7
Christian
Grace is going to kill me in the best way.
She looked so cute when I first met her.
Those big green eyes and pouty lips. That knowing smirk like she had a secret joke just between us.
She was practically swimming in that giant black hoodie and her shoes were covered in duct tape.
She was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen.
Hell, she had Andras Van Doren in tears laughing.
Then I saw her running. God, she was mouthwatering. I watched her for longer than I should have. Then she was in her uniform looking like an angel. She is perfect.
Andras told me a few things about what she's been through but based on what I've seen of her that's not all. She's been through hell.
I was going to leave her alone. My dad would never approve of someone so gentle as a wife.
Even just as a girlfriend. Then she took my hand and danced with me.
I know there were others there with us but she's so.
.. alive. She might as well have been the only one in the room with me. That decided it for me.
Now, I have to be professional as I watch this Irish asshole ask to take her out on a date. I know that's why he's here. I am happy to have heard Grace and her friend call him weird though.
Yes, I'm jealous. It's like being just outside of heaven and not being allowed or worthy enough to be let inside.
I stand guard behind Andras as he sits across from the Irish bastard. He's fidgeting with his hands. I don't hold back my glare. If he scares this easily, he's not worth her time or this business. At least he stood to greet Andras and shook his hand.
"What can I help you with, Mr. McConnell?" Andras asks looking like he's going to send the guy to prison with a look.
"Um... hi, I was wondering if you would allow me to take Grace out on a date." He stammers. I hold in my scoff.
"Why?" Andras demands.
"Well, she's funny, and I know I just met her but I want to get to know her better." He states.
"Does she know that you're interested in her like this?" Andras asks.
"No, sir."
"I wish you luck." Andras laughs getting up. What? He can't be serious!
"What do you mean?" He asks nervously.
"I mean she's going to make you earn it." Andras clarifies still laughing to himself effectively dismissing the kid. I follow Andras, who is still laughing, to his office. He turns to me with a calculating look.
"That goes for you as well. Don't think I haven't noticed your interest in my niece." I feel my stomach drop out of my body. I'm going to get fired.
"I wasn't-" I start but he cuts me off putting a hand up.
"I know you weren't going to make a move. But if you do, you will have to earn it. She doesn't trust easily. I like you though, so I will let you know a secret." He smiles sadly. "She hides knives everywhere."
"What?" I ask with my heart in my throat. He just nods.
"Ruby has informed me of dozens of knives hidden all over her room. I'm keeping them there because they clearly make her feel safe." He continues. I knew there was more to her past but...
"What happened to her?" I ask .
"I don't know. She hasn't told me much." He shrugs. "Just be careful with her." I nod.
"You're free for the rest of the day." He smiles mischievously. "I hear there's a movie showing." My heart soars. I have a shot with my angel.
"Thank you, sir," I say and leave the office.
Grace
Even the fucking movie theatres are fancy here! The ground isn't sticky, the popcorn is hot and not soggy.
"Stop looking so disgusted." Kennedy laughs.
"It's not disgust. I just... this is so weird." I correct her.
"How different is it?"
"Well, first of all, all the lights work, the floor isn't sticky, and the people behind the counter are actually behind the counter. I haven't had to jump the counter to get my own food." I explain. The look of horror on her face is adorable. I pat her back. "It's okay. Life goes on." I chuckle.
"Hello, ladies," Alek says with his customary flirty grin. He seems to have gotten over his earlier weirdness. Keir is quiet beside him.
"Hello, gentlemen," I reply with a smile.
"What took you so long? Even I know not to keep a lady like Grace waiting." Kennedy scolds them.
"Yeah... I start getting into trouble." I cackle.
"I went to the washroom and I found her hustling air hockey! Unbelievable." She says it like it's a bad thing.
"Hey, I made fifty bucks in ten minutes. Hookers don't make that kind of money." I smirk as I walk away. Keir snorts a laugh as they catch up to me.
I settle in my seat between Keir and Kennedy with Alek on Keir's other side. The movie starts and I grab Keir's arm to look at his watch.
"It even starts on time? What the hell is this place?" I whisper causing him to chuckle. I offer Keir some popcorn and he grabs a handful with a small smile.
"That is the coolest goddamn car I have ever seen," Kennedy says pointing to a weird peach-coloured Lamborghini. I give her a weird look before turning back to the screen.
"Come downtown with me sometime I'll take you to a race. They got some nice cars down there." I whisper back before we get hushed by a guy behind us, I flip him off in response. Some things are universal.
Halfway through the movie, I feel my phone buzz quietly in my pocket. There are only so many people it could be so I figure I better answer it.
"I'll be right back, guys," I say climbing past Kennedy and out of the theatre. I look at my phone. Unknown number. Ray.
I call back.
"Hello?" Ray greets.
"Hey, Ray. What's up?"
"Hey, Little Mama. I heard you're living the high life now." He teases.
"Yeah, turns out I have an uncle. Who knew?" I chuckle.
"Ah, you deserve it. But I did call for a reason. We got a job."
"Shit. Now?"
