Page 12 of Coming Up Aces

Ace rolled to a stop at the bottom of the ramp and turned to her. “I promise.”

Rayna nodded as she admitted, “I’ve thought more than once about putting a bullet in someone who walked on a technicality. Those rapists and drug lords and pedophiles and human traffickers who find their way back onto the streets, continuing as though they’re untouchable.”

Ace relaxed at her admission. He pressed the accelerator and told her, “I can assure you those are the very ones the Hounds take out. They have a handler who vets every contract, and if it’s someone wanting their wife killed for insurance money, those are passed over. I can’t say someone less ethical doesn’t take the hit, but the Hounds do not.”

“You saidthey. Are you not a merc?”

“I’m not. I prefer to help Sutton where The Ministry is concerned. He’s tasked me with patrolling Haven to see if Abraham shows up or sends in someone else to run the place.”

“How will you do that without being seen?”

“In my Eagle. I will park well away from the compound, then fly in. But now that I’m protecting you, I’m going to ask him to have someone else patrol.”

“Protecting me? You do realize I’m a trained agent, right?”

Ace turned down the street he lived on. “I do, but until we know whether your boss is helping Spencer, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Do you not think I’ll be safe at your house? I don’t want you to put your life on hold for me.”

As he pulled in the driveway, Ace hit the button to open the garage door. “Yes, you’ll be safe here as long as you don’t contact anyone other than Seth. That is if you’re one hundred percent sure you can trust him.” Once in the garage, he closed the door behind them and turned off the motor.

“I trust him. His wife, Vanessa, and I are best friends, and I’m their kids’ godmother. If he even thought of betraying me, she would string him up by his balls.”

Ace chuckled. “Ouch. Let’s get your things inside, and I’ll show you around.” He took her bags, but instead of following, Rayna walked over to inspect his Harley.

“So cool,” she muttered, smoothing her hand over the leather seat.

“Have you ever ridden?”

Rayna shook her head. “No. I’ve never known anyone with a bike.”

“Would you like to? I can get you a helmet. Just say the word.”

“If you promise not to dump me off the back,” she joked.

Ace rarely doubled anyone, but he would Rayna. He would also purchase a backrest so she wasn’t worried about falling off. “I promise.”

He inclined his head to the door, and after taking one last look at the bike, she joined him. The door opened to a short hallway with the laundry room on one side and a pantry on the other. Past that was a modern kitchen Ace had spent a lot of money on. Living alone, he had learned to cook for himself manyyears ago, and other than the den, it was where he spent most of his time. “The fridge and pantry are well stocked, but you can let me know what you like to eat, and if I don’t have it, I’ll place a grocery order.”

“I’m not picky, but if I never see oatmeal again, I’ll be happy.”

“Noted.” Ace led her through the house, showing her each room until they arrived at the spare bedrooms. “There’s one bedroom and a bonus room upstairs. My bedroom is down there.” He pointed to the door at the end of the hall. “Both guest rooms down here are equally appointed, and the bathroom has plenty of linens.”

“This one is fine.” Rayna entered the room closest to the kitchen, so Ace followed and placed her bags on the queen-sized bed. “I appreciate this, Asher. While I’m here, I’ll help out around the house to pay you back.”

“That isn’t necessary, but I do want you to make yourself at home. And if you want to cook, I won’t say no.”

Rayna scrunched her nose. “Yeah, you might feel differently after you taste my food. I can burn water.”

Ace laughed, and she smiled. “Then we’ll leave the kitchen duties to me. Why don’t you unpack, and I’ll go grab a burner phone for you?”

“Sounds good.”

Ace left her to it and retraced his steps to the front of the house. While he waited on Rayna to unpack, Ace called Ryot. There was no need to barge in on the little family when a phone call would suffice. Ryot exploded, exactly as Ace expected. That was another reason Ace preferred to deliver the bad news over the phone. What he didn’t share with his Pres was the fact that Rayna was staying with him. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ryot, but the fewer who knew of her whereabouts, the better.

His Lion wanted to come out and meet Rayna’s Cheetah. There was no reason not to, so he agreed he would suggest it once she got settled. The sounds of Rayna moving around the guest room settled something inside Ace, and for the first time in forever, he was at peace. He didn’t understand why, though. It wasn’t like they were mates, so maybe it was just having someone else in his otherwise empty house. Whatever the reason, Ace was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

Chapter Five

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