Ace I think the only thing that kept me alive during this ordeal was the love I have for my son and wife. I couldn’t leave them in the hands of that insane woman. Nico's plan felt like it was going to lead to our doom, but we made it. Just as he had instructed us, we dropped on the exact coordinates. I will never do something this unhinged again. Not in this lifetime. I almost wanted to tell Nico that we would take our chances and just fly back home because his plan was wild and it felt impossible at the time. I wasn’t on board with the plan because I didn’t know if the deep-sea boats and divers were just waiting around for this moment. It was crazy to even fathom. We could have died. I never prayed intensely, but before I dropped in the ocean, I prayed that I would make it. I prayed for the few men I had left, too. I didn’t want anyone dying after I had assured them that there would be people waiting for us. “We have Lexy.” I looked at him and nodded. Most of us were in the boat
Matt Elisa has won. I give up. I was beaten. Down. Defeated. I was ready to accept my fate, but she has some crazy plans. She was killing off people, but she kept me alive. For what exactly? That question was driving me nuts. She hated me. She wanted to murder me. She made that very clear. She was keeping me alive for something far worse. i could feel it. I was the very core of the family she hated. I was a Torane. I had accepted it. Arnold proved it, so I couldn't deny it. I wanted them dead, but we now had a common enemy. Elisa. She had to be stopped. I saw the door open and watched Diya walk in with her shoulders hunched. My eye was still swollen but I could open it a little. She walked to the bed they had laid me. She was too quiet. “Oh, you are up,” she cleared her throat and quickly turned away from me. “Yeah,” my voice sounded weak. Raspy. “Elisa wants me to clean you up,” she said, and I craned my head. She still had her back on me. She was hiding her face from me. I
Ruby Dave was gone. He was killed by Elisa. This was all my fault. If only I hadn't delayed going back home, he wouldn't have come for me and now he was dead. I wish the ground would swallow me whole with him. I wish I had listened to my uncle when told me to come back home. This was my fault. This nightmare would never end. I don't know what to do with myself anymore. I feel pain. I feel numb. I couldn't believe that people like Elisa existed. She was the Devil's spawn child. She was wicked. Whatever happened to her, I wish God wouldn't forgive her. I wish she burns in hell. Elisa had to die. The burning rage inside me made me want to end her with my bare hands. She needed to be rid of this world. Her existence was too much trouble for people around here. Even her men were not safe from her. She took joy in killing him. Dave never had a chance to speak a word. I watched the color in his face drain. His eyes dimmed. I would never see him again. I beat my head with my fist and poun
Ace It’s been rough. I made it back home. I wish it was at my house, but I had to be taken to my grandfather’s house. There was help waiting for us when we arrived and everyone was taken care of. They also needed rest. “Why are you not resting?” Celeste asked me. “I don’t need to be babied. I have to save my family.” “You won’t do them much good like that,” she added, looking at me. “I know you want to get them back, but can you at least rest? I don’t know,” she shrugged at me. “I will rest once I get my family back,” I said, walking past her. I went to my grandfather’s office. He was with Nico. They were also telling me to rest and get my strength back. There was no time for such nonsense. I was going to sleep and rest when I get my family back. “Ace, shouldn’t you be resting?” Nico asked, and my grandfather looked up at me. “I’m fine. Where is Filip?” I asked. I hadn’t seen him since we arrived. “Sit with us,” my grandfather spoke. I dragged my feet and sat on the empty
Diya “Are you sure I can’t help you?” Linda asked for the second time. “Yes,” I nodded, looking at her, “I’m almost done.” I gave her a weak smile. “Hang in there,” she came and hugged me. She has been doing this every chance she gets. I was glad my son was in her hands. She was doing something I couldn’t do for him. “Your boy will need you soon.” “Mm- hmm,” I managed, a lump in my throat. “You are stronger than you think,” she squeezed again. “Let me check on the young Torane. I will make sure to tell him you love her.” “Thanks, Linda,” i nod. I cleared my throat, hiding a lump that was almost at the surface. I promised myself not to cry, and that was what I was going to do from now on. Tears were not solving anything. I kept my head down. Working like I'm supposed to. I was trying to get everything done so I can rest. My feet were about to give up on me, but I kept working. I was almost finished. I had fed Matt and ate with Ruby. I cleared everything in the kitchen and pl
Ace “Do as I say and everything will be fine.” “But-” Celeste protested, but I looked at her. “I don’t have time for this,” I whisper, shouted with a groan. Celeste rushed beside me and I pushed her away. “I’m fine. I'm not sick.” “You are not fine. You are bleeding. It's important that you take it easy." “Don’t tell me what to do. You are not my mother,” I groaned again. “I - I’m sorry. I was trying to help.” “You can help me by driving us out of here. I need to go save my family,” I say, composing myself and standing straight. “Maybe we can wait for Filip to come back and -“ I glared at her as she took a step back, “I can’t, Ace. This is suicide.” “Then it will be worth it. Stop wasting my time and move.” I ordered, and she nodded but remained standing. We moved out of the house, and I dragged her. There was no time for me to waste waiting for Filip. I can do this myself. I was taking my ranch back. I'm the one who was going to get my family back. I was going to kill Eli
Filip “Are you kidding me?” I slammed on the side of the back door, getting a stare from Will in the rearview mirror. I heard a loud crack from the sky as the car moved. I scoffed at the bad timing in the rain pouring out of season. If it wasn’t for this rain, we would have flown back and maybe I would have been back in Kragga Kamma. Honestly, the road was the worst way to travel when it’s raining. Everyone turns crazy and drives recklessly. I checked my watch again, trying to gauge when we would arrive. We had passed Grahamstown hours ago and yet we were far from being home. Suddenly the car went to an abrupt halt, and I was about to shout, but the red and blue lights ahead of us held my tongue. “Jesus what now?” I groan with an exasperated sigh. "I don't have time for this crap." “What do we do?” Will asked. “What can we do other than wait?" I raked my hand n my hair. "Could be traffic or an accident.“ I closed my eyes. “I don’t think so,” Will said. I opened my eyes and loo
Ace I peeled my eyes open, looking at Diya, who was just as shocked as I was. I looked around and watched the two bodies on the ground. Elisa had shot her men, not me. I was alive for now. I looked at her, masking my gratitude in a scowl, and she had the audacity to smile at me. “Don’t worry, your time will come,” she lowered the rifle and craned her head to look at me, “Was that?” she laughed, “My God, Ace. Did I just see fear in your eyes?” she laughed louder. “You tell me?” I gave her a coy smile. “Were you afraid when I almost snapped your pretty little neck?” “You,” she huffed and calmed herself, “I have better things to do.” She smiled at me before she walked to Diya. “Don’t fucking touch her?” I got up quickly, and she was quick too because the gun pointed at me made me stop. “Move. I dare ya,” she grinned at me and I fisted my hands. “Ace,” Diya cracked, and my eyes looked at her. She was scared out of her mind. I had to inwardly try and calm myself. I took a step back