The dim light of the room barely illuminated the sharp angles of the leader's face as he stepped out, leaving Richard Kane bound and broken behind him. He pulled the heavy steel door shut with a quiet *thud*, the sound muffled by the thick walls that surrounded their hideout. For now, Kane was out of sight—but certainly not out of mind.The man with the scar, known only as Malek to those in his inner circle, exchanged a glance with his second-in-command, Borden. They were both seasoned professionals, men who had spent years in the shadows of a world few people dared to imagine existed. They didn’t operate out of some twisted vendetta. This was business, and business was booming.Borden flicked a lighter, briefly illuminating his grizzled face as he lit a cigarette. He exhaled slowly, leaning against the wall, his eyes narrowing as he studied Malek. "He’s weak, you know. Too scared to be anything but a rat. I’d say we’re wasting our time keeping him alive."Malek shook his head, his ex
Lisa’s hands trembled as she approached Ace’s door, each step heavier than the last. Her mind raced with memories of the confrontation, the fear, and the narrow escape. But this moment was different. This wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about seeking forgiveness—something she wasn’t sure she even deserved.She hesitated at the threshold, heart pounding in her chest. Would Ace even let her in? Could he forgive her for the choices she made, for walking away from him? The cold night air nipped at her skin, urging her to act, to knock, but her body felt frozen. She had always been strong, or at least she pretended to be. But standing here, facing the man she had betrayed, she felt exposed, vulnerable.Summoning the last bit of courage, Lisa knocked softly on the door, her knuckles barely making a sound. She wasn’t sure he’d hear her, or worse, she feared he would and simply ignore her.Moments stretched out like an eternity until the door opened. Ace stood there, his expression
The next morning, the atmosphere in the apartment was still thick with the unspoken tension from the night before. Lisa woke early, but the weight of everything that had happened and everything she had said to Ace still pressed down on her chest. She wasn’t sure how he’d react to seeing her in the daylight, how he’d treat her now that they were no longer caught in the emotion of the night.She sat up on the edge of the couch where she had slept, wrapping her arms around herself as if she could shield herself from the uncertainty of what was coming. The soft hum of the city outside the window offered little comfort as her mind replayed every word, every look, every silence between her and Ace.He was still asleep, or at least he hadn't stirred from the bedroom. Part of her wanted to go in and face him, to talk more, but she knew better. Ace wasn’t the kind of man who could be pushed. She would have to wait for him to decide what he was willing to give.After a few minutes, she stood an
The morning sun filtered through the windows of Ace’s apartment, casting long shadows across the floor as he sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at his phone. He hadn’t slept well—too many thoughts racing through his mind. Things with Lisa were... complicated. One moment, they seemed like they could start again; the next, he was reminded of all the damage done, not just between them but in every part of his life.As he rubbed the tension from the back of his neck, the phone buzzed in his hand, interrupting his thoughts. Ace glanced at the screen, an unfamiliar number flashing. He debated letting it go to voicemail, but something tugged at him to answer."Yeah?" he answered, his tone gruff and uninterested."Mr. Ace?" The voice on the other end was professional, almost too cheerful for this early in the morning. Ace's brows furrowed, his patience already thinning. "Who’s asking?""This is Dr. Wells from Saint Joseph’s Hospital. We’re calling about your sister, Evelyn Kane."Th
Richard groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, his entire body a mass of throbbing pain. The dim light filtering through whatever grimy windows were above him barely illuminated the space, but it was enough for him to see the darkness surrounding him. He blinked, trying to adjust his swollen eyes to the shadows, but it hurt to move even that much. His face felt tight and swollen, and each shallow breath sent waves of agony through his chest.For a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was or how he’d gotten here, but then it all came rushing back—those men, the ambush, the fists raining down on him without mercy. His own blood had mixed with sweat as he fought against them, but in the end, it had been useless. They had been too many, too strong. "Stupid men... they will pay for this," Richard growled through clenched teeth, the sound rough in his dry throat. His voice barely carried in the empty space, but the anger behind his words fueled him, a spark in the darkness.He tried
Evelyn let out a contented sigh as she finally stepped foot into her home, the familiar surroundings immediately easing some of the tension that had built up over the past few days. The sterile smell of the hospital was still fresh in her nose, and the weight of her recovery was heavy on her body, but being back in her space—where she was in control—brought a sense of relief.King, her ever-loyal bodyguard, hovered just behind her, watching her every step as she made her way through the grand entryway. His presence was comforting in its own way—silent but constant. She had always relied on him, and now was no different.As she glanced around, taking in the familiar décor and the stillness of the house, her mind immediately shifted to Richard. She turned to one of her men who had appeared at the doorway, waiting for orders.“Any news on my husband?” she asked, her voice sharp, betraying her impatience.The man hesitated before shaking his head. “No, ma’am. Not yet.”Evelyn’s eyes narro
