Redeeming Ace's Heart

by M. T. Ossler

  “Our last year of college,” I say, swallowing hard. Opening my eyes, I stare Hunter dead in his, not looking away. Then continue in a mere whisper with my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. I’ve never said this story out loud and I’m scared to death what Hunter will think of me afterward. The guys stay quiet to hear me.

  “A guy at school was harassing Ces. One night the three of us were at the library on campus studying for our mid-semester exams before the holidays. We finished around two in the morning and just happened to be the last to leave. We lied to Ricco and Luigi, saying the other was with us, so we had no bodyguards up our asses. They got annoying sometimes and we had Ces with us. Anyway, Ces left the library first to get Bella’s car, leaving her and me to pack up our books. We walked out front and no Ces, so we headed to her car.

  “The guy that had been stalking Ces, followed him that night when he left the library, and he ambushed him. By the time Bells and I got to them, Ces was knocked out cold on the ground and the guy was dragging him towards his truck. Bells pounced on him from behind and I got in a few hits. We fought him with our fist until he pulled a knife on us. I distracted him, and Bells retrieved her own knife, one she always carried and went after him. They fought, she tripped him, and he fell to the ground. I kicked his knife away in the process. Ces started to come to at that point. Bells and I went back to attacking the guy to keep his sights off Ces and the knife, which happened to be right next to him.” I pause taking a few deep breaths. Hunter is looking at me so intensely, almost like he’s seeing a different person. I hold it together, closing my emotions off and the tears back to finish my tale.

  “Bells and I bashed his head against a parking stopper thingy a few times. Then Ces came over and stuck the knife in his gut. We don’t know which one of us made the final blow that took his life, it didn’t matter, we all had blood on our hands. Literally and figuratively.

  “I called Ricco afterward and had him dispose of the body. He made the guy disappear for us. We never spoke of it again. Until now.” I look over at Lorenzo, Romeo, and Bash and the recognition in their eyes tell me they remember hearing something about that night. I know they are going to take this as them failing us girls, but they didn’t. They tried to shelter us from all the bad shit, but we were too sneaky for our own good.

  “We weren’t stupid guys, too curious for our own good, yes. We knew a hell of a lot more than we let on. Those tunnels had nothing on us. I’m sorry.” I see it in their eyes, the pain that they should have protected us, sheltered us from this. That’s my breaking point, hurting my brothers. I look back at Hunter with tears in my eyes and see his pain too.

  “I’m sorry I never told you, Blue,” I say in a soft voice, placing my right hand on my growing belly and the other on the side of his face. A new habit of mine lately and Hunter’s too, one of us is always touching my growing belly.

  “We can handle this for you, for us. That bitch hurt us, and it could have been the worst on Gigi if Vito hadn’t been on the inside to watch over her. Please, Blue, please let us do this. I’ll be so careful, and the baby won’t get hurt. I can handle this, I swear to you I can.” I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss the corner of his mouth. He’s stunned, and I think all his brothers are too, not one person in the room has moved or spoken.

  Hunter is frozen with his bright, piercing blues giving nothing away. He must hate me and he’s going to leave us now. He’s not going to be able to look at me ever again. He sees a different person. A murderer. The mother of his child isn’t as innocent as he thought, she’s a murderer.

  The room stays quiet for a long while and Hunter and I don’t move a muscle. Gator’s the one that finally breaks the silence, clearing his throat.

  “Ok, Jules and Ces give us time to absorb your confession and vote on your request. We’ll let you know what we decide soon,” Gator says dismissing us. I leave Hunter paralyzed in the middle of the meeting room.

  Ces grabs my hand and pulls me out. I close the door behind us, leaving it open a sliver, so we can hear them.

  “Hey, brother, sit,” I hear Ryder’s gentle voice say. I assume he’s talking to Hunter. We hear a flop from someone hitting a chair.

  “Ace, Ace, brother, wake the fuck up,” Gator yells and then we hear a slap. I think he just hit Hunter across the face. Damn, I wish I could see what was going on in there.

  “I’m good... I think,” he says in a flat tone, then goes quiet again.

