A smile twitches at the corner of my lips as I watch her fidget outside the door through the corner of my eye. Gripping the wheel, I check my watch.
I give her another ten seconds.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven
Six.
Five…
The door swings open rapidly.
I let out a throaty chuckle.
“What the hell is so funny?” she snaps, slamming the door behind her.
Sliding my Ray-Bans over my eyes, a smile still on my lips, I put the car in drive and simply murmur, “Nothing at all.”
I admit, I didn’t see this one coming.
Ace Crow owning a personal jet? Nope. Not at all. And as we get closer, I know it’s his because it matches the tattoo on the right side of his neck. It’s the same crow with beady eyes and money clutched in one of its claws. Its wings are spread, but tattered, as if it’s been flying non-stop. There are even a few feathers surrounding the crow, proving that soon it’ll be all burnt out and no longer able to fly.
The only difference in the crow is that it’s solid red, contrasting greatly against the black jet. The tattoo on Ace’s neck is all black with the exception of the bird’s scarlet eyes.
I stare ahead as we get closer, wondering why he thought of making this worn-out crow his symbol – his signature. Most men I know like when things are polished and new. Or good looking and strong. But Ace and this crow… it beats me.
“Hold on,” I say, staring ahead, wide-eyed. “A jet?”
“Yes,” he says, eyes trained on the jet. “Problem with that?”
“No,” I muster. “I just… well, I figured we’d be taking a regular flight… on an airplane.”
His shoulders shake with silent laughter. “I haven’t flown on an airplane in six years. Won’t start now. Consider this a luxury.”
I turn ahead again just as he stops. I’m pretty sure I have no choice but to consider it a luxury. It’s a personal jet for goodness sakes. He can do whatever he wants on it. He can drink as many bottles of champagne as he wants or as much beer as he wants. He doesn’t really seem like a heavy beer man, now that I think about it. More like a two-beer kind of man and then some hard scotch to really heat him up.
Ace puts the car in park and hops out immediately. An older man standing by the stairs of the jet nods and starts our way as Ace exits the car.
I climb out cautiously, wary about all of this. I’m still afraid to be around Ace, and knowing now that we’ll be flying alone on this jet is really giving me second thoughts.
“Her bag is in the trunk, Trent,” Ace says as I shut my door behind me. He then points his gaze on me, starting a casual walk my way. Extending his hand in my direction, he looks at me over his sunglasses, eyebrows lifted. Those brown eyes of his seem much brighter beneath the morning sun. Like rum. “Won’t bite,” he murmurs. “And there’s something on there I think you’d like to see.”
“What is it?” I ask. I hesitate on taking his hand, and it causes him to lower it.
“Won’t know unless you come, London.” He looks me over once then turns his back to me to get to the jet.
I take a deep breath, watching as he carries himself across the pavement and up the stairs of the jet. Once he’s inside, I shake my head and tell myself to snap out of it.
“Just go,” I mutter to myself.
And I do.
My steps are slow and vigilant, but I do.
When I finally get inside, I’m astonished. It’s furnished completely… in a manly way, of course.
Inside are black leather seats with red stitching. Every silver tray with a drink on it is polished. No trace of fingerprints or scratches. There’s even carpet on the floor. Soft carpet, the kind I love wiggling my toes in.
And to my luck, the seats are nowhere near each other. There are eight in total. Two by four rows. I don’t have to sit anywhere near him.
“Finally boarded, huh?” Ace’s voice thunders as he rounds the corner with a piece of cantaloupe in hand. I don’t respond. Instead, I make my way to the seat I find most desirable and plop down, folding my arms. “You know…,” Ace says, slowly making his way next to my seat. “You act like a spoiled brat. Jonah didn’t tell me about that trait of yours.”
I jerk my gaze on him instantly, glaring. “No one said you had to deal with it. You’re only keeping me safe, correct?”
“You’re right,” he states, completely unbothered by my snappish tone. “But while you’re around me, I have to deal with it.”
