Chapter 7

Ace's POV

Alessia returned to Italy for some business she had to take care off. I was a little disheartened when she did indeed leave. She was growing on me much more than I cared to admit.

I also had some business to take care off. Many bosses would sit on their thrones and let their advisors run their business for them. But not I. There was something about getting my hands dirty that drove me. It made me hunger for power.

That did mean I had little time to myself but when I did, I enjoyed it. I smiled to myself when the thought of taking Alessia out crossed my mind. Would she even want to go out with me? No fuck. I can't think like that.

I knew I wasn't compassionate and loveable. Not like Kaden. My heart sank at the possibility of Alessia rejecting me. Perhaps she would stay in Italy and never return. I wasn't good enough for her. I could never be. This marriage was nothing but a piece of paper like she said.

I headed for my basement, a large empty room. Soundproof and dark. A good place to torture imbeciles. My shoes clicked as I walked down the polished marbled steps. A few of my guards stood at the bottom of the steps as they awaited me.

I unbuttoned my suit jacket and took it off, handing it to Ramsay, who followed behind me. I smirked when I saw the sight ahead. I took time to slowly roll the sleeves of my shirt up to my elbows. I grabbed a metal chair and sat on it, legs crossed.  

I held out a hand and Ramsay passed me a cigarette and I lit it using the lighter I had in my pocket. I do love dragging things out, call it a show if you wish. It's very entertaining

"So Aidan, I'm giving you one chance to confess." I spoke as I blew out a puff of smoke. The man in front of me was tied to a chair. His hands were bound behind him. He was also badly beaten as I requested. His grey hair was tinged red with his blood and his foul smelling feet were bare.

"Where's his shoes?" I asked a guard, unable to hide my amusement. The guard gulped. "He must have lost them when we grabbed him."

I chuckled as I ran a hand through my hair, pushing the strands away from my face. I looked at Aidan, remaining very quiet. I smoked as I watched him. Is he going to confess or do I need to teach him a fucking lesson.

He chose the latter after five minutes of silence. I'm a patient person but even I have limits. "All right you fucking rat. I know who you are. Paul White. A corrupted fed. You think you can just waltz in here and be a snitch. You have another thing coming." I growled.

This seemed to have awoken Paul as he began to stir and pull at his bonds. I smirked. "This is what's going to happen Paul, you're going to tell me exactly what you know and what you told the FBI about me and my perfectly legal business." I tapped my cigarette between my fingers watching the smoke disappear.

Paul froze, knowing he was defeated. "Why would I do that? You must be fucking insane. I won't tell you anything." He barked.

I chuckled darkly. "Yes, I am insane. So if I were you, I would do what I asked of you. It's that easy." I tapped my cigarette once more and watched the ash fall to the clean white floor.

Paul chuckled as he attempted to spit at me. My patience was wearing thin. Fucking asshole. "Bring in the girl." I ordered no one in particular. A girl was brought in, a guard held a gun to her head as she whimpered.

Paul's eyes shot up as he no longer struggled. He was fearful. The girl started to cry as she looked at her father. Love. How pathetic. Loving someone can be your downfall, your kryptonite.

"All right all right fine! I'll tell you everything I know. But please, don't touch her." Paul pleaded.

I chuckled as I stood up. "I did give you one chance. I don't give second chances. Now she will face the consequences." I walked over to the girl. "And if I want to touch her, I will." I smirked. The girl was hardly a victim but another fucking snitch.

I had my back towards Paul as he began to confess everything, which was not very much. I rubbed my eyes as I thought about what to do.

"Shut the fuck up!" I snapped as I faced Paul once more. "I've heard enough." He was lying. Every single word out of his mouth was a lie. And I wanted to know why he lied, even when his only daughters life was on the line.

I smirked at him. I could kill him right now and that would be the end of it. Or I could use him. The girl however, I did not need.

"Do you mind?" I asked Paul as he looked confused. I walked over to him and put out my cigarette onto his arm. He grunted as he held in a scream. I twisted the butt into his white flesh. "That's going to leave a mark." I walked back towards the girl.