Evelyn sat alone in her study, the dim light of the afternoon filtering through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was oppressive, only broken by the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel. She had been trying to distract herself with paperwork, reading over documents, invoices, anything to keep her mind from wandering to darker places. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Richard. Her husband. The man who had been missing for days without a word. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face—smiling, laughing, taunting—and the last time they spoke, that terrible argument replayed over and over in her head. And now, he was gone, and no one seemed to know where he was. A sharp knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, making her jump slightly. Her pulse quickened as she looked up, her eyes narrowing as she watched the door slowly open. One of her men stepped inside, his expres
Lisa stood in the kitchen, staring down at the plate of food in front of her. The savory aroma of Ace’s favorite dish—pan-seared steak with roasted vegetables—filled the air, but instead of bringing comfort, it only deepened the ache in her chest. She had spent hours in the kitchen, meticulously preparing every detail, hoping that maybe—just maybe—this time he would acknowledge her efforts. She glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was almost 7 p.m. Ace would be home soon, but even the thought of his return didn’t fill her with the usual excitement. The tension between them had been building for days, ever since she returned after the terrifying incident. She’d told him everything, begged for his forgiveness, promised to make things right. But it didn’t matter. Ace hadn’t been the same since.His silence was deafening. Every attempt she made to reconnect, to earn back his trust, seemed to fall flat. She’d tried talking to him, tried showing him that she was sorry through her acti
A year had passed since the chaos, and now, the air in their new home was filled with a sense of peace that neither Ace nor Lisa had ever known. They were far away from the world they used to know, the one that had been filled with danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. It was a small, quiet life now, one where the past didn’t matter, only the future they were building together.Lisa cradled their baby girl in her arms, smiling down at the tiny face that had completely changed her world. Their daughter, with her soft dark hair and delicate features, was the perfect blend of both of them. A reminder of the love and strength that had carried them through everything.Walking down the hallway of their cozy little house, Lisa could hear the faint sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore in the distance. It was serene, soothing in a way that felt like a lullaby to her soul. She made her way to the room where Ace was sitting, his back facing the door as he gazed out the large windo
Ace leaned against the doorframe of the small bedroom where Lisa lay resting. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her peaceful face, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. He couldn’t stop thinking about Richard’s lifeless body and how close his wife had come to harm. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, and the only thing keeping him grounded was the sight of Lisa, safe and sound in their bed."Stay here," he whispered softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Lisa stirred but didn’t wake, her exhaustion finally catching up with her after everything that had happened. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then turned to leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him.Ace’s expression hardened as he walked down the hallway toward the warehouse's lower levels, where Evelyn was being held. His men had taken care of Richard’s body, as per his orders, disposing of it far away from their hideout. Now, there was one
Grey stood outside the cell where Evelyn was being held, watching her through the small window. The bruises and cuts on her face were evidence of the fight she had put up, but there was no sympathy in his eyes. She had brought this on herself, and Grey had no more business here. His part was done—he had helped Ace capture her, and now it was time for him to leave.He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the cold air of the cell greeting him as the heavy metal door closed behind him. Evelyn was slumped in the corner, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hair hanging loosely over her face. She didn't look up as Grey entered, but he could sense that she was fully aware of his presence.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he sat down in the lone chair facing her. "Oh, poor Evelyn," he said mockingly, his voice filled with dark amusement. "I must say, it's been quite a ride, hasn't it?"Evelyn remained silent, her head tilted slightly, but she didn’t look at him. Grey didn’t
