"Sofia! You're here" Olivia practically jumped into my arms, greeting me with a friendly smile. "Hey" I giggled embracing her. It was lunch."Blake's been looking for you since the first class" Olivia glanced at me, almost as if she was worried for me. "Is he ok?" I asked her, remembering what had happened. "For the most part, yeah" She admitted after rubbing the back of her neck stressfully."Oh shit, here they come" Olivia muttered nervously. I saw Ryder and Blake along with the rest of the football team. They owned the school which I hated; Everyone followed and loved the football team.I saw the guys turn their attention to me and Olivia. Ryder strutted over to me and Olivia. I saw Blake's face. He had a huge bruise on his face from where Ace had punched him. It was a dim purple color with a hint of dark blue running through it."Olivia, go wait over there" Ryder growled at her. "No she's my Fri- NOW" Ryder shouted aggressively, scaring Olivia and me. I've witnessed Ryder be very controlling over Olivia before so this wasn't new.People were staring at us in the halls because of the commotion."Ryder, what the fuck?" I questioned him angrily. "Your boy toy messed up Blake's face, so now he can't play in the finals next week" Ryder practically spat at me, squaring up at me."I'm sorry but that wasn't my fault" I slowly backed away from him cautiously. "Blake tried to stand up for you and your boy toy hit him, how is that not your fault?" Ryder growled, backing me against the lockers. "Ryder, if you don't back up, I will hurt you" I warned him, not breaking my confidence.My fight or flight instinct had kicked in and I was choosing to fight. I usually always fly around my father or people who remind me of him but I knew that Ryder wasn't trained in fighting and probably wouldn't even know how to throw a proper punch."Ryder stop it!" Olivia shrieked at him as the football team watched on. "Man, you're taking this too far" Blake pulled Ryder back by his shoulder. "Let her go!" Olivia snarled at Ryder, trying to pull him back from me. Ryder shoved Olivia carelessly, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground before turning his attention to me. "Fuck you!" I slapped Ryder across his face; No one touches my best friend.before slowly bringing his head back towards me and scowling harshly. "You're just a bitch" He snapped swinging at me. I dodged him and slipped under his arm. Within seconds, my fist had collided with his jaw. I knew that I should've chosen flight but there was no backing down now. Where the fuck are the teachers?.
I managed to create some distance between Ryder and me. My brother's always told me that I should always have enough room to move around if necessary; For me to be light and quick on my feet.
Ryder threw a hard left swing but missed by inches. My heart was beating through my chest as the students in the halls watched on. None of them dared to call for the teachers in case Ryder would come for them next, and to be honest, I didn't blame them.Ryder was now desperate to make a connection since I kept dodging his hits. He was becoming sloppy and wasn't watching his footing. I knew I was going to have to do something risky, which meant I was more than likely going be hit but it would be worth it if it ended the fight.I gripped the rim of his jersey and finally, he managed to make a connection. "You hit like a girl" I spoke with an evil smile as he realized I still had my grip. I slipped my foot behind his and pushed him backward causing him to stumble to the ground. Everyone stared at me, their expression was beyond shocked; They were speechless and stunned.In the heat of the moment, I hadn't realized that Ryder busted my lip. But thankfully I had managed to do more damage to him and his ego than he had done to me. The football players helped Ryder up and dragged him more than likely to the locker rooms where they'll soothe his bruised ego."Sofia, what happened?" Ace said confusedly as he stared at me while I stood in the center of the circle. Well fuck.I glanced back to the footballers who were barely managing to make it down the hall with Ryder as he refused to be carried. I had probably given him a concussion due to the fact that he hit his head on the ground; Not to mention the punches.Ace watched Ryder glance back at him, and all the color in Ryder's face had disappeared. He was as pale as a ghost.Ace began to walk towards him and as soon as Ryder realized, he began to limp faster but it was no use. Ace grabbed him and threw him against the wall, pinning him to the wall by his throat."You're really brave fighting a woman but we'll see how brave you