Ace POV:I took a final glance in the mirror, scrutinizing every detail of my reflection.The fight had been brutal, and the adrenaline still pulsed faintly in my veins, but I couldn't let Iris see any of it.With a deep breath, I again sprayed more cologne, hoping the scent would mask the faint, metallic odor of blood that clung to my skin."Boss," a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see one of the guards standing behind me, breathing heavily like he'd sprinted to find me.His chest heaved, but he maintained his posture, extending a pendant and my phone towards me.I nodded, a small smile forming as I took the pendant. Without it, I always felt off-balance, like something essential was missing.Clasping it around my neck, I met Ares' eyes and gave him a curt nod.With one last adjustment to my shirt, I picked up the bouquet of flowers and ran a hand through my hair, trying to tame the mess it had become."Mini," I called out as I stepped into the hall, my voice echoing throu
Ace POV:The door creaked open with a suddenness that made Mini jump in surprise.Hudson strode in, carrying a file, his face set in an expression that could only be described as serious.Mini, perched on my lap just moments before, scrambled to her feet with a haste that betrayed her flustered state.Her cheeks were a bright pink, a mix of embarrassment and shyness flushing her face as she quickly buttoned up her shirt.She offered Hudson a shy, somewhat awkward smile, her eyes darting to the floor as if unsure where to look.Hudson's gaze swept the room, and his eyes fell upon Snack, the tiny gerbil who was now perched on the edge of the table, his little feet twitching with curiosity.Hudson's face twisted into an expression of disbelief, mingled with a hint of amusement."What the fuck is this?" Hudson's voice cut through the room, carrying a blend of incredulity and faint humor. He stared at Snack, clearly not expecting to find a eyepop in the middle of whatever business he had w
Ace POV:"I mean, really?" I muttered, driving the knife into the table with a heavy thud, the sound echoing through the dimly lit basement.My chest heaved as I caught my breath, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.The man lying on the floor, once so full of defiance, now barely had the strength to whimper."That eyepop literally looked me in the eyes and then turned around, snuggled into her cheeks like it was nothing!" I exclaimed, the disbelief in my voice masking the seething anger that still simmered beneath the surface.I turned to the lifeless form on the floor, eyes narrowing in frustration.His screams had subsided into faint, muffled groans, his life slipping away with every shallow breath."Shh... Can you like keep your fucking voice down? I'm talking," I snapped, as if he could still hear or care.His head lolled to the side, the last traces of life fading from his bloodshot eyes."Snacks knows he makes me jealous," I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth as I recounte
Ace POV:Even with the tension building in the room, my focus stayed on the phone in my hand.The screen lit up, displaying the contact details of the one person who made me rethink everything.Iris. Her name seemed to burn into my mind.For the past half hour, my finger hovered over the dial button, hesitating, refusing to move forward.Yesterday morning, I'd been a fucking dick to her.The way I treated her, the words I spat out—they still gnawed at me, but nothing haunted me more than the look in her eyes. The hurt. The disbelief.She'd always been the one person I never lashed out at, the one I protected from the ugliness of my world.And in one moment of misplaced anger at Agostino, I'd turned that ugliness on her.She had always looked at me like I was more than the monster everyone else saw.I hated how her pain lingered in the back of my mind.I deserved it, every bit of it, but now... I was afraid to call her.What if she taunted me?What if she threw those same words back in
Author's POV:Beep, beep, beep, beep.Ace Salvatore's eyes snapped open to the persistent beeping of his alarm, a feeling of irritation washed over him, disrupting his peaceful slumber.Annoyed but disciplined, he rose from the warmth of his bed and reached for a towel to wrap around his lean body.He made his way towards his bedroom because he doesn't have any sexual relations in his bedroom.After completing his morning routine and donning a sleek black suit that complemented his fit physique.Then he was faced with a reliable figure stepped into his path – Ivan Smith, a man who had transitioned effortlessly from bodyguard and assistant to confidant and friend."Buongiorno capo ( Good morning Boss)" Ivan intoned, the words carrying a sense of familiarity tempered by respect.Ace acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod, his eyes momentarily betraying a flicker of warmth before settling back into an icy mask that had long become his trademark.He maintained his usual composed demeano
Ace POV:As I lay there on my bed, feeling a mix of annoyance and irritation, my friend Aiden continued to tickle the sole of my feet despite my protests."Stop it, Aiden, before I come and kick your ass," I finally managed to grumble before letting out a sigh and rolling onto my stomach.Aiden's disappointed gaze met mine as he shook his head in disbelief."Come on Ace, wake up, we are all here to see your psycho ass and you behave like that," he scolded gently.Glancing around the room, I noticed the familiar faces of my friends sitting on various things but not on sofa and couch.Aiden perched at the edge of my bed, while Felix casually leaned against the door frame and Liam lounged on my bed, engrossed in his phone as usual.Leo and Liam were squeezed together as if there was no other space in the spacious room, and Hudson sat on a nearby table, casting me a stern glare that made me feel slightly chuckle.Alexander, always the peacemaker, was trying to calm Hudson down.These are m
Ace POV:Ivan was bombarding me with questions, but honestly, she didn't seem dangerous at all.I couldn't understand why Ivan was so serious about this.Sure, I had found her in a strange situation, but she wasn't the kind of person who'd give us trouble.Yet, he was treating her like she was some kind of high-risk target.He kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he drove.The girl and I sat in the back, the silence between us thick and awkward.She kept her head down, her small frame practically curling into itself as if she wanted to disappear.Despite her small size, I hoped she might be useful to me somehow.I snapped my fingers to get her attention.She flinched at the sound, her head jerking up slightly, but her eyes remained downcast, as if she was too scared or nervous to look at me.Judging by her appearance, she couldn't have been more than 15 or 16 years old. Just a kid, really."Come ti chiami (What's your name?)", I asked, lighting a
Ace POV:As I entered the office that morning, Ivan handed me the details on Iris. The information was as stark and disheartening as I had expected. No surname, no family ties beyond a brother who had cut her off. She was scraping by with a few low-wage jobs, living in a rundown hostel with a roommate. “Looks like I saved her innocent ass,” I said, letting a smirk slip onto my lips as I tossed the files onto the desk. Ivan shrugged his shoulders as if to say that he wasn’t particularly surprised by the revelation. “I think so, boss,” he replied, his voice steady. “But we need to be careful. Even though she’s in a tough spot, we can’t underestimate the risks. We have to manage this situation carefully.”“I don’t think she even knows how to live in the outside world,” I said, my voice tinged with a mix of irritation and disbelief. “Everything about her life has been so controlled and limited. She’s lived in this small bubble of existence, and now she’s suddenly thrust into our world.