged across the slick deck, throwing his broad body straight into the line of fire.

A sharp gunshot echoed beneath the thunder of the helicopter blades. The bullet slammed hard into Jack's lower ribs, tearing through his leather cut and knocking him sideways into the rain-slicked concrete floor. He hit the deck hard, a gasp of agony leaving his lips as dark blood pooled beneath his side.

Jack! Bella screamed, turning back as Vance raised the small revolver to fire a second shot directly at her head.

Before Vance could squeeze his finger around the trigger again, Bella reacted with pure tactical instinct. She raised her heavy service pistol with both hands, stepping forward and pulling her trigger three times in rapid succession.

Three hollow-point rounds hit Vance square in the chest, the kinetic force driving his shoulders flat into the wet concrete deck. The small revolver fell uselessly from his limp fingers, rolling into the dark water drain. Vance stared up at the dark sky for two final seconds, his eyes going completely blank and unseeing as the cold rain washed the blood off his pale face.

Jack! Bella cried out, dropping to her knees on the wet roof and wrapping her trembling hands around Jack's chest. Stay with me! Keep your eyes on me, Jack!

I am... still here... Bella, Jack choked out, his hand reaching up to touch her cold cheek as dark red blood soaked through her tactical vest.

Medics! Get over here now! Bella screamed at the approaching federal squad, her tears mixing with the freezing rain as she pressed her palm firm against his bleeding wound. Do not you dare die on me now, Jack!

The federal tactical team flooded the helipad, their bright searchlights wrapping both of them in a brilliant beam of white light as the medics rushed forward with their medical bags.