Iris POV:He was staring at me angrily while smoking, his gaze sharp and unforgiving.God, please save me tonight.He started to walk toward me, his footsteps echoing in the quiet night. He stood directly in front of me, his presence looming large and intimidating.I closed my eyes, bracing myself for a possible slap, but it never came.When I cautiously opened one eye, I saw him just staring at me, emotionless. I hurriedly opened both eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.He bent down slightly and blew the smoke from his cigarette directly in front of my face.The acrid smell filled my nostrils, making me cough uncontrollably as I tapped my chest firmly, trying to clear my throat.A satisfied, almost sinister smile curled on his lips. He looked every bit the evil man he was reputed to be."You're late. Why is that?" he asked, his voice low but filled with menace."Work," I mumbled under my breath.Suddenly, he yanked off my hood and grabbed my jaw with a vice-like grip. The pressure wa
Ace POV:"Do you like it, Acey?" Athena chirped beside me, her voice dripping with an over-enthusiastic sweetness.I stared at my phone, scrolling through it with disinterest. Athena had asked me what I liked to eat, and I'd mentioned fried rice.Now she was pretending she made it herself, though I knew it was actually from the maids.I sighed, annoyed by the charade. "Yeah, sure," I muttered, though my mind was elsewhere.Since that day with Iris, she had been avoiding me at every turn.I was tipsy that day.I had tried to bring her some clothes, but she had declined, claiming she had her own to wear.What a dumb girl she is?Why does she have to be this difficult?"Come on, Acey~ Nowadays you're not giving me attention," Athena whined, her hand resting on my arm in a way that was meant to be endearing but only grated on my nerves."Stop it," I growled through clenched teeth.Today was Sunday and this women is gonna make me rip off her tongue."Boss," Ivan's voice cut through my irrita
Ace POV:I was in my office working, but my mind kept drifting to the girl who had turned my life upside down.It was already 8 in the evening, and I knew everyone would be gathered in the dining hall by now.A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. It was Athena, informing me that dinner was ready. I followed her to the dining hall, where everyone was already seated.The room was silent, and I noticed with a frown that Iris was nowhere in sight.I took my seat and started scrolling through my phone, trying to ignore the mounting tension."Where's the new girl?" Leo asked, breaking the silence."She's eating with the maids," Athena replied nonchalantly. I could almost hear the eye-roll in her voice."Why the hell is she eating there?" Aiden chimed in."Well, because she's a maid," Athena said with a matter-of-fact tone."And for just a maid, this man held her so gently and helped her this afternoon," Leo pointed at me, raising an eyebrow.Aiden leaned back with a grin, "He do
Author POV:"Mini... breathe," Ace murmured softly as he set Iris on the bed, but her sobs were uncontrollable. Her cries echoed in the room, each one a piercing sound of her distress.She was shaking violently, her tears streaming down her cheeks. Ace's attempts to soothe her seemed futile at first.He cupped her face in his hands, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone who had just been so harsh.She tried to push him away, her small hands weakly shoving at his chest."Mini, breathe with me," he urged, his voice steady but laced with concern. He held her thrashing body close, his arms wrapped around her with an ironclad hold.Her hands were still pushing against his chest, her efforts to escape futile. She continued to struggle, but after what seemed like an eternity, she finally began to calm down.She slumped against him, her sobs growing quieter as she ended up sitting on his lap, clinging to him as if he were her last lifeline.Ace held her tightly. His grip didn't loosen; if
Author POV:"FUCK! FUCK!" Ace's enraged roar echoed through the mansion as he ran his hands through his disheveled hair.His anger was raw and palpable, a storm of emotions that had erupted uncontrollably.The broken vases and shattered glasses strewn across the floor were a testament to his fury.In Hudson's room, the rest of the guys stood around, seemingly unfazed by the chaos. Their expressions ranged from concern to curiosity, but none dared to intervene.Aiden, meanwhile, was meticulously guarding the injured rabbit."Are you out of your mind?" Liam asked calmly, his voice steady despite the disarray around him.But Ace was fuming with anger, regretting what he said that time.Ace's mind was racing as he reflected on the harsh words he had unleashed.The realization that Iris had heard him added another layer of regret to his already conflicted feelings.He hadn't meant to hurt her, but the damage was done.Without acknowledging Liam, Ace stormed out of the house, his steps heavy
Ace POV:She was dropping a half mug of water on herself, then stopped and opened her eyes immediately.It was a weird behavior.THUD.She flinched at the sound and shot me a startled look as soon as I closed the door behind me.The way she tried to cover herself with bubbles and hide her two little ducks was almost comical.I approached her, crouching beside the tub, and gently tucked the damp hair that had stuck to her flushed face behind her ear.She flinched away at my touch, her eyes wide with apprehension.Now that I could do anything with her, I let out a big sigh."You could use a shower instead of a mug," I murmured, my voice low and soothing as I pulled the wet strands of hair away from her flushed cheeks.She inhaled deeply, her breath quickening as she stammered, "I don't know... how t-to use... it-its not opening."I reached for the shower handle with deliberate, unhurried movements. As I flipped it to the right, the water cascaded down in a gentle stream, creating a sooth
Ivan POV:"So you're telling me these are all for... Iris?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief as I surveyed the impressive collection of clothing spread out before us.Ace barely glanced at me, his face impassive and devoid of any readable emotion.Without a word, he continued to sift through the dresses, his movements precise and methodical.Earlier, Ace had handed me a list, instructing me to purchase every item on it.The list was extensive, and it included a variety of items: 20 vintage dresses, 5 different types of jeans, 10 shirts, skirts, and tops, 10 undergarment sets, 5 accessories for reasons unknown to me, and several other miscellaneous items typically associated with a woman's wardrobe.I watched in confusion as the maids meticulously displayed each dress to Ace, awaiting his approval.His attention to detail was almost obsessive, as if every stitch and fabric choice mattered immensely to him.He's behaving weird.Ace Salvatore, known for his ruthlessness and cold dem
