Ethan POV"Cheers!" I shouted clanking my glass to my best friend. "I can't believe we are here." I said shaking my head. "Seven years ago, to date, everything changed and it all turned out ok.""Yup. You asked me to marry you and I said yes!" Alley gave me her sexy, teasing smile that I always melted to. I glanced down at my wedding ring spinning it over my finger. My second child was on the way with the most gorgeous woman who I was madly in love with. That was not the reason we were celebrating though. We rarely spoke of the true reason, but every year we got together and celebrated this day. Alley needed the reminder to help keep her monsters at bay and we needed to remember that we can get through anything if we just stick together. "Sorry I'm late!" Layla slid in next to me reaching over my body like I didn't exist then gave Alley a big hug. We were not on the greatest of terms and surprise she was pregnant again. You would think I learned my lesson with baby Derek, but I did
Daniel POV"Agent Daniels this is getting out of hand! You don't have a free pass to kill as you please!" My superior was yet again screaming in my ear because Ace went fucking rabid. Seven fucking years I've been at his side and all it got me was one headache after the other. That boy seriously loves a good game of wits and when he wins, everyone dies. "Yes, sir. I understand but I can't be his right-hand man while also having a conscience. I would be the next one found dead. Why was Ramirez even let go in the first place? I practically hand fed you that bust then three weeks later he is walking free.""He was working for us. He had strong connections with the Columbia cartel. Now we have nothing, again. You're a federal agent not a vigilant so get your target under control!" He screamed then hung up on me.I took a deep breath and then laughed. No one controlled Ace. One of these days they are going to pull me from this case and then I'll be fucked. I won't leave Ace's side but it
Ace POVI twirled in my chair killing twenty minutes so I could piss my father off. When he called a meeting, everyone was to arrive on time when he would purposely make them wait ten minutes. Now that I was the boss, I made his ass wait twenty minutes every fucking time.My pen spun in my finger tips and I tried watching it intently like it was the most interesting thing in the world. I had to keep my mind constantly occupied or it would wander to places it shouldn't. For seven years I found many ways to distract myself; from master plan to rid the world of scumbags, to torturing my father, to messing with Elise and Daniel, and to of coursing fucking. No matter what I did though, there was always this constant burn inside me. I hated this life, but considering my options it was the only one I wanted. Times up! "Advisors, slaves, and of course father, what is the status of my companies?" My tone was cold and although I was a wise ass most the time no one knew whether I was joking o
Ace POVThe second I walked out of the airport there was David. White messy hair with a small beer belly dressed in khaki shorts and a fucking button-down shirt with little blue sailboats on them. What the hell was he wearing? He looked like an idiot holding a stupid sign with my name on it along with a cheesy smile. This dude was way too old to be so happy. I nodded to the few men I brought along for security to follow behind us. I never had someone try to attack me in public before, but as powerful as I was, I needed eyes everywhere. "Christian! It's so good to see you again." David gave me a half hug then grabbed my bag. I held my straps tight "I got it!" I glared at him. There were only clothes in it, but I can carry my own bag."Of course. You look like you had a meeting this morning. Why don't we head home and you can change?" He began walking out of the airport to his Mercedes parked out front."I'm fine and I didn't have a meeting." I looked down at myself. This was one of
Ace POVI watched her little body so tense with anger while sitting at her drawing desk. Her ass was firm on the round seat with both cheeks spilling a little over the edges. Fuck, I was definitely sticking my dick in that and soon.I looked around her office noticing how it was by far the largest in the building. Someone was used to being spoiled. Her back wall was all exposed brick with a large window peering out to a garden. She had a black desk with a laptop set up in the corner and a shit load of papers everywhere. Both corners had racks stuffed with rolled up blue prints. The wall to my right was ceiling to floor book shelves and the one to the left was entirely painted with what looked to be heaven, purgatory, and hell. A bit morbid.I took a seat on her black leather couch and watched her for a few moments. Whatever she was working on she was so engrossed in she didn't even realize I was here the past five minutes. She was a strange woman."I would think looking out over the g
Alley POVThe second he stoned his face and called me a whore I wanted to sink into the floor boards. He just fucked me so good and now spoke to me like I was nothing. I don't know why I was even surprised. He is a fucking asshole and always has been. At least now I know he definitely doesn't recognize me. No way Christian would be able to resist holding back that information this long. It was for the best too. I'm pretty sure he still believed I was the monster back then, just as I knew he was. His fingers came to my chin knocking all my senses out then took my lips to his giving me a soft dominating kiss. The bastard actually laughed at me for kissing him back and then walked out. I took a few deep breaths against my bookshelf trying to calm the storm brewing in my head. I hated that man so much and blamed him for Derek's death, yet my body was a fucking magnet to his. Somehow the fucking Devil actually got even sexier over the years too. He seemed taller, was definitely bigger,
Alley POVI settled into my work creating a new design for Ralph, one that didn't resemble a tragic event that affected all of America. I was such an idiot.Christian left a note on my desk to have a new design to him by five. If it was worthy of his time then he would consider allowing the company to stay open. I'm sure this was a trick to get me alone in his office, but I never fell for one of his traps unless I wanted to.After hours of drawing, I finished. Not my best work, but it would do. I designed three towers, not regal and pristine like the Marquis trio, but elegant with a touch of wonderland. After all I was definitely feeling that lost down a drug induced rabbit hole vibe these past two days."Excuse me, Sir. We have a meeting if you're ready." Everything about my voice was submissive and scared. I knew that's how he liked everyone around him to be. "I hope this isn't a waste of my time." He waved to me to enter, not even picking his head up from a few files. I didn't wa
Ace POVThat fucking woman had me so riled up all day. I already fucked her like nothing but a piece of ass against her office wall. That should be enough. After her lame presentation this morning I should be annoyed with how simple minded she was. I tried flirting with that assistant chick, but once I caught Mia's eyes, I realized I was only doing it to make her jealous. I never openly flirted with women. I let them come to me, then I take what I want.I was annoyed all fucking day at her and I knew it was because I liked her. I never liked anyone. When she met me in my office, I was exhausted from trying not think of a hundred different ways to fuck her. It was bringing back memories I didn't want to relive. Then after I dismissed her, I saw the hurt in her eyes that I didn't want her. I loved a woman with daddy issues, but she was extreme. She needed my approval of her, my desire for her body, because she didn't think she was enough. God that reminded me of someone else.It was sa
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