are when you face me" Ace scoffed disgustedly, his expression showing only rage. "Would you like to fight me, Ryder?" Ace asked with an evil smile on his face while chuckling to himself, more than likely know the answer. "No-" Ryder responded quickly, refusing to make eye contact with Ace. Ace let go of his grip on Ryder's shirt but gripped his face roughly. "If you ever touch her again, you won't live to see another day" Ace threatened him coldly before dropping him and walking back toward me."I realized that leaving you here wasn't a good idea because of my actions yesterday, so I came to get you and it's a good thing I did, come on, we're going home" He muttered, wrapping his hand around my waist as we left the school.Ace took out a silk handkerchief and stood still for a moment. "You have blood running down your chin" He informed me, as I also stopped walking. He raised the handkerchief and wiped the blood from my chin.We continued to walk back in silence.He had a crease in between his eyebrows from anger as he stared at the blood on his white shirt. "Are you okay?" Ace questioned me after calming down slightly. I nodded in response because it hurt to talk with a busted lip.Ace drove us back to his house. "I'll stitch your lip if you need it and then I'll take you to see your brothers" Ace uttered as he drove, his full concentration on the road. "Don't you have someone to drive for you?" I questioned, trying to change the conversation but most of it sounded like a blubber. "Yeah but I don't like using them" Ace admitted. "Why not?" I asked again. "It seems ignorant, I have arms and legs, I can do it myself, getting someone else to do it is just being lazy" he rambled but I was more focused on his body at this point.We finally arrived at Ace's mansion."Is your mom and dad home ?" I questioned worriedly, as blood dripped from my mouth. "No.....thankfully" Ace muttered the last part under his breath but I heard it as well as the relief in his voice. I wonder why he hates his parents so much. His mom seems very caring, and yeah, his father threatened me but that doesn't mean he's hurt, Ace."Sit here" He pointed to the counter and I hopped up. Ace came back 5 minutes later with a cloth, antiseptic liquid, and a first aid kit."Can you stitch?" I asked in pain. "Yeah, I learned when I was 10. My mom thought I might need it when I'm older" Ace frowned his eyebrows stressfully as he threaded the needle. "Is there no numbing stuff?!" I squeaked worriedly. I saw the slightest smile appear on his face but was quickly faded. "No, you'll probably pass out" he joked with a serious face. "That's not funny" I scowled at him to see his usual frown was softer than normal."Ok," he sighed holding up the needle a
I waited upstairs patiently as I tried to wash the blood out of clothes in the bathroom sink.The blood had already stained. I felt like crying, I always fuck everything up. I leaned against the wall as I gave up hope of getting the stain out. I slowly slid down to the floor, my bloody hands covering my face.I was so exhausted from living this lifestyle; I was tired of the constant violence that came with it.A tear rolled down my cheek as I shook my head.Suddenly the door opened."Oh I'm- are you ok?" Kaylo noticed my tears. "Oh yeah, I'm fine" I smiled as genuinely as I possibly could, wiping the tears away. "You're crying" he looked confused. "Did Ace do that?" Kaylo almost sounded angry."No- he helped me" I muttered as I turned and faced the mirror. "Ace? Ace Hernandez helped you?" Kaylo chuckled. I frowned my eyebrows at him curiously. "You must have him confused with someone" Kaylo smiled, shaking his head at my unbelievable sentence."Ace hasn't ever helped anyone" Kaylo smi
We all sat around the table. My mother introduced herself and we all continued talking."I wasn't expecting you to come back so soon" my father voiced to me from across the table. He grabbed Ace's attention as well as mine. "Oh yeah, I decided to come to visit" I shrugged as I watched my mom. "It feels like nothing's changed" My father smirked evilly knowing that what he said would hurt me.I glanced down at the table."She's made a big difference in my mafia so I'm surprised there's no difference here" Ace announced as he lit his cigarette. My father's face instantly dropped from an evil smirk to a blank expression. "Everyone wants my wife" Ace pressed his lips against the smoke, savoring it. "But no one can have her except me, she is mine". It's like Ace was subtly threatening my father even though nothing he said was true."Excuse me, I have to use the bathroom" I smiled politely as I stood up.I strolled down the hall into the bathroom. I shook my head as I stared in the mirror. I
