‘Enough.’ I shouted, and everyone stopped and abruptly turned to me. ‘This was unfortunate, and the attack was on all of us, not just the Sensitives.’
‘Director Lazarev is right.’
Peyton sat up straighter, giving me a look I could only describe as contempt before looking at her director.
‘We don’t even know why they were after her, you saw the bullets—Ace’s DNA was selectively input.’
‘Agent Hart is not a suspect.’
‘She should be.’ Peyton all but shouted to which Matt cast her a stern look.
‘And you,’ She said to Matt. ‘You could have died because she flipped out.’
Aurel was about to open his mouth to protest when the door defrosted and slid open, a young woman walked in, handing Belfort a file and behind her, Ace.
He movements were slow, jarred. Her face paler than I’d ever seen it and her eyes dark and dull. I couldn’t pull my gaze away.
‘Thank you for joining us.’ Belfort said gently.
She gave him a small smile and took a seat beside Matt.
Aurel glanced at her before shooting me a look. I didn’t like it either, I had no idea she’d be asked to attend a brief so soon after the attack. Looking at the way she walked in slowly, nursing her wounded shoulder made me wince with a fresh bout of anger coating my insides.
Peyton’s eyes shot up to Ace and then that same look of contempt greeted her. Ace simply turned her attention to Belfort and politely smiled.
‘We’re seriously going to just pretend it isn’t an issue that a whole squadron came for her? What if Matt was hurt? At least Arcos is one of them, he can survive shots like that.’
Aurel’s face soured as soon as the words left her mouth, and Ace sat silently though I could feel the anger radiating through our connection.
‘Agent Peyton take it down a notch. We’re getting off track.’
‘Fine.’ She spat. ‘I didn’t want to be petty, but you’ve left me no choice.’
‘Melina.’ Belfort warned, but she ignored him.
Ace turned her face in Peyton’s direction and a curious expression formed when Peyton produced a folder, throwing it across the table. Everyone’s eyes followed it until it stopped when it hit the empty glasses sitting in the center.
‘What is this?’ Belfort asked, throwing her a dangerous look.
She was two steps away from being thrown out of this room for insubordination.
‘That is proof that Ace Hart has been known to work and liaise with criminals.’
‘This is out of line.’ I said firmly, looking at the woman I was quickly beginning to hate.
She ignored me and kept directing her speech to Belfort and Riley all while keeping her eyes firmly fixated on Ace.
‘That file contains photographs, reports and eyewitness testimonies confirming that Ace Hart was not only present at the take down of the New York Agency—’
‘Control your people!’ I growled getting up.
‘Peyton!’ Belfort shouted.
‘Oh right, like Ace controls all of you.’ Peyton snapped and then turned back to Ace. ‘You know what, I’m fine getting booted out for this because at least I’m not afraid to say the truth, isn’t that right Ace? You came here when you burned all your bridges back in New York, did it get too cramped for you, two men and a whole lot of red tape?’
Aurel shot to his feet beside me and before he could make a move, grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
‘Peyton, I’m warning you.’ Belfort said.
She ignored him and kept going. ‘I know all about climbing the ranks, it’s a tough world for a girl, but liaising with criminals?’
Belfort’s eyes shot to Ace’s as did Riley’s. This was bad. This was coming undone and neither of the two men who were now standing, had any idea how this happened.
Aurel moved again and the fire inside me raged while Matt looked like he wanted to jump across the table and strangle Peyton, but Ace was still—eerily still.
‘Nothing to say?’ Peyton muttered.
‘Out, now. That’s an order!’ Belfort yelled.
‘It’s fine.’ Ace said to Belfort, keeping her face neutral.
Peyton moved, directing her questioning at Ace.
‘Did you think you could hide the fact that you were responsible for killing more than fifteen of your own men? Or what about the fact that you not only knew the criminal, Simon Dalca, but you lived at his residence. Apparently, it was a party; champagne, guests, lavish dinners, and don’t forget the thousand-dollar gowns.’
