Paetyn’s POVIt was a long day, to say the least. My mind was a jumbled mess of everything that had happened in the last forty-eight hours, making it hard to concentrate on my clients. No matter how hard I tried to push everything to the back of my mind, I would find myself getting lost in thought whenever a client was speaking or when I was on my lunch break. I hate that Liam has somehow forced his way into the corner of my mind, despite my breaking off our engagement. Every time I picture his face, or remind myself about how he put my life on the line for his own gain, I get the urge to punch his stupid face. He deserves it. It’s easier said than done to move on from what happened, but I’m optimistic that, with a little bit of time, I can put this whole thing behind me. At least, I hope so. I expect to see Ace when I walk through the front door of his house. Now that I know what he does with his spare time, I’m not sure what his schedule looks like. I mean, being an enforcer for
Paetyn’s POVI swallow hard, but the pressure of his hand on my throat doesn’t leave me with much room. “Stand up,” Ace commands, his intense blue eyes holding mine.I do as I’m told and stand, the barstool skidding across the tiled floor. My neck strains as I tilt my head back to meet his gaze. Inky strands of hair fall over his forehead, framing his intrusive eyes as they peer down at me. A nervous energy thrums in my veins as I wait for him to make the next move. Ace is a man who enjoys watching me squirm, knowing he is the one in charge and has total control over me. When I was with Liam, he never took charge and would often ask me what I wanted to do when it came to sex. But not Ace. He doesn’t need to ask what I want because he knows what I need without me having to say it. In the short time I’ve known him, he has learned to read my body and the way it reacts to him. Which means he knows how to drive me crazy. “Turn around,” he murmurs. “Hands on the countertop.”Ace releas
Paetyn’s POVMy eyes nearly bulge out of my head. “What?”I blink at him, trying to process what I just heard. Ace has a recording of Liam sleeping with his secretary. I mean, I had a feeling he was being unfaithful but didn’t have the evidence to prove it. But somehow Ace does…. How? He stares down at me, unmoving. His silence indicates he’s allowing me to process the bomb he just dropped on me, but his not saying anything is making the anger bubbling in my veins worse. “What the hell, Ace? How do you have footage of that?” I fold my arms over my chest. “I want the truth.”Ace runs a hand through his messy hair and takes a step back as if pushed aside by the anger radiating off me. “Does it matter how I got it? We can use it against him and destroy any chance he has at progressing his campaign. It’s a win-win for both of us.”“Ace,” I growl. “Tell me how you got the footage, or I’m walking out that door.”His eyes darken. The ticking in his strong jaw tells me I hit a nerve, but th
Paetyn’s POV I know he’s watching me, just like he promised he would. The moment I stepped out of my car after arriving at the hospital, I felt his intense gaze on the side of my face. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to look in his direction and force my myself to walk away. After I left Ace’s house last night, I drove straight to Raya’s. She was more than happy to let me stay with her for as long as I needed. I don’t know what I would do without my best friend. No matter the circumstance, she will drop everything for me if I so much as ask, and vice versa. When I’m with her, it’s a judgment-free zone. Raya is the best at listening and offers the best advice. When I told her what happened with Ace, she pointed out that it seemed like I already knew what I wanted. Which was to put some space between me and Ace to figure out my next move, and then I’ll see him again. And she’s right. For once, I know what I want and didn’t have to hear reason from my best friend to fig
Ace’s POVIt’s fucking killing me that I’m forced to watch Paetyn from afar–to the point that my muscles are permanently tensed and my vision is blurred at the edges. Ever since she left my house three days ago, I haven’t known peace. And I haven’t slept either. How could I when I need to know she’s safe? And the only way to know that for sure is to watch her myself. Besides going to work, Paetyn hasn’t left Raya’s house. For good reason. She knows I was watching her when she visited her mother at the hospital two days ago. Which means she has likely chosen not to leave the house to avoid seeing me. And while that irritates the fuck out of me, I understand her reasoning. She wants time to figure it all out. While I’m not the most patient man, I am willing to give her the time she needs.Knowing she is safe at her friend’s house does bring me some peace of mind, but it doesn’t change the fact that I wish she would return home with me where she belongs.Without Paetyn by my side, it’s
Paetyn’s POVI’ve barely made it through the front door before Ace has his lips attached to my neck, sucking the skin at the base of my throat harshly while his hands roam over my chest. He pinches my nipple poking through the thin material of the oversized T-shirt I threw on earlier tonight.“Did you specifically not wear anything beneath this shirt because you wanted me to kill Seren for seeing you like this or sneak into your room and fuck you until you were screaming my name?”A shiver shudders through my entire body. It should be embarrassing how soaked my panties are from hearing the words fall from Ace’s filthy mouth, but I’m not. If anything, it fuels the fire burning in my core and the electricity thrumming beneath my skin. The front door slams closed, and I arch my back, desperate for Ace to continue touching me the way he is. “Which is it, little bird?” His warm breath fans against the sore skin at the base of my neck. I won’t be surprised if the spot is purple and blue b