She was young. Barely nineteen. Her long blonde hair was a mess and her blue dress was torn in places. The girl seemed very innocent but she was far from it. She was a murderer. "I do apologise for the roughness of my men. And I apologise for what I'm about to do to you." I spoke. I saw the fear that her eyes bore.

"See this is what you get Paul. I don't give a fuck about what you said." I nodded towards the guard who promptly released the girl. I took out my gun from my pocket and shot her. I shot her perfectly, an instant kill. A mercy for her life. She wasn't at fault but she paid for it. I didn't give a fuck.

Paul screamed loudly as he started sobbing. I looked straight at him. "Now Paul, I want to offer you a deal." I said calmly as I replaced the gun back into my pocket. "Work for me. I want intel on what the FBI have on me."

Paul held back his sobs. "No I fucking won't work for you. Ever!"

"I anticipated that reaction. Maybe this will change your mind." I said as Ramsay went ahead and showed a picture to him. A picture of his sister at a bar in Ibiza. "Now I won't ask again. Work for me or your sister will face the same fate as your daughter here." I glanced down at the girl. A pool of blood covered the floor from where she was shot.

Paul breathed quickly. "I'll do it. Just let me go." I smiled as I clapped slowly. "Excellent. You'll be reporting to my head of security once a week and if he thinks what you have worth saying is not enough, he will execute you and then he will pay a visit to your sister." I nodded to my head of security who was also here.

I turned to leave the room. "Now clean up this mess and release him. Give him the body."

I'm not a total monster. I am feared but I am respected because of my values. Perhaps I wasn't totally heartless. Could I have a chance of redemption. Perhaps even making a marriage work.

I took a long shower as I thought about everything that's happened in the last week. So fucking much. And why was I thinking about Alessia non stop?

"Ramsay, we're going to Italy." I sighed once I was dressed. "Yes Boss." Ramsay said as he went to make a phone call. I was mildly surprised when he didn't argue about why I wanted to go. He usually hated travelling.

As I sat on my private plane, one of many to my name, Ramsay smiled as he sat opposite me. I sighed heavily. "Spit it out." Ramsay smiled even wider. "Nothing." He pursed his lips and looked elsewhere.

I growled as I looked at him. I could take him in a fight. Granted it would take a while seeing as he is a fucking good fighter. "Fuck off Ramsay." The fucker.

He looked out of the window and into the starry night sky. "I wanted to ask why we were going to Italy but then I figured it out." He looked at me as he crossed his arms. "You are going to see a particular brunette and can I just say, you look good together. Give it a chance Ace." He smiled gently.

I shook my head but I didn't deny his accusation. I was indeed going to see Alessia. I'm unsure as to why. I didn't even know who she was until we were wedded. But I felt a longing to see her, to be in her presence.

After arriving in Italy, I headed to Alessia's house. Ramsay knew Italy well enough to point the driver in the right direction. We soon reached a house at the end of the road. It was secluded with steel gates and looked very expensive. It looked even more beautiful than America.

Our car drove down and we stopped at the gates. Ramsay rolled down his window and looked out. He muttered a few words to the guard who nodded and allowed us entry.

I stepped out from the car and did my button on my suit jacket. The evening sun dimmed as it cast a shadow over everything. I knocked on the front door and waited. Seconds later, the wooden door was cracked opened and a maid stood staring wide eyed. I glanced down at the short lady. "I'm looking for Alessia." I spoke clearly.

The lady looked increasingly uncomfortable as her eyes darted anywhere but on me. "She's not home." She muttered, her Italian accent was heavy. 

"No need to be afraid. I am her husband Ace Hernandez. Could you tell me where she is?" I asked, propping my arm onto the door frame.

"Forgive me Mr Hernandez. She is at the Santa Maria." The lady trembled. I don't understand why she was afraid of me. I haven't done nor said a bad word to her. Or is she afraid of Alessia and what she would do to her.

