Ace POV:The atmosphere in the room was tense, a mix of frustration and curiosity hanging thick in the air. The meeting was dragging on, my patience wearing thin as Liam recounted the details of our investigation. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of me. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to pierce through the fog of my impatience.Liam’s face was serious as he answered, "Everyone's details are clear, not a single sketchy piece of information."I grumbled under my breath. "It's not conceivable; there must be one mole in the house."The others around the table nodded in agreement, their faces mirroring my frustration. Everyone except Susan, who remained silent, her expression unreadable."Susan, do you have something to say?" I asked, my voice sharp and cold.Susan’s gaze was steady as she folded her hands over her chest. "We should stick together now; if not, we all will be killed."Her words echoed through the room, and ev
Ace POV:I bit my tongue, cursing myself silently. For the past two days, she's been avoiding me, but not completely. She talks to me, but it's different— distant. She's ignoring me, but at the same time, she's not. It's like she's here, but not really. Ugh...Fuck me!Last night, she slept on the couch. No goodnight, no massages, not even a glance when I entered the room. It was as if I was invisible to her. She still makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and she eats with me. But the silence... it's uncomfortable, heavy. She only talks to me when I ask her to do something, or when she checks if I want something to eat or if I need any help. That's it.I was angry and irritated when I said those words, and now I regret it. But I didn't tell her to stop talking to me altogether. The tension between us is suffocating, and it’s gnawing at me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.Straightening my posture, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I said, quickly trying to o
AFTER AN YEARIris POV:The weight of exhaustion was like a heavy cloak around me, making every movement feel like wading through thick molasses. I stirred reluctantly, each muscle in my body protesting against the effort required to rise from the bed. The remnants of sleep clung to me like a shroud, whispering sweet promises of rest and comfort, but reality had other plans.Quinn’s voice cut through the fog, its deep, authoritative tone breaking the spell of my drowsiness. "Stand up, peasant. Make me my breakfast."I groaned inwardly, struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep. With a slow, deliberate effort, I pushed myself out of bed. The coolness of the tile floor against my bare feet was a small relief from the oppressive heat of the day.As I reached the kitchen, I could feel Quinn’s gaze on my back, her concern palpable. “Wow, are you okay?” she asked, her brow furrowing in genuine worry as I opened the fridge. The cool air whooshed out, mingling with the warmth of the m
Ace POV:The brightness of the hospital room hit me hard, making my eyes squint in irritation. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the harsh light that felt like needles piercing through my skull. My head throbbed with a dull ache, and I reached up instinctively, feeling the cold touch of the IV needle and wires connected to my body. Glucose dripped slowly from a bag beside the bed, feeding into my veins.I hate this shit.A sigh escaped my lips as I tried to calm the erratic rhythm of my breathing. My thoughts were a mess, fragmented and blurry as I attempted to piece together how I had ended up here. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and it only made me feel more out of place."You're awake," a nurse's cheerful voice broke through the haze, her overly bright demeanor grating on my nerves.Why the hell is she so happy? I glared at her as she bustled around the room, checking my vitals.Before I could respond, the door swung open, and I saw my friends— Ai
Iris POV:Here I am, trying to enjoy my lunch in the quiet corner of the restaurant where all the staff hang out. It's a little refuge, a spot where I can just breathe, away from the prying eyes and the constant buzz of the kitchen. The familiar hum of chatter fills the air, blending with the clinking of cutlery and the soft whir of the ceiling fans above. My plate of food is steaming, a simple meal that should be comforting, but my appetite is nowhere to be found.I can feel their eyes on me—Jeremy and his buddies—watching me from across the room. Their gaze is almost palpable, a heavy, unwelcome presence that makes the air around me feel thicker, more oppressive. Clearly expecting me to look devastated or sad or desperate enough to try and talk to him. But they’re wrong. Idiots.I focus on my food, trying to ignore the knot of tension tightening in my stomach. Gosh, can’t I work anywhere without being embarrassed? It’s like no matter where I go, I can’t escape the feeling of