Slamming my fist down on the table I moved to get up, but Ace quietly stood and forced a tight smile.
‘It’s okay, Ila.’
Peyton smirked and Aurel paled several shades. He shook his head, balling his fists on the surface of the table.
‘Did he pay you for Agency secrets? Codes? That’s what those guys were looking for, isn’t it?’
When I moved to retaliate again, Ace gently shook her head.
‘It’s true.’ She said quietly.
‘Hart. You don’t have to do this.’ Belfort added, pressing a hand to her arm.
‘No, I do. It was unfair of me to hide this. She’s right.’ She nodded to Peyton. ‘I could have put you all in danger. I have put you all in danger.’
No one moved a muscle except for Ace. She picked the folder up and flicked through it silently for a moment before pulling a photograph out and the vacant expression on her face told me all I needed to know.
She gently placed the photo face up, on the desk and looked across at Peyton.
My heart fell through my stomach and I felt the urge to throw up.
It was a picture of Ace and Dalca, taken some time during her captivity. He had his arm around her waist and a champagne glass in the other. Smug son of a bitch. He loved to take pictures, he loved to document everything he did. That was the only thing that led to the arrest of those other sick bastards he’d invited over. His hubris was his downfall, who’d have thought?
My eyes flicked back to Ace, the woman in the photo was vacant, just like the one in front of me now.
‘I was at his house for five months, you’re right. But it wasn’t a party.’ She began, her voice was cold, barely recognizable. ‘There was champagne, yes, and guests, there were lavish dinners and expensive dresses. But the champagne and dinner were accompanied by daily doses of the Serum, to keep me submissive, the guests weren’t very nice, they were mostly men who liked to hurt and use women, and the dresses, well they were only nice when he wasn’t ripping them from my body in the middle of the night.’
For an eternal second, the room was plunged into a suffocating pit of angst and pain. Ace’s agony consumed the breathable air around us and deep inside me where the anger I was feeling was suffocated and squashed by the weight of her sadness.
Peyton was silent.
Belfort dropped his gaze, but Riley held hers. He was a good man, someone I knew we could count on, trust.
‘And I did work with him. Because he reminded me that no matter where I was, he would always find me and he’d always hurt the people I loved.’
When no one spoke. Ace looked directly at Peyton.
‘I killed people, good, innocent people and not a day goes by where I don’t remember their faces and hear their screams.’
‘Ace…’ I finally spoke.
Without thinking, I moved across to her and gently pressed my hand over hers.
‘Nothing has been the same. I wanted to start my life again. But I realize now that was a mistake. I cannot change who I am or what I’ve done.’
Not another word was spoken as Ace gently collected her possessions and left.
The door slid shut and what would have normally been a quiet thud, seemed to echo endlessly through the now cold room.
‘Peyton.’ Belfort said sternly, without looking up at her. ‘You’re suspended until further notice. Do I make myself clear?’
***
Ace
My heart raced and the angry tears I always managed to conjure, threatened to pour down my face and never stop.
God damn it. I was such a fucking idiot. How did I ever think this would work? Even with Belfort’s efforts to keep my past quiet and Riley’s help, this was doomed to fail.
I rushed through the familiar hallways, keeping my head down and away from anyone who might see the wetness rapidly filling my eyes.
As I rounded a corner which was thankfully empty, save for the cleaner, I pressed myself flat against the wall and allowed myself to take long and deep breaths.
Closing my eyes, I squeezed them tight and wiped away the few stray tears that had fallen, when I opened them, a very concerned, pained Illarion was standing in front of me.
He stepped up to me and when I instinctively pulled back, he waited a few seconds, gently running his hand over my arm until I relaxed and let him pull me against his body.
‘Come on.’ He whispered when I wrapped my arms around his waist. ‘Let’s get you home, I’ll make you dinner and you can take a long, hot bath.’
