The Trap Of Ace

“D***s,” I replied.

His hand jerked away from the packet as if it burnt him. Stepping away, his hands clenched into b***s,

shoulders tensed.

I frowned. What’s wrong?

I tried to search for something in his eyes, but he was swift to move his gaze from my questioning one

and turned to Liza.

“So it’s proved then. It was you who planted those… d***s into Caleb’s car.” His expression tightened

even while saying the word. “Why?”

Her sob became loud, her hands shook at her sides.

“I said why?” His deep voice boomed across the cabin.

Flinching, she scurried back. “I- I was being blackmailed. H-he told me he’d frame my brother for a crime

he didn’t even do! It was his friend. But- but somehow he got to know about it and started to threat me. If

I didn’t do what he said, he’d sent my brother to j**l. A-and, h-he is just a kid. I-i couldn’t let it happen. So,

I… I’d no other choice. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” She spilled everything in one go, shaking, sobbing and

stuttering.

For a moment I wanted to reach out to her, but then whatever she did it for, it didn’t justify her actions.

She couldn’t just harm someone else to save her brother.

Ace’s lips curled into a sneer, the vein of his temple popped up. “So you decided to ruin my brother to

save yours?”

“I-i’m sorry, boss! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know what to do. I’d no other way! Please forgive me,” she

pleaded, her lower lip trembling.

“Forgive you?” Ace took a threatening step towards her, making her stumble back. “After what you did

and were doing G*d knows for how many months, you dare to tell me to forgive you? One thing you

should know working for me these years is that, I hate betrayers, Liza! And you just did that.”

When Liza could barely stand up on her feet, Arthur was too relaxed on the chair, watching the whole

drama to unfold. Shouldn’t he be as mad as Ace after knowing what she did?

Putting a hand on his chest, I tried to hold him back. He seemed like he was about to burst. “Ace, calm

down. Let me talk to her.”

When his furious eyes met mine, I held his gaze.

“Please?” My tone soft.

His lips thinned in displeasure. Sending Liza another look of wrath, he nodded.

“Thank you,” I said, before turning to Liza. “You said someone was threatening you about your brother?”

She nodded, sniffling.

“Who’s he?” Whoever it was, he was definitely someone who was working for Antonio Reymond, or… it

was Reymond himself. Everyone knew how blindly everyone trusted her. So targeting her to make out

their interest was a smart move by them.

She averted her eyes, hands fidgeted before her. “I- I don’t know.”

“Don’t you dare lie, Liza. Trust me, you don’t want to see my dark side,” Ace said, warning dripped from

his words.

She swallowed.

“Give us the name, young lady. Maybe we’ll consider reducing your punishment.” Arthur came up and

stood beside us, his expression matched Ace now, almost. For a fleeting second, we our gazes met,

those dark eyes remained indifferent.

“Liza, who’s he?” I asked again.

She shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Trust me. I don’t know. H-he used to talk to me on

the phone. Never had he met me in person or told his name. I don’t know who he is.” Her nails dug into

her palms as she looked at me with something in her eyes. Pleading?

I went to ask her again, but the terror in her brown eyes stopped me.

“Another lie. You…”

“Ace.” I stopped him again and shook my head. “It’s alright. We now know she did it, now let’s end this

right here.”

His brows furrowed, eyes flashing. “So you’re telling me we let her go? Just like that?”

“No, she’ll get punished for whatever she did. I’m just saying it’s not our job to punish her.”

“I want that name, Emerald.” The muscle of his jaw ticked.

“We both know who’s it. Directly or indirectly, Antonio is behind it. So let’s just drop it.”

“But…”

“Ace, please,” I whispered. Taking his hand in mine I squeezed it, trying to give him my message.

Staring at our joined hands, with clenched jaw, he gave a curt nod.

“Arthur, you know the latter.”

Nodding, Arthur replied, “I already called the police. They’ll be here soon.”

A whimper left Liza’s lips at the mention of the police. I didn’t want to feel bad, but I did. Though she was

wrong, she did it for her family. Yes, I was judging her actions, but now putting myself in her place,

maybe I’d do the same if put in her situation.

Why didn’t she just inform Caleb or Ace about it? They could’ve helped her.

Arthur grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the cabin. But before walking out of the doors, she

glanced at me over her shoulder and threw me a look of gratitude.

“Why did you stop me?”

“Because if we’d forced the name out of her, there was a risk of the blackmailer harming her family.” I

turned to him. “If they could plan something that big, they can also go that down for their revenge.”

He pondered for a moment.

“But I would’ve protected her family if she gave us the name. If she gave the statement, we could get

proof against him.”

“But what if it’s not Antonio himself? What if it’s someone else he’s using?”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” He looked into the eye. “There’s a middle man working for him, who

knows everything about us and the people related to us. And if we got a hold on him, we could use him

against Antonio.”

Oh, I didn’t think like that. All I thought at that moment was Liza’s fear for her family.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that.” I bit my lip.

He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s not your fault. You were just thinking of her

family’s safety. Don’t worry, I will find out about the man myself.”

I nodded.

Running his hand through his hair, his gaze went to the distance. His shoulders were still tense, eyes

disturbed. And the five o’clock shadow on his face gave him an edge.

He needed some rest. I don’t think after arriving in California, he’d even a pinch of sleep. Because he

was too busy being furious about my recklessness.

I sighed.

“Let me get you some coffee,” saying, I turned around and walked towards the door.

Suddenly a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back. And the next thing I found, I was wrapped around

his arms, my face under his chin and his at the crook of my neck.

“What’re you doing?” I gasped.

Brushing his nose against my skin, he took a deep inhale. “Hugging my Rosebud.”

“You’re tired. All you need is a cup of coffee and some rest.” I tried to wiggle out. But as always, he only

tightened the grip.

“You being in my arms is everything I need,” he rasped into my ear, kissing the junction of my neck and

shoulder.

A shiver ran down my body along the warmth that spread across my chest at his words.

“Stay with me for a moment, baby. I need you.” His hot breath tingled my skin as he let out a tired sigh.

“I will if you don’t call me ‘baby’. Because I’m not your baby,” I said. But my arms slowly went around him

as I rested my face against his chest. And my eyes went shut that instance soaking into his warmth and

scent, as if they had their own mind.

Hugging someone to provide comfort wasn’t wrong, right?

A deep chuckle rambled into his chest. “We’ll see.”

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