Ace’s POVPaetyn is asleep beside me when my crusted over eyes open the next morning. After spending what felt like hours making Pae beg for me to let her come, I collapsed on the bed, overcome with exhaustion from the past few days of sleepless nights, and passed the fuck out. I don’t remember my head hitting the pillow. It was a miracle my body lasted as long as it did. My gaze sweeps across to Paetyn wrapped in the sheets, locks of strawberry-blonde hair splayed across the pillow. The morning sun shines through the curtains to illuminate her soft features, making it difficult for me to keep my stirring dick in control. How is it possible that I have the most beautiful woman in the world sleeping in my bed? My dick stirs again, and I take this as my cue to get the fuck out of here. As much as I would love to wake Paetyn up with my head between her thighs and my tongue licking her sweet pussy, I’m craving a cup of coffee. Besides, I’m not sure she would appreciate me teasing her a
Paetyn’s POVLiving with Ace the past two days has been exhausting. Not because he’s insufferable to live with, but because his sex drive is out of this world. To the point it keeps me up late and wakes me early in the morning before work. But I’m not complaining in the slightest. Being with Ace is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Not only is he intense and does everything he can to blow my mind when we have sex, but he knows how to take care of me and make sure I’m comfortable and happy. Ace takes care of me in a way Liam never did. Liam was a pump and dump kind of guy, but Ace takes the time to give us both what we need and clean me up afterward. What more could a girl ask for? The sun has dipped below the New York City horizon, casting the streets in darkness. I wave goodbye to Clarissa after locking up the office and wait by the front doors for Ace. Now that I’m staying with him, he insisted he picks me up from work every day to ensure I get home safely. After I leaked t
Paetyn’s POVI’ve been bedridden at home for twenty-four hours, and I’m already losing my damn mind. Who knew sitting in bed all day would actually be so bat shit boring? Sure, I love a relaxing day as much as the next person, but when it’s forced upon me, and I get no say in what I do, I can’t stand it. The quiet throughout the house besides the voices coming from whatever TV show I threw on is growing increasingly more unnerving. My gaze sweeps across the duvet to the book on the bedside table, bookmark nestled between the pages. Not even reading a new bestseller has diminshed any of the boredom I’m experiencing. No amount of distractions has helped me to relax. It doesn’t help that I’m worried about Ace. When he got into bed last night, I could tell something was off. Whatever happened in his office while I was on the phone with Clarissa rattled him to the point that he could barely speak. I didn’t push him on the topic because I had a feeling it was related to Enzo and the Gambi
Ace’s POVI’m so fucked. I knew it the moment I took the call from Amos last night.When I sat down at my desk, intent on catching up on emails and texts, my phone rang. I was close to not answering the call from Amos because I had been ignoring him and Enzo all week, too busy at the hospital with Paetyn, so why connect now? But I knew I couldn’t avoid this conversation for much longer. “Boss wants to see you in his office tomorrow morning,” Amos said, voice gruff. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “And what’s this about?”“You’ll find out when you get here. Ten A.M. Don’t be late.”The call ended as quick as it started, and I was left staring at my desktop, ice filling my veins to the point I was almost suffocating. I knew what Enzo wanted to see me about and knew it wouldn't end well for me. Walking out on a job last week and ignoring him since had clearly landed me in scalding water. All I could do was face the music and accept the punishment I knew would be coming my way. Sit
Paetyn’s POV“Now, are you sure you’re okay, Pae?”I turn in the front seat, eyes lingering on the curve of Ace’s jaw. His knuckles are pale as they hold the steering wheel in what I’m sure is a death grip. Even beneath the leather jacket he’s wearing, I see the tension rippling through his muscles. Since the attack seven days ago, Ace has hardly left my side. Unless it was to grab coffee, food, or use the bathroom, he’s been glued to the chair beside my bed, holding my hand. I hadn’t expected him to do so since I knew he had his own business to deal with and work he needed to do, but he reassured me that he wasn’t going anyway unless it was to take me home once I was discharged. I don’t remember much about the attack. All I know is I blacked out after taking a boot to the side of the head—which I’m thankful for. If I was conscious throughout the entire ordeal, I can’t imagine how much more pain I would’ve suffered. The doctors and nurses said I was lucky to be alive because of how
