MIRANDA
Daniel shoved past Ace, shoulder checking him with a grunt before making his way down the hall to the elevator. I knew I couldn't keep Ace from entering the apartment but the rage in his eyes, the redness of his face, it all sent fear racing down my spine. He waited, though, waited for me to let him in. It surprised me he hadn't just broken into my apartment in the first place.
I stepped to the side and gestured for him to enter while wiping away the tears that stained my cheeks. Daniel had sat with me while we watched the whole video — the content instantly got to me. That could have been me. I could have been stuck beneath those boys. I could have been silently praying for it to stop because my body was too numb to do anything. Or maybe my mind would have gone numb too, barely registering what was happening. Maybe I wouldn't feel their icky hands on my flesh or the throbbing pain between my legs. Maybe I'd
MIRANDAAce remained silent after we left Gabby's house. I didn't like his silence because I wanted to know what was going on in his head. What did he think about my plan? Did my words shock him? It couldn't have though because we had about what I'd do to a dead body on multiple occasions. Of course, those were just ways to keep the imagination active. This was reality.I planned an actual living, breathing, person's murder and I didn't feel an ounce of guilt about it. Maybe I belonged in Ace's world after all.We entered the city but he wasn't making his way to my apartment. I wasn't sure where we were going but I was happy that it wasn't home because it gave me time to speak to him. It gave me time to loosen his tongue about what he had just heard."Are you just going to ignore my presence in the car then?" I quipped, turning to him with a glare.My eyes latched onto the
ACEI surveyed Miranda from the corner of my eye as I drove to her apartment. She was nervous and she could deny it all she wanted but I saw it in the way her pulse hammered against her skin at the crook of her neck, in the way minuscule beads of sweat clung to her temple, and in the way she kept fidgeting or biting at her lower lip that now sported red cracks because she wouldn't stop chewing at it.Miranda could lie to my face and tell me it was what I had planned for tomorrow that was bringing on these nervous ticks of hers but she would be fucking lying. She was nervous from the moment I entered her apartment after Daniel had left. If she thought for one God damned moment I believed her pathetic excuse of having rat problems, then she probably thought I was stupid — beyond it really.And maybe I would have brushed off her behavior if it hadn't been for the way she lunged at me, pressing her lips
MIRANDAI entered the massive house with my chin up and my palms clammy. Not the best combination but I remembered the last time I had been here. Ace had dragged me along as company. He thought I would stop him from doing something utterly stupid and yet, at the end of the day, Ace still managed to be Ace.He was protective over Quinn, more so than he was over me at the time. But considering everything, I understood why. He didn't trust the man that stayed in this house. Not when that man was the same person who killed Ace's parents and then used Quinn — his very own daughter — as a pawn in his game.But I needed to be here. Ace wouldn't let me out of his sight especially when I mentioned coming to this home. I could see him fuming internally even though he kept a cold resolve on the outside when I mentioned meeting with Daniel. It wasn't what he thought though. I wasn't trying to get into Dani
MIRANDAHe wasn't home.I arrived after talking to Persephone only to find the house stark empty — not even a cook or helper in sight. I searched for Ace in the common areas like the living room and gardens and then went to his room but he wasn't there. The other half of the house was a half Ace never ventured into. Gunnar's room and home office were there.I paced the foyer, glaring at my phone's screen. Ace hadn't answered my calls or my texts and I didn't know what else to do. I would have been fine if this house didn't feel so haunted. In the darkness and quiet, a chill raced down my spine and had goosebumps littering my flesh. I wasn't worried about him. He could take care of himself and I knew this house was safe but...I sighed, taking a seat on the steps. The agent had indeed messaged me. He had even called multiple times. Since Ace wasn't at home, I called him back and he su
ACEShe didn't move.Even after I'd practically begged her to leave because I couldn't stand the sight of her in front of me, she didn't move. Each time my gaze fell on her all I thought about was what she had said to Daniel. Where did her touch her — if he did touch her. The mere thought of his hands on her skin had me turning near feral. I wanted to cut them off and maybe force feed them to him.And yet, the memory of what happened today still had me shuddering. Not even drowning myself in alcohol could erase the fear I saw in that vile man's eyes. The promises he made and I knew he damn well could never keep kept ringing in my ears. I remembered the feel of Gabby's skin against my palm when I had to clamp my hand over her mouth to muffle her scream when I had to push that piece of shit husband of hers off the stool he stood on because he refused to jump off. The sound of the wood creaking against
ACEI stared out into the night feeling a phantom chill race down my spine. My leather-clad hands were stuffed in the pockets of the black trench coat I wore. The sky was dark — not a cloud or star in sight but what else could I expect when I was standing in a city like this? The moon shone its silver rays upon us but even that was murky, the light being drowned out by the city lights that would have held a certain type of magic to it if it weren't something I saw every bitter day of my life.What the fuck was I even doing here?Apparently, I couldn't stay away. I woke up that morning after Miranda had decided to tell me the truth to find her gone. And I was genuinely okay with that. I went about my day trying to get at least a sliver of information about the people following me. However, I didn't want to involve either of my brothers which made things difficult. I didn't want to drag the cub into th
ACEI stuffed my clenched fists into the pockets of the black jeans I wore and rose my chin in natural defiance. This was a bad idea. Matter of fact, this was probably the worst idea that had ever wormed its way into my fucking head and yet, I didn't or couldn't find one good reason to stop myself from doing this. To just turn back and maybe take the Harper's advice.Squaring my shoulders and loosening a breath, I prepared myself for what lay ahead. A cocky smirk tugged at my lips. One that was practiced. One that I used to scare the people I did business with. The elevator doors parted and I looked straight ahead as I stepped out. Silence - pin drop silence - descended upon the room but I didn't care to even glance at the morons gawking at me as if I had fallen from fucking heaven.I snorted at the thought. It made more sense if I crawled out the depths of Hell. No part of me was made for Heaven and I lik
ONE YEAR LATER MIRANDA I paused my sketching and cocked my head to the side to inspect it. The natural light in my new apartment was God sent when it came to me curling up on the balcony and sketching my hours away. I was happier. At least, I felt a little happier. Lighter even. So much had happened in a year and I wasn't certain how I made it through but I had and now I wore a smile on my face that felt a little less fake than the ones I used to wear. Guilt still ate away at my very soul but I knew, wherever Ace was, he was safe and probably happy. Hopefully happy. That agent never bothered me again. Not after Ace had upped and left to another country. No one knew where he was but I knew he kept in contact with his brothers so he was alive. I thought about him more often than not. He had told me to follow my heart and do what made me happy and I took his advice even when my father had tossed the words 'You're a disappointment' and 'You're throwing a good future away for what' my