Ace sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his fingers drumming softly against the surface as his eyes scanned the room. Around him were his most trusted men—loyal, seasoned, and ready for anything. These were the people who had stood by him through countless battles, bloodshed, and betrayals. Yet, despite their loyalty and their strength, Ace couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling of helplessness that had settled in his chest.His thoughts kept circling back to Lisa—his wife, the mother of his unborn child, the one person in the world he couldn’t afford to lose. She was in danger, and every instinct in his body screamed at him to take her far away, to hide her where no one could find them. But Lisa, ever stubborn and fiercely independent, had refused.He had tried to reason with her, to explain how much danger she was in, how he couldn’t protect her and the baby if they stayed here. But she had stood her ground, refusing to budge. Now, he was torn between respecting her wishes and
Lisa woke up to an unusually quiet room, blinking groggily as she stretched her hand out to Ace's side of the bed, only to find it empty. The sheets were cool to the touch, which meant he had been up for a while. She frowned, rolling onto her back as she stared at the ceiling, the faint glow of the morning sun peeking through the curtains. She hadn’t heard him leave, which was odd. Ace was always the type to stay close to her, especially lately with the baby on the way.Slowly, she sat up and rubbed her eyes, feeling a strange sense of unease settle in the pit of her stomach. She glanced toward the desk in the corner of the room, her eyes catching sight of a small note propped up neatly against a vase of flowers.Curious, Lisa swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded barefoot to the desk. She picked up the note and smiled as she read Ace's familiar handwriting.**"Good morning, beautiful. I wanted to surprise you today. Get ready—I'm taking you out for a special date, just
Richard sat in his dimly lit study, the soft hum of the ceiling fan doing little to dispel the tension that clung to the air. His bruised face was a testament to the days he’d spent at the mercy of the men who had locked him away, waiting for Evelyn to come for him. But she hadn’t. His own wife had left him to rot, further confirming his suspicions of her betrayal. Today, things were going to change.He leaned back in his chair, staring at the glass of whiskey in his hand. The liquid swirled lazily in the tumbler, reflecting the fire burning in the hearth. Outside, the mansion was quiet, unnervingly so, as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Richard’s mind raced as he mentally prepared himself for what was about to unfold.Evelyn would be back any minute, and this time, she wouldn’t be leaving again—not until he got the answers he needed. She had been plotting, weaving her schemes behind his back, aligning herself with Ace’s enemies, and worst
Ace sat at his desk, staring blankly at the wall. The sounds of the gunshots earlier that day still echoed in his mind, loud and piercing, as if they were happening all over again. The fear and chaos in the mansion had passed, but the weight of what could have happened crushed him.What if Ann hadn’t been there to protect Lisa? What if the attackers had reached her before he did? What if he had lost her... and their baby?The mere thought sent a cold shiver down his spine. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t. Ace had underestimated the danger they were in. Evelyn, his enemies, everyone circling around them like vultures waiting for the right moment to strike. It wasn’t just about him anymore—his wife and unborn child were targets too. That reality settled heavily on his chest, and he knew he couldn’t afford to be complacent any longer.Tonight, he was going to take Lisa away. Far away from the city, from the eyes of his enemies.
Ace cradled Lisa in his arms as the car pulled up to the secluded country house. The air here was different, quiet and crisp, far from the tension-filled city. He glanced down at Lisa—still fast asleep from the sleeping aid he had given her earlier. Her face was peaceful, undisturbed by the chaos that had threatened to tear their world apart just hours ago.The country house was surrounded by lush trees and rolling hills, offering complete privacy and seclusion. No one would find them here. It was a place he had prepared for moments like these, but he had never thought he’d have to use it.The moment the car stopped, two maids hurried out, their heads bowed low in respect. Ace's most trusted men had already ensured the place was safe, and Ann, the older maid who had saved Lisa earlier, stood by, her face etched with worry and readiness."Is everything in place?" Ace asked, his voice low as he gently lifted Lisa out of the car."Yes, boss," one of the maids answered softly. "Everythin
Lisa’s eyes fluttered open, the soft light from the morning sun filtering through the curtains. For a brief moment, she felt disoriented, unsure of where she was. The last thing she remembered was being at home, the sound of gunshots echoing through the mansion. Her heart raced as the memory hit her like a wave, but then she realized she was safe, lying in a bed that felt softer than she remembered.She blinked a few times, letting her vision adjust as she took in her surroundings. This wasn’t their home in the city. The room was different, unfamiliar yet comfortable. The soft scent of fresh linens and a hint of lavender filled the air, and she realized it wasn’t just a dream—Ace had taken her away, somewhere far from the chaos.As her senses fully returned, Lisa noticed something else—Ace wasn’t there. She glanced to the other side of the bed, expecting to see him lying next to her, but the space was empty. The covers were neatly tucked, as if he had never been there at all. A frown
Evelyn sat in the cold, dimly lit cell, her back pressed against the hard concrete wall. Her hands rested on her lap as she stared at the flickering bulb above her. The silence in the cell was suffocating, broken only by the occasional clanking of chains as she shifted her weight. The events of the past few days spun in her head, clouding her usually sharp mind with frustration and anger.Her husband, Richard, had locked her up. She could hardly believe it. After everything they’d been through, he’d actually gone through with it—caging her like some kind of animal. She bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to give in to the weakness of tears. Crying was for those who didn’t have a plan. And Evelyn always had a plan.Leaning her head back against the wall, she closed her eyes, trying to think her way out of this mess. Being stuck here would ruin everything. The plans she had meticulously set in motion were hanging by a thread, and Richard—her crazy, unpredictable husband—was the one t
Ann sat quietly at the wooden table in the small country home, staring down at the old flip phone in her hand. Her fingers traced the edges of the device as the weight of the conversation she had just had with Evelyn lingered heavily in her mind. The night was silent, save for the occasional crackling of the fire burning in the hearth beside her. It was a comforting sound, but tonight, nothing could ease the turmoil that had settled deep in her chest.For the first time in a long time, she felt regret. Real, aching regret. She had helped Evelyn for years, serving as her eyes and ears inside Ace’s world. It was all part of the plan—Evelyn’s plan, the one she had laid out so meticulously. Ann had played her part well, keeping tabs on everyone, feeding information back to Evelyn, and making sure things went as smoothly as possible.But now, everything had changed.Lisa was pregnant.That one simple fact had upended everything. Ann had no idea until the recent events unfolded, and the wei
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