Iris POV:I stood in the dim light of the New York subway station, the chilly air seeping into my bones despite the early hour. My nerves tingled with anticipation, every sound and movement around me amplified as I waited. Quinn stood beside me, her brows furrowed in concern as she noticed my restless energy."Are you sure you're okay?" Quinn's worried inquiry mirrored my own unease, but I forced a nod, trying to appear calm. My tapping feet, however, betrayed my anxiety, drumming a nervous rhythm against the concrete floor.I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, the hands moving sluggishly as if mocking my impatience. The early hour only served to heighten my anticipation, the quietness of the station amplifying my every thought. I was caught in a loop of anxiety, the minutes stretching into what felt like eternity, each second adding to the weight of my thoughts.Pacing back and forth, I struggled to contain the restless energy surging through me. My mind was a whirlwind o
Iris POV:Warmth enveloped me like a comforting embrace as I slowly drifted back to consciousness. A tingling sensation spread through my chest, and for a fleeting moment, I felt an unusual sense of peace. But as I gradually opened my eyes, the sight that greeted me sent a jolt of shock coursing through my body like a lightning strike.I was lying on my side, and there, nestled against me, was Ace. His face was tucked into the curve of my breasts, his cheek pressed against my nipple as if he had claimed the spot as his own. His touch was gentle but possessive, with his hands resting lightly on my waist while one of his legs was draped sensuously between mine.I blinked rapidly, my mind struggling to process the surreal and inappropriate scene before me. My body tensed in disbelief, and then, unable to contain the horror that gripped me, a scream erupted from my throat, shattering the fragile silence of the room."ACE!" I yelled, sitting up abruptly and instinctively covering mysel
Ace POV:As I got out of my car and marched toward the mansion, the biting cold of the night gnawed at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging within me. Every step felt heavy, burdened by the chaos in my chest. The darkness seemed to close in around me, a fitting backdrop for the mess I was tangled in. My breath came out in short bursts, the chill doing nothing to calm the searing heat of frustration that boiled under my skin.I had sent Ares to bring Iris here tonight. There would be no interruptions— just the two of us, face to face, with nowhere left to hide from the truth. My mind raced, heart pounding as I approached the massive front door, my hand stopped for just a split second before I shoved it open with more force than necessary. The door slammed against the wall, echoing through the silent halls like a thunderclap.And there she was— standing in front of the couch, frozen in place. The dim lighting cast soft shadows on her face, highlighting the fear
Ace POV:The air was crackling.Not just with tension—no, something more visceral. The scent of blood clung to the walls, thick and metallic, mixing with the sharp tang of gunpowder and the distant stench of rusted metal. It soaked into the concrete, into the very marrow of the room.I wiped my bloodied hand against my handkerchief, watching as crimson spread across the pristine white fabric. Red on white. Death on purity.I barely felt the sting in my knuckles. The pain was irrelevant. Fleeting. Around me, the weapon shipment area buzzed with nervous movement—men scrambling like rats to correct a mistake. A simple, yet unforgivable mistake.Internal incompetence.A woman had messed up the logistics. Sent an entire shipment to the wrong buyer.Not just a misstep.A disaster.I exhaled slowly through my nose, feeling the irritation simmer beneath my skin, restrained, measured. My fingers twitched at my side, a fleeting impulse. A temptation. But I had already handled the situati
