MIRANDAI entered the massive house with my chin up and my palms clammy. Not the best combination but I remembered the last time I had been here. Ace had dragged me along as company. He thought I would stop him from doing something utterly stupid and yet, at the end of the day, Ace still managed to be Ace.He was protective over Quinn, more so than he was over me at the time. But considering everything, I understood why. He didn't trust the man that stayed in this house. Not when that man was the same person who killed Ace's parents and then used Quinn — his very own daughter — as a pawn in his game.But I needed to be here. Ace wouldn't let me out of his sight especially when I mentioned coming to this home. I could see him fuming internally even though he kept a cold resolve on the outside when I mentioned meeting with Daniel. It wasn't what he thought though. I wasn't trying to get into Dani

ACEShe didn't move.Even after I'd practically begged her to leave because I couldn't stand the sight of her in front of me, she didn't move. Each time my gaze fell on her all I thought about was what she had said to Daniel. Where did her touch her — if he did touch her. The mere thought of his hands on her skin had me turning near feral. I wanted to cut them off and maybe force feed them to him.And yet, the memory of what happened today still had me shuddering. Not even drowning myself in alcohol could erase the fear I saw in that vile man's eyes. The promises he made and I knew he damn well could never keep kept ringing in my ears. I remembered the feel of Gabby's skin against my palm when I had to clamp my hand over her mouth to muffle her scream when I had to push that piece of shit husband of hers off the stool he stood on because he refused to jump off. The sound of the wood creaking against

ACEI stuffed my clenched fists into the pockets of the black jeans I wore and rose my chin in natural defiance. This was a bad idea. Matter of fact, this was probably the worst idea that had ever wormed its way into my fucking head and yet, I didn't or couldn't find one good reason to stop myself from doing this. To just turn back and maybe take the Harper's advice.Squaring my shoulders and loosening a breath, I prepared myself for what lay ahead. A cocky smirk tugged at my lips. One that was practiced. One that I used to scare the people I did business with. The elevator doors parted and I looked straight ahead as I stepped out. Silence - pin drop silence - descended upon the room but I didn't care to even glance at the morons gawking at me as if I had fallen from fucking heaven.I snorted at the thought. It made more sense if I crawled out the depths of Hell. No part of me was made for Heaven and I lik

MIRANDA Jake, short for nothing because his parents' looked at him the day he was born and said to themselves 'This face looks like a Jake', made up for his boring, simple name with his looks and — above all — his knowledge. I had the pleasure of having a short conversation with him before the class could begin and I learned that he was both well-spoken and the complete opposite of my sister. Whereas she could have ruled a town named 'Grumpyville' her counterpart was all sunshine, rainbows, and freaking unicorns. He smiled more than me and every smile that graced his soft-featured face was nothing short of genuine. He was nineteen but had been teaching self-defense since the age of sixteen with his mother — who had taught him everything she knew since she was a marine back in the day. I watched as my sister swiftly took him down, following his instructions to intimate the move so the class would understand with a visual representation. The only thing this class was watching, however,

ACE Fuck! My imagination nor memory did not do the woman standing in front of me justice. I thought one year of not seeing her face or hearing her voice would be enough to end my infatuation with the little thing but I was mistaken. So fucking mistaken. Those big, round eyes of hers traveled down my frame. They were the kind of blue that made me believe God had carved out a piece of the sky just to bless her face with those perfect colored eyes. She had grown out her lush mane of chestnut waves, leaving it to brush those sharp shoulders. My gaze traced the line of her high cheekbones, down her straight nose, and lingered on her pink-stained cupid bow lips that were set in a pout. I wanted to see her smile, or at least bare those blinding white teeth at me. She had a long knitted sweater on that hung from one of her shoulders, the rust color brought out her tanned skin and black tights that clung to her