Ace's POV :A few minutes had passed.We sat in the car and silence filled the air. I could tell she was upset. I'm not good with emotions but I can tell when people are hurt, mainly because I'm the one usually hurting them. She was trying so hard to be strong. I hate to see people cry, it disgusts me almost purely because of how weak they are.But when I saw a tear fall from her cheek, I didn't think she was weak. I don't know why but I just wanted to make her pain go away."Are you okay?" the words escaped my lips before I could even think about it. I saw her lip quiver as she shook her head, looking out the window. I felt a heaviness in my chest as I watched her struggle not to cry. I didn't like feeling this way.A sigh escaped my lips as I looked at her. "Maybe this was a bad idea" I muttered quietly as I rubbed my forehead stressfully. Sofia nodded agreeing."Did your brothers just ignore him abusing you?!" I finally asked. She stayed silent until she finally worked up the coura
Sofia's POV :The last thing I remember was falling asleep in the car. How did I get up here?I sat up and looked around. This wasn't my room. There were clothes all over the room. It was Aces room. I still had my clothes on. I stumbled out of bed and into his bathroom. What time was it? I looked at the phone on the counter in the bathroom. 3 am. Great, the devil's hour.I went to open the door to leave, only to be greeted by the same blondie from the other night. She was inches away from me. "Who are you" she scowled at me, giving me a disgusted look. I just stared at her."I can tell you I'm not Ace's bitch" I shrugged. "Why were you in Ace's room then?" She hissed at me. I gave her a disgusted look as I walked down the hall but she followed me. "Honestly I don't know" I responded to her as I walked down the hall, peaking into the rooms."Did you guys have sex?" She snarled viscously. I froze and turned around to her. I erupted into laughter in front of her face. "Me and him" I gas
I woke up to the sound of my alarm. Shit.I threw on a dress . I'm ready to be the most hated person at school .I ran downstairs. Denice was cooking food . "Hey Denice , if anyone asks , I'm at school" I quickly told her as I put on my shoes . "I thought Ace didn't want you to go" Denice questioned me as she flipped the pancakes . "My mouths mainly healed , I'll be fine" I assured her . "Okay .... but he won't be too happy" she warned me , pointing the spatula at me . "When is he ever happy" I giggled as I walked out . I heard her say something but I ignored it .I strolled carelessly to school .I reached the entrance and walked in . Everyone gave me dirty looks as I walked down the hall . Really ? Already .I walked to class . The crowds slowly rolled in as the class the filled .The teacher tried to teach as they all whispered stuff about me . All I could make out was them asking who Ace was . "She's such a drama queen" "I heard she bet the shit out of Ryder" "I heard she slept wi
I jolted up from having a nightmare. Ace wasn't beside me and I couldn't remember much from last night. I remember drinking wine, getting sick and then he asked me to the dance. I tried harder to remember but it was mostly a blur.I stared at my hand, remembering that I held his hand as I fell asleep. I blushed at the memories that came flooding back only to get a massive migraine. I held my head in pain as I heard heavy footsteps approaching the room.Ace walked in. "You're awake" his tone was back to being blatant and lifeless. "Yeah" I sighed, my hand still on my head. "Everyone's gone" He informed me. Things were slightly awkward now between us, I could feel the tension in the air. "Pills....for your migraine" He tossed them to me. "Thanks" I muttered."I have to go and....do some stuff for work, Dante is going to take you shopping to get your dress for the ball" Ace muttered while he searched for something."When?" I stood up, taking the pills. "In 15 minutes" Ace replied careles
I slipped on my heels."Sofia, we're ready to leave" Denice shouted up at me from the entrance."I'm coming" I said loudly, grabbing my bag and walking out. I walked down the stairs, Ace's mother had stolen his attention so he was facing away from me. His mom gasped at the sight of me, covering her mouth with her hands.I watched as Ace turned around. I saw his jaw drop slightly and his eyes widen. Kai instantly scoffed and walked out. Ace snapped his head back to his father, giving his father a threatening look."I'm sorry I took so long" I muttered to Ace as I played with hands. He grabbed my them gently. "You annoy me so much when you do that" he admitted, still holding them tightly. I stared into Ace's eyes, my heart was pounding. He looked down at our hands. Before I could say anything, he shook his head and walked out. What was that about?."Sofia" someone shouted. I turned my head only to see Olivia running down the driveway. "What the fuck!" Ace growled . "He's a bad person" s
