Ace POV"Any word about the girl?" I asked Daniel the second he came into my office. Some kid overdosed on Dante's shit drug the other night and we still had no ID. "Just got off the phone with the ME. It was a girl from your school. Her name was Katelyn McArthur. Did you know her?"Fuck tears were going to spill. Not for me and not for the girl but for Alley. How did this happen?"Is the warehouse cleared?" I asked"Yeah, and Alvarez has a bullet in his other leg now too. That old man will have more bullets than organs in his body pretty soon." Daniel chuckled."He should be dead. I told him to stop selling that shit after the raid went down." I slammed my fist to the table."He claims he did but who gives a shit if he was telling the truth. I rather enjoy torturing that man.""Me too. When are the arrangements?""Arrangements?""Funeral. When is Katie's funeral?" Once I said her name it finally clicked. "Fuck! The loud mouth red head Katie? Alley is going to be destroyed over thi
Alley POVI have serious issues. I threw my shirt on running back out to the kitchen and grabbed my tables food. "Hey you're out of here!" My manager Dave was approaching me like I just stole something. Right before he could grab my arm, we heard a loud crashing of furniture and dishes breaking. Shit, I think Ace is pissed. Oh well I guess he should learn some control. I probably should too."Ace cleared me to work. Want to go ask him yourself?" I smirked at Dave knowing there was no way he was stepping foot back there.I dropped my food to my table apologizing for the construction going on in the back. Nikki hung around the rest of night and I know she was itching to find out what happened, but I wish she would just disappear. I noticed Angelo spoke with her for a bit which made me suspicious. Since when did those two talk to each other and more importantly what did he want from her?"Turn the news up! They ID the girl." People were shouting from the bar area. I don't know why but
Ace POVI shouldn't of went to the funeral but there was this nagging feeling inside me forcing me to go. I didn't really know Katie and I would have never spoken to her if it wasn't for Alley, but she was a friend. She never seemed to fear me and loved giving us a hard time. She was even at my little party Alley gave me when I turned 18. Fuck! How different my world was back then. How quickly life changed in a few short months.Throughout the entire funeral my eyes kept drifting back to her, needing to watch if she was about to break down because I knew it was coming. Asshole and her little friend kept her close by and a part of me was thankful she had them. They would watch over her, help her in this life. I didn't want her anymore but I didn't want her to have nothing either. I just needed her to leave so I wasn't constantly reminded how I loved a girl that didn't love me back. I needed to have her out of sight so maybe one day she could be out of mind. Then it finally happened.
Alley POV"Where is your mother?" Daniel asked looking around our dingy little playground. Layla and Ethan were standing at the edge of the sand pit and I swung lightly back and forth on my favorite swing. I didn't hide from the memories anymore. Every single moment from my childhood flooded my brain the second we stepped foot in this park. All I could do was dissect each one wondering if we made different choices if we would still end up in this moment."She is fucking stubborn and refuses to leave without Derek. I don't give a shit though. He wanted to help her and that's the only reason I tried.""Wow! You are about to explode.""Yes, but trust me I'll wait until we are clear of this town first. You got the tickets and phones.""Of course. Why aren't you leaving with them Alley?""Good question." Ethan added"I need to be there to get Derek. Ace won't hurt me or him if I'm there.""Ace won't be there. His father is throwing a party at his house that night.""It doesn't matter they
Ace POVI held my little vixen in my arms kissing her, trying to make it last forever. Her soft lips belonged on mine. My tongue needed to caress hers every day, but we weren't getting our forever.She pulled away and every part of me tried to hold on to her. I watched our fingers slowly slide out of each other's and I took a hard breath as she walked away one last time. This wasn't the way we were supposed to be."I know you love her, but you have to let her go. You could have just as easily turned that bust on your father, dissolved everything he built, and been left with nothing but that girl. You chose to stay, and I pray it was to keep fighting and not for the money and power." Ethan's hand clapped my shoulder. "My father told me you didn't just get her eyes but you also got her soul and that's why you were worth saving. Be safe bro.""You're still an asshole. Keep her safe." He smiled at me then wobbled away. That was really it, the end of Christian and Alley and our forever. E
Alley POVI left that house that once felt like home in tears. I would never be his again, never feel him again or know his life. As much as it tore my insides apart, his life wasn't one I wanted to be a part of. Once I hit the street I crumbled to the ground and cried out. There was so much pain rushing through my body and all I wanted to do was make it stop. I felt Ethan's arms wrap around me and I sank into his chest. This man that never left my side, never lied to me sat on the ground with his leg in a cast holding me. "I can't, I can't." I kept repeating through sobs. I wasn't sure what I couldn't do but I had a feeling it had something to do with this hole in my heart."Shh it's ok Alley. I know it hurts but it'll be ok." He caressed my hair and back soothing me out of my darkness. I let myself breakdown releasing all my pain into my tears."Did you hear from Derek?" His thumb wiped away my tears as I slowly pieced myself back together."Yeah, he said he got away and would mee
Ace POV"We need to go!" Daniel was at my doorway and had a look like he was not in the mood for anyone's shit. I was still staring at the broken bracelet. "Fuck off!" I didn't take orders from him or care."Derek is dead!" I didn't process that information correctly. What the hell did he say? Derek is gone? Yes, that is what he said."Did hear me Ace? Derek is dead. He was found this morning at the lake. ME said overdose which probably means Alvarez."I sat up from my bed, throwing my legs off the side and placed my head in my hands. I was feeling better from whatever drug my father gave me but I was still a bit hung over. Maybe I was hallucinating, dreaming."Get the fuck up!" Daniel yelled and it jolted me to my feet. Only one man ever yelled at me and I fucking hated him."Watch your mouth. What the fuck are you talking about? Where is Derek?""He is dead. We need to go.""Where?" I heard it again. He said dead. That's not possible."Alvarez and if she isn't there then we kill h
My body froze when I saw her laying there on the floor in his office. "What is this?" My voice rang out in a deathly tone but I knew I had to be careful. I didn't care about myself in this moment. I had to get Alley out of here. I couldn't watch her die. Flashes of my eight-year-old daughter's limp body in my arms raced over my vision. I couldn't save her but I swore they would pay. Now I stood here and I wasn't going to watch Alley die. Angelo told me to dispose of the body and I clenched my jaw. I would get her out then come back and finish this.She was broken and passed out on the carpet. I scooped her small body in my arms and I carried her to my car. I didn't know what to do or how to help her. I took a deep breath and prayed. First, I called Ace's doctor to meet me at her house, then I called Ethan. The doctor should help without questions and Ethan, well he would move mountains for this girl. When we arrived to Alley's house her mother was crying on their couch halfway in