  “That was definitely not what I expected when they walked in here,” Hawk says sounding off.

  “I don’t think any of us did,” Shadow says not sounding like himself either.

  “Beast, Ryder, Ace, their yours, if you give the go ahead we can vote on it,” Gator says.

  “Hell, no,” Gio yells through the speakerphone.

  “Giovanni Sebastian Valentino, I love you, but I am a grown ass woman and you know I can fucking handle this shit. Stop being such a control freak and let me take out the bitch and get my payback,” I hear Bella scream at Gio through the phone. He grunts but says nothing, I think that was his way of giving into her, a little.

  “I say we let them,” Ryder says, and we wait for Hunter to answer. He’s probably going to take back my ol’ lady status now and throw me out on my ass. Maybe he’ll just hand me over to the Cartel and keep his baby.

  After a few drawn out seconds, I hear him say, “If she says she can do it, then I say let them. My girl is smart and when it comes to those she loves, she’ll do whatever she has too. So, yea, I say the girls and Ces get their revenge once and for all. The girls are stronger than we give them credit for, Beast. Bella knows what she can and cannot handle. We’ll stay with them the whole time, though. I don’t want that bitch spewing shit to them.” He doesn’t hate me. He still loves me no matter what. My heart just melted, and my blood pressure just dropped. It’s been through the roof since Bella called me. Now, I feel everything depleting from my body as I begin to relax and take a deep breath, I didn’t realize I was holding in.

  A calmness comes over my tense body and I fall back onto the door. My legs just give out not able to hold up my body and I slide down to the floor. Dizziness comes over me, the world is spinning as all the emotions of the day run through me. I grab hold of Ces’s arm as the door opens, leaving my back to emptiness.

  I’m lifted into someone’s arms, Hunter’s arms, jostling me as he moves.

  Now, is a good time for a nap and to forget.

  ****

  I wake up in our room, cradled in Hunter’s arms. I don’t move much, I lay on his chest, enjoying his warmth and the peace and quiet.

  “You say you’re strong enough to do what needs to be done, then you go and pass out on me. Not proving your case much, kitten,” Hunter says chuckling. I look up at him and in the light, I can see the worry and stress written all over his face.

  “I am, I swear. Today was just a lot of emotions to take in. I’m fine now, still a little tired and starving.” I give him a big smile and he kisses me.

  “You want pizza and cheese fries?” he asks, and all my exhaustion is gone. I’m starving and that sounds like the best thing he’s said since I woke up. I get off the bed and he laughs at my enthusiasm.

  “Beast ordered your favorites it should be there when we arrive.” He tells me as I grab my shoes. I look back at Hunter needing to ask him something before we leave our room and have dinner with everyone.

  “Blue, do you hate me?” I ask in a low tone, as I lower my eyes to the floor. He gets up from the bed and crosses the room. He takes me in his warm, loving embrace and lifts my chin up to look at him.

  “Oh, kitten, how could you ever think that. I did, however, see you in a brand-new light today. All good, though, I promise you. I’m so proud of you for handling a situation that fell into your lap,” he says and takes a deep breath.

  “A part of me wants to shield my life from you, to protect you. I’m not an idiot, I know death changes a person, but in my heart, I know you’re strong
enough to endure the consequences of your actions.

  “So, with that being said, that is why I agreed to let you handle our problem, because I know you can do it. Not just that, more like you need to do this for yourself and our family. You need to make her suffer the way she made your sisters and brothers suffer. I get it, I may not like it, cause I feel like I should be protecting you from all this shit in my life, but I see where your heart is on this one.

  “The guys see it too and voted for all of you to do what you please with the bitch. You just have to promise me you won’t go overboard and hurt yourself or the baby. I’m not gonna sit by and watch that, I would rather cut the bitches throat than see you get hurt cause of that whore.” I can do that for him since they are all giving this to us.

  “That I can do, I promise. I love you, Hunter, and our baby. You two are my first priority. I’m not losing a part of you and me for a whore. I’ll take my time and not push myself.

