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.
1 MONTH LATERAce POV:"You can't find him! Are you fucking kidding me?! Find him before I cut all your necks. Dismissed!" My voice reverberated through the room, each syllable sharp and lethal.The tension in the air was palpable as everyone scrambled to avoid the brunt of my wrath, nodding in synchronized agreement before scattering like frightened animals.The pressure was immense, and I could feel it in every muscle, every fiber of my being.Hours of fruitless yelling had done nothing to quell the anger that simmered beneath the surface.Noah's disappearance gnawed at me like a persistent itch that refused to be scratched. How could no one locate him?The incompetence of my men was infuriating, but the thought of involving Liam, the best hacker in our group, was equally unsettling.Liam could locate Noah within an hour—no question about it. He was a genius when it came to computers, a master at unearthing information that others would consider buried forever.But if I involved him,
Author POV:It had been a week since the incident that had left both Ace and Iris unsettled, each grappling with their emotions in different ways. For Iris, life at the mansion continued much as it always had, but with a deliberate and painful shift. She had become even more diligent in her duties, channeling all her energy into her work as a maid.Iris moved through the mansion like a ghost, her presence barely noticeable as she meticulously cleaned every corner, polished every surface, and sometimes even prepared meals with the same quiet efficiency that defined her. It was as if she had become one with the background, blending into the very walls of the grand house. She adhered strictly to her duties, keeping her head down and avoiding unnecessary interactions.Conversations with the other staff members were few and far between, and no one seemed to pay much attention to her, except for Melinda.Melinda had a soft spot for Iris. She would occasionally offer a kind word, a gentle
Ace POV:My friends had long passed the point of no return when it came to alcohol consumption, with Aiden being the worst of the lot.He had somehow ended up in Alex’s lap, clinging to him like a lifeline and murmuring incoherent nonsense that only made sense in his alcohol-addled mind.Liam, Hudson, and I were the only ones sober enough to ensure we could get everyone's asses home safely.“Feeling good?” Hudson’s voice broke through the haze of annoyance that was settling over me. His eyebrows wiggled suggestively, and his smirk was anything but innocent. Liam, who had been relatively quiet, chuckled under his breath, clearly relishing my discomfort."Fuck off!" I exclaimed, annoyed at their teasing.We guided the drunken crew into the limo. Aiden, still glued to Alex, had to be practically pried off and guided into the vehicle. The others followed, their steps unsteady and their words slurred beyond comprehension.Once everyone was settled inside, I made my way toward the driver's
Author POV: It was 8:30 at night when Ace finally stirred from his extended nap.Having slept through half the day without the aid of any medication, he was disoriented and groggy as he opened his eyes.He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the foggy haze that clung to his thoughts, and felt a loud grumble from his stomach, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten all day.He dragged himself out of bed and went through his usual routine to freshen up.His thoughts, however, remained preoccupied with the absence of Iris.As he made his way to the kitchen, his eyes darted around, searching for the familiar sight of the small figure he had become so accustomed to seeing.To his dismay, she was nowhere to be found.Melinda, who had just finished clearing the plates and was headed back to the kitchen, noticed Ace’s concerned expression.“Where’s Iris?” Ace asked abruptly.Melinda paused, looking slightly puzzled. “I don’t know, Boss. I haven’t seen her around.”.Ace nodded curtly, dismissi