Lisa lay peacefully in bed, the soft warmth of the blankets cocooning her, her body relaxed as sleep slowly pulled her under. She was vaguely aware of the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall and the quiet hum of the house, sounds that had become comforting in this strange new place Ace had brought her to.But then, something shifted. A sound, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her stir.Her brow furrowed, still caught in the remnants of a dream, as she called out, "Ace?"There was no reply.She blinked her eyes open, pushing herself up on the bed. Her hand reached out, instinctively seeking Ace’s familiar warmth beside her, but her fingers touched only cool, empty sheets. Her frown deepened as she sat up fully, glancing around the dark room. Where was he?"Ace?" she called again, louder this time.Still nothing.A chill crept up her spine as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, slipping her feet into her slippers. Something didn’t feel right. Her heart began to bea
Ace sat in his office, fingers drumming against the wooden desk as he stared at the stack of papers in front of him. His mind wasn’t on the documents, though. No matter how much he tried to distract himself with work, his thoughts always drifted back to Lisa and the baby. He hadn’t been home much lately, caught up in his dealings, and a part of him knew he was avoiding her.His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, seeing Grey’s name flash across the screen.He answered immediately. “Grey?”“We have her,” Grey’s voice came through, cool and composed. “Evelyn’s in our custody. She’s in the cells now, and we rounded up a few of her men, but Richard wasn’t with them.”Ace’s heartbeat quickened. They had Evelyn. Finally, they had her. But the news about Richard not being there left a bitter taste in his mouth. That man was like a ghost, always slipping through their fingers.“I’m coming soon,” Ace said, his voice firm. He stood up, grabbing his coat, a
Ann sat in the dimly lit room, her hands trembling slightly as she held the burner phone.Grey and his team had just briefed her on the plan—she was to call Evelyn, pretend to be sorry, and offer her some fabricated information about Ace and Lisa. It was a risky plan, but one they hoped would finally lead them to capturing Evelyn. Her mind was racing, trying to process the weight of what she was about to do. She had betrayed Lisa once by working with Evelyn, and though she had switched sides, the guilt still gnawed at her. Now, they were asking her to go back into the lion’s den, to trick the very person who had manipulated her before. Grey stood across from her, his expression calm but serious. “Are you ready?”Ann swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah… I’ll do it.”One of Grey’s men handed her the phone, the screen lit up with Evelyn’s number. Ann’s thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this call would either lead to Evelyn’s capture o
Grey stood in the dimly lit room, his phone in hand as he looked at the group of men before him. They were a small but elite team, hardened by years of working in the shadows, each of them bound by loyalty to one another.Ace had been one of them once, and now that Lisa was back, Grey felt a sense of relief. They were all in this together again.“I just spoke to Ace,” Grey began, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “Lisa is back. She’s safe. But things are still tense between them.”The men exchanged glances, some nodding in acknowledgment, others frowning at the thought of the ongoing tension between Ace and Lisa. It had been a long road for the couple, and though Lisa’s return was a relief, it was clear that the war between them and their enemies was far from over.One of the men, a tall, muscular figure with a sharp jawline and a serious expression, stepped forward. He was known as Briggs, and he was the leader of their small group, a strategist who rarely spoke unless he h
Evelyn leaned back in her plush chair, the dim light of the room casting shadows across her sharp features. A slow, satisfied smirk spread across her lips as she watched the live feed of Richard locked up in the isolated house. He was pacing, his usual calm and controlled demeanor slipping as he realized the gravity of his situation. It brought Evelyn a sense of twisted satisfaction to see her husband, always so proud and calculating, reduced to a caged animal."How the tables have turned, dear Richard," she whispered to herself, her fingers drumming on the armrest. The power shift between them was intoxicating. He had been trying to control her for too long, always thinking he could outsmart her, manipulate her into submission. But Evelyn had always been one step ahead, playing the long game, and now, with Richard out of the way, her plans could finally proceed uninterrupted. Or so she thought.A knock on the door interrupted her moment of victory. One of her men entered, his face
Ace stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed as he watched Lisa enter. His expression was cold, eyes narrowed, the tension in the room palpable. Lisa could feel the weight of his stare, the anger simmering beneath the surface. It wasn’t like him to be so distant, so guarded. But she understood why—everything had been spiraling out of control, and her sudden return had likely only added to the chaos.“Why are you here, Lisa?” Ace’s voice was low, almost a growl. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers, searching for answers.Lisa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding. “I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. I came because I needed to tell you something important.”Ace’s jaw clenched as he shook his head. “You should’ve stayed where you were. I put you there for a reason. It was to keep you safe.”“Safe?” Lisa scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “How can I be safe when everything is falling apart around us? Evelyn has her claws