Blast from the Past

2.

5 Years Earlier

Ace

King continued to watch me, and I could tell he was wondering about my next move as we watched the security footage together. Then, like clockwork, the sun started to set, and she was, sneaking through the woods. Her long dark blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun. I knew it was wavy from other footage and preferred when she left it down. I watched her climb the ladder to our childhood tree fort that we used to get away from the Deck Fortress as children. The place our parents would let us have a small taste of freedom within reason. "What did you leave up there this time?" He asked curiously, raising one dark eyebrow while leaning back into his chair. King was the most muscular of us all. He kept his dark black hair long at the top and short at the sides, as with all of our siblings, and he had dark blue eyes.

Every day I started to leave something new up there for her to keep and help make her comfortable because, according to the security footage we had, she would stay there until past sunrise. I was beginning to spoil her; she had a foam mattress, sheets, pillows, snacks, lanterns, books, and whatever else I saw throughout the day made me think of her. I was half tempted to run electric out there for her, but that might be crossing the line just a bit. So "I put a new book up there and took an extra chicken salad sandwich from the kitchen."

He looked at me with disgust, his straight nose crinkling at that thought. "Wouldn't that turn bad pretty quickly without a refrigerator?"

I rolled my eyes at him, thinking this was amateur hour for me. "Of course, I put a small mini cooler in there. I replace the ice packs when I put something new in there."

"Are you just going to watch her like a stalker, or are you going to go talk to her?" He asks smugly. He is afraid to admit that this was the most exciting thing that had been going on in the fortress lately. It was almost too quiet as of late, and that was troubling but good for me.

You would think that at 24, I would not be concerned about what my mother would think of me going after a woman. Thankfully my father died two years ago, and I don't have to deal with him either. But in our field of work, everything can be used as leverage and she was slowly becoming a weakness of mine. I was becoming obsessed with her, and maybe it was her mystery of her or just the way she moved that intrigued me. She was running or at least hiding from something. In this world, you are either prey or predator, and she was made to be devoured by me. She didn't know that she was slowly falling into the trap I was setting for her capture. Too bad for her; I wouldn't let her go once I had her.

We run an organization that specializes in black market jobs. If you want something done, you come to us and leave us a card with your number. For a Diamond, you need something stolen; heart, you need a spy or a honey pot to find out information we got you; Spade, you need someone taken out and disposed of; and Club, you need someone to be neutralized; your choice of the severity of beating. But, of course, it's more complicated than that. My siblings are all training to take over the business from our cunt of a mother. Four of us are technically five, but Joker felt more like a friend than a brother. I am the firstborn, followed by King, Queenie, and Jack. They somewhat adopted Joker when he was 13, never telling us his real name, to call him Joker. Yeah, our parents are a little fucked in the head. Hints, why I don't want her finding out about Tess.

Yeah, I know her name. But, unfortunately, King has yet to learn the groundwork I have laid to set everything in motion. "Look at her," I said almost too aggressively, pointing at the screen. "She is terrified." Then, taking a steadying breath, I add, "I'm slowly taming her."

I already moved the security cameras just enough to get to the tree house without them being alerted. Thank God for blind spots; this camera in the woods was just for me to watch my obsession, along with my brother, who had nothing better to do with his time.

I left her a note two days ago telling her we would meet soon. Shocking me, she kept showing up, so I took that as a green light that she liked me and my stalkerish ways. I hardly knew anything about her except that her name was Tess, and now there was no turning back for me. I thought about calling a team to do recon on her and find all the information I needed, but that was cheating. Plus, the fewer eyes on her, the better for her and me. See, I am a responsible stalker.

I wasn't a fan of going in blind, but maybe that's why she has been on my mind for so long. For the first time in a long while, I felt more excited and a little nervous about the unknown. Nothing got me nervous or my heart pumping fast anymore. I was conditioned not to feel anything. My parents wanted psychopaths for children; they were quickly getting their wish. Every training was breaking us all down mentally and physically.

My outlet was always sex, something I could ultimately control while the empty feeling in my gut disappeared. Lately, I couldn't even enjoy sex; my dick didn't want anyone but her. Of course, it could be nothing, and maybe it's just something I have built up in my head, while I would be disappointed if that turned out to be the case. But on the other hand, I might end up being relieved, to be honest.

My life was complicated, and adding beautiful treehouse squatters wasn't part of my plan. But after seeing her the first time, I just had to have her. As the firstborn son, much pressure was weighing on my shoulders; all the siblings had stressors, but it was my job to be the first in command. So if I could ever get my mother to take her retirement, apparently three more years until then, we were counting them down.

They were very cold and calculated people. They have been trying to kill our conscience and emotional ways of thinking for years. They only had us because it was expected of them, and they needed to keep their legacy and empire strong. You need to build your foundation to be strong enough to support it to get to the top.

