One Hundred and Eight

CHAPTER 108

Ace was reading a book when Mike suddenly appeared and blocked the view. Ace looked at him for a moment, but looked away then. He wasn't in a good mood to talk, so ignoring the existence of Mike, Angela's man, was a good idea.

"You have to come with me now," Mike said in his stern voice.

Ace realized that Mike was an undercover prison officer. He had been paid in full by his own mother to help Ace get out of that place. Everything about Alicia, Ace had seen. She had gotten out of prison with Mike's help. It was all Angela's plan. Angela used her money lavishly just so she could get more money from Ace.

Ace closed the book slowly, his mind racing. He had suspected Angela's involvement in his release, but never understood the intricate web that revolved around her. Mike's arrival, confirming his suspicions, unraveled the thin thread of trust that remained.

"Mom paid you?" Ace's voice shook with a mixture of shock and betrayal.

Mike's stern face softened slightly. "Look, Ace, I know this isn't what you expected, but your mom thought it was the only way."

Ace clenched his fists, fighting the wind of emotion that filled his chest. "And you're okay with that?"

"I owe Angela a favor, and this is how I'm going to settle it. But it's not just about the money," Mike explained, his voice colored with regret. "There are more things you don't know."

The mention of hidden words tickled Ace's curiosity. He gestured for Mike to continue.

"Angela is involved in some serious stuff, Ace. She's not just after money; she's after power. The kind that can destroy lives."

Ace's mind raced, piecing together pieces of past conversations and cryptic messages. "What has that got to do with me?"

"You're a pawn in her game, Ace. He uses you as a means to an end," Mike said, his eyes reflecting genuine concern.

Ace stood up, his heart pounding with a mixture of anger and helplessness. "So, what now? You take me back to her?"

The man, who had the body of a WWE player, cleared his throat and said, "I have no other choice. Angela wants you to get out of prison to meet your father, or at least meet your father's lawyer. She knows you can legally take over all the shares and the company. He needs money for a big project in England and I... can only follow his orders."

Ace's sparkling brown eyes were directed at Mike. He grinned wickedly. "So, what if I don't want to? I guess living in this prison isn't so bad for me."

"Angela will kill me. She'll also kill you and... Angela will kill your woman, Alicia Perth."

Ace's mind raced as he processed Mike's words. Alicia's safety was now on the line, caught in the web of the family power play. He couldn't let Angela's threats dictate his actions. But Alicia had already walked into a dangerous trap created by her own parents and Ace had a huge dilemma.

"Let me think," Ace muttered, killing time. The walls of the prison seemed to close in on him, suffocating him with the weight of his dilemma. His father's legacy had always been a distant shadow, now a haunting presence.

As Mike stepped closer, Ace pretended to obey, nodding slowly. "Alright, take me to her."

They exited the prison, the outside world assaulting Ace's senses after years of solitary confinement. With each step towards the waiting car, his mind whirled with possibilities. Alicia must be warned, and kept safe.

Mike told him the plan for their escape from the prison.

****

Ace's pulse quickened as they approached the waiting car. He was playful, his mind racing ahead, strategizing his next move. Mike's voice faded into the background as Ace thought about the plan. His focus was only one: Alicia's safety.

The car ride felt like an eternity, every moment a painful delay to reach Alicia. Tension filled the air, suffocating Ace as he contemplated the dangers that awaited them.

As they neared their destination, Ace's heart thundered in his chest. He knew time was ticking, the sense of urgency gripping him tighter and tighter with every mile traveled. Mike's plan was meticulous, but Ace knew they were stepping into a maze of deceit and power.

Mike manages to get Ace out of prison with all the strategies and plans made by Angela. Angela's money helped them get out easier and now, Ace was sitting in the car with Mike. He's a big man, but too obedient to fight a woman named Angela.

And Ace used this opportunity to escape from Mike. He used his strong arms to entangle Mike's neck while the man was busy driving.

The car jerked as Ace went into action, his muscles tensed with determination. The martial arts training he had learned had not gone to waste. He knew how to immobilize, utilizing his strength and agility against the unsuspecting Mike.

A brief struggle ensued, Mike was taken by surprise as Ace wrestled for control. The vehicle took a dangerous turn, its tires screeching against the asphalt. Determined, Ace managed to gain control of the wheel, veering the car off the road and into the dense forest that lined the highway.

Tree branches scraped the windows as the car slid through the bushes, triggering Ace's adrenaline rush as he struggled to get free. Mike fought back as he tried to steer, but Ace's determination and newly acquired skills gave him the upper hand. Ace was much younger and faster than Mike.

Finally, with a decisive blow, Ace paralyzed Mike, rendering him unconscious. With a racing heart and aching muscles, Ace stumbled out of the rubble, the cold night air biting into his skin. But there was no time to rest. Alicia's life hung in the balance, and he was the only hope left.

Ace looked around, there was only a dark forest with little illumination when he made it out. He then muttered to himself.

"Alicia... I will come for you."