Alley POVWe spent all night watching way too many scary movies and I found myself tossing and turning more than actually sleeping. I had enough nightmares I didn't need to add chainsaw killers or creepy clowns to my already messed up mind. I sat up slowly pulling my arm from under Darien and looked to the clock. 6 am! This was ridiculous. We finally passed out at 2 and I woke three times already."Hey! Can't sleep?" Greg's groggy voice came from the other side of the double beds we pushed together. He gently moved Lydia off him then gently pulled his arm from under Derek. This was a crazy mess."Not really. A clown with a chainsaw was chasing me and thankfully I woke up right before he cut me in half." I smiled looking down at the boys. They were going to be the death of me. "I'm going to grab some coffee from the cafe downstairs. You want anything?""I'll come with you." Before I could tell him it was ok he was already out of the bed. Layla and Ethan came in around midnight to get
Ace POVI left that house of freaks as it burned to the ground feeling like a small burden was lifted from my shoulders. For years this was my main goal and now that it's over too much has happened to feel the satisfaction I should. The people worth saving had a small opportunity to make something for themselves and that was all I could do. Sebastian was the reason I came, then I found the purple paradise, now both were taken care of. "The plantation is gone. Meet me in the city for a meeting of the heads. I'll welcome you back into the territories, but I need two things. First, Angelo's death is days away, for now I want him to think he has won. Call him and negotiate a deal. Tell him to meet you for a plan to expose me about the truth that happened in Columbia. He will believe you.""You play a lot of games, Ace. It makes a life of crime a little more fun by your side." Dmitri chuckled on the other end of the phone. We've been talking a lot the last few days and it was irritating,
Elise POVI left Alley with her family feeling like a different person than I was a few weeks ago. She spent most the flight silently crying and when it was time to leave she put on her smile. I could see the self doubt that woman carried on her shoulders. I wish she could see how incredibly strong she was, but more than anything I wanted Ace to have her in his life. They were the exact opposite yet exactly the same. Complete contradictions that fit perfectly, if that's possible. Ace was a complicated man with many demons he never truly dealt with. He was good at pushing his own needs to the bottom while avenging anyone hurt by his family. He was rude, inconsiderate, and loved fucking with people, but he never hurt anyone that didn't deserve it. Most the world can't take matters into their own hands like Ace did though. I did believe in the law and that it was needed, but I also trusted in Ace. That's why even though I sat on the wrong side of good and bad I always remained by Ace's
Alley POVWe boarded another plane and flew away from the little island my whole world remained at. I was getting really tired of getting kidnapped. I use to love flying and now I hated it. If I never saw the inside of a plane again I would be very happy."Cheer up Babushka, you're safe." Ivan handed me a bottle of water as he sat next to me. Angelo had fallen asleep shortly after we took off and I was thankful I didn't have to see his face. I'm sure he wanted to teach me a lesson for kicking him in the balls but he deserved so much worse.That man destroyed so much inside me and all I wanted was to watch him bleed. I don't think I could do it though. I remembered pointing my gun at Alvarez, then the gun going off, and then he just dropped. Instantly he was dead. His death haunted me but I wouldn't change that moment for anything. He killed Derek and deserved worse then a quick end. Still it didn't sit right with me taking another's life. I looked suspiciously at Ivan wondering how m
Ace POVI don't know what was itching at my skin but I knew it had something to do with seeing Alley one last time. Do I tell her I know what happened? My head leaned back against the seat trying to relax. How do I face her again? All this shit happened to her because of me. Did she even know that Darien was really my brother? A mother's love is strong, but that is something hard for anyone to deal with. To see the boy of a man that raped you, then raise him with kindness. I can't think of Alley ever being cruel to a child, especially one that is her own, but this was another sick twist of fate. I fuck that girl so many times and the one time my piece of shit fath... one time and he gets her pregnant. It's all too hard to fucking deal with it. God Derek was probably waiting at the veil trying to break free to haunt my ass. I can only imagine how much he fucking hates me now. My head fell to my hands and my fingers pulled lightly at my hair. What the fuck was I supposed to do?"What
Ethan POVThe second "Dad" came out of my nephew's mouth I was swimming in rage. Ace fucked with Alley's head enough and he wasn't going to do it to Darien too. The little boy wrapped his arms around Ace and my fist balled at my side. Then I saw Darien whisper in his ear. Once he pulled away and gave Ace that look I knew all too well I could only guess what threat he just told him. Darien was small but he would grow to be someone you didn't want to ever piss off. "I have to go. Maybe one day I could come back and formally meet your beautiful family." My Nanna laid her hand on my shoulder with tears sitting in her eyes."Stay! Ace is a grown ass man that's fucked up enough." I tried holding my anger back. Everyday I felt my hate towards Ace grow stronger. Now Alley was fucking missing again and I blamed it all on him. No, not missing. We knew exactly where she was. At the hands of a fucked up monster that already ruined so much for her."I'm sorry my boy. Ace needs me now. I'll come
