Chapter 4 Ace
four
Ace
My apartment isn't anything fancy, but for the first time in my life, I wished I had something worth showing off.
She deserves better than this. She deserves someone who has his shit together, someone with enough space for her kid to run around without risking her getting her little hands on something dangerous. Instead, she gets me.
The sink's full of dishes, and I've got a few clothes hanging around, but thankfully, I'm smart enough to keep my guns tucked away in a safe. The place almost looks normal.
Penny's nose wrinkles when she spots the posters of nearly naked women on motorcycles hanging up near my gaming setup. Yeah, those don't look too good now. Not just because they're inappropriate, but they're also not her. Now that my standards are set in cement, I guess I don't need those anymore.
I watch her face as she takes in the room, and I realize I’m going to have to make some changes, fast, if I don’t want her pulling back on me.
"You probably want to get cleaned up." Dragging my eyes away, I nudge the two of them in the direction of the bathroom. Like the rest of my home, it needs a little picking up.
I'm not a man who has company over very often. Even when I do, the only room that's important is my bedroom. I'm going to have to clean that up, too, aren't I?
Once I'm shoving clothes in the basket, I'm giving a quick rundown of where everything is before rubbing the back of my neck. "Assuming you're wearing everything you own, I can throw all that stuff in the wash while you're cleaning up. I can give you something to wear."
My shirt wrapped around her curvy frame. The thought hits me square in the chest, and I have to physically stop myself from smiling like an idiot. She'd drown in it. It'd hang off her shoulder and show off a little, and I'd get to see her in something that smells like me.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Way, way ahead. If I don’t stop now, I’ll be picturing her with my cut wrapped around her body next, and then a ring on her finger.
Penny will have no trouble finding clothes, but Leliah's a whole different case. Maybe I could cut a hole in a pillowcase or something? Hell, I don't even know what kids wear to begin with, but for Penny, I want to learn.
That's the part that scares me. I've never wanted to learn anything about someone else's life before, and now I'm standing here mentally rearranging my entire apartment for a woman I met only a handful of hours ago.
"Give me a little bit to figure out about her." Shifting from one foot to the other, I try to read Penny's expression. "I know it isn't much, but it's safe."
I need her to know that. More than anything, I need her to feel like she can breathe here. Like the world outside those doors doesn't exist, and if it tries to get in, it'll have to go through me first.
She nods in agreement before tearing her eyes from Leliah, whose attention is on my bottle of bodywash.
Reaching out for my hand, she squeezes my fingers.
Touching me first, it’s hard not to get worked up.
"You're doing so much for us. I'll never be able to fully express my gratitude to you, Ace.
If it weren't for you, we'd be sleeping on the streets. "
Her fingers are so much smaller than mine. The squeeze she gives me shouldn't feel like a grenade going off in my chest, but it does. I'd burn the world down for this woman, and she's thanking me for a hot shower.
She has no idea.
I don't miss the way her eyes glisten at the thought, or how badly it claws at me to swipe away any of her tears before they get the chance to fall.
I want to cradle her face so badly that it hurts to deny myself the act. The need not to startle her is much stronger than my greed.
"Let me know if you need anything else. Now, take as long as you need and let me figure out some stuff." Giving her a grin, I pull myself back before I do something stupid like wrapping my arms around her so she can realize how strong I really am, strong enough to shoulder any of her problems.
God, have I always been a lovesick fool? I need to chill the hell out.
Leaving her, I text Smoke about the clothing dilemma and beg him to grab me something. He lives next to me, anyway, so it's not like it's entirely out of his way. I pump my fist in a mini celebration when he shoots me a thumbs-up emoji in return.
I spend the next twenty minutes cleaning my home like my life depends on it.
Inappropriate posters? In the trash. Clothes are in the wash, left waiting for theirs before I start it, and the bedroom is in a living state, with no sign of my previous activities.
Hell, I'm panting by the time I've got the sheets changed.
I can't remember the last time I changed these sheets. Can't remember when I bought the can of freshener I spray around, either, but I'm thankful I bought it to begin with.
For her. I did all of this for her, and I'd do it a hundred times over if it meant she'd sleep soundly for one night.
Hearing my front door open and Smoke announce his arrival, he soon finds me digging around my closet. He gives me an arched brow when stopping at my door before the smell of fresh linen makes his nose wrinkle.
He doesn't get it. I don't either, but I think I'm starting to.
There's before Penny and after Penny. Before, I didn't care about the state of my surroundings. After? I want her to wake up and think someone gives a shit about her. Even if that someone is me.
"I think I'm in love." Hitting him with the hard truth, I don't miss the way he grimaces as I pass by him. He's my shadow, following close behind as I reach the door to the shower.
He should be happy for me. Instead, he looks like I just told him I'm joining a cult.
Taking the bag from his hand, I add it to the shirt I had chosen earlier, hang everything on the knob, and then knock on the door to inform her.
"Clothes are outside the door. Take your time." I keep my voice low and soft before I hear a quiet thank you that nearly buckles my knees.
Moving on, I feel Smoke's eyes on my neck as we reach my next task. The dishes. I'm going to need them cleaned so I have something to use for breakfast tomorrow. Do I even have anything to cook for breakfast?
Finally, my brother makes a sound of disbelief. "What did you do with Ace?"
My mouth curves, and I can't help the laugh that leaves me. I feel good. I feel alive.
"Say whatever you want, but I'm serious, man." Giving him my back, I can't contain this thing clawing at my chest. "I'm going to marry that woman one day."
