*J* (the continuation)

Part Forty-Eight: Chapter 376: Outcasted

Jackson had to be moved to a secured place while he healed from his brain surgery. A place that was clean and close to the morgue. It was too risky to move him far. Maxim provided them an ideal location only blocks away. The Joker approved of the security. And Jester approved of the accommodations from a medical standpoint.

So J escorted his son to the location. Because there was simply no way in hell he was going to leave Jackson's side. He sent Jester ahead to collect Alexis and Ace. A task Jester was NOT looking forward to. But by the time he does that and makes it to the location where J is, Julia should be there too. He's sure she's pretty worried by now.He just wanted to fall into her arms and sleep.

But first...

One of Maxim's men drives Jester to Sasha's place, which was where Alexis and Ace were. Jester nervously reaches for the door handle. J has already called ahead and told them to be expecting him. But Jester just couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't go so smoothly. What he made out from the one sided conversation, his presence wasn't too well received.

Jester draws in a deep breath and looks to the driver, "Spasibo za poyezdku," he softly says with a nod, thanking him for the ride, and gets out of the car.

Jester goes into the building and gets into the elevator. He nervously straightens his hair and suit. He's nervous because he has to face Ace. A man man who he shot in the head. More precisely, a henchmen/hit man he shot in the head. He's pretty sure Ace is still somewhat angry with him for that.

The second the elevator doors start to open, the barrel of a gun slides through and is cocked between Jester's eye. Jester's eyes travel up the barrel and stop at Ace's eyes. They were hard for sure. But they weren't like looking in J's eyes...or his own. Jester's had a gun between his eyes enough that there was no longer a shock value to it. So he cooly cocks his green brow, "I take it you're still sore?"

"You shot me in the fucking head," Ace says lowly.

And if Jester's being honest, this was the scariest Ace had ever looked. Maybe because it's the first time it's been directed at him. "I did. Yes. And I am truly apologetic...," Jester says but is interrupted by Ace.

"Bullshit! You might be able to sell J on this 'you're sorry, you made a mistake' shit of yours, but NOT me. You betrayed your brother. Your twin! You have no honor or loyalty. And the fucking cherry on the pie is you're betraying your half brother now, aren't you? I DO NOT trust you. And I will never make that mistake again," Ace says, his hand steady and his aim unfaltering. He definitely wasn't taking it well.

Jester's eyes slightly roll, "Look, I was standing right there when J called you. He told you that you couldn't kill me. He ordered it," Jester twirls his wrist, mocking the Jokeresque hand gesture. "So why don't you follow orders from your master and let me in the fucking door, hum?"

"Oh, I'm gonna follow J's orders. But know this, I'm his head security now. I got him, his son, and his woman. If I even for a second think you have anything other than their best intentions at heart, I'll put a bullet through YOUR brain. And there will be no surgery to fix it... doctor. And I'll dispose of your body so good, there will be nothing left for any Lazarus pit miracle," Ace scowls in anger and sheer disgust.

"My...that sounds thorough. And I understand the way you must feel. I did a horrible thing. To both you and J. And I was wrong. But unfortunately, an apology and an acknowledgement of my wrong doing is the best I can give you Ace," Jester shrugs.

Ace stares at Jester in disbelief, "I guarded you with my life, just the same as I did with J. And for my years of dedication and sacrifice, you just shoot me like it was nothing. Like I was nothing. I deserved more than that from you."