Daniel POVThe doctor patched my shoulder, again, then gave me some antibiotics and pain killers. This was a fucking mess. I had no idea what to do though. It was stupid to come home. The house right out back of the man's home who shot me, but I needed to find Elise. "You should leave." I clenched my jaw looking away from her eyes. She was a beautiful woman that made me feel things I didn't want to feel again."Not until we figure out what Ace found out. I can't just let him go on a war path that we both know will end in his death.""Elise, he is Ace Blackwood and will do whatever he wants. None of us can stop him.""You don't know that, Daniel. We are the closest thing to a family he has. I won't let him just throw his life away because his grandfather was a psycho. What about Alley?""What about Alley? I told you, they will never be together. I been with them since they were kids. They don't want the same things in life.""They do though. Ace just feels like this bullshit legacy is
Ace POVI stood in front of my wall length mirror adjusting my tie. I haven't looked myself in the eye in a week and I wasn't sure if I liked the man staring back at me. I had my black suit on, black tie, and white shirt. Tonight was about ending as much of the bullshit as possible so I kept it simple. My jet black hair was still a little wet and slicked off to the side. The best feature of my whole body were these eyes and that was because they didn't belong to him. Well one other part of my body but he wasn't getting any attention tonight. I used to see my father in the mirror and fucking hated it more than anything. Despite knowing I was a good looking man I would give anything to change my appearance. To look less like that monster that raised me. Now I say that little boy. A smile tugged at my lips seeing his little face with so much power in it. He was a confident little shit and would grow up to be a man that did what he wanted. No one would keep him back, build him up just
Ace POV Seventy two. That's how many years I lived this life so far. At eighteen I thought I would be lucky to see thirty and now I've seen so much more. I wish I could say it was all good. That after Alley and I found each other again that everything was just happiness and perfection, but that wasn't life.Our first heartache was losing our daughter when she was seventeen in a car accident. Alley could barely breath for what seemed like years after we buried our child. I would relive all the horrors my father handed me over and over to never have to experience that pain. Our seven other children keep us going though. We had other's depending on us and we had to push through the heartache for them. Show them life was still worth living, despite the hole we all shared.My Nanny passed shortly after our daughter. She battled her lung disease for years and I knew she was in immense pain but she held on. Losing one of her great grandchildren I think pushed her to the end though. She told
Nanny Fuck Face POVI looked down from my balcony from my bedroom window leaning on my cane as all my great grandchildren played in the pool outside. Today was the twin's sixteen birthday and the house was full of friends and family. For six months I stayed with Ace in hiding, waiting patiently to be able to live this life I desired for so long. After my daughter died I gave up thinking life would ever be kind to me. I felt hopeless and weak until that day I stood at Ace's graduation party and saw his undying love for Alley. They were saying goodbye but I knew she was his salvation. The light he needed to keep his soul alive and good. Then I saw my other grandson, a boy I thought that was lost to this family and was thankful for it. The Blackwoods were so deeply rooted in sin I prayed everyday my grandchildren would find a better life than my daughter or I did.I never thought it would turn out like this. I wish I could change my past but I also didn't want to change a single moment
Alley POV"Are you saying my son is a problem. I can assure you he is the least of your worries." Christian's tall muscular frame was backing up a perky little woman against a wall. I rolled my eyes with a sigh. Such a brute, especially when it came to his kids."Calm down there, Varsity dip shit." I pulled his shoulder away from the scared woman. Christian's eyes turned dark on me and I just raised my eyebrows at him. My fingers touched my necklace, one he had made for me on my sixteenth birthday but gave to me years later. He was my forever, our love and bond infinite, and he will be a good boy that listened."This woman said Darien seems distracted. She thinks he's been the one pranking the principal. I want to speak to this so called principal!" His voice softened as he spoke to me, but it still held a demand in his tone. "This woman is his teacher and is harmless. We know our son and I'm sure he has been causing some havoc. Sit and calm yourself." I pushed him down in a small cl
