Chapter 04

ACE

"You're asking a bit much of me, brother," Jericho grumbled, "as much as I'd love to help you, there are two problems. One, I can't find the person who spiked her drink, and two, that fraternity is known for this sort of thing, and campus security always sweeps it under the rug."

"Fuck," I expelled a harsh breath, dodging the swinging punching bag before landing a right hook with a vicious roar.

"You can't save them all and you definitely can't kill every bad person you come across," my brother attempted to calm me down but I was seeing red.

I thought by calling him, he would be able to help me but I thought wrong, "I can sure as hell try," I gritted, landing a spin kick, "you should have seen her last night. She passed the fuck out, Jericho. What if Quinn hadn't been there? What if I hadn't been there?"

"It's already happened and she's fine so stop thinking about the what-ifs," Jericho chastised and I knew, if he had been in front of me, he would have rolled those emerald green eyes of his.

He didn't realize it, but he had our mother's eyes. Looking at him always reminded me of her. I felt as if I had failed her. It made no sense, I knew this and yet I still felt that way. Maybe my love and the love of her other two sons weren't enough. My father's death had broken her.

For that reason, I still felt a pang of disdain when I looked at Quinn but she proved to be nothing like the man that tore my family to pieces.

I think my guilt for failing my mother was what drew me to Jericho, becoming his protector and making sure he felt loved. While Gunnar took care of us and taking the role of a father figure, I stepped into the role of my younger brother's best friend and protector.

I realized I hadn't responded to the cub, getting lost in my thoughts instead, "Every time I close my eyes I see how weak she looked and how she could barely move let alone speak."

"You've seen worse, Ace. Look, you know she's fine now so get a drink and calm your thoughts. You could always make the drive to see me or do a job," shuffling sounded on Jericho's end of the line until I could hear the sound of a microwave and then a dog barking.

I missed Slash — Jericho's German Shepherd; only a little bit.

"Can't do a job, remember?" I grumbled, balling my hands in tight fists until my nails dug into my palm.

"You haven't figured out who's been following you yet?"

"I haven't exactly found the time to do that. Whoever it is, it can't be good. I've made too many enemies."

"If it is someone that's trying to harm you maybe you shouldn't spend too much time with the girl," Jericho mused, "and before you bite my head off, just hear me out. They might think she means something to you and they'll use her against you. And, although it's mostly a platonic relationship between you two, you'll feel obligated to save her because of Quinn and so will Gunnar. I already know you don't want to involve Gunnar in this."

"You're right but I need to check in on her tonight. You know, just to make she's not suffering from any serious side effects," at least, that was what I had been telling myself the entire day since I had left her apartment.

"Sure, that's it. Once you've finally got what you want you'll forget the girl exists. We both know how it is for you, Ace. It's the challenge that keeps you hooked and once there's no challenge, you see no point."

My brother knew me well. I was with him on that one. It was all about the challenge for me and right now Miranda was putting up one hell of a fucking challenge which I thoroughly enjoyed. I may have started out wanting to kill her but I wasn't blind. The woman was definitely blessed by the Goddess Aphrodite.

"I'm not going to disagree with you," I picked up my phone that sat on the bench press. After so many days I had finally decided to return home. It was as eerie as ever with the workers making sure that the place didn't turn to dust, "I'll speak to you soon and maybe I'll pay you a visit."

"Yeah, you should come to see the place Gunnar is renting out for me. It's ridiculous," Jericho let out a low, long whistle, "I can only imagine what his place with Quinn looks like."

"Extravagant as fuck for no apparent reason," I chuckled, "see you around cub and stay out of trouble. If you need me, you know where to find me."

"Always do," with a quick goodbye, we ended the call.

I exited the home gym, making my way to my room so I could take a shower. Gunnar was home today. I knew this because of two reasons. One, his car was in the garage when I came in and the second being that his office door was ajar. I hadn't expected him to be home but things probably didn't blow over with Quinn like I expected them to.

The thing with Gunnar was that he liked things his way — he was almost a control freak in that manner. Now, he was starting to realize that Quinn was not the good little girl that followed all his rules. However, I already knew that. I had seen that spark of defiance in her eyes on multiple occasions.

Once I made it to my room, I made a beeline for the shower. My body held so much frustration and tension. I wanted to hunt down the motherfucker that had spiked Miranda's drink. Just thinking about the number of innocent girls the piece of shit probably took advantage of had my vision blurring with anger. I loathed those types of people — the types that preyed on the weak.

