{Faith}“What is this place?”Ace opens his arms, “Welcome to my world, Princess.”“Your world?”He nods.I look around one more time. “I thought you wanted me to become a member of your gang.”“With sexy lingerie on?” He chuckles. “I have many things to do with you, but it doesn’t include turning you into a gangster.”He touches my lips. I feel the heat burning underneath his thumb.“What do you wanna do to me?”He licks his lips. “Bad things. Really bad things.”My heart does yet another backflip. I recoil, realizing what I just walked into.“Nah-uh!” He chokes me. “There’s no going back now, Princess.”Ace pulls me to the chair. Sinking into it, he commands, “Kneel!”I stiffen.“Kneel before your master!”My legs give way under me. With a dull thud, my knees hit the floor. Ace picks up a black suede box from the small table next to him. “I have a present for you.”He opens the box and turns it to me. The interior is lined with a red velvety fabric. In the middle isn’t a piece of s
{Faith}Odette staggers back. She holds her cheek, her eyes widened in shock. “You just…”“And I will do it again!”Adrenaline rushes through my veins. My palm itches badly. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again! I am not the girl you raised to be docile and accepting of all the nonsense!”“You ungrateful bitch!”“Call me ungrateful, but deep down you know you are just describing yourself. I accepted you as my mother, but you stabbed me in the back.”When my father first met Odette, she was just a member of the church he headed. She was devout and gentle. I wanted my father to be happy. I didn't want him to keep crying over my late mother’s picture even though five years had passed since she died of breast cancer. I was only ten years old, but I accepted her. When they got married a year after courting, she moved in with us and changed everything in the house. Took down my mother’s pictures.Stopped me from collecting bugs.Prevented me from cuddling with Dad.But he was happy.
{Faith}I press my lips together. “Was it Kourtney? Is that why you fought her?”“I didn't fight with her! She fought with me. Get that right.”Ace stares at me. I stammer. “I–I didn't mean…to yell.”“Are you jealous?”My laugh sounds very weird. “Do you want me to be?”He finally blinks. “For the record, I didn't have sex with Kourtney.”Oh, please! You spent the night in her bedroom. How am I supposed to believe that nothing happened between a hot-blooded man and a woman who’s ready to give up the cookie?“You don't believe me?”Seeing his raised brow, I raise mine too. “Why should I? Besides, why do you care? You never gave a damn what anyone thinks before? So why explain yourself now?”“I am not explaining myself, Princess.” He reaches out and strokes my hair. “Just setting the records straight.”He glances at my suitcase. “And you are not leaving. No one leaves me.”I roll my eyes. “Kourtney left.”“She left Jonathan. Not Ace.”A shiver runs down my spine. It’s the way he says
{Faith}“What’s going on here?”Before I can process the absolute mess Kourtney just caused, Ace appears in the hallway. He matches over, wearing the same clothes from yesterday.“Jonny!” Kourtney calls out, bursting into tears.“What happened?”When his narrowed eyes flick to me, I stutter, “I–I don’t know. I just came to make myself a sandwich…”Ace looks at the wrap in my hand.“She’s lying!” Kourtney screams again. “I came here to pour myself a glass of juice because I was thirsty. But she came out of nowhere. Insulting me and calling me a whore!”I gasp. “No, I did not!”“Jonny, you have to believe me. I wanted to extend an olive branch, but she pushed me to the pot of stew and tried to run away.”Ace looks at me again. His eyes travel down to my feet which are apart. One over the threshold of the door and the other still in the kitchen.“I know how it looks, but I never attacked her. She tried to rile me up. But I did the logical thing of walking away. I don't know how she got t
{Faith}My breath catches. I stare at the door. What could be lying behind it? Some sort of hideout? A room filled with guns? Illegal stash of... Drugs!I let go of the doorknob. “Oh…I just remembered that I have something to do.”“Not so fast.” Ace catches my arm as I try to walk past him.I feel his gaze burn on my forehead as I try to avoid his eyes. “What? Do you have something to say?”“Eavesdropping will do you no good, Princess.”“Who says I was?” I finally look at him, putting on the most deadpan expression I can muster.“How much did you hear?”“I didn't hear a thing.”“Well then. You should know that Kourtney wants you to stay.”“No, she doesn't! I heard when she asked you to throw me out!”Ace cocks his head, raising a brow.Shit!I bite my tongue. I just told on myself!His expression darkens. “What did I tell you about lying to me?”“I…I…” Ace lets go of my arm. “Go to your room. I do not want to be disturbed.” He undoes the top button of his shirt and walks back to Ko
{Faith}I don't know what all the commotion is about, but I don't want to go out there now. My phone buzzes with a text from Allison. [Just go peep][No!] I respond for the umpteenth time in the last hour.[What if you are under attack?][I don't think so. The commotion has already died down. Besides, Jerry previously assured me that attacks rarely ever happen.]The three bubbles appear on the screen. It disappears and reappears.[Oh…Jerry. How is he?][Weren’t you typing an epistle?][Not helping, Faith. I want that man. And I am going to get him.]I chuckle. [You do you, Ally. Just don't get hurt][You too. Don’t get hurt]I know she’s referring to my entanglement with Ace and the sudden appearance of his first love, but I don't want to flog the matter.[Bye!] I respond, then turn off my phone.*****The empty water bottle on the table stares back at me. After working on all my outstanding papers, I am starving and about to die of thirst.My eyes flick to the door. “They may have g