Alley POVMaybe it was the pregnancy hormones or maybe I was really hating Ace right now. So much rage was coursing through my body and I was doing everything in my power not to grab the cake next to me and smash it in that motherfucker's face."What just happened?" Greg asked. He was still playing catch up."Ace faked his death. I'm going to kill him." All the pain I felt the last six months and he was alive? He was just hiding out, lying to all of us to keep us safe. That was bullshit, he was a motherfucker."Whoa! Alley's about to go lethal." Ethan and Daniel were next to me now as I watched Ace kneeling down speaking to Darien and Derek. He did look really hot and how he played with the boys was making my body call to him. No! He pays first."He lied to us." My head shot to Daniel. He knew too."Calm down. Remember you are with child Alley." Daniel had his hands up in the air in surrender."What's happening? I love when Alley goes psycho!" Elise said way too happy at my anger. Lyd
Alley POVSix months later:It has been a hard few months, but Greg was right, I did find happiness again. Losing Ace was just as hard, if not harder, than losing my brother and I would never get over losing either one of them.Daniel and his partner Rowan survived the explosion, but had some scars on their face and arms. I was beyond thankful they made it out alive and thought they just looked more bad ass now. Today Greg, Lydia, Darien, Derek, and myself were driving up to Daniel's summer home in Rhode Island to celebrate his engagement to Elise and his official promotion. Ethan and Layla had the baby girls in tow behind us and I looked back to them in my rear view mirror with a smile. For some reason, I was really, really excited about this weekend trip. We hadn't all spent time together in months and I wanted to be surround by my family for the whole weekend. Daniel already promised a big fire pit out back just for me, it was of course for everyone, but he knew how much I like s
Alley POVIt took Ethan a long time to calm me down and get me on a plane back home. I didn't want to leave without Christian, but Darien was waiting for me at home. I wish I could say it was easier to walk away for my son. I would always choose Darien above Christian, but it didn't mean it made my decision to leave any less harder.I cried in Ethan's chest the whole plane ride home, swearing I would never step foot on one of these again. The second I did get home Darien and Derek were there welcoming me with tears. That did make my sadness a little more bearable. I loved this family so much and I just didn't understand why I couldn't have Christian too. That night Greg stayed with me and we watched movies well past the moon rising. He knew I wasn't sleeping anytime soon and Ethan needed to be with his wife. Layla was doing much better, but she still had her own stuff going on.We didn't speak much and I appreciated how Greg was relentless with the way he cared for me. It reminded m
Daniel POVI paced the hallway outside Ace's hospital bed losing my mind. The switch was supposed to take place already and now I was losing my window. On top of that, once they arrested my boss IA moved in our department. Within a few hours I was assigned as the temporary head of the criminal organization task force and had one sorry ass fucker with a stick up his ass questioning my every move."So, you've worked undercover for seven years with this," a studious prick with four inch thick glasses looked over his paperwork, "ah, Christian Ace Blackwood?""Yes! We discussed this two hours ago. It's not that hard of name to remember either.""I see, yes. I'm just curious if maybe you've been too deep undercover. Seven years is a long time and you seem to have an unhealthy relationship with this murder." The IA agent looked in Ace's room with disgust. He was a murder, but they didn't know his story. He didn't kill randomly and never hurt someone innocent. I can't explain that in any ra
Daniel POV"It's time." I called into Rowan to move in on the people at Déjà vu. "You got everything on our boss we needed." I could hear his amusement over the call. We've been working to take our boss down for over seven years and this was our moment."Every last fucking word." I smiled and hung up.Once I heard about Angelo taking Alley, again, and how Ace was calling a meeting, which included Dmitri I knew how to get my boss. His filth went as deep as you would line his pockets. I feed him the bait that Angelo was desperate and he contacted him to make a deal.Before Ace's little meeting my boss meet Angelo to workout a plan to remove Ace permanently, for a hefty payment of course. Angelo paid him more money then he owned and I got it all on video including the wire transfer.My men moved in already knowing I was running this operation. I saw my boss standing behind Ace with his gun to his head and I knew I had to remove him quickly. He would kill Ace just for the high of taking
Ace POVI stood in front of my wall length mirror adjusting my tie. I haven't looked myself in the eye in a week and I wasn't sure if I liked the man staring back at me. I had my black suit on, black tie, and white shirt. Tonight was about ending as much of the bullshit as possible so I kept it simple. My jet black hair was still a little wet and slicked off to the side. The best feature of my whole body were these eyes and that was because they didn't belong to him. Well one other part of my body but he wasn't getting any attention tonight. I used to see my father in the mirror and fucking hated it more than anything. Despite knowing I was a good looking man I would give anything to change my appearance. To look less like that monster that raised me. Now I say that little boy. A smile tugged at my lips seeing his little face with so much power in it. He was a confident little shit and would grow up to be a man that did what he wanted. No one would keep him back, build him up just