Ace POV:I rubbed my forehead, sighing deeply."You're not?" Aiden asked, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion."I kill people," I said, letting out a bitter snort, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "But I don't have preferences like only killing girls or only killing boys. That's not how I operate.""Okay, but it involves blood," Su mumbled, her voice barely audible as she expressed her concern.I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my irritation in check."It's not me," I said firmly, hoping to put an end to the doubt."That's comforting to hear," Felix said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.Recently, there had been a series of gruesome killings.College girls from wealthy families had gone missing, only to be found brutally murdered, their body parts dismantled and scattered across the streets, left for animals to devour. "Ace!!!!!" Iris's voice rang out, loud and cheerful, cutting through the grim atmosphere as she burst into the room."Sugarbun, we're still in
Ace POV:“Give her time,” Aiden said, his hand on my shoulder offering a brief, comforting squeeze.I sighed heavily, running a frustrated hand over my face.“Ace, Susan is with her. Just give her some... time,” Hudson’s voice was calm but laced with concern.“She’s fine, just a little shaken from everything,” he added.I groaned, trying to banish the restless thoughts that plagued me. If I hadn’t gone to the cafe, none of this would have happened.But I did go, driven by the fact that Aiden mentioned she was at the cafe with a boy. I want to kill Aiden.Rolling over in bed, I felt a deep sense of frustration. Alex and I had turned the cafe into ashes, compensating the owner generously for the destruction.Hudson had safely escorted Iris to his house, but I hadn't seen her since.She was avoiding me, which wasn’t surprising given the traumatic scene she had witnessed.The sight of her fear-stricken face haunted me, a stark reminder of my failure to protect her from the horrors of my w
Ace POV:I took a sip of my protein shake, feeling the cool liquid soothing my parched throat after the intense workout. The early morning light streamed in through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the room.I glanced at the clock on the wall—it was only 6 a.m.I had another important task ahead - waking up my Mini.Suddenly, the kitchen was filled with a burst of energy as Su walked in, her voice bouncing off the walls, "Good morning!".She greeted me with her typical enthusiasm.“Where's Felix?” She asked, preparing a black tea for herself. I merely shrugged, my mind too occupied with thoughts of my Mini to spare any for Felix.“So, how was your sleep?" Su inquired, looking at me with genuine interest. I met her gaze, my expression neutral. "Good," I replied quietly, not offering much else. She nodded understandingly, her smile unwavering. Maybe she didn't hear anything. Well I don't give a fuck if they heard it or not. But my Mini cares. Just then, Felix sauntered
Ace POV:My lips pressed tenderly against her cheeks, the soft kiss a gentle nudge from the peaceful slumber of her dreams to the waking world.A faint whimper escaped her lips as she began to stir. With a groggy sigh, she rolled onto her back, her eyelids fluttering open to meet the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.I slid my hand around her waist with deliberate care, drawing her closer to me.“Such a beautiful girl I have,” I whispered softly, placing a feather-light kiss on her closed eyelids.They fluttered open gradually, revealing eyes that sparkled with a mix of curiosity and tenderness.“It's past 8 a.m” my voice came out barely a whisper. “I am… late,” she said, her voice tinged with a hint of panic as she became more aware of the time.“Yeah, take a day off today. I want to spend time with you. With my little girl,” I murmured, my gaze locked with hers.Her fingers, delicate and gentle, traced the contours of my beard, the touch both soothing and affectiona
Iris POV:I grit my teeth as Alex smacked my head. Again. This was becoming a routine, one that I was starting to dread."Why the hell am I studying algebra?" I whined, the frustration bubbling over. I couldn’t understand why these equations mattered or how they were supposed to help me in life. It all felt so pointless, like trying to solve a puzzle that didn’t have a solution.Alex’s hard eyes peered at me through the thick glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, his expression as stern and unyielding as ever. He was the picture of patience—or at least he tried to be—but I could tell I was wearing him down. There was a slight twitch in his jaw, a sign that his patience was starting to fray.“Because you need to learn to think critically,” he replied, his voice infuriatingly calm, as if that explained everything. He always had an answer, always knew what to say to make it sound important, but I just wasn’t buying it.I pouted, pushing my lower lip out, but I knew better than
Ace POV:*Mature*A soft whimper escaped her lips as I halted my movements, letting my mouth hover over her neck, nipping at the sensitive skin just enough to make her squirm. Her body trembled with anticipation, her frustration bubbling over."I don't like it... You're mean... please... I-I am..." she whimpered, her voice laced with desperation, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her teary eyes locked onto mine, pleading to touch her, ruin her and begging for the release only I could give her.I slid my hand down, tracing the delicate curve of her rib cage, savoring the warmth and the way her skin quivered beneath my touch. "It's okay, bambi. Just a bit longer," I husked, my voice thick with control as my hands settled on her hips, fingers lightly teasing the edge of her ruffled panties."Mini, have you heard of a safeword before?" I asked, my voice dropping to a low murmur as I toyed with the waistband of her panties.By now, my arousal was evident, and my junior was slick with p
Iris POV:"Hello… No, hi!... No... No... Hakuna Matata," I mumbled to myself, my voice tinged with nervous excitement. A giggle slipped out despite my best efforts to stay serious."It's okay, kid. She won't think badly of you. It's just a family dinner," Liam said, sighing heavily from his spot across the room."But what if she does? What if she thinks we're abnormal… or weird? What if she doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore?" My voice came out in a whine, betraying the anxiety bubbling up inside me.Come on, Iris. Be a big girl. No whining."Well, it's just a friendly dinner. What could go wrong or be abnormal?" Aiden murmured, lazily toying with a milkshake bottle like it was the most interesting thing in the world."Shu-shu...Let's practice one more time," I insisted, my tone pleading as I clasped my hands together in front of my chest.A chorus of groans erupted from everyone, except for Ace, who remained the only one fully cooperating."My beautiful little Mini, it's just
Iris POV:As I waited in the café, the rain drummed relentlessly against the windows.The sky, dark and brooding, seemed to mirror my mood. It felt like winter was clinging on stubbornly, refusing to let go.It had been days since I last heard from Ace. He had left for Italy with no prior warning or explanation.The abruptness of his departure was jarring, a stark departure from his usual patterns.Ace always kept me informed about his whereabouts, but this time, he had vanished without a trace.Hudson’s reaction had been one of intense anger when Liam broke the news.The news had hit like a punch to the gut, leaving me reeling. Something is wrong.Despite my feelings of confusion and anger, the predominant emotion was concern.I should have been furious with him for leaving without a word, but instead, my worry consumed me.Why had he left so suddenly?What happened that he left abruptly?God, please protect him.The past few days had been a whirlwind of excuses and guilt. I had been
*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