Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
ICE
“ S till no word from Ace?”
It was well after noon the day after the news of Ice and Silver’s ‘secret affair’ had broken, and nobody had seen or heard from Ace in over twenty-four hours. Scowling out at the ocean, Ice shook his head at Beckett’s question. “No. And it’s making me antsy.”
“What’s Simon say?”
“He came by this morning for a chat. Seems to think it’s a good thing that nobody’s seen or heard from Ace, like he’s taken himself off somewhere to nurse his wounds or some shit.”
Beckett raised an eyebrow. “You don’t sound convinced.”
“I’m not. I’ve known Ace practically my entire life. He’s not a ‘nurse his wounds’ type. I can’t shake the feeling he’s up to something. I just wish I knew what .”
“What about his parents? Sounds like you’re all pretty close. They might know where he is.”
Guilt rolled in Ice’s stomach, threatening to eject what little breakfast he’d managed to eat. “I’ve thought about calling them.”
“But?”
“But I’m a fucking coward. What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey mom, so remember how you took me in and treated me like your own kid? Yeah, well, your actual kid found out I’ve been fucking his girl and now he’s pulled a Houdini. Any idea where he might be?’”
Beside him, Beckett snorted. “I wouldn’t phrase it exactly like that. But I still think you should call them. They might be pissed, but that’s part of having parents who care about you. Dealing with their disappointment when you inevitably fuck up.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” He hated that Beckett had a point. Calling Ace’s parents, coming clean about everything that had gone down since Roulette was the right thing to do. Even if they ended up taking Ace’s side and shutting him out forever, he owed them an explanation.
Fuck.
The door behind them swung open and Silver stepped out onto the deck, cradling a cup of coffee in her hands. She was still wearing his shirt from last night but she’d thrown on a pair of shorts in deference to their guest. Worry had her brows drawing together, and the bruises under her eyes told him she hadn’t slept any better than he had. “Have you heard from him?”
“No. You?”
She shook her head, the curls that had come loose from her bun bouncing around her face. “Checked my messages this morning. I half expected to wake up to a drunken tirade but… nothing. Tell me why that worries me more than him losing his shit.”
“Because we’re used to him losing his shit. We know how to handle that.” This, the radio silence, that was new for Ace. Which meant nobody had any clue what might happen next.
“I guess. I just wish we knew where he was so we could have this out once and for all. I’m tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Lifting the mug to her lips, she drained the contents and scowled at the empty mug. “I’m getting more coffee. Anyone want a refill?”
“Water first, then coffee,” Ice reminded her.
“Seriously? We’re on the verge of losing everything and you’re worried about whether or not I’m drinking enough water?”
“No reason for you to be stressed and dehydrated. Pick a struggle, baby.”
Still scowling, she glared down at him, and for a moment he thought he might have a fight on his hands. But then she tossed her head back and let out a laugh so loud it startled a nearby seagull into taking flight.
“God, I love you,” she said when her laughter faded. “No matter what, you always know exactly what to say to make things better.”
Those words wrapped around his chest, tightening like a band until it hurt to breathe. Some friends tossed those words around like glitter, showering each other with easy affection. But it had never been like that between them. When he’d confessed his love for her at Roulette on Valentine’s night, it was the first time he’d given those words to anyone outside of his adopted family.
“What did you say?”
But instead of looking shocked like he’d half expected, Silver just smirked. “I said I love you. Got a problem with that?”
He was up out of his chair before she finished her question, yanking her to him and capturing her mouth with his own. “Say it again,” he demanded, barely pulling his lips from hers. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Elias Turner. And I really fucking hope you meant what you said back at Black Light, because I’ll never forgive you if I’ve ruined our whole fucking lives and you don’t love me back.”
“Jesus Christ, woman. Of course I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen years old. And you haven’t ruined anything, baby. You’ve made it so much better.”
Her breath caught as he took her lips again, devouring her, claiming her like it was the first time.
Behind them, Beckett cleared his throat, and they pulled apart just enough to look over at him as he rose from his chair, amusement and unease stamped across his face in equal measure. “I’m going to take that as my cue to leave. I’ll be at the club tonight if you need me.”
Ice grinned down at the woman in his arms. “Love makes him uncomfortable.”
“I see that,” Silver answered with a happy giggle. “Sorry not sorry, Beckett.”
“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable,” Beckett grumbled. “Just seems like you two could use some privacy.”
