Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“I’m already on that, sir.” I nod, not surprised. His mind had been in the same place when he made this file for me after he collected the information. “There is a call I think you might want to take.” I already know by the tone of his voice that there’s an issue.
“Is it about Ace?”
“I’m not sure why Easton Ledger is calling, but he’s persistent.”
“I’ll take it.” I grab the phone off my desk, setting my cell down. “Ledger,” I say, answering it. I’m curious myself why he’d be calling. I wonder if a few of the whispered rumors I heard might be true. We don’t run in the same circles, but lines do cross when it comes to money, which is something we both have an abundance of. The Ledger name is clean. Well, the past few generations, at least. Generational wealth always has blood in its past.
“We need to speak about your Ace.”
“Careful,” I warn. “This isn’t something you want to cross me on, Ledger. Don’t tell me the rumors are true.”
“Rumors?”
“You had a man killed in prison.” The line goes quiet.
I hadn’t paid much attention to the rumor when I got word of it. I must admit that it had piqued my interest why Easton Ledger would do such a thing. The man that mysteriously died in prison had been a part of a Ponzi investment scheme that stole millions. Whatever they might have gotten from the Ledger family wasn’t enough to kill over. Not to them at least. I always knew there had to be another reason.
“Wouldn’t you know if it was a rumor or not?”
“If I cared to.” There is no reason to have your finger on the pulse of everything. It’s often better to leave well enough alone. Besides, white collar crimes always bore me to death.
“I have a feeling you’re going to start caring.”
“Her past,” I say without hesitation, recalling the details. All of it is too perfectly crafted. A text lights up my phone that’s lying on my desk. The number is unknown, but I have no doubt it’s Vane Bartow. There is only one word.
WITSEC
Vane always does have a funny way with timing. The creepy bastard. I don’t bother pushing for more. I know he won’t give it. That’s all I’m getting.
“I was going to leave Elsa alone for now, but it seems she’s been getting herself into trouble.”
“For now.” I stand up and roll my shoulders. The tension inside me is growing. “I promise you, Ledger. You may have friends in high places, but I’ve got them in the darkest.” I try to keep my hands clean these days, but let me be perfectly clear that there is nothing I won’t do to keep my Ace safe.
“And that is my problem. Elsa has caught the attention of more than just you in Vegas.”
“I’m already on that.”
“I had a feeling.”
“I’m not playing these games with you.”
“If not for you, I would have simply had one of my men grab her, but I don’t need you showing up at my doorstep.”
“You think I’d knock on your door?”
“No, but Elsa means something to someone that means everything to me.” I search my mind, knowing he can only mean two other people. Her father or sister. It all clicks into place.
“Her father was the rat.” I recall the court case. It had been all over the news for months, years ago. “And you’re in love with his daughter.” I shake my head.
“It’s taken me five years to find her, and I will be taking her. I was going to leave her sister and father alone for the time being, but Elsa—”
“I’ve got her.” Easton lets out a long breath. “This isn’t up for debate. Take from me and I’ll take from you.”
“Do not threaten Melody.” I smirk.
“Then we understand each other.”
“We’re to stay in contact. Elsa will freak out when her sister doesn’t come back home today.”
“Does this Melody know she’s going on a little trip?”
“You handle your woman, and I’ll handle mine.” Ledger ends the call.
I drop down into my seat. My little Ace is full of so many fucking surprises.
I knew she was going to be a handful… but for my hands only.
8
ELSA (ACE)
“Sweetheart?” I hear my dad call before knocking on my door. I roll over and grab my phone off the nightstand.
“Yeah.”
“I was going to order in. Do you want anything?”
“No, I’m good,” I call back. I yawn while sitting up.
It had taken me over an hour to sneak my way back home to make sure no one was following me. I take it as a good sign that I crashed for a nap and no one showed up at my house. That has to be good.
Bowen Knight. How the hell did I end up with him? Oh, that’s right. He sat his ass down right next to me ‘cause I was stealing from his casino. The whole time I thought I was pulling the wool over the casino’s eyes, but the joke was on me. This is not good. I have no idea what his plan was or is going forward. That in itself makes me feel very uneasy. A feeling I haven’t had since my family first went into hiding.