Smiling against his chest I nodded. That sounded perfect. Matt and Aurel rounded the corner and found us. Aurel looked like he was waging an internal battle, what he wanted to do, versus what he should do, and Matt wasn’t doing much better.
‘I’m taking her home.’ Illarion said, without giving either of them an option to follow.
‘Ace?’ Matt called after us. ‘Can I do anything?’
All I could manage was a quick shake of the head and then we were gone.
As we walked through the halls, I kept my eyes dead ahead, poising myself as much as my emotions would allow.
‘Belfort will call you tomorrow, I told him no one is to bother you today. When he does, I expect a full run down of what transpired and how that information got into someone else’s hands.’
I nodded.
‘It was purposefully obscured.’ He muttered. ‘Whoever leaked incomplete information to her was trying to get to you.’
That was a chilling thought.
No one should have been able to access that. Belfort had made sure of it.
‘When we find out, we’ll take the appropriate actions to rectify this. In the meantime, you’re on paid leave until you decide when you’re going back.’
Without slowing, or turning to look at him, I bit down hard. ‘I’m not going back.’
Illarion nodded, keeping his eyes ahead. ‘I’ll arrange a termination of your contract. It won’t be a problem.’
‘Thank you.’
We walked through the doors leading out to the parking lot and without so much as a second glance, I left. There was no way I was coming back here, not after that parade of insubordination.
I’d dealt with way too much in my life to settle for dealing with a moron like Peyton. For someone so highly spoken of in the FBI she was an unstable, jealous little girl. I knew there was an element of resentment, for my role, my abilities, hell even Matt’s affections toward me. None of which were my problem. I was done.
‘I parked just around the corner.’ Illarion led us through the maze of parking lots until I spotted the Maserati.
I climbed in, relaxing for the first time in over a week. Everything about this situation had me on edge, seeing Illarion again, working for the Agency, and now the FBI and revisiting those same memories and then today, well that was the cherry on top.
Illarion reached over and squeezed my hand. ‘How’s your shoulder?’
‘It’s fine.’ I murmured. ‘Healed mostly.’
‘Good.’
A comfortable silence settled between us, a familiar role we both eased into and I was so thankful to have him here, now.
When we reached my building, the valet was already waiting, taking the car as soon as we stopped.
Illarion gave him instructions to keep the car overnight sealing the deal with a handsome tip.
After that, we rode the elevator silently and only when we reached my apartment did I feel the long overdue laugh of frustration come over me.
Tossing my purse aside, I laughed until my stomach hurt and then when I couldn’t stand anymore, I dropped into the arm chair by the window. Illarion knelt in front of me and took my hands in his.
‘Talk to me.’ He whispered; a gentle hand landed on my knee. ‘I’m here.’
‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’
‘Nothing is wrong with you.’ He smiled. ‘I assure you, lyubov, your reactions are perfectly normal.’
‘I lost my composure, Illarion. I hurt that man, and he was just another job, just another asset. He wasn’t evil, he wasn’t a Collector.’
The sadness reached his eyes. He knew what I was feeling, what I needed to hear but he wouldn’t say it, because Illarion wasn’t a liar. He wasn’t going to say that it was all going to be okay, he wasn’t going to feed me cotton candy and paint the world pink.
For that, I loved him eternally.
‘We’re going to figure this out and help you get better together, okay?’
‘Thank you.’
‘No need.’ He squeezed my knee then quickly tapped the tip of his finger on my nose. ‘I’ll get the water started.’
Chuckling, I nodded and lowered my forehead to his.
‘Come on.’ He tilted my chin up and helped me to the bathroom.
I sat on the edge of the tub letting him take over.
While he plugged the bath and reached over for a towel, a sudden panic consumed me—no one had ever set foot in my bathroom, let alone a man, and certainly not a man like Illarion.
The entire vanity was brimming with make-up, nail polish, hair products and hanging on the side, a very plain, very sad looking push-up bra.