“Whatever,” I mutter. Turning my head, I stare out of the window and watch the man, Trent, hop into the driver’s seat of Ace’s car. He makes a wide U then pulls away from the jet. I watch him until I can no longer see him.
“Alright, Bobby!” Ace yells. “We’re all set!”
I look around for a Bobby but don’t see anyone.
“Pilot,” Ace informs me.
“Oh.”
After the door of the jet is shut and Ace has taken his seat, the jet revs with a loud rumble. He chuckles, delighted. “Loves to play with this thing, what can I say?” He shrugs. “Buckle up.”
I concede.
The jet pulls off three minutes after I’ve buckled up, and as it runs forward and lifts off the ground, I avoid looking out the window. I’ve always been afraid of heights. It’s one of the big reasons why I hardly travel. Flying freaks me the hell out. Driving does, too.
“We’re all good,” Ace says to me.
“I don’t need your reassurance.” My voice doesn’t come out as harsh as I want it to. It comes out weak and wavering.
“Let’s talk or something… ‘til the turbulence calms down.”
I glance at him slowly. “I don’t think there’s anything to talk about…”
His face stiffens, lips straightening to a thin pink line. “There’s plenty to talk about, and you know it.”
I seal my lips.
Ace leans forward, observing me. “Look how red your face is,” he says, fighting a laugh. “That scared?”
“Not scared… just… nervous.”
“Hmm… Red…” As he says that, I swear I hear a guttural groan come from him. When I look to check, his face is as smooth as ever. “Listen,” he starts. “I know you may not trust me – and I know you blame me for what happened to Jonah - but like I said before, Jonah wouldn’t put you into the hands of someone he doesn’t trust. I can guarantee you that. And I can prove it.”
I look at him through the corner of my eye. “How?”
Ace shifts in his seat then lifts his pelvis to dig in his back pocket. I can’t help staring at his crotch; the bulge is huge. Silently, and shamefully, I question how big he is.
“Here,” he says, stretching his arm toward me. In his hand is a folded piece of paper.
My eyebrows stitch as I stare at him, full of doubt. “What the hell is this?”
“Just take the damn thing,” he grumbles. He looks away from me, his hand still held out. I see all over his face that he’s getting impatient with me. Maybe I should ease up. Play nicer…
Slowly retrieving the paper, I unfold it carefully, and when I see the horrible handwriting that could only belong to Jonah, I gasp. I look up at Ace quickly, but he’s staring out the window beside him with his hand covering his chin and mouth, not daring to look my way any longer.
“You’ve already read this?” I ask.
He nods but continues staring out the window.
I draw in a deep breath again, focusing on the letter. And with each word, I swear I feel myself break.
Lonnie Bird,
I know you’re wondering what this letter is for. Maybe even wondering why I have someone you don’t even know giving it to you.
If you’re reading this, I’ve probably passed away, most likely in a way that many find gruesome. I know I should be apologizing for this –for putting you in a situation like this – but I just can’t. Wanna know why?
Because I did it for yo
u, sis. I did it for you and me. I saw how much you were struggling to pay off your student loans. I saw how much you struggled to get around day-by-day without a car. It hurt me to hear you cry over the phone every time something went wrong. I hated seeing it happen to you. And I hated there was nothing I could do.
I did this because I wanted to be able to take care of both of us. I can’t tell you exactly what it is that Ace and I do, but it’s something you’d never approve of and something I never would’ve thought about doing if it weren’t for me meeting him.
But, listen to me… everything happens for a reason. I know you might not trust Ace at first. I mean, look at him. He’s a hard guy to read. It took me a while to trust him, but there was a time when I knew that I could. Ace may seem standoffish, but he’s a good man, Lonnie, and he made me a promise. If you’re reading this, he kept that promise.
There’s nothing to be afraid of. He’s like a brother to me. A good one. He’s been my mentor for two years now. He’s been good to me… to us. Everything you and I have now is because of him.
I love you, sis. So much.
