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
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