Ace POV:What the fuck is she doing here?Iris, trembling with fear, instinctively closed her legs and began to push me away. Her eyes were wide with a mix of panic and confusion.I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against my fingers as I gripped her hips gently, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.She stopped moving, her body tensing up as she fisted the sheets tightly, gasping softly.I glanced over and saw Athena staring at us with a look of disgust. Fucking bitch.My anger flared, and without a second thought, I got up, dragged Athena outside of my room, and threw her out, slamming the door in her face.The sheer rage coursing through me was barely containable.I couldn't believe I hadn't heard the door creak open? Fuck me.When I turned back to Iris, she was pressing herself against the headboard in fear. Her form was practically naked, save for a disheveled frock that barely clung to her hips.I released a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration.I s
*MATURE* Without another thought, I slid down from the counter, the movement quick and precise, my eyes never leaving hers. She took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity in my movements.“I have to cook,” she stammered, her wide eyes locking with mine. She could see it— darkness, lust, raw and unfiltered, burning in my gaze. She knew exactly what she had done to me, temptation and hunger, a need so deep it felt like it might consume me.“Oh~ you should have thought about that before you started that little show of yours,” I growled, my voice thick with desire as I advanced on her, my steps quick and purposeful.She tried to run away, but there was nowhere to go. In a matter of seconds, her back hit the counter, and she stumbled slightly, regaining her balance by gripping the counter’s edge. Before she could react further, I was there, looming over her, trapping her between the solid counter and my body, so close that our chests brushed together with every breath. I lea
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
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: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 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:There was a thud beside me, followed by a collective gasp from everyone in the shop.I straightened slowly, my hand instinctively moving towards my concealed weapon.The man who had been standing beside me was now sprawled on the floor, blood pooling around his head.In one fluid motion, I gripped Edrick by his collar and started to drag him deeper into the shop."Move!" I hissed, shoving him ahead of me. His eyes were wide with terror, all his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of real danger.The air erupted with gunfire. Screams filled the shop as customers and staff alike scrambled for cover.Bodies fell, some diving for safety, others crumpling lifelessly to the ground.The sweet scent of flowers was quickly overpowered by the acrid smell of gunpowder and fear.We took cover behind a table stacked high with flowers, the blooms now a flimsy barrier between us and whoever was trying to kill us.I scanned the shop, looking for any avenue of escape.The front was out of
Ace POV:"Liam!" we both exclaimed, frustration evident in our voices.He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and flopped down on the couch, looking completely unconcerned.We both laid there, breathing heavily. I backed away from her and we sat up on the couch as she adjusted her dress, pouting.Within moments, all my friends had gathered around the couch.Felix, Aiden, and Alex had clearly been roused from their beds, evident by the fact that they were only wearing pajama pants. The others were dressed but looked just as groggy.They all looked like they might fall asleep here if I let them."Why the hell did you call us?" Susan asked, laying her head on Aiden's lap, her eyes half-closed with sleepiness."I specifically told everyone to meet me here at 9 sharp, and it's already past 11. Motherfuckers!" I snapped, gritting my teeth in frustration.I noticed Iris glancing around at everyone with concern as she sat beside me. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness while Liam alternated b
Iris POV:I got off the bike with a sense of urgency and swiftly reached for the cake from Leo. My movements were precise and careful."You're really dramatic," Leo said with a puzzled expression as he removed my helmet, his fingers brushing my hair away from my face."No. The way you drive the bike is disapproving," I said, my tone laced with concern. "The cake could have easily fallen off and been ruined if you hadn't been careful."I took a quick peek into the box to ensure that the cake was still intact.Thankfully, it appeared to be unharmed, its frosting and decorations still perfectly in place."Sweetie, I do bike stunts all the time," Leo replied with a playful smirk, his confidence evident. "You think I can't handle a cake that was literally placed in the gas tank of the bike?""A cake is like a fragile newborn baby," I said with exaggerated seriousness. "We have to handle it with the utmost care. You wouldn't be doing stunts if you had a newborn baby with you, would you?"Le
Iris POV:We both jolted at the sudden sound of a voice from outside the door."Iris!" Aiden's voice cut through the silence, causing Liam to let out a weary sigh."This boy," Liam muttered under his breath, "is such a brat. He'll bicker with you like a stray dog but can't stay away for even a moment."I couldn't help but giggle at his words. "I suppose today has been eventful enough. I'll fill you in on the rest of the story later," Liam said, rising from his seat to open the door.I sighed deeply, giving my cheeks a few quick smacks to wake myself from the flashback.The door swung open, revealing Aiden with a mischievous smirk, followed by Susan, Felix, and Hudson as they filed into the room.Susan immediately flopped onto the bed, resting her head on my lap as she cheerfully munched on a chocolate bar.The group's curious eyes darted between Liam and me, their expressions laced with suspicion."...What happened?" I asked, trying to clear the dryness from my throat as I addressed t