Bound by Fire: Burning desire (#2)

Ace p.o.v.

“… Yes, make sure it’s done.” I sigh into the speaker of the phone.

“But Ace…”

“Vik I don’t care about the loss. Just make sure he feels it when you finish him off.”

“Fine. I’ll …” the rest of his words fall out as I see Daleyza walking up to me. She’s looking stunning in a red full-length dress.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later.” I say to Vik as I cut the call and stand up from the couch.

“Let’s get this over with.” She sighed looking through the tiny bag in her hand. What does she need a bag that tiny for? “Ace?”

“Hmm?” I shake the thoughts away.

“Shall we?” absentmindedly I walk towards her and lead her to the lift. My eyes were fixed on her and for some reason I couldn’t stop smiling. She gave me a few strange looks from time to time but chose not to say anything.

The ride to the party was unusually quiet. Throughout the party I could see the fake smile on her face. But I didn’t say anything. It actually felt good having her beside me.

“So do you want to explain to me why we’re at a charity event?” she asks with the fake smile still plastered over her face, as I usher her to the dance floor.

“I felt like it was time to give something back to the society.” I shrugged.

“Bullshit.” She started laughing.

“I need to make appearances from time to time.” She just shook her head and smiled without saying a word. “I haven’t seen this part of you since a long time?” I whispered.

“What do you mean?” she frowned hearing that.

“That carefree smile you had a few seconds ago.” Instantly her face dropped. “You know the girl who I met in the night club years ago was a fearless care free bird. And now you seem so…”

“Crazy? Unstable?”

“No the word I would go for, but you’re distracted.”

“We aren’t the same people we were years ago Ace. We have things to worry about.”

“We had things to worry about then too. But it didn’t bother you.”

“What’s with the questioning tonight?” I turn her and we continue dancing.

“Can’t I talk to my wife.” She froze hearing that.

“Why do you keep saying that like it means something?”

“Because it does.” I frown hearing her question. “What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

“I don’t even know what that means… being a wife. How does it even work?” she rested her head on my shoulder.

“I have no idea either.” I breathed out. “But it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes it does.” she scoffed. “You of all people know that. The more you let people think I mean something to you the more likely they’ll target me to get to you.”

“That’s why it’s my job to keep you safe.” for some reason she didn’t react. I glanced down to see her lost in her thoughts.

The song ended and she excused herself to go to the bathroom. I went to the bar to get myself a drink. I ended up seeing some business associates of mine, as I made small talk with them my eyes searched for my wife. Smiling at that thought I excuse myself and go search for her.

Walking toward the bathroom my eye caught a glimpse of her red dress heading toward the exit. Changing my direction, I caught up to her before she could even get out the building. She tried wringing her arm out of my hand but I didn’t loosen my grip. Why does she look so distraught?

“What happened?” she murmured something that I couldn’t understand. “Sweetheart you need to speak more clearly.”

“He is in danger I have to go. Let me go.” Her panicked voice rose as she started breathing heavier.

“Daleyza you’re not making any sense right now.” Letting out a huff she hands me a paper. One glance and I know what has her so riled up. I take her hand gently and take her to the balcony. “Daleyza… sweetheart look at me.” I gently tilt her chin so her eyes could meet mine. I could see the worry in her eyes. “Aiden is fine. He’s safe at home.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!!” her breaths were so frantic. I thought she was going to faint.

“Yes I do. Lea is with him. Along with my security team.”

“But the… note.”

“It doesn’t have to mean anything. It probably is just a way our enemies are trying to get to us. But we can’t show any weakness. We just have to stay here a bit longer than we can go… okay?” she slowly nodded.

We returned to the party. I could see she was struggling to keep calm but she kept it together. After half an hour my phone started going off. I excused myself and head to the balcony.

“It’s done.” I hear on the other side of the line.

“Good. Everything went according to plan?”

“More or less.”

“Yegor... you better clean up any mess you make. Don’t plan on me dealing with your aftermath.” I grit my teeth.

“Don’t worry cuz.” hearing his arrogant voice made me roll my eyes. I was about to head inside when my phone went off again.

“You better be calling me with some good news.” I said into the speaker as soon as I picked up.

“Uhh.”

“What happened Vik?”

“There were more of them than we anticipated. Two managed to escape.”

“HOW... could you let that happen?” I started massaging my forehead.

“Don’t worry I’ve sent people to trail them.”

“I’ll see you later... keep me updating.” I sighed.

Stuffing my phone in my pocket I head back inside. Only to find Daleyza talking to one of the people I really don’t want around her. Especially in her fragile state. She’s easily agitated and that bastard is going to misuse that. I walk straight to them and snake my arm around Daleyza’s waist.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from my wife.” I growl.

“Did I hit a nerve Ace?” I really detest this bastard. Too bad I can’t put a bullet between his eyes and get it over with.

“You can go annoy someone else right now Mateo.” taking Daleyza by the arm I lead her away from him.

Mateo Bianchi, one of my top rivals at the moment. Recently he’s been making a lot of appearances. I’ve been trying to come up with a way to remove him like the torn he is, but seeing his increasing popularity and numbers I’ll probably have my hands full. He is from a powerful gang in Italy and trying to gain more power over the world. They already managed to establish strong roots in Australia and a part of Europe and I’m guessing they are targeting the states next. They seem successful and I’m trying to get them out of the way before they become a bigger threat. I must admit he is good. He made sure he made a name for himself in the legal side of things before the illegal business came over.

“If I were you. I wouldn’t let that little off-spring out of my sight. You never know what can creep up to them.” he smirked before eyeing Daleyza in a strange way then staring me straight in the eyes. “The same goes for … Well let’s just put it this way... if the leader is taken care of the followers crumble apart.” he winked toward Daleyza before walking away.

“Ace...” Daleyza’s voice trembled as she clutched my arm tighter. “We have to go now. I need to see Aiden.” I nodded my head and we walked toward the exit. I’ve always hated that he could get under my skin like that. I really need to come up with something before he succeeds in his plans.