Okay, I do sound really crazy now.
He chokes on the air at my claim before a soft curse leaves his lips. "She's got those assholes on her tail. You really want to shoulder that? What about the kid's father?"
There it is. The reality check I've been trying not to think about, so I could keep smiling around Penny without scaring her. But the reminding voice has been there, despite being quiet enough to shut out.
"I want to shoulder it." I set down the plate I'm scrubbing and turn to face him fully. "I want to be the reason she stops looking over her shoulder." My voice drops as if I’m keeping a secret. "I want those bastards to know that touching her means answering to me."
He’s still looking at me like I’ve grown a second head, and I get it.
I do. I’ve never been the settling-down kind of guy.
While I know he has been secretly thinking about it, I’ve always run from the thought of commitment.
Now here I am trying to chase after it. Down to the point of happily being willing to spill blood over it.
"If any of those guys come on our territory looking for her, I'll happily put a bullet between their eyes.
Simple as that. And regarding that guy..
." My smile falls away, replaced with a frown.
"I'm planning on talking to Hex. I'll find and kill him after what he's put her through.
Both of them. That, or hand him over so they can write off this debt and send him to his death that way. "
His eyes flicker toward the direction of the bathroom. "Does she know that?"
Of course not. That sweet woman is too innocent to voice what she actually wants. Hell, no normal person would outright ask for the death of someone. They'd be as fucked up as we are.
"If she asks, I'll tell her. But as far as I'm concerned, she won't be thinking about the bastard. I'll keep her distracted." My smile is back as I finish up my last task. "Did Dante give the okay about the whole thing?"
Our president hates the opposing club as much as I do, if not more. He won't have any problem spilling blood as long as it doesn't affect business in any way.
He nods. "Said he'd send a message out about everyone keeping their eyes peeled for any of them sniffing around. If you're keeping her here, it should be fine. Probably shouldn't bring her to the casino again. Not until everything has calmed down."
"I'm not letting her out of my sight." The words come out harder than I meant them to. Possessive. I don't care. "She stays with me where I can protect her."
Hell, I don't think I'll be returning to the casino. In fact, I don't think I'll have the strength to leave my home very often unless I've got these ladies at my side.
Smoke is quiet for a long moment, thinking. I hate when he gets all broody on me, because he makes it impossible to read what he’s thinking.
His nose scrunches, and the best he does is shake his head. “You won’t chase after them if she wants to start somewhere new, right? From how it’s looking here, I’ve got a feeling I’m going to have to keep you from stalking after her.”
I’m not that bad. Then again, I didn’t even think of that possibility. What'll happen once she doesn't need us anymore.
“Uh-huh, yeah. Sure.” Nodding and grinning, he curses under his breath before shoving his fingers through his hair.
When the time comes around when he’s in my shoes, then he’ll get it. Until then, I’ll accept whatever judgmental thoughts he has in his head.
“Don’t get yourself killed. Whatever happens, I’m your backup.” Using that older brother tone of his, he pins me down with that heavy blue gaze.
I don’t plan on dying. Not any time soon, anyway. Can’t leave either of those girls alone. Really, I’m the safest I’ve ever been.
Hearing the door open in the distance, I'm forced to cut the conversation short. I'd rather Penny not hear about club business, especially when she's already afraid of anyone who wears leather to begin with.
"Okay, you've got to go." Patting Smoke's shoulder, he swats my wet hands off of his cut before happily taking the excuse to get away from my love-sick behavior.
I thank him for the clothes and start leading him to my front door.
"No offense, but I'd like to have Penny to myself for the rest of the night.
We can deal with the club's involvement tomorrow. "
Despite being bigger than me, he moves easily. I don't miss the squinted look he gives me. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I won't do anything without telling you first." Giving him a grin, he takes the last few steps before he's standing outside of my apartment. "Are you going to survive without me for a couple of days while I figure things out?"
We've always been glued to the hip since we'd first met each other during our early years. Every time we've been separated, nothing good follows, hence why I'm always clinging to him.
He grunts, his response noncommittal. Maybe he's thinking the same thing I am. But he’s not the kind of guy to voice his concerns, so he just nods, giving me the best reassurance he can before trudging toward his home next door.
Twisting around, I find Penny with my shirt hanging down to her knees and her daughter in a nightgown that is just a little too big.
It's the kind of view I could get used to. Such a shame I can't stand around and enjoy it without making her shift or without my cock stirring to life. It's a miracle I haven't already made my attraction to her apparent because of how my body is responding to her, and I'd like to keep it that way.
Shutting the door behind me, I coast past them and try not to breathe in too deeply. Still, it's impossible not to notice my bodywash clinging to her.
"Let's get you in bed. We can figure everything else out in the morning." Encouraging her to follow, my smile softens when Leliah immediately snuggles into one of my pillows, yawning out.
Penny follows, her exhaustion winning over her hesitance. Once she's hugging the blanket to her chest, she blinks through her exhaustion. "Thank you, Ace."
The smile she gives me, despite being tired, forces me to cling to the doorframe.
Well, I guess Smoke is right to worry. I think if this woman doesn't want me, he's going to have to hold me back. If not, I'm going to follow this woman wherever she goes just to see her smile.
"Goodnight." Forcing the word out, I shut the door behind me before I try to hang around to make sure she can fall asleep.
Left with nowhere to crash but the couch, I can hope a night full of sleep will be enough to help clear up the fog filling my head. Otherwise, I think I'm going to be too gone to ever have the chance to be the man I was before Penny.