4. EMMA #2
I scan my view in front of me for any sign of anything, getting closer and closer to the warehouse, and I see a reflection in the top window of our warehouse.
“Get down.” Ace barks before I lay my head down as low as I can, just peeking over the steering wheel so I can make sure I don't hit anything, and the gunfire rings out.
“Go into the warehouse, Emma.” I hook a left, noticing the open door and I pull my car into the warehouse before the door slams down behind me.
The orchestra of gun shots sounds out, echoing between the warehouses.
“Emma, turn your car off, stay down.” I search his eyes as he searches mine, while I turn my car off. “Stay here, okay.” I want to argue, but I nod, knowing my place is right here. “Okay.”
I watch as Ace pulls his gun from his holster, then steps out of the car, leaving me alone. The amount of gun fire is deafening, feeling like I'm in the middle of a war zone, causing chills to rocket through me.
Sitting here gives me time to think about this arranged marriage Mr. Collins and my father have, wanting to unite the families.
But, I don't want to be a Mafia Queen. Of course I love the glamour, the dresses, the upscale everything, but, I could also go without it all as long as I have my car.
Something tells me that Ace has a dark side to him, fuck he just had me lead him to a shootout, one that was needed, these Heathens need to learn who's city they are in.
But something tells me, deep down, there is a kindness to him, not a common thing in these mafia men, but something like my grandfather, which makes it harder to see this as only a contracted marriage.
My door flies open, expecting to see Ace, but it's not.
“There you are!” A Heathens driver laughs before he reaches out to grab me.
“I don't think so.” I spit. My gun already in my hand, and racked, I throw my gun up and slide my finger over the trigger.
He ducks away from my car, tempting me to get out, which I really consider doing, but I know, I can protect myself better right here.
Ducking into the backseat, trying to be as small as possible, my rear window shatters, raining glass down on me, causing me to cover my head with my arms. I'm yanked out of my car, glass cutting me as I go, firm hands wrapping around me as I fight against them. “Get the FUCK OFF ME! ”
A Devilish laugh echoes in my ear, tilting my head, looking at my assailant. “Yup, it's me again sweetheart.” He throws me off the back of my car, jumping down next to me before his hand wraps around my throat, raising me in the air.
My feet start to come off the ground as his grip gets tighter and tighter around my throat. He stares me in the eyes. “You're lucky, I can't kill you, but I was never told I can't hurt you.”
I swing my leg out, connecting with his groin, making him loosen his grip, allowing me to slip out of his hand. Air rushes into my lungs.
“You fucking bitch.” He scolds.
Seeing my gun by his foot, waiting for my chance.
“I'm not after your car, I'm after you Princess.”
My eyes shoot up to his. “Who sent you?”
“Don't worry sweetheart, you'll meet your new King soon enough.”
“No, I don't think I will.” I launch myself at my gun, but his foot connects with my stomach, throwing me back. Curling into myself, gasping for air that was just kicked from my lungs.
“You're a fighter, the Sicilian King will be pleased to hear that.” He taunts me.
Luca Costa.
My father and Ryan's biggest enemy, I should have known this day would come.
A gunshot echos out, and the man falls to the ground in front of me, his face lying next to mine, eyes open as the blood from the bullet hole seeps from his head.
“EMMA!” Ace roars my name from his mouth as he runs around the back of my car, finding me lying on the ground curled into a ball, clenching my aching stomach.
“Emma. Are you alright?”
I look up and meet his worried gaze, but behind the layer of worry, there is a darkness to them. “They're not after my car Ace, they're after me.”
HOURS LATER
My eyes flutter open in my unfamiliar surroundings, as everything from tonight floods my mind.
I'm alone in this unfamiliar room, remembering bits and pieces the more I wake. I sit up, a hiss slithers from my tongue with the pain in my stomach. I always feared that one day, the Sicilian King would come for me. An enemy to my family, hoped that it wouldn't but now it has.
Gathering my strength I stand up and walk for the door, when a deep voice sounds out. “Where are you going?” I turn around and Ace stands from the chair in the corner, emerging from the shadows. “Where am I?”
“My place, you don't recognize it?”
I look around, realizing in fact we are in the West side Penthouse, the Hotel and Casino that was signed over to be run by Ace. “I guess I do now, but why am I here?”
ACE
I've been watching her since she collapsed on the warehouse floor but not before she told me the Sicilian King, Luca is after her.
Emma is of age to be claimed and this isn't going to stop. I don't think she has any idea what is about to happen to her happy little world, but as I look into her green eyes, a feeling washes over me, something primal, possessive. Needing her to understand this marriage has to happen.
“It doesn't matter why I brought you here, Emma. But we need to fucking talk about earlier.”
“No! I'm not getting married, Ace!”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not. I don't have to explain myself to you or anyone else.”
“Your father will force this on you.” I remind her, because he will, whether she likes it or not.
“Fuck my father!” Her mouth is moving 100mph, ranting and raving about her father and how he has treated her, which causes my blood to boil, but I can't stand this little rant anymore.
Taking a long stride closer to her I reach my arm out and grab her by the back of the neck, her eyes widen but I don't wait.
My hungry lips crash against hers, the silence in the room is deafening, the air around us, charged, so fucking charged.
She melts into my lips, almost like she's been wanting this with the little moan that vibrates my lips.
My fingers entangle in her hair, pulling her head back making her lips easier to access when I shove my tongue down her throat.
“Ace.” She whispers into my mouth but I don't stop, and neither does she, her hand slides up my chest, gripping my jacket, pulling me in closer.
She acts like she doesn't want this, but she does, I can feel it, so I pull back as my hand slides around cupping her face, making her look me in the eye.
“You can have whatever you want with me, Emma.
That's not something you're going to get with any other boss, and I'm sure as fuck not letting some other boss come in here and take over what my father and I have built along side your father, so I really don't see another option here. We need to marry.”