  “Now, let’s go eat. I’m famished.” I grab his hand, pulling him out of the room, and my stomach growls. We both laugh as we leave our room, heading downstairs and into the bar. We see Ces and Ryder sitting at the bar drinking and Ces runs to me with Ryder on his tail. He takes me in his arms and kisses the top of my head.

  Ryder tells Hunter they are ready to go, and Beast just texted him that the food just arrived.

  He has finally accepted Ces as a part of our life. I know they talked months ago, but things were still rocky. When I lost our baby and Ces was there for both of us as a brother, that’s when Hunter let go of everything for good. The jealousy or whatever he was holding onto just... vanished overnight. A peace washed over all of us and brought the four of us closer together.

  I suspect this is Hunter and the guy’s way of getting us all together, so they can speak to Bells, Ces and I about what they heard earlier. No one in this Clubhouse would ever expect that from the Mafia Princesses, but it is what it is. We did what we had to do to protect our family. All that matters to me, is that Hunter understands. And he still loves me after what we did.

  We all head out the back door and ride over to their house. It’s not a long ride from the Clubhouse, but it’s not that close either.

  We arrive and before sitting down to eat I get my coochie coos with my nephews. Then we all sit in their huge dining room to eat and talk. The second the pizza is on all our plates, Hunter begins the interrogation of us. He’s been dying to ask about what we did since I woke up. We answer all the guy’s questions and some, satisfying their curiosity.

  He also informs us, that we can start on Chrissy tomorrow. The only thing is, there are a few rules we need to follow. Gator will be talking to us first.

  The guys will be with us in the shed for our safety. She will be hanging from the rafters; the same way Antonio was that day we walked in on them. Bella and I can do the light stuff and Ces is to do all the heavy lifting. Whatever that means. I plan on using my fist and knife on her, that’s my light work. Cutting the bitch up and showing her how ugly she is inside and out. Tearing her a new one with my words, I’ll be letting her know the major can of worms she’s opened up. Not just for the Club, but for Bells, Ces, Gigi and I, my sisters and brothers, my family.

  Ces can take her last breath, however, he sees fit.

  He and Bells can take the reins on this one and lead the show. They have suffered the most from all this shit for the last year and will for the rest of their lives. Scars like they have received never go away, they heal, but they never completely leave you. They imprint themselves on your soul.

  We finish dinner and hang out with the babies in the family room for a while. After helping feed the boys, we leave them for the night. Bella is exhausted and needs her rest for tomorrow.

  The Clubhouse is in full party mode, celebrating when we arrive back. The four of us decline the invitation to stay and party and head to our rooms. We can do some private celebrating and get a good night sleep. Tomorrow the festivities begin and will last all day, I’m sure.

  The next morning, Hunter wakes me with breakfast in bed. Not just his either, after our morning lovemaking, he feeds me cheesy eggs, bacon, hash browns, and biscuits. Then we dress and meet everyone in the bar.

  Gator is the first to address us when we enter. Everyone is here, Gio, Bells, Ryder, Ces, Throttle, Shadow, Hawk, and Wolf are all sitting at the bar.

  “Alright, now that the gang is all here, have a seat. I have some ground rules for this shit show that is gonna happen today,” Gator says rolling his eyes. Hunter sits in a chair and takes me on his lap. Gio is next to us with Bells on his lap. Ryder and Ces are sitting on the couch.

  “Ok, we have allowed you three to handle our pest problem, but that doesn’t mean you get full range. We will all accompany you out there with your men.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, this will be over today. You will not drag this out. We need this problem dealt with fast, have your fun, get your revenge, then be done with it all.

  “You can use the tools we have hanging, nothin’ electrical. I don’t give a shit what you do to her, just don’t hurt yourselves. When you’ve had your fill, just say the word and the men will take it from there. With all due respect, Ces, you do all the heavy lifting, and that includes taking her out. Then the prospects will clean it all up.

  “Ok, who’s ready to start this shit?” Gator finishes, and I see Maggie watching us by the kitchen door. I hop off Hunter’s lap before he can stop me and run straight to her. She backs up and I follow, getting in her face, with all the guys and Bells following me. I start lacing into her without thinking.