Ace rose from his office chair for the first time in days, and put on his iconic black suit. I've never witnessed a man wear a suit so much.He did his hair and buttoned up his shirt.I stood in-front of him."What are you doing?" I asked, acting like he was crazy."What do you mean, 'what am I doing?'" He widened his eyes at me."Why are you getting all dressed up?" I asked, pretending it was obvious."Because I want to look good," he responded blankly, blinking a few times. He was so clueless, it hurt to watch."Are you joking? Do you not know women at all?" I questioned him, starting to unbutton the top of his shirt. I ruffled his hair and his heartbroken appearance was falling back into place. Ace stared at me, his expression was emotionless. I couldn't help but laugh at him because I knew he was annoyed that undid everything he had done."Tell me you're joking, I'm not going to see her like this." Ace threw a tantrum."Ace, I'm telling you, she'll see it all over your face, that
What the fuck had happened?I hadn't been asleep for that long, had I?Where's Sofia?Where's Ace?Those questions kept playing in my mind, like a record player on repeat, as I drove Dante to the hospital. He was clutching his arm, which was bending the wrong way. I was worried; for him, for us, for everyone. There were cracks in our friendships and they were beginning to show."I can't believe he did this," Dante spat, clearly attempting to distract himself from his arm."What the fuck happened?" I snapped suddenly, which seemed out of the blue for Dante but I still hadn't been told anything about what had happened. I was still in the dark and he wasn't shedding any light on the situation."I was just in the living room, until I heard Sofia and Ace arguing from the kitchen. I hadn't really ever heard them argue before so I stood up from the couch, and all of a sudden, Sofia storms through the living room, not even looking at me. She heads for the hallway and leaves.The girl just lef
I was in my room with Dante, watching a movie. He had expressed that he was beginning to dislike Sofia because she was taking up so much of Ace's attention. More like she wasn't giving Dante any. I blocked out his rambling by focusing on the tv. "Are you even listening?" Dante sneered. "Yea, yea, we don't like Sofia, I get it," I mumbled, stuffing more popcorn into my mouth. "You don't understand." He sighed. "I do," I said, my attention turning back to the tv as a really intense moment happened in the movie. I could hear his voice in the back of my mind, but I wasn't concerned. Dante wouldn't hurt a fly and he certainly wouldn't hurt Sofia. Plus I'm sure Ace would murder him if he tried. I hadn't spoken to Sofia since the day I found her in my room. I hadn't saw her and I didn't know if it would be awkward. I kind of disliked her but it wasn't hatred anymore. I had given up on hating the girl for no reason; but just as I let my vendetta go, Dante begins his. This girl couldn't ca
"What pitstop?", Dante asked, unbuttoning his suit jacket and taking it off. "It's just a quick one", I reassured him. We climbed into the Porsche and drove away from the murder scene, knowing we'd never have to face the consequences of our actions. It was strange; being able to murder someone and not end up in prison. Even if police came knocking on Ace's door, he'd either pay them off or they'd go missing. Ace made his message loud and clear to the government. If they didn't let Ace go about his business, there would be war, and he would win. "Do you ever think about the things we do?" Dante muttered, as if he was thinking out loud. "Sometimes." I replied quickly, watching the trees go by through the window. "Do you think we're bad people, do you think karma exists?", he questioned, his concentration on the road yet his mind was somewhere else entirely. "No, i think we're just morally fucked." I answered, glancing over at him. "Yea, definitely fucked alright. I doubt any of u
