Ace POV: "Didn't I tell you to throw it in the dustbin?" I queried, with a hint of annoyance."Ace, I know he abandoned you when you needed him most, but he might not have had a cho—" I raised my hand to silence him."Just leave it there and go," I instructed, redirecting my attention to the computer screen.Leo chuckled softly as he placed the box beside the computer."He mentioned it contains things mostly related to your parents. Your parents, Ace," he emphasized, before departing.My gaze shifted to the box, a furrow forming on my brow.I picked it up and tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a medium-sized box.As I lifted the lid, a chill ran down my spine.At the top lay a framed photo of my parents, surrounded by a sleek black border.Swallowing hard, I carefully set the photo aside. Sorting through the contents, a sense of warmth washed over me.Among the photographs, jewelry, and letters, memories flooded back.A smile tugged at my lips as I came across a picture of my par
Iris POV:After bidding farewell to everyone, I left the cozy cafe at 4:10 in the late afternoon, feeling content and grateful.Today was a great day, indeed.Because everyone talked to me so nicely and even said "they like to work with me".Just a short ten minutes later, I found myself standing outside Hudson's house.As I entered, Alex's familiar voice broke the silence of the hall."Hey...You're early today for your classes," he noted cheerfully, his tone tinged with curiosity."Yeah...Is Liam home?" I inquired, scanning the room in search of any clue to his whereabouts."Yes, in his room. Why?" he questioned, his curiosity piqued by my quest.Expressing a nonchalant shrug, I muttered, "I haven't seen him in a while," before making my way towards Liam's bedroom."I hope you revised what we studied two days ago," he yelled, breaking the silence of the room with his stern remark.Responding confidently, I shouted back, "Yeah".Standing in front of Liam's door with a feeling of a mix
Author POV:Ace's eyes fluttered open slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion drag at his lids.Every inch of his body throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, akin to the feeling of being ripped apart and hastily stitched back together.The dryness in his throat was unbearable, each swallow a painful reminder of his thirst.Finally forcing his eyes open, he was greeted by a stark white ceiling.Slowly, his gaze wandered, taking in the rhythmic beeping of monitors and the countless tubes snaking across his body.The realization hit him: he was in a hospital.He squeezed his eyes shut, exhaling a weary sigh as he sank back into the thin mattress.Suddenly, memories crashed over him like a tidal wave, causing his eyes to snap open and his heart racing.His friends. Allegra. Freya. Mikhail.A groan escaped his lips as he struggled to sit up, his injured shoulder protesting every movement.Determined, he swung his legs over the side of the bed.The moment his feet touched the cold floor, h
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
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
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
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: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
*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