  “You wanna be next bitch because I can sure as fuck arrange it. I can have you hanging next to your friend in minutes. You mess with my family and I will come after you too!” I scream in her face, backing her against the wall. Hunter places his hand on my shoulder to calm me down. There’s no calming me, I hate these fucking whore, bitches around here.

  “I... I... I didn’t know Chrissy did any of that shit to you guys. I swear, I would never intentionally hurt Ace or the guys.

  “Beast trusted me enough to allow me in his home to help me. I like Gigi and Bella, and their boys are innocent in all this. I would never hurt any of them, I swear to you, Ms. Jules,” Maggie says with tears in her eyes and I can see the truth behind them. She is family and would never hurt us.

  I don’t know what to say to her, thankfully I don’t have to say anything. Hunter pulls me into his arms and I bury my face in his chest, taking in his smell. Now, I can relax and not cry in front of everyone.

  “We’re good, Maggie. Here why don’t you get Jan and go out for lunch and do some shopping,” Gio says to her. I turn my head and see him handing her a hundred-dollar bill.

  “I’m sorry, Maggie,” I mummer not knowing what else to say. She nods and then leaves the room to get Jan.

  “God, it’s like being back in high school watching the girls fight over the hot guys they like,” Shadow comments breaking the tension in the room and we all laugh.

  Well, if you think about it, it kind of is like high school for us girls and Ces all over again. We’re about to have the catfight of our lives in a few minutes, with Chrissy.

  Once Maggie and Jan leave for the day, the guys escort us out to the traitor. She is indeed hanging from the poles in the ceiling. The guys stand back and let the three of us do our thing.

  After the three of us confer, we agree Bella should start this off, since she’s suffered the most. But before she does, she turns to the guys with a devious look in her light honey colored eyes. She’s taking pleasure in all this shit, rightfully so. After the way she handled Anton, even fully pregnant, I have no doubts Chrissy is in for a world of pain from Bella that she couldn’t deliver to him.

  Bells doesn’t speak, she just turns back around and punches her in the gut. Again and again, then takes out her knife and cuts the bottom of her shirt, showing off her stomach. In one fast move, she slashes the knife across her skin, in a long diagonal cut. The g
ut-wrenching scream that comes out of Chrissy is like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.

  Then Chrissy being Chrissy takes the opportunity to get some jabs in. “You bitch’s came here and took all the good men. You deserve whatever the Cartel wants to do to your asses.”

  Bella just laughs at her and continues on with her menacing treatment. She says some things to her that we can’t hear.

  “You not only got Beast and Ace y’all took Blaze from us too. Fuck, you must have magic pussy’s,” she grunts out. How the hell did Blaze get involved in this? He doesn’t have a woman and Bella and I certainly are not sleeping with him. So, what is she going on about?

  As if hearing my thoughts Bella punches her across the face a few times and in the gut before continuing to cut her up. Chrissy grunts in pain and cries but hasn’t said a word. Where’s the tough bitch that started all this shit? Then she says, “Aww, poor little whore, no one wants to fuck her skank ass anymore. My man and Ace have real classy women and don’t need the trash. Blaze, he must have come to his senses if he stopped fucking you.”

  Bella goes off on the bitch, cutting every piece of bare skin she sees, arms, legs, stomach, and her chest.

  “You two bitch’s have to be fuckin’ Blaze cause he ain’t fucked me or the girls in months,” Chrissy bellows out. That’s an interesting statement. From what I’ve seen of Blaze since I arrived here, he has a healthy sexual appetite. So, what is going on with him?

  I look over at him, but he seems lost in his own world, not hearing a word Chrissy has said. Something is definitely troubling him lately and Hunter and I need to get to the bottom of it soon.

  I turn back to the scary sight, it truly is. The blood, the torn skin, and hearing Chrissy’s gut-wrenching cries, grunts and cursing at Bella. It becomes too much for me to stay in here and watch and hear.

  Nausea hits me, and I need a minute out of this shed. After standing here and observing Bella for a while, I’m in need of a break.