"Yeah, sorry Little Mama. The good news is: it's on your side of town." He says.
"Alright. Give me the details. Oh, I need to get my bike out of storage. Can you bring it with you?"
"For sure. Where am I meeting you? "
"There's a movie theatre on Grand. Meet me out back?"
"Done. See you in twenty. Sending you details." We hang up and I send Kennedy a text apologizing for having to leave and a text to Andras explaining that I'm going to be late and that a friend needs my help.
Surprisingly, both of them understand and I head around back to wait for Ray.
He pulls up in his black creeper van, I hop in and we're off to our job.
I climb into the back and change into my Ace outfit.
It's nothing too crazy just disposable and has more accessible weapons.
I braid my hair back and put on the aviators to hide myself a bit.
I do not need anybody to know who I am. Especially now that other people are at stake.
Ray says they asked for me specifically but I always bring back up. Not everyone respects my talents until it's too late and by that time, I have bodies to move and I just don't have the leverage for that all by myself and fires reduce the chance of repeat customers.
We drive up to a familiar grey cubic building. Very modern, all hard lines and right angles. We're led to a side door and through to a basement.
A large man with dark slicked-back hair and brown eyes waits for us. Leo Bianchi. He spreads his arms in a boisterous greeting.
"Ace! Thank you for helping us out with our little problem." He grins broadly.
We both nod silently.
"Right this way!" Man, Italians are friendly!
Even in the mafia. The Bratva is pretty damn stoic and the Irish are always hitting someone and the Yakuza usually keep within themselves.
Every so often some dumbass will cross them and then we get called but it's not very often.
They like to work in house, which I get. Less risk.
Mr. Bianchi opens a door leading to a man strapped to a chair gagged and bloody. Looks like someone got a little excited there. I walk into the room and see a little shift in his posture.
I palm two of my knives continuing my way to the man in the chair. I take a few wider steps and see he cut through his binds. He's playing possum. I can respect that. This is going to be fun.
I'm good at getting people to talk. Whether they want to or not. It's a gift.
"Ace, why are you so happy?" Ray asks with a chuckle. I see the tremor start to take over the man in the chair at the sound of my name. Makes a girl proud of her work.
I signal that he's untied making Ray chuckle.
"You crazy fucker." He mutters making me beam. He turns to Bianchi. "So what do you need to find out?"
"We need to know what he was doing with files on the heads of the mafias. Including ours. The other Heads should be here soon." Well, shit. That's a big fucking deal. Who's going against all the mafias?! That’s nuts!
"Fuck." Ray mutters.
"Indeed," Bianchi states lips in a sneer. "You have free reign, Ace." I hear a muffled sob from the man in the chair. He'll be breaking any minute now.
"Looks like the whole family is coming down for this!" Ray cheers. This is going to be a shit show.
I hear footsteps down the hall as I ready myself to get started.
"If you'll excuse me I'll be back with our guests." Bianchi leaves us to our investigation. I gently trail my knife down the back of the man's neck watching as the tremors take over again. I cut the gag off him and he lets out a sob.
"Looks like he's heard about you, Ace." Ray chuckles. I lean down close to the man's ear and whisper.
"I love it when my reputation proceeds me."
He jolts at the sound of my voice. Curiosity getting the better of him he turns to look at me.
"You're a girl." He says stupidly and I see a gleam of superiority in his eyes. Best cut that out of him quickly.
"Oh, Jesus," Ray mutters under his breath .
"Very good." I coo huskily. "Now, for a trickier question. Can you tell me where the femoral artery is?" Like I'm teaching a class. I see the heat in his eyes as he falls for it. Dragging his hand up my inner thigh slowly while I try not to vomit.
"Very good. How about your flanges?" I ask trying to contain my shudder. He holds up two fingers like he's offering me a good time. And it will be, but not in the way he thinks.
Before he can react, I slice the tops of his fingers off. His shrill scream echoes off the concrete walls.
"Looks like we're missing the main event, Bianchi." Says a deep Russian voice. Chekhov. There are more than just the heads of the Russians and the Italians here. But I let Ray worry about that. I have my job, he has his.
"Now you know I mean business, what about those files?" I ask.
"You bitch." He spits.
"Sticks and stones, buttercup. Do I need to do the rest of your hand or are you going to talk?" I ask. "I don't mind either way. To be honest, it kind of livens things up a bit."
"I'm not telling you a thing, whore." He bites out. I hear Ray muttering about dumbasses and shit-for-brains.
"I was hoping you'd say something like that." I grin. I hear The Heads take their seats along the walls. I hear a few gasps but ignore them. I have my target in front of me.
"We brought our heirs with us so they can learn how to run a business like this. I hope you don't mind, Ace." A deep voice says. I recognize it as McConnell, the head of the Irish mob.
"Not at all, Mr. McConnell. Good to see you again" I smile my eyes never leaving the asshole in the chair. "Same with you Mr. Chekhov, Mr. Tanaka."
"And you, Ace. Please, don't let us interrupt." Tanaka says.
"So... about those files..." I say.