I grinned as I pushed off the frame. "Thank you." I turned and headed back towards the car. Ramsay entered the car and told the driver where to go. I cracked my neck. "Ramsay what's the Santa Maria?" I asked with curiosity.

He turned slightly to look back at me. "The face is a casino. It's also a club with a fighting arena. Very illegal."

"Interesting." I relaxed back into my seat. I stifled another yawn. It's evident I would be falling asleep very soon.

We eventually got to the Santa Maria as the rich darkness of the night surrounded us. I stepped out from the car and inhaled the clean air. "Fancy place." I muttered as my guards followed me inside. It only took a few words from Ramsay to the bouncer at the door for me to jump the queue.

I made my way inside. The ceilings were high and although the place was spacious, people crowded around. I walked straight for the bar and people moved out of my way. Their eyes were set elsewhere as they avoided my gaze.

I tapped on the counter of the bar. A bartender scurried in front of me and smiled widely. "What can I get for you?" He asked as he cleaned a glass with a towel. "I'm looking for Alessia Ferrari." Bartenders knew everything.

Upon hearing that name he put down the glass and pointed towards the back of the casino. "She is watching the fight in the private booth." He said. I didn't miss the subtle way his voice wavered and hands shook.

Damn. Did Alessia cause that much fear? I felt an overwhelming sense of admiration and delight.

After making my way to the booth, I saw Alessia in the far corner. I headed over with my guards still following behind. As I stepped into the booth, Alessia's eyes flickered over to me. She smirked and she didn't look away. She never looked away. Fucking hell.

"Ah hello Ace, fancy seeing you here." A gruff voice spoke up. "Hello Lucious." I greeted the man who occupied a seat in the booth. I took a seat opposite him and beside Alessia.

Lucious furrowed his brows as he looked at Alessia. She simply pressed her red lips together. She shook her head. "This is my husband, Ace Hernandez." She informed Lucious. My heart sped up with the way my name rolled of her tongue and how she introduced me. Fuck.

She glanced at me and then at Lucious. He smiled as he looked between the two of us. "You...and him. Wow! This is great. This calls for a celebration! Waiter get some champagne!" Lucious yelled with a raised empty glass.

I stared at him. He was obnoxious and loud mouthed. His clothing choice was also far from being admired. He wore a dark pink shirt which was tucked into his black trousers. The dim lighting reflected of his shaved head and contrasted against his dark skin.

Alessia sipped on her glass of alcohol. "Why did you come here?" She asked as Lucious was preoccupied in finding some champagne. I looked at her. A beautiful vision. Her rose gold glittered dress hugged her curves. The low neck teased the sight of her cleavage. Her long tanned legs were exposed as the dress stopped at her thighs.

"Why? To see you of course. And to hear you laugh." I smiled. This made her chuckle as she brushed her curled hair behind her. "So how do you know Lucious?" She asked, squinting her sexy eyes.

"He's a acquaintance of some sort." I said as I put my feet up onto the small coffee table. I crossed my ankles as I put a hand into my pocket. "And you?"

She took a final sip of her drink and placed the glass onto the table. "A friend." I nodded at her answer and took out a cigarette and lighter. She watched me carefully. I held the lit cigarette to my mouth.

"That's a bad fucking habit Ace." She chuckled. I let out a short chuckle. "Says the woman who is smoking a joint." I glanced down at the joint in the ashtray. One end was slightly tinged red from her lipstick.

She chuckled as she bit her lip. Fuck. That fucking turns me on. I continued to smoke, trying to keep calm.

Lucious finally found some champagne and poured out three glasses. I made no move to pick up a glass. Alessia, however, picked up her joint and started smoking again.

"You two should come come to my annual ball!" Lucious exclaimed loudly. I stared at the man. The hell. No way in fucking hell was I going. Alessia didn't even look at Lucious and instead crossed her legs, finding her dress more interesting.

My mind could no longer function. With Alessia so close to me, looking sexy as hell, I could barely keep it together. What was she doing to me?