Ace’s POVIt pained me to leave Paetyn in that sterile hospital room this morning. The nurses were kind enough to give me a blanket and let me sleep in the chair, mainly because I refused to leave her side despite visiting hours being over. It became obvious rather quickly that I wasn’t the type of person to back down from something as trivial as visiting hours, so they relented and let me spend the night. Sleep didn’t grace me with its presence. How could I close my eyes when all I could picture was Paetyn’s battered body lying on the cold, dirty ground of the alleyway? Guilt ate away at me while I watched her sleep, her breathing labored and her chest rising and falling unevenly. She wouldn’t tell me every detail of the attack, just that she eventually lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital. A nurse told me someone called 911 after finding her, left for dead. If that person hadn’t found her when they did, she could’ve died. I left the hospital before the sun had risen, ne
Ace’s POVA scream pierces through the air, sharp and painful. Any normal person would cringe at the sound or be filled with such fear it would make their knees wobble like a newborn fawn. But I’m not a normal person. Never claimed to be. I’m the fucking devil. I squat in front of the man chained to the roof of the basement in the Gambino mansion. His trembling arms are attached to the hook on the low ceiling by a thick metal clasp. He hangs there helplessly, leaving the rest of his body exposed to me to do with as I please. My gaze rakes over the sweat and blood clinging to his pale skin. Bruises and gashes paint his body like the finest piece of artwork, thanks to my fists. Electricity thrums through my veins at the sight of this kid, not much older than nineteen if I had to guess. I should feel some ounce of remorse for punishing someone who is nowhere near mature enough to understand his actions. And some part of me wants to feel that because he doesn’t know any better. But I d
Paetyn’s POVI’m concerned about Ace. Last week, I noticed he had busted knuckles that were split and beginning to bruise around the torn skin. When I asked what happened to him, he gave me that same straight-faced look I always get when I asked questions about his job. I know he is an enforcer and has to hurt people, but it doesn’t make me any less worried about him when he leaves in the morning. Not knowing if he’s out on the streets in danger sends me into a spiral more often than not. I know he’s a man capable of looking after himself, but it still doesn’t ease the tension in my chest. He won’t tell me the details of his job, and I don’t expect him to, but sometimes I think I would be better off knowing to help me relax a little more. But until that day comes—if ever—I will have to get used to worrying about my boyfriend. Boyfriend. It’s an odd feeling thinking of him as that. Who would’ve known that Ace, my kidnapper and stalker, would become my boyfriend? Certainly not me, bu
Ace’s POVEnzo was adamant about this shakedown going smoothly. He doesn’t want a single thing to go wrong. The goal is to get the message across to the Bonanno crew and their leader, Antonio, that we’re not to be messed with. If they don’t back off, Enzo will have no problem coming at them full force with me at his side. And unfortunately for them, I like getting my hands dirty. All the made men in the group stand around me, black hoods covering their heads, concealing their identities. Enzo ensured they were equipped with every weapon under the sun that’ll be useful in protecting them if shit goes south. I’d like to think I have this under control. After all, Enzo trusted me to do this, so I’m going to do it right. “Does everyone remember the plan?” My voice is quiet but deep in an attempt to not be detected where we stand in the shadows of the quarry. The full moon is our only source of light, which works in our favor for staying hidden. “The Bonanno crew have a gun shipment comi
Ace’s POVIt took every ounce of self control I possessed to not kill Patrick Aster with my bare hands. The smug look on his face when he told Paetyn to publicly name herself as an obsessed ex-fiancee to save Liam’s ass, and in return she’ll recieve one million dollars, had me seeing red. If Paetyn wasn’t standing in front of me, I would have lunged for the motherfucker. As much as I wanted to paint my hands red with his blood for having the audacity to speak to my girl that way, I reigned in my temper and allowed her to make her own decisions. Plus, I got far too much enjoyment out of seeing his face when I answered as her boyfriend. I’m sure Pat will have a swell time informing his son of that development. Paetyn trails me as we walk the small pathway to the front door of our house. Her presence behind me is all-consuming, like a wildfire licking at my back, ready to devour me. Every inch of her is ingrained in my mind—there isn’t a thing I don’t know about this woman or what she
Paetyn’s POVThe Aster mansion sends chills down my spine. Every dinner I ate with them consisted of Liam and Pat talking about politics while Angie smiled and nodded along as if it were the most riveting of topics. I was always bored out of my mind because not only am I not interested in politics, but they hardly ever included me in their conversation. All they cared about was their precious son. The same son who had me kidnapped and held hostage as a trick for his campaign.I never thought I’d be back here after I ended the engagement with Liam, but now, here I stand, staring down the barrel of the gun. My muscles itch, desperate for me to turn around and hightail it back to the comfort of Ace’s house where I know I’m safe. Here… anything can happen. No one is truly safe in the presence of Patrick Aster.“Pae, are you okay?” Ace’s hand rests on my shoulder, his chest brushing my back. I lean into the warmth of his hand, soaking in the comfort his gentle touch brings me. “If you