I finally reach the tree house when my phone pings. Climbing up and sitting down on the makeshift bed, I can smell the sweet scent of apples, making me smile. I pull out my phone, and seeing the message makes my smile disappear.

Queenie: You are needed for a job; Ace of Spades has been played.

Me: Fine, be there in 10.

I quickly pull out the burner phone I had in my pocket to give to my treehouse squatter. I write a sticky note, stick it on the phone, and quickly hightail it out of there before I run into her. Walking back to the compound feeling frustrated but knowing at least I will get to kill someone before the night is up. You didn't play my card unless you wanted a body dropped. Smiling to myself at that thought, King was probably disappointed that he didn't get asked to come out and play.

Tess

Sneaking out of my house when a new client showed up was the best time since mom and Daryl were busy. It was more difficult at the beginning, with Daryl anticipating my moves. I now have three escape plans mapped out for any given day. My house reeked of drugs, cigarettes, and sex. Forget about sleeping, listening to moans, grunts, and skin slapping against skin. I was surprised when she let him move Sara and Billie in, but they helped supply a steady income.

Daryl has been looking at me a little too closely for my liking lately, probably because I will turn 18 soon. Thankfully my mother and the other girls help distract him, mainly because they don't want me as competition from their clients. Maybe once a long time ago, my mother used to love me. However, after my father died when I was eight, she began using drugs to cope, and now she was a full-on addict and a sex worker to pay for it.

I pulled my backpack on and silently opened the window. I was usually only at home for a handful of hours every week. But, primarily for showers when the school is closed on the weekend, I am getting very good at knowing their schedules and when a good time is to sneak in.

A few months back, I found a treehouse where I started storing my stuff and sleeping. Before that, I would sleep in churches and homeless shelters, but I knew it was a matter of time before Social Services stepped in. I can't have that; I have a plan. Smiling, I open my old lock box, adding the extra $20 I found to the cash from dad's passing, and look at the sticky notes I have been keeping. I have it in a safe place under some hollowed tree roots; the money wouldn't last me too long. However, part of me doesn't want to leave. It mainly concerns the secret romance I have conjured up inside my head of the guy I haven't seen.

May not have seen his face, but I know his scent from the blankets and pillows. I know what foods and treats he likes; I know his favorite books and music he enjoys from the stuff he leaves and the notes he leaves me telling me bits about him without revealing too much.

It doesn't take too long, and I climb the ladder to the tree house; seeing the cooler there, I know something tasty is in it. Mentally high-fiving Ace since, lately, the only time I get fed is by him. It keeps me fully stocked for days in case he can't make it out for a few days. I open the cooler and pull out a chicken salad sandwich, orange juice, grapes, and a chocolate pudding cup which made me smile since those little bastards are my weakness. I foresee I will be in a food coma by the night's end. However, the cooler will last a bit, so that I will have the other chicken salad sandwich tomorrow. Just then, I noticed the blue sticky note sitting on a phone. It says, "Send me a message this way – Ace."

I can't help but roll my eyes at the over-the-top gesture, but I am quickly learning that it is just Ace's personality, all in all, it's still very much a turn-on to me. Not super experienced with guys, but I dated Danny for a year starting when I was 16. We had sex once but broke up with him when I walked by his parked car in the park, finding him getting a blow job from Jane Edmonds. I shudder at the memory. Very thankful condoms were a thing since she gives them away to anyone. Gary Malone got her a piece of cheesecake, and she fucked him while he fed it to her. Granted, it was Cheese Cake Fairy Cheesecake. But it would be way worse if it were the grocery store cheesecake got to have some standards.

I have yet even to want to look at a guy since I started leaving notes with Ace. He wasn't my boyfriend, well he was in my mind, he was mine. I am still somewhat terrified of going to the tree house due to the insane fortress less than a mile from it. But I assume he lives there, considering what little I know about him thus far.

I always had the plan to run away from here once I turned 18, but as sad as it sounds, I don't want to leave even though I have to. I have over three months left to get a better plan in place because staying inside that house is no longer an option for me. It's not safe, and I will end up more emotionally damaged than I am. That being said, Ace has for sure distracted me from the difficulties of my life currently.

Picking up the phone, I wrote a message to the only contact. Quickly typing out a message to him, trying hard to stop the smile forming on my face as I do so. Thanks for dinner! Isn't a phone a little over the top?

Feeling the phone vibrate, I made myself eat some of my sandwiches so I didn't look too desperate.

Ace: Over the top? It got me what I wanted, a way to get ahold of you. Necessary is more like it.

Me: You already do so much for me, and we haven't yet met. You shouldn't spend your money on me like this.

Ace: It's my money, and I can do whatever I want.

Me: Okay, bossy. I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do with your money, but I will repeat thanks, mainly for the pudding.

Just like that, Ace became my very best friend in a short amount of time. I felt special and worthwhile for the first time in a long time. I lay back against the cot, close my eyes, and feel strangely happy.