"I'm not here to fight you Alex, as much as I'd like to. I've brought you here, to tell you I need Leonardo back. After all he is your brother. Well....half brother" he stated, and I swear I could've been sick. He didn't look anything like me and that's when it hit me. Yes, he didn't look anything like me, but he looked like Avery. The same dark hair and eyes. They couldn't have been brothers. Leonardo couldn't have been more of his brother than me.It couldn't of been possible. He was only his apprentice. Surely he wouldn't leave his son..... oh my god.I was so confused. Leonardo didn't have the same second name as Avery and I; then I felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest, I couldn't breathe. Anderson was my mothers surname. Not my fathers. I never knew it wasn't his, but the look on her face said everything. I never got the name Accardi because he didn't want us to be associated with him. I had lived my whole life never knowing my fathers name. I was going to be violently s
We walked through the empty apartments, choosing to take the stairs over the sketchy elevator. I'd rather not get stuck and die in an old elevator. There was so many flights of stairs and Dante was already sweating by the second one. The paint on the walls had peeled so it was a patchy mess. The stairs themselves were dirty, as if a cleaner had not been here in months. I didn't dare to touch the handrails.As we trudged our way up the stairs, a man who was clearly a drug addict passed by us, throwing us a glare. Dante took it to heart."Why did he look at us like that? I'm offended." He muttered, slightly out of breath."Dante only people that struggle live here, and I'm sorry but we don't struggle anymore because of Ace, you came here in a suit for godsake!" I rambled, which only made Dante more defensive."What's wrong with my suit? I like my suit, thank you very fucking much!" He argued, rolling his eyes like a child."I like the fucking suit Dante, but I'm just saying, these peopl
I had been busy the last few days with mafia related business, so I hadn't been home much; but I was today."Why do you eat so fucking loud?" Ace grumbled to Dante who was eating my cookies in his office. He was slouched in the chair and looked miserable for some reason."What is your problem, bitch?" Dante asked, spewing cookie crumbs everywhere. The palm of my hand slapped my forehead. These two were idiots, I'm living with idiots."Would the both of you just shut up?" I hissed."Fuck you Ice," Dante sneered."Fuck you Dante," I spat, scowling at him."Yeah, fuck you Dante." Ace glared at him."I'm leaving, fuck this," Dante snapped, suddenly becoming angry. I didn't think he was joking, but Ace carried on with the joke."You're a pussy." Ace rolled his eyes."I'm a pussy?" Dante sneered, turning back around and walking towards Ace."You heard me," Ace said, with a big smirk across his face."I'm the fucking pussy," Dante shouted, sounding as if he was in disbelief. "Says the one wh
I hadn't left my room in days, Dante had tried to bribe me out with food but little did he know, I'd rather not eat anyway.I had fallen deep into depression, deeper than I had ever gone before. Breathing was difficult. I stared at the blank wall, trying to process my thoughts. I had nothing left anymore, no revenge, no purpose.Until I heard a knock at my door."Ice, you might want to see this!" I heard Dante say urgently, he was behind the door."I don't" I rejected his proposal."Is this you?" He asked, and it caught my attention. What was he talking about?I climbed to my feet with a groan and unlocked my door, opening it to reveal Dante. He held a golden locket in his hand, which dangled gently."It's a locket?" I rolled my eyes about to shut my door again."No look," he pleaded before I turned back to him.I watched as his chunky finger pressed the smallest button on the side of the locket. It opened to reveal a picture of Avery and I as kids. My eyes widened with disbelief as I
My fist pounded against Ace's door as I stood outside furious."Ace, open the fucking door!" I yelled, Dante still sitting in the car from shock.I saw a silhouette of a figure approaching the door and unlocking it. I swung the door open and it revealed Ace."What the fuck were you thinking?" I shouted, waving my arms in the air with panic. "You could've gotten yourself killed"."That would've been so tragic" Ace smirked, as we made our way down his hallway towards his kitchen."I'm being fucking serious, you could've gotten yourself killed. Look at Dante, I had to drag him from the ball, he's so traumatised. I had to kill some innocent girl and you get to walk away?", my face becoming twisted with disgust. "How is that fair?"."None of it is fair Ice, you fucking idiot, I'm the mafia boss so I decided what I can or can't do. Keep yelling at me, it won't change the outcome!" He sneered back, his pride so unbelievably high."You ruined yourself, do you realise that?" I spat, "ruined".