Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ace
I turn on the shower and rest against the sink, waiting for it to heat up.
Harper is outside the door, in my bedroom, making calls. Hunter gave her the go-ahead to tell Gianna about the fake sale and let her know we're looking into the missing shooter.
Thomas Graves intel stays with us. We've got Romeo and Enzo running his name through every database and contact they have.
He might be special ops, but Enzo's network doesn't have just one of those kinda guys.
We have them everywhere, trained by the prolific Grayson Ward, part of the New York crew.
One guy doesn't scare us. Not when we have a full-scale army available at the press of a button.
We've got our guys on the trail for Carson, too.
Because if that ranch was never actually sold, it's still available to purchase.
And that's the cleanest way to get those fuckers off our land.
War isn't something we go searching for.
Wars lead to casualties, and I can't lose anyone else close to me.
We buy it. Then we bury them all there.
Hunter is concerned with how much Gianna needs to know. He trusts no one. And just because she's our enemy's enemy. That doesn't make her our friend. We ain't getting rid of one mafia to let their successors take their place here.
New Falls is ours.
And LA will become Enzo's.
By the time I've showered off, I wrap a towel around my waist and open the door.
"No. I'm not coming back today," Harper hisses down the phone.
I don't move. Don't breathe. Just listen.
"I told Gianna because she's the one who wants the information, remember? Sorry, I got confused on my chain of command. You made it quite clear we bow down to her."
I frown. If that ain't Gianna...
"Yes, she seemed happy with it." She flops down on the bed, pulling at her hair.
"I can't do Saturday, Hudson."
My heart races. Her fake fuckin' fiancé.
"You don't own me. And weekends are my free time. Thanks."
Even though I'm suddenly enraged, sassy Harper always gets me. Her face pales as she listens to whatever he says next.
"Friday. I can do Friday. Okay. Just calm down, it's fine." Her eyes meet mine.
Her cheeks flash red. And in that split second, I know what I need to do. She might be on the phone with him. But she’s on my bed. And I’m going to make sure she knows which man she belongs to.
I walk toward her, pressing my finger over my lips, and drop the towel. Her eyes go wide.
"Yeah. I'm listening," she says into the phone. Her voice’s already cracking.
I crawl onto the bed, spreading her legs. She clears her throat.
"Do I really need to be there?" she asks him.
I push her panties to the side with a grin and lower my mouth. Her breath hitches as I run my tongue along her pussy gently.
She slams her hand over her mouth. I don't stop. This is punishment for letting another man put a ring on her finger before I ever got the chance.
And honestly, I want my face between her legs at every opportunity. I've got years to make up for.
"I'm fine!" she squeaks, higher than she intended.
I sink my fingers inside her, keeping my eyes locked on hers.
"I gotta go. I'll speak to you later." She cuts the call and tosses the phone across the bed.
"Ace Sterling," she half-hisses, half-moans.
"Who do you belong to, Harper? Say it. Say my name."
"You. Ace fucking Sterling."
Her hand fists in my hair, pushing me back between her legs.
"Good girl."
I get her to the edge. Her whole body tense, my name falling out of her mouth, her fingers pulling at my hair. But I don't finish the job. I pull back, sit on my knees, and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
"You're cruel," she whines.
"What did he want?"
She blinks at me, breathless. "His parents are demanding dinner, me included."
I nod. "How long do you have to keep this up? When's his dying dad signing over the business? Couldn't he just wait till he died?"
She sucks in a breath. "He's been given two more years. Hudson doesn't want to wait and doesn’t trust the board. It was meant to be one date—not all of this. It just spiraled. Apparently, he thinks the sign over will be within the next month."
I run my hand through my hair. "I could just send one of our men to... speed the process up with his father?"
Her mouth drops open. "Ace Trent Sterling. You are not killing a dying man. He isn’t the bad one in this."
I frown. "No? I meant I could threaten. Blackmail. I'm sure they're rich enough to have skeletons in their closet."
She shakes her head. "No. It's fine, Ace. Hudson isn't being a dick about it. I get my case, he gets the company. It's all good."
I swallow. "Except the fact that the love of my life is engaged to someone else and she won't let me kill anyone."
She sits up, resting her hands on my chest.
"The engagement isn't real. Okay? You are the man I want. The one I've always wanted. I'm in your house. In your bed. Your tongue was just inside me." She smirks. "Yours. The engagement is nothing, and means nothing."
I rest my hands over hers. It does settle something inside me. Hearing her say it. But there are still a million other things in my head.
What happens when she's done with the case here? She was right when she left the first time—I would have hated life in LA. And now it's not even a possibility unless I want to get killed.
I just have to trust in us. Trust Harper Jones to make the right decision this time. Trust myself to show her how much I love her. That I can give her everything her heart desires, right here on Sterling Ranch.
"Ace, talk to me," she whispers, cupping either side of my face.
"I'm good, baby. Just thinkin'."
She smiles. "That's dangerous."
I press my nose against hers. "Yeah. For you it is. Because I'm thinkin' about how I can keep you here, right here, with me. Forever."
She bites her lip. "What's the plan so far?"
I kiss her. Hard. Trying to show her everything I want to say. That I love her more than I could ever love another person. More than I should.
"Making you smile so damn hard that you never leave me," I whisper against her lips.
"That won't be difficult. You are my happy place, Ace."
I brush her hair away from her face. "So when are you going back?"
"Tomorrow. Just for the night. I'll be back Saturday, first thing."
"So you're still coming to my rodeo?"
"You think I'd miss it?"
She kisses me, and I lay her down.
"Do I get to come now, Ace?"
I kiss my way down her neck, pushing down her dress so I can take her nipple in my mouth.
"Fuck yeah," I growl as she spreads her legs wider.
"Then, after, you wanna help me on the ranch? Take Penny and help the hands move the cattle? And then I promised Wyatt I'd take him for food after school. Wanna join?"
She always loved helping out here. And she was damn good at it. Wyatt will think she's great—especially if she gets him cake or ice cream. Though I'm slightly concerned Wyatt's going to be upset if Harper takes Penny back. I kinda let him have her after Harper left.
"Yes. Yes. Yes," she moans.
“Be a good girl. Loud as you can. Eyes on me. You know the rules,” I gruff, desperate to have her again.