"My room," Ace answers, not breaking from my confused gaze. His smile softens as he pulls his hand away. "You haven't met her yet, but Hex is really good at what she does. She found your address, so we went and grabbed a few of your things. I hope it will make you feel more comfortable."
He went out of his way to go somewhere dangerous for me? I know Smoke had said he would, but to see the act play out is something entirely different.
No one has ever risked anything for me.
"I..." At a loss for words, I tear my eyes away just in time to see one of them lugging Leliah's stuffed bear beneath his arm. Scooching back, he doesn't budge when I try to stand. "I should help."
I need to move. I need to do something. I need to stop sitting here feeling like I'm going to become overwhelmed with all of these pesky emotions.
I don’t want all of his buddies to think I’m some kind of crybaby just because I can’t keep my tears in check.
Ace laughs at that before leaning down to press his mouth against my forehead. "Please don't. You're not wearing pants, and while Killer might have a girlfriend, Devil doesn't. I'd hate to get in a fight right after he helped me. Stay right there and enjoy yourself."
I’d say he’s joking, but there’s a darker look lingering beneath his gaze like he’s serious. Once more, he’s laying claim without saying the words.
He then carefully plants Leliah on my lap, ruffles up her hair, and drinks us both in. Shaking his head in disbelief, his mouth slants. "Can I kiss you?"
Now he's asking? The one we'd shared last night was never-ending and perfect. So much that I'm nodding without thinking.
He doesn't swoop down and take as he had before. This kiss is soft, a simple graze that earns a few groans in the background. Ace rumbles in approval, not minding the audience. Pulling away, he lets out a small sigh.
"Now I feel much better, thank you. Let me finish this up, and then we can enjoy ourselves."
In a daze, I'm nodding. Hugging Leliah closer to me, I have to stop her from reaching for my cup.
Kissing her messy strands of hair, I hide the smile that's forming on my lips to contain the undeniable happiness that wants to form.
The longer I allow myself to feel this way, the harder it's going to be to deny it in the near future.
Maybe enjoying myself a little will be okay... As if I have the strength to tell myself no anyway.
seven
Ace
While Penny's going through her belongings, Smoke's kind enough to swallow up the entrance of the bathroom as I catch him up with everything that's gone down.
Killer and Devil have left, thankfully. As much as I needed their help today, just having them near Penny was enough to drive me insane.
If my brother weren't such a prude, then I think I'd be frothing at the mouth over him, too.
Wearing a disapproving frown as I lift my shirt, we both stare at my bruised rib. He wants to scold me for heading into their territory without proper backup, I bet. For not asking him to come with me. But I needed someone Penny recognized to share the same space as her so she didn't get scared.
Poking gently at the purple blotches on my skin, a soft groan leaves me. "Nothing's broken, but man, I need to look into what brand of boots they wear. Pretty fucking effective, I think."
He doesn't even crack at my attempt at a joke. "What did you find out?"
Always so serious, I hold back a groan and try to keep my voice low. "They're getting hot and bothered over a measly six thousand, plus the idiotic interest they're trying to hold over her head. Here, I thought it would be an easy slip-in-and-out kind of deal, but they were casing the place. Assholes ruined so much."
Twisting and looking at my back to make sure there aren't any cuts, I curse at the dried blood clinging to the fabric. Hurts like a bitch to peel it off.
Smoke clicks his tongue, entering the room and shutting the door behind him before hunting down the first aid kit beneath the sink.
"It's barely a scratch."
"You could've asked Dante for more than those two."
I could've, but that would've taken far too long. Those two were available at the time, and I was already ready to get back home.
