Chapter 25 #2
“Can, can I stay here with you tonight? I don’t want to be alone.” His tone makes him sound far younger than his years.
After all that’s happened, I know Freak will want him close. “You won’t be alone. You’ll be with your dad. If you want, I’ll walk you back to the clubhouse.”
He’s quiet, worryingly so. “What’s worrying you, Ace? You think your dad is mad at you? If that’s what’s wrong, you can get that right out of your head. It wasn’t you who tricked him. You’re completely innocent. I know for a fact your dad’s beating himself up because he thinks it’s all his fault.”
Ace bites his lip, his brow furrows, and when he looks at me with those big brown eyes so reminiscent of his father, I see fresh tears forming.
“Ace, sweetheart. You’ve been through one hell of an experience today.
Being kidnapped, having to face up to that bastard, Candyman, seeing Toni hurt, being threatened because you weren’t prepared to do something that went against all your instincts.
And then seeing two men killed.” I huff softly.
“And that escape from the building, that was fuckin’ tense, huh?
Look, bud, you’re not going to get over something like that in a few minutes.
” I reach out and wipe the tear that’s escaped from his eye.
“It’s not that, it’s Toni.”
I rear up, then regret my sudden action. I hold my breath, hoping Ace won’t notice my distress. He’s already feeling bad enough. He doesn’t need to know I’m hurting. “You got used to having an aunt, yeah?”
His voice is little more than a whisper.
“I liked her, Trixie. But, maybe more, I liked the idea of her. Did you know she was my mother’s twin?
” When he looks at me expectantly, I raise my chin in confirmation.
“Dad’s got no pictures of my mom, neither has Nana.
I didn’t even know what she looked like, or whether I resembled her at all.
For the first time, I had an image to link with her.
Dad even said Toni was her spitting image. ”
I don’t know Freak’s background or anything about his relationship with Ace’s mother. But maybe Toni looking identical to her was part of the reason he fell for her. His long-lost love coming back to life. I can understand Ace’s point of view.
“I wish I’d never met Toni. I don’t want to think of my mom being like her.”
I rush to reassure him. “I’m sure she wasn’t, Ace. Twins can have different personalities.”
Pulling away, Ace sits on the bed, draws up his knees, and wraps his arms around them.
“I know people think I’m highly intelligent, but I didn’t see anything off with Toni.
Maybe because I was so thrilled to have a substitute mom.
D’you know I even asked Dad to make her his ol’ lady?
” I shake my head. I didn’t know that. But I suppose it makes sense.
It was understandable Ace would want to keep the reminder of his real mother close.
“When I saw her with Candyman, it all fell into place. I realised she’d played Dad and me from the very beginning.
And like an idiot, I’d taken her at face value, because it gave me more family.
Perhaps if I hadn’t been so focused on having an aunt, maybe I’d have been able to see what she was doing. ”
I’m struggling here. I’m out of my depth. What do I say to that? I don’t want to say anything that will make Ace feel worse. I go to the bed, slide on top of the covers beside him, take his hand, and hold it tight.
“It’s not your fault. I promise you that. Your dad, the club, they researched her. Your dad thought she was genuine. He really liked her.”
“He thought with his dick.” Ace snorts.
“Ace!” My mouth drops open, then I bark a laugh. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Why?” He shrugs. “I’ve seen the mechanics often enough.”
Right, well, that’s enough of that conversation. “Look, I really think I should take you back to your dad. He’ll be worrying where you are.”
“No, he won’t,” Ace cries out. “Toni will spin more lies to him, and he’ll take her back. Especially since she’s hurt. That’s what the brothers do. They protect the women they care about. And I don’t want Toni as my stepmom…”
“Ace,” I bark sharply. “I’m sure your Dad’s not mending those bridges.” Perhaps my tone is a little caustic, as I’m worried about that exact same thing myself.
“Please, Trix, can’t you do something? I don’t want him to make Toni his old lady.”
“That’s not going to happen,” a deep, gravelly voice says, making both me and Ace jump.
As I cover my fast-beating heart with my hand, I see Freak standing in my open doorway.
“For a big fuckin’ man, you can move quietly.” My words come out as an accusation.
He shrugs. “Something I learned in the Army.” His tightening jaw shows he’s dropped the subject as he approaches the bed, sits on the edge by Ace, and addresses his son, though his eyes do flick to me while he’s speaking.
“Toni’s being guarded by a prospect to make sure she doesn’t escape.
Ace, there’s no coming back from what she did to us, I promise you that.
And I promise I won’t be led by my dick in the future. ”
My mouth drops open, and I watch as a side of his mouth curves. “Your door’s thin, Trix. I might have been listening for a while.” He waits a beat for his words to settle. “Hey, budge over, Ace, I’m fuckin’ dead on my feet. Let me lie down with you for a while.”
Ace tries to shift over, but I’m in the way. I twist my body to give them room, and can’t prevent the gasp when my busted rib protests. Freak’s back on his feet immediately, coming around to my side of the bed.