I'd like to think of myself as better in that sense. I didn't prey on the weak. I preyed on the ones that were monsters in their own making. My targets ranged from drug kingpins to assassins in my field. Sometimes, you had to be smart about the enemies you made.

The hot shower did little to alleviate my tension. Once I was done, I put on a black tee and washed-out blue jeans with my combat boots. As usual, I tucked my gun at the small of my back and pocketed my swiss army knife.

Before I could even think of leaving, Gunnar walked through my bedroom door still in business mode as he said, "When you have time come to the warehouse to pick up whatever belongs to you from the shipment."

I shrugged a shoulder, "Sure, you can store it there for now. I'll make a record that you have it."

My brother may not have realized this but I was a very organized man when it came to the things I obsessed over — my weapons being one of those things. I kept accords of everything I owned. It was all in a black book tucked away in my closet. Sure, I could have recorded it electronically but I liked the old school method better.

Gunnar sighed, running a hand through his already disheveled hair, "How's the girl? Quinn told me what happened."

"And yet you're still mad at her?" I questioned with a smug grin.

"She shouldn't have been there. That could have been her. Anyway, that wasn't what I had asked you, cub," it was so like Gunnar not to deviate from the original topic until he received the answer he wanted.

I brought two fingers up to my lips, tracing the seam and the little scar that marred the flesh, "She's fine from what I can tell and you can relax, I haven't killed her."

"I didn't think you did," came his response with a grin that was just as smug as mine, "you're a good man, Ace, whether you care to admit it or not. You're probably a far better man than me."

I blinked at him incredulously, "We're talking about me, right? The guy that kills people for a living? Your middle brother that was a pain in your ass after our parents died?"

"Yes," Gunnar let out a breathy chuckle while loosening the tie around his neck, "you know I worry about you and Jericho."

"You're not our father, Gunnar," I cast my eyes downward, awkwardly staring at my combat boots, "maybe you should stop acting like our father."

"No, I'm not your father," he agreed, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze that had me picking my head up to meet his green-brown eyes — he had a mixture of mom and dad's eyes, "but I am your brother and, whether you like it or not, I did raise you for a portion of your life so I will worry about you."

"I love you, too, bro."

This time his laugh was loud, filling the room like I had never heard before. His laugh wasn't something we heard often, not until that Harper girl came along, "Yeah, I love you."

"So sweet," I brought my hand up and pinched Gunnar's cheek, "Quinn's turning you into a softy, brother."

In one swift movement, Gunnar had my right arm twisted behind my back while he clutched the back of my neck with his free hand, "Watch it, cub. Don't test your luck because that shit runs out fast."

Those words hit home. He wasn't wrong, my luck was running out fast and I was truly scared to find out what the consequences of my luck running out would be.

Nevertheless, I snorted with an amused smile masking the emotions I truly felt, "If you're done, maybe you could let me go because I have things to do while you're here trying to avoid the girl you love because you're mad at her."

"I'm not avoiding her."

"Sure you're not," I taunted, falling forward slightly when he finally released his hold. Spinning around on the ball of my feet, I leveled him with a glare, "shut your stupid ass and go make it up to your girl. She deserves to live her life without you breathing down her neck."

"I'm not breathing down her neck," he argued with a huff. I could see his frustration bubbling, "I just want her to be safe."

"And she was safe," I sighed as the image of Miranda flashed in front of my eyes — it was burned into my memory, "stay mad at her, what the fuck do I care but I have someone to see so, see you around brother."

With those words, I left the room and made my way to the garage. I grabbed the key that hung from the hook, unlocking my car and waiting for the automatic garage door to open. I made the split-second decision that I wouldn't check on Miranda tonight. I had to find out who the fuck thought it was a good idea to follow me.

I didn't know where to start with my search but I knew this person was trained because whenever I tried trapping them, they never got caught. It wouldn't surprise me if I found out that there was a bounty on my head. Another assassin after me would make sense. The training, the following until they learned my routine, all led to one result — a perfect kill. It wouldn't be the first time someone wanted to get rid of me and it definitely wouldn't be the last.

If it wasn't another assassin then there were only two options left — someone with military training that I worked with and rubbed the wrong way; there was a long list of those, or maybe even the cops. I made sure to cover up my tracks, leaving no trace that I was behind the crimes I committed but maybe I messed up somewhere.

I kept mulling over those thoughts as I pulled out of the garage and sped down the driveway. Whoever was behind this, I'd find them

Their days were numbered!