I was waiting for my moment.
Morning light spilled through the windows, soft and steady.
Ace was already awake.
Of course he was.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, coffee in hand, like he hadn’t moved all night.
“You sleep at all?” I asked.
“A little.”
I nodded, grabbing a mug and pouring myself coffee.
Simple.
Normal.
Grounding.
But underneath it?
Everything was about to change.
“I’ve been thinking,” I said, turning toward him.
His gaze lifted immediately.
Focused.
“Dangerous,” he muttered.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
“Yeah. Probably.”
I stepped closer, wrapping both hands around the mug.
“They’re expecting me to take the deal.”
“Yeah.”
“They think I’ll fold. Stay quiet. Make it easy.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“They’re wrong.”
Silence settled for a second.
Not heavy.
Just… building.
“I don’t wantto fight this quietly,” I said.
His eyes sharpened.
