Page 12 of Ace's Ascension

Liz turns in my direction and the moment her eyes land on me, everything falls away. All the rage, the pain, the hatred, everything disappears and my body relaxes slightly.

“What the fuck?” Butch asks quietly. “How in the hell did that happen?”

“Fuck. I have no idea.” Stone answers in awe. Their eyes follow my line of sight and see Liz staring back at me,not moving. She is ignoring everyone around her, she’s only watching me as I watch her.

I stand and she steps around the bar, heading right for me. “Ace, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come for you,” I answer gruffly, my heart hammering in my chest.

Liz frowns, her forehead wrinkling in frustration. “Ace, I’ve told you I won’t jump at your demands.”

Stone clears his throat behind me and I close my eyes, locking away my emotions, which I don’t know how to handle. “Come to the Clubhouse with me.” Liz’s frown deepens. “Please.”

She puts her hands on her hips and glares at me. “Not until you know how to ask me properly.” Liz jabs her finger into my chest to drive her point home. “Now, I’m going back to work. When you become man enough to ask instead of demand, maybe my answer will change.” I watch as Liz spins on her heels, her fiery red hair up in a ponytail almost whips me in the face.

I grab her wrist before she can walk away and pull her flush against my body. “Tell me you’ve missed me,” I whisper in her ear. Goosebumps break out along Liz’s pale skin.

She turns and rests her small palm on the side of my face. I close my eyes breathing her in. “Even if I have,” Liz leans in close until our lips are millimeters apart. “I won’t tell you unless you ask me.”

She’s out of my grip and heading back behind the bar before I can even process what the fuck just happened. Stone is trying not to break his hardened stare but Butch doesn’t give a fuck. He’s the sickest one in our Club, but he isn’t afraid to let others know him or see him.

“Bro, I told you. She wants to be asked, not demanded.” Stone shakes his head in frustration.

“It’s like I forget how to ask when I’m around her. I go all caveman and shit.” I plop down on the faux leather seat and growl in frustration.

Stone stands up and leaves without saying a word to either Butch or myself. He disappears around the corner. “Should one of us go after him?” I ask.

“Fuck, no. Stone is Stone. There’s no telling what he’s up to and it’s in our best interest, not to find out.” Butch runs his hands down his face and folds them in front of him on the table. “Last time I thought he was getting into trouble at a bar, I found him getting a blow job from one of the bar sluts while being five fingers deep in another one. Just leave him be and when he’s done, he’ll be back.”

The waitress drops off another round of drinks and I slowly sip my Casa Amigo and Lime. Stone isn’t back yet but nothing is on fire, no one is running and screaming in the other direction and the police haven’t shown up yet, so I relax while watching Liz work the bar. A few times she’s had to leave my line of sight and I’d tense up but a few minutes later, she’d pop back up and I’d relax.

Her eyes keep drifting to mine all night long and it’s doing wild and crazy things to my body. Stone finally returns after an hour. His face isn’t as calculating but I wouldn’t say he’s relaxed in the slightest. A couple of scantly clothed women pass our table, grinning but Stone doesn’t bat an eye. He picks up his drink, offers the two women a raised brow and they scurry off with lust in their eyes.

“Last call!” The DJ shouts.

After ten minutes he turns down the music. The lights flip on, bathing everyone in brightness. I blink a few times until my eyes adjust. I immediately look for Liz, who is still behind the bar. The three of us don’t move from our spots until movementbehind Liz catches my attention. She’s batting her boss Joe’s hands away from her ass.

“Leave me alone!” Liz shouts trying to push away from her boss.

“That motherfucker.” I growl. I’m out of the seat in a flash.

“You’re a cock tease. Shimmying around here in those tight shorts, showing off your ass.” Joe cages Liz in against the wall.

I reach the asshole and he doesn’t see me coming since his back is to me. He goes to reach for her crotch and I snatch his hand up, twisting it backward. “I warned you, motherfucker. You don’t touch what’s mine.”

“Ace, no,” Liz shouts.

I pull on Joe’s wrist until I hear bones cracking and he screams out in pain. I release my hold on him and stand between Liz and her boss. “You’re going to pay for this,” Joe shouts while holding his hand to his chest. “Do you know who I am?” He tries to glare at Liz behind me. “Liz, you fucked up and I’ll get you one way or another.”

“Try it motherfucker and I’ll guarantee they won’t find your body.” Liz grabs onto my cut with trembling hands. Instead of freaking me out, her touch relaxes me.

“Just leave it, please, Ace,” Liz begs. I turn my head to look at her. Fear is rolling off her in waves, a look I can relate to. That sends my blood boiling and my hands begin to tremble, itching to kill this motherfucker.

“He doesn’t put his hands on you again and you expect me to leave it alone, Liz,” I growl, cupping her face. “That’s not how this works. You. Are. Mine.”

I turn my attention back to Joe but he’s gone. “Where’d he go?” I ask.

Stone shakes his head and looks around. “I don’t know, brother. But we need to get out of here. I’m sure someone has called the cops on us by now.”

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