Iris POV:He squatted down in front of me, tilting his head slightly, a soft smile playing on his lips. It wasn’t an arrogant smile, nor was it pitying.My chest tightened as I struggled to decipher what I saw in his gaze: nostalgia, amusement, concern… a quiet understanding that I both longed for and feared.His hand moved with familiarity, yet with a caution that hadn’t been there before.The back of his knuckles brushed against my cheek, slow and deliberate, like he was reacquainting himself with something fragile. A shiver ran down my spine at the contact—light as it was, it felt intrusive, peeling away the flimsy layers of composure I had managed to construct.“You’ve gotten more beautiful now,” he murmured, his voice a rich blend of admiration and something deeper— something I couldn't quite place.Heat surged through me, pooling in my cheeks, my skin prickling under his gaze. The air around us felt too heavy, too charged. My throat tightened, my body betraying me in ways I
Ace POV:A soft sigh left my lips as the squirrel closed its eyes and laid its tiny head on my palm. The warmth of its body was oddly comforting, its delicate breaths tickling my skin. So small. So trusting.Animals are far better than humans. Less complicated and easy to please.I leaned back in the rocking chair, the old wood creaking softly beneath my weight. The air was crisp tonight, carrying a distant melody from inside the mansion— some soft piano tune drifting through the air. The kind of sound that belongs in a dream, too delicate for reality.A small breeze stirred through the garden, sweeping my hair forward. A few strands fell in front of my closed eyes.My hair has grown a lot now.Long enough that I could use Iris’ scrunchies.I smirked at the ridiculous thought. Aiden had mentioned that girls liked when their boyfriends used their scrunchies, that it was "cute" or some shit.Boyfriend.The word sat strangely in my mind. Like a foreign language. Something that wasn’t
Iris POV:“Who are they?” I whispered to Liam as my eyes flickered toward the older couples across the room.“They’re Aiden and Susan’s parents,” Liam murmured back, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a long swig.I could feel their silent judgment pressing down on Ares, even from this distance.“Do they hate Ares?” I asked.Liam nodded once, a sharp and certain motion.“Do they hate everyone who belongs to that—” I started to whisper, but before I could finish, Liam’s grip on my forearm tightened. Just enough to shut me up.I swallowed, taking the hint. Ares sat beside Liam, rigid as ever. His sharp gaze was fixed on something in the distance, though I doubted he was actually looking at anything. His hands rested on his thighs, tense, unmoving. Every muscle in his body seemed to be coiled tight, like he was forcing himself to remain still despite the sheer disdain radiating from the people across the room.“Ares, why don’t you go down and enjoy yourself instead of sitting h
Author POV:A pair of drowsy hazel bedroom eyes flickered open, glancing lazily at the clock on the wall. The hands read 7:39 in the evening. The distant sound of running water echoed softly in the background, blending seamlessly with the quiet ambiance of the room. The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue across the space.Ace let out a deep, rumbling growl of annoyance as Snacks snuggled deeper into his dark locks. The tiny creature had been toying with his ears, collarbone, neck, and even his pendant for the better part of an hour. Somehow, Snacks had wormed his way into a comfortable position on Ace’s broad shoulder, entirely at ease.Ace had come home early today, prompted by Iris' relentless nagging. Though he hadn’t bought the gift she suggested, she had taken it upon herself to prepare whiskey-infused truffles and artisan brownies. Which made him scowl, like a disgruntled 8 year old toddler, but deep down, Iris knew Ace h
Iris POV:To All the Gods in Heaven (and maybe my very exhausted guardian angel),Hi. It’s me. Again.So, um… about last night. Yeah, that night. I know you saw it. You’re gods. You see everything. And for that, I’m very, very sorry.You see, I was just minding my own business (kind of), being a totally respectable, innocent human, and then— BOOM— Ace happened. Like, really happened. And, um, I think I broke several unspoken commandments? I mean, I didn’t exactly look them up beforehand, but I know there’s gotta be one against making sounds that loud or behaving that… desperately.In my defense, though— you’re gods! You made us humans this way! So maybe you should’ve seen this coming when you gave me emotions, tingles, and a very dangerously good-looking man who knows exactly how to ruin a girl’s ability to behave well. Just sayin’.To summarize my sins:The noises— Loud. Embarrassingly loud. I may have reached “unholy choir” levels.The positions— Um… we discovered I had grown a
*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