He chuckled when my eyes darted around and then fell back on him.
‘Nothing in here I haven’t seen before, lyubov.’
My heart stuttered and then my cheeks flushed. He reached behind me, adjusting the tap.
‘Bubbles?’
‘Is it even a bath without bubbles?’
‘I guess you’re right.’ He chuckled and squeezed a decent amount of solution into the water.
I watched with fascination as it turned into foam. The wonders of childhood never ceased to amaze me.
Illarion gently squeezed my knee, giving me a smile.
‘I’ll get started on dinner.’
‘Okay.’
He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then left, closing the bathroom door to give me privacy.
God, this bath was going to be good.
I carefully stepped into the water, letting a long breath free. Yep. This was heaven. I seated myself and closed my eyes, leaning my head back on the soft towel Illarion had folded up for me.
The sound of Illarion working in the kitchen warmed my heart, I couldn’t pretend that it didn’t. Everything about him drew me in all over again and that love I had for him could never fade. It was always there and now my head knew what my heart had been missing.
Breathing in the vanilla scent filling the bathroom, I eased myself lower into the water and closed my eyes when it washed over my face.
As the sound of Illarion cooking floated through the air, I felt myself drifting off, a comfortable warmth settled over me and I let myself relax.
Maybe twenty or so minutes later, a gentle tap on the door shook me from my comfortable daze.
‘Ace?’
My name rolled through the air, gently bringing me back to my bathroom.
‘Can I come in?’
Checking that I was completely covered by the bubbles, I cleared my throat. ‘Yeah.’
Illarion walked in, carrying two glasses of wine and my smile doubled.
‘You really do know how to spoil a girl.’
‘Have you already forgotten?’
The comment was a joke, but it was laced with a deep regret that filled the air.
‘That was stupid, I’m sorry—’
‘It’s okay, Ace.’ He smiled and hand
ed me the glass.
His fingertips brushed mine sending a warm flush through me. My whole body was hot from the water, but his presence made that seem like an afterthought.
For a moment we lingered, neither moving a muscle until he reached forward and brushed a wet strand of hair from my cheek and instinctively, I leaned into his touch.
His penetrating stare sent waves of heat rolling through me, and I cupped my free hand over his.
‘Dinner is ready.’ He said quietly.
‘I’ll be out in a minute.’
A moment passed before he got up and just as he was about to leave, I moved.
‘Ila.’
His lips parted, drinking me in and then he walked over to me, purpose driven steps closing the distance between us. He pulled off his t-shirt, dropping it at his feet and then he climbed in, pants and all, and I giggled when he lowered me back into the water sending it spilling over the edge.
‘What about dinner?’ I asked breathlessly as he planted kiss after kiss to my neck.
‘Should’ve stayed in the water.’ He breathed, kissing my lips and then moving to my cheek.
‘Okay, that’s fair.’ I tilted my head back.
My hands roamed across his bare back, feeling every ripple as he moved and each time I grazed his skin with my nails, he sucked in a sharp breath, letting a deep growl from within.
‘Take this off.’ I managed through heavy breaths.
He obliged, moving away from me, only long enough to take off his jeans and seconds later he was back. I slid my hands down, feeling his eagerness, which brought a smile to my face.
He murmured a whisper of my name. Within a split second, his hand coasted across my breast and down over my stomach and lower. ‘You have no idea what you do to me.’
When his fingers slipped inside, I sucked in a sharp breath and then some, when his lips captured mine, deepening the kiss.
The water lapped over our bodies, splashing all over the floor and nothing about it bothered me but we needed more space.
This wasn’t going to do.
‘Bedroom.’ I murmured against his lips when we pulled back. ‘Now.’
He smiled against my mouth and nodded, helping me up. We dried off just enough to avoid slipping on anything and without a moment to spare, I grabbed his hand, leading him to the adjoining room.
Jack of Hart- Wild Card Page 14