CHAPTER SIX: ... you might get killed.

ACE

She stood there gawking at me. I’d left her speechless—that much I was sure of.

I kept walking deeper into the garden, lost in memories… of my mother.

It was her garden. She loved it like a child—probably because it was the only thing she had control over, especially when it came to my old man. Everything about her life revolved around him.

My mother loved him too much, and that was the beginning of her downfall.

She couldn’t leave him, no matter what.

Not that he would have let her. She knew too much about the family. But Mason… my father… he loved her too, in his own twisted way. Her absence destroyed him from the inside out.

I envied their love.

But it was dangerous—for both of them.

A love like theirs is the kind I would always long for… but never pray to have.

A slight bump on my back snapped me out of it.

“Sorry, Ace,” she said, placing a small hand on her forehead.

“It belonged to my mother. I haven’t been in here since she left.”

I watched her glance around the garden, her eyes soaking it in.

She nodded subconsciously, clearly appreciating its beauty.

“It looks clean and well-tended,” she observed, moving toward the hammock beside the one I sat on. She tried to hide it, but I could see it—how relaxed she was becoming around me.

She’d stopped trying to escape. Now she only roamed the mansion… as if searching for something.

“What did you do today?” I asked.

“Hm?” She looked at me, waiting for me to repeat the question. I just raised a brow, and she continued.

“Nothing much,” she replied. “The mansion is... impressive. I gave myself a tour. I was this close to helping the maids just to kill time.” she said casually, though I could tell it was a bit forced.

“You ready to start earning your keep around here?” I asked, just to be sure. Her answer would help push forward the plans I already had for her.

“Yes, boss.”

“Good. Someone from the kitchen will show you what to do tomorrow,” I said, still not looking at her face.

She wanted to work. I was giving her work.

“The kitchen?” she blinked. “I’m not really into cooking, boss.”

“I never said anything about cooking,” I replied, dryly. “I’m not ready to be poisoned. And neither are my men.”

She went quiet. I stood up and walked a little closer.

“I’ve got work, Hopy. I appreciate the self-tour, but next time…” I leaned in closer, lowering my voice.

“Be mindful of where you poke. You might get killed.”

“Yes, Ace.”

I could hear the fear creep into her voice.

“And don’t come in here without my permission again.” I said before leaving.

******

HOPE

I didn’t mean to bump into him, but being that close to Ace always left my senses scrambled.

“Sorry, Ace,” I muttered, brushing my forehead, heat creeping up my neck. His back felt like stone—immovable, unshakable. Just like him.

“It belonged to my mother,” he said, voice low. “I haven’t been here since she left.”

I looked around, surprised by how peaceful it was. A garden like this didn’t belong in a house ruled by secrets and blood. It was... untouched. Sacred, almost.

“It looks clean and well tended,” I said, walking toward the hammock beside his. The further I stepped into the space, the more I felt like I was trespassing in something too personal. He didn’t stop me, though, and that felt like permission.

I sat, careful not to get too comfortable. But my body betrayed me. I relaxed without meaning to. Around him, I was supposed to be alert. Focused. But lately, I was neither.

I hadn’t tried to escape again. Not really. Instead, I wandered the mansion like a curious ghost searching for something I couldn’t name. Familiarity, maybe. Or comfort. Or him.

“What did you do today?” he asked, his tone unreadable.

“Hm?” I looked up, startled.

He raised a brow, waiting.

“Nothing much,” I replied. “The mansion is... impressive. I gave myself a tour. I was this close to helping the maids just to kill time.”

I tried to sound amused, but he didn’t buy it.

“You ready to start earning your keep around here?” he asked, and there was a deeper meaning beneath those words—like he was testing me.

“Yes, boss,” I answered.

“Good. Someone from the kitchen will show you what to do tomorrow.”

I frowned. “The kitchen? I’m not really into cooking boss.”

“I never said anything about cooking,” he replied, glancing sideways. “I’m not ready to be poisoned. Neither are my men.”

I huffed, almost laughing, but caught myself. With Ace, it was hard to tell if he was joking or warning me.

He stood and leaned in close, the air shifting around us. His breath brushed my ear, warm and maddening.

“I’ve got work, Hopy. I appreciate the self-tour, but next time…” he leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

“Be mindful of where you poke. You might get killed.”

I froze. Every inch of my body screamed caution.

“Yes, Ace,” I whispered, trying to hide the tremor in my voice.

He stepped away, his shadow lifting off my skin. “And don’t come in here without my permission again.”

And then he was gone.

I stared after him, heart pounding harder than it should’ve. Why did his nearness do this to me? Why did his voice cling to my skin like smoke?

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I came here with a plan.

But he managed to make me more confused than I already was.

I thought I’d seen the worst of Ace Mason. The blood, the ruthlessness, the fire behind his cold, dark eyes.

But it was moments like this—when he let his walls down, even slightly—that scared me more.

Because I was starting to like the man behind the monster.

And I couldn’t afford to.

And with that thought, I made my way out of the garden and down to my room. With Ace, it was always on and off—hot and cold. I needed to move faster. No more hide and seek, no more playing the stubborn girl who liked to run away.

I walked straight to the bed and reached for the small suitcase where my few belongings were packed. I pulled out a button burner phone and stared at it for a long moment.

Making the call I was about to make would officially mark the beginning of my assignment. It would alert them...

But then, I paused.

On second thought, I quickly tucked the phone away. I needed to see what plans Ace had for me in the kitchen first before making any moves.

I lay back on the bed, and before I knew it, sleep claimed me.