I know you’re strong. I know this might hurt to read, but I want you to know I’m always here. I’ll always be here.
I love you, Lonnie.
With all my heart,
Jonah
It takes me a while to absorb this. It takes me a while to even think. After ten minutes of silence and reading the letter over and over again, I realize I’ve completely broken down. I realize I’m sobbing. Tears are all over the paper; ink is smearing. Realizing I’m damaging the only thing I have left of Jonah, I fold it up and stuff it in my purse.
I look to where Ace was sitting, but he’s not in his seat anymore. He must’ve left as soon as the waterworks started. I don’t know why, but that makes me cry even more.
Perhaps it’s because I’m alone. Maybe he did it on purpose – left on purpose. He knew I’d need some space, some air to breathe, or some time to think about all Jonah said.
I’m glad he can respect that. Glad he can respect me.
The flight to New York isn’t too long, but on the way, I become exhausted from weeping so hard and for so long. I’ve stared out the window for a while now, watching as each cloud passes by, each little city and town. I want to clear my mind and focus on right now, but it’s impossible.
The last piece of Jonah is sitting in my purse on my lap. It’s burning me, but I like it. I’m glad I can feel it – feel something.
Soon, I drift into a deep sleep. I don’t dream. It’s dark.
But when I wake up, everything is much brighter. Much clearer… but not any better.
“London,” Ace calls.
Gasping, I perk up and look around. “Wah? Are we here?” I ask quickly.
“Not yet,” he informs me. “Almost.”
I nod. “Oh.”
He inhales deeply then releases it. “You… alright?”
“Could be better.” I shrug.
“I think we all could be.”
I look up at him through puffy eyelids. There’s a hint of a smile on his lips. For some reason… it comforts me. Just a little.
I seem to stare at him longer than he expects. He doesn’t bother moving, but he does look away.
I don’t.
Just by the sight of him, I figured he couldn’t be trusted… but Jonah trusted him like brother. Why? What did Ace do to get Jonah, the tough one, to crack, to trust him? I’m curious.
“Want some wine?” he asks, breaking my stare and the silence. “Might calm you down a bit.”
“Uh… sure. That’d be great.” Even though it’s like 1 PM, a little too early to drink, I need it.
He nods. “Be right back.”
As he walks away, I slouch in my seat and press my fingers to my temples. If I’m going to trust him—which, I’ll have no choice but to do if Jonah really wants me to—then I’ll have to get… closer to him. Close enough to be able to know that he won’t harm me and that maybe he had nothing to do with Jonah’s death.
The thing about people these days, though, is they can turn on the people they love and trust in a heartbeat. Jonah and I grew up with one rule: Laugh with many. Trust a few. It’s worked for us. We’ve avoided a lot of drama because of that rule… until now. Until Ace. We have our reasons for not trusting many, so it should be understandable that I don’t trust this guy.
This’ll be hard, but no matter how long it takes me to get to know Ace Crow, I will. For Jonah.
And for peace of mind.
***
When we land, Ace and I hop into a black Hummer. The driver’s name is Dante. He’s older than the other men that hung out with Ace when he came to the restaurant, but I like that about him. He seems a lot kinder and a whole lot wiser.
“Just so you know,” Ace starts, his deep voice filling the small space of the truck, “We won’t be staying together. So don’t worry about that. I’ve got a place near the harbor. Yours is there as well, but a building away. You won’t have to worry about running into me or seeing me. I understand you’ll probably want me… out of sight now that you’re safe.”
“Oh.” I swallow. “Thanks for that.”
He nods, looking me over. Sighing, he runs his hands down his dress pants then turns in his seat. His phone buzzes, and he adjusts himself to dig it out of his pocket.
As he talks quietly over the phone, I stare out the window, watching as each pedestrian and car passes by. I feel sick.
And lonely.
Empty.
I haven’t felt his way in a long time… not since I was eight.
“You alright, London?” Ace asks.
I glance at him. ”I’m fine, Ace. You don’t have to worry so much.”
