CHAPTER 5. Miss Aella

ACE

The morning light gently peered through the sheer curtains, illuminating the room with a warm and ethereal glow. With an elegant grace, Aella slowly emerges from her slumber, like a blossoming flower. I watched her like a hawk, even in my exhausted state I couldn't sleep a wink.

Watching her wake up is like witnessing the birth of a new day itself. Her every movement, every breath, awakened an indescribable feeling of awe and appreciation in the depth of my soul. She finally opens her eyes and those blues land on me.

She screams dragging the bed sheet to her chest, even her screams sound like a moan, I stand up disgusted for sexualising everything she does. I didn't bring her here for this, I am a principled man and right now my need for that file comes first.

"Hello, Aella."

She moves to the edge of the bed, trying to get as far away from me as possible. I don't like it, but I also don't say anything. She hugs her knee and tears fall down her angelic face.

"Please don't hurt me." I don't speak, I just watch her. I hope she never stops talking, her voice is like therapy, it is so soothing, and I think I might have slept and dreamt of paradise if I wasn't so hell-bent on finding her father Mike.

I smile satisfied when those eyes mirror my every move. "I won't hurt you if you listen to me." I start to pace because I desperately need to touch her. "Tell me where Mike is, and you can go home soon."

She looks confused, if this is an act then she is a very good actress. "You know my father?"

"I ask the questions, Angel."

"Don't call me that! if he sent you, do tell him I do not wish to see him."

I move closer to her, and she moves back petrified. I catch her wrist dragging her closer to me. I like her this way, she is so close that our lips almost touch.

"Look at me" Please look at me. Those eyes immediately land on me and I do a tiny dance of victory. "Don't lie to me Aella, I hate liars I will put you over my knees and spank your ass, I won't even stop when you ask me to."

Her breath hitches and she licks her dry lips. My girl likes dirty talk.

"I don't know him." She replies.

"Keep talking."

"I lived with Mama all my life. she died on Thursday and I..." she pauses "I decided to go out with Eva, Mama never let me leave before."

Her cheeks turn red as she says the last part, she looks embarrassed. "You don't stay in the city."

"No. I stay in a small village downtown." That explains why I couldn't find her.

I let go of her when she squints. "Do you have a headache" she nods her head; I hand her the glass of water and aspirin on the table. she takes it immediately, sighing in appreciation.

I stand when I hear a knock on the door. "Stay here and eat everything on that plate," I say referring to the plate of pancakes and scrambled eggs on the table. I shut the door behind me frowning at Ryan for interrupting.

"Boss, I have Mike on the line."

Interesting, he called sooner than I expected. I take the phone with me to my office shutting the door behind me. I sit comfortably on the chair before speaking.

"Atlas the dead has risen."

"Ace, I know you have my daughter" he groans. "I didn't betray you; I would never do that to you son."

I won't let him get to my heart; I won't let him play that son card anymore. "Send me the time and location." I pause. "And Mike, don't piss me off, no games." I end the call before he replies.

I stroll out of the room, moving to my bedroom. Good girl, she finished her food, I might have spanked her if she didn't. She looks up shaking when she sees me. "You will shower now; we are leaving soon."

She replies in a tiny voice. "I have nothing to wear."

I move to my wardrobe grabbing a black shirt and a pair of briefs. "This would do."

*************

Aella looks unbelievably sexy in my clothes. Because of her small frame, the shirt looks like a gown, stopping on her knees, The thought of her in my boxers makes my cock twitch painfully. She climbs into the back seat quietly. She stays at the extreme making sure to keep as much space from me as possible. I have Ryan and Jake my two most trusted men in the same car with me. We drive out with two more vehicles, one in front and another behind. I trusted Mike once and he failed me, I refuse to be a fool twice.

I sniff when the vehicle finally comes to a stop.

"Ryan, you come with me. Jake, you move in and kill anything on sight if we are being cornered." They both nod their heads in understanding.

My men immediately spread out surrounding the log cabin. I move in holding Aella's hands she remains quiet. This place is so secluded, that I wonder if anyone even knows it's here. I see Mike before he sees me. I instruct Aella to sit on the chair facing Mike while I remain standing.

"Aella" he moves close to her, stopping abruptly when she holds my hands.

"Please don't let him touch me" Foolish girl, she should be running not asking me to protect her.

"You heard the lady, Mike," I say smiling. He moves back to his seat nursing his glass of water. "I don't have time; give me the file and you can have her." Aella looks at me angrily, I ignore her and continue. "Do we have a deal?"

He stands up and touches my shoulder. "Zade is trying to frame me." As much as it kills me, I believe him, Mike is everything, but he is not a liar. "Luciano called me over, we had a deal, the file in exchange for my loyalty to him and the entire mafia. Zade wasn't having it, things went south, and he pulled the trigger."

I am stunned. So many people want Mike's head because they all believe he killed Luciano Zade's Father who is their King in the crime world. "Zade swore that you pulled the trigger."

"I didn't son, I managed to escape, sadly without the file. I think there is more to it. why would Zade kill Luciano for a file that he has no business with."

"Damn you Mike! you should have come to me. Why didn't you speak to me? I hated you for years, thinking you betrayed my trust in you."

"You are like a son to me; I would never put you in harm's way. I went into hiding because I had to look for my daughter" Aella doesn't look at him. "I have never searched for her because I knew it was safer that way, you know Zade, he won't rest until he takes everything away from me. I am sorry Aella, I love you, I always have. but you were better off without me."

"Why now, why look for me now?"

"Zade is a man that should never be messed with. he would have found you sooner or later." Mike is right even if she didn't leave her home, Zade would have found her.

"You know I have more than enough resources to fight Zade."

"You have to leave now; they might be here already. I had to speak to you Ace that is why I made that call regardless of the risk. Take care of my daughter, protect her like your own. you are the only one I trust."

"Stop this now Mike, we leave together, or I don't."

It happens so fast, one minute Mike is standing, and the next he is on the floor with blood gushing out of his head. Aella screams, and I run to her, pushing her to the floor as people keep firing at us. Ryan moves to the window and starts shooting.

I drag Aella up, leading her to the backyard. I push her into the car with me and Jake drives off with my men covering for us. My car is bulletproof, I never go anywhere unprepared.

She doesn't stop shaking even as we drive off, she touches my arm and starts sobbing. "You were shot."

"I am fine" I snap angrily.

She puts her hands on her lap and starts digging her nails into her skin, drawing blood in the most painful way possible.

"Aella stop" I am exhausted, I have not slept a wink for two days.

She doesn't, she continues scratching her lap and crying. I place my hands on either side of her neck and kiss her.