“You’re not wrong. Bye, Beckett.”
As soon as the front door shut behind him, Ice had Silver in his arms as he strode for the bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he knelt between her knees, caging her in with his arms as he lowered his head to nip at her bottom lip. “I hope you know that now that I have you, I’m never fucking letting you go. You and me, my beautiful goddess. Even death won’t do us part, because I’ll find you in whatever existence comes after this. I will look for you and I will find you, until the end of time itself.”
“Forever,” she agreed on a whisper, her voice thick with emotion as she slid her hand under his, threading their fingers together. “You and me, Daddy. Forever.”
Silver
Every inch of her body ached. Telling Ice she loved him had unlocked some never-ending well of sexual stamina in him, and she’d lost track of how many positions he’d put her in and how many times they’d both come over the past few hours.
Not that she was complaining. It was a damn good way to keep her attention off the coming storm that was Ace Alvarez.
But now that Ice was in the shower—without her, because she’d finally broken down and told him she might actually die if he fucked her again right now—she had plenty of time to think.
And to worry.
Where was Ace? What was he plotting? Why couldn’t anybody get in touch with him? Had he done something… reckless?
It was that last thought that had her stomach rolling, threatening to rid itself of the pizza she and Ice had shared in bed just an hour ago. More than once during their relationship Ace had threatened to hurt himself if she didn’t take him back. After several years and multiple therapy appointments, she’d come to realize it was nothing more than a manipulation tactic.
But now… now she couldn’t help but wonder if he hadn’t been bluffing after all. If she’d actually pushed him to do what he’d always threatened to do.
How the hell was she supposed to live with herself if that happened? How would Ice ever look her in the eye again, knowing she’d kept such a huge secret from him and it had cost his best friend, his brother his life?
As she lay on the bed, drowning in her panicked thoughts, her phone buzzed, jolting her out of her silent spiral. Relief flooded her, nearly making her dizzy when she saw the message from Ace on her screen.
The Asshole
We need to talk.
Understatement of the year.
Silver
Yeah, we do. I’m at Ice’s house if you want to come talk.
No. No Ice. Just me and you. Please, angel? You owe me that much.
Casting a glance at the bathroom, Silver nibbled at her bottom lip. There was no possible way Ice was going to let her go talk to Ace alone. But he was right, she did owe him. Even though he’d been worse than assholish, nobody deserved to find out their ex-girlfriend was fucking their best friend from an online gossip rag. She could go, talk to him, and deal with Daddy’s wrath when she got back.
Okay. Send me the address.
Ice
The shower had helped clear his mind more than he’d expected, and by the time he stepped out into the steam-filled bathroom, he had a plan. Not to track down Ace, because part of that shower-clarity had been the realization that if Ace didn’t want to talk, then that was fine. Everyone had given him space when he’d needed it, the least he could do was return the favor for his friend.
When Ace was ready to talk, Ice would be there. For now, he needed something to keep Silver’s mind off things. Reservations at the fanciest place he could find—Beckett probably had some recommendations—followed by a night at the club. Where he would make sure she had him and only him on her mind the rest of the night.
And, depending on how things went at the club, maybe he’d bring her home and claim the one hole he hadn’t yet taken.
It seemed like the perfect way to remind her, again, that she belonged to him now. Completely.
Grinning at his reflection, he grabbed his phone from the vanity and tapped out a quick message to Beckett for restaurant suggestions. Step one of his ‘Keep Silver Preoccupied’ plan complete.
“All right, Silver. Your turn. Daddy’s got plans for you tonight…” He trailed off, frowning as he scanned the empty room. “Silver?”
No answer.
Wrapped in nothing but a towel, he made his way out to the living area. It wouldn’t have surprised him to find her there, sneaking another cup of coffee while he was in the shower. The prospect of making sure she sat on a hot, sore bottom during dinner had adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stepped out into the living room.
But she wasn’t there, either.
She also wasn’t on the back deck, or down at the beach. Just as the adrenaline threatened to turn to panic, he caught sight of a piece of paper on the island countertop.
Ice,
Went to talk to Ace. Yeah, I know, you’re going to wear my ass out when you find me. I kinda figured that. But I owe him the truth, face to face, Ice. I’m not a complete moron, though, so I’ll text you the address when I get there.
Love you,
Silver
Well, she was right about one thing.
He was definitely going to wear her ass out when he got his hands on her again.