As if he can read the lie all over my sullen face, he narrows his eyes and says, “I know you aren’t okay… I just mean, do you need anything? Want to do anything tonight for yourself?”
“The only thing I want is some time alone.”
His face seems to sadden a bit. I tilt my head out of curiosity. Now I feel sort of bad…
“I don’t mean that in a bad way,” I continue. “I just… well… let’s be realistic here. My brother just died, Ace. I need some real time to grieve and think about this change I’ve just made, you know? I… appreciate all you’ve done for me this far. If I need anything, I’ll give you a ring or two.”
“Ring me as much as you’d like,” he murmurs, smiling.
I force a laugh.
His face hardens, eyes locked on mine. “I’m serious. Need anything, call me. My number is in the phone at your new place.”
I jerk my gaze away, hoping to keep my composure. Damn… that stare of his. It always gets me. So serious, yet so undeniably sexy. “Okay,” I reply.
The rest of the ride is fairly silent. It takes fifteen more minutes to get to our location. When the car finally comes to a complete stop and the door is popped open, I’m in awe.
Ace rounds the car to meet at my side. I stare at the building before me, watching as it shimmers with lights that seem to be made of gold. It’s beautiful. Miraculous. It looks more like a hotel, but I can tell they’re condos. Nice ones, too.
“This… is where I’ll be staying?”
Ace nods. “Gotta get adjusted to this new lifestyle.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “I really do. This place is amazing.”
“Thought you’d like it.”
I start to walk toward the building, but Ace seizes my arm and twirls me around. Clumsily, I fall in his direction, but he catches me. Keeping me steady by my shoulders, he gives me a quick half-smile then turns my back to his chest. He points to his right, at a silver building next to mine. “See that place?”
“Yeah…” I breathe.
“I’ll be staying there. Right next door. You need anything, you let me know.”
He says all of this in my ear. His warm breath trickles through my hair and down my neck. I fight the urge to shut my eyes and dwell in the comfort. It f
eels nice, his large body surrounding mine. I feel… protected. Safe. Comfortable.
“I will,” I whisper.
“Good.”
He releases me, and I take a small step forward. Before turning to face him, I blow out a sigh and force a smile. “Well… uh… thank you for this. For going through with your promise… to Jonah.”
He gives a curt nod, but doesn’t say anything.
“I’ll go check out the room…”
“Yes. Tell them it’s under Ace Crow. They’ll give you keys. If anything is wrong, let me know. Trent will bring your things up.”
“Okay,” I breathe. With a quick smile, I turn on the heels of my shoes and start toward the building door. But during my whole walk, I feel self-conscious about my basic attire and myself because I know Ace is watching me. My hair must be frizzy. I can still feel the puffiness surrounding my eyes. I’m sporting my favorite sweat pants and pink T-shirt. I look like trash.
As I enter the building, I can’t help but think something shifted between us while on that jet… that quickly. After reading that letter from Jonah, my hate for Ace seems to have faded a bit. I’m still upset with him, and I still want answers, but something tells me, with him living right next to me, I’ll be able to get all the answers I need in no time. It’ll take a lot of prying and a bit of snooping, but I’ll get them. By the time I leave, I’ll be able to know whether I can trust Donovan “Ace” Crow or not.
There’s a knock on the front door.
Groaning, I turn on my side and pick myself up. As I drag myself out of the bedroom and through the living room, I check the time on the clock on the wall.
7:50 A.M.?
What in the hell?
Annoyed, I yank the door open, and outside is Gerrick, one of Ace’s men that has been coming over every day for the past week now.
“Morning,” he says, lifting a thick brow.
“Uh… morning,” I murmur.
“I know it’s early and all, but Ace wanted me to come by and let you know he’s having breakfast at his place. He hasn’t heard from you since you’ve been here, so he ordered a ton of stuff to make you feel welcome. He’ll be eating at 8:30. If you wanna join, let me know. I’ll walk you over.”
Beware Page 6