Chapter 15

15

ACE

“ W hat’s wrong with you?” Garrett asks the second we cross the threshold into my office.

“What are—" He levels me with a stare. “I want her.” No point fucking hiding it. If anything, my brother should be able to relate.

“Shit,” Garrett mutters. “Does she know that?”

“I’m not sure.” I sink into the chair behind my desk. Libby is still trying to figure herself out. She shouldn't be worrying about what I need.

“You want her for keeps, right? You’re not fucking around.” Garrett steps closer, and there’s an edge to his words. Did he really ask me that?

“You think I’d do that? When do I fuck around?"

He relaxes, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know what you do here. You own a damn bar.”

That's bullshit, but maybe how easy I am to talk to everyone does throw people off. This is a small town; if I were to invite someone back to my place, the whole town would know. Gossip is quick to spread around here. Not that Garrett pays much attention to it.

“You chose for us to move here,” I remind him.

“You’re fucking welcome.”

Shit, he’s got a point there. If we hadn’t been here, what would have happened to Libby and Winter? I can’t think about that. My head is already fucked up.

“Libby is so damn innocent and na?ve. Sweet too.” I run a hand down my face.

“Snow has mentioned that.” Garrett has been calling Winter “Snow” since he found her passed out on his front porch in the middle of the snowstorm, but I think he calls her Snow because of her hair. Both of the sisters have such blonde hair that it’s almost white. "She's willing to do anything for anyone and is easily persuaded. That's why Snow's been so worried about getting her out of there because she was no longer there to watch over her.”

I'm the one that should be watching over her now. Libby is mine. I hate that someone else would be. It’s going to drive me insane. I don't have any choice at the moment. Not if I want to make sure Libby has that person. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to Winter for keeping my girl safe. I know I sound the opposite, but I want to be her protector now. The one she looks to for strength.

“And the father?” Garrett asks.

“The father? As in their dad?” I glance toward the door to make sure no one is there. I don’t want Libby or Winter to hear the disturbing hunch I have in regard to their dad. “Think he’s got an infatuation with her.”

Garrett’s brows lift. “That’s fucked.”

“You’re telling me. The way he looked at her.” I grit my teeth.

“All right, cool it.” Garrett flicks a glance to the door. I inhale deeply, gathering my thoughts. “Now what?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing you’re here to take her.”

“Hey.” Garrett puts his hands up to show he’s not trying to start a fight over this. “Even if she does go with us today, she’s not far, Ace. Not like she’s disappearing. My Snow is staying put, so Libby will stay put.”

“I know.” That doesn’t make it any easier.

“Hey, boss,” Joe pops her head inside my office. “Mitch got it fixed.”

“Thanks.” One less thing I have to worry about. Not that I really care at the moment. If Libby were to stay with me, I wouldn't care if this place burned down.

"Does anyone want to tell me about the two pretty blondes?" A smirk plays on her lips.

“No.”

“Off-limits.” My brother and I speak at the same time, which makes Joe laugh.

“I wouldn’t go stealing your girls. I’m just shocked y’all are finally getting one. This town is gonna be pissed.” Joe rubs her hands together excitedly.

"Get to work," I order.

"So we're opening tonight? I'm already getting calls."

"Sure, but I might not be around."

"Cool deal." Joe gives us a wave before she leaves my office.

The silence falls between my brother and me. "I won't force her to stay," I say, even though that’s exactly what every fiber of my being is demanding that I do.

"But you want to." It's not a question. Garrett is starting to get it.

"If she asks to stay, though..."

"That's fair," he agrees.

"Still need to deal with Heaven's Temple." I can’t wait to get my hands on them again.

The stories that gradually emerged from Libby over the past week left me feeling more enraged than ever. They will all pay. It’s their turn to know what it’s like to be caged and under someone else's control.

"I know. Snow put in a statement letting the higher-ups know that there are others inside that want out. That she had to sneak out to get away."

"That will definitely set the process in motion." I wonder how fast. I want to be a part of it. "It's the only way. As much as I'd enjoy the fuck out of this being a private mission, there is going to be a need for support for the members that want freedom."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"I'm going to—" I stop talking when I hear the light sounds of footsteps headed our way. I stand when Libby comes into view.

She no longer has my shirt on. She is now wearing a pair of jeans that fit her snuggly, paired with a pink fuzzy sweater that covers the mark I left on her.

"You like?" Libby asks shyly.

"You look good, Libby." More than good. I honestly don’t know how the fuck I’m going to watch her walk out of here if she chooses. Her choosing to leave might be the one thing that breaks me. It’s almost laughable that the life-threatening missions weren’t the thing that took me down, but a blonde beauty in a pink fuzzy sweater.

"Thanks." A pretty pink spreads across her cheeks.

"Garrett said he'd take us to the diner. Doesn't that sound fun?" Winter says.

"I did."

My phone starts to go off, catching Garrett's attention too because he knows that alert sound.

"I gotta get this."

"Well, I guess we'll head out, then?" Winter's eyes bounce between us all. I don't speak. I can't bring myself to say goodbye to Libby.

"Yeah, guess so," Libby agrees. I keep my eyes on her, but she won't meet mine. In fact, I think she is trying to make sure she doesn't.

"Update me?" Garrett says. I nod, grab my phone, and turn away. I can't watch her leave. I don't have it in me.

"Ace," I say when I answer.

"You get word that Star Team is moving?"

"I'm not on the Star Team anymore," I remind Zero.

"No shit," he mutters. I glance back to see my office empty. My chest grows tight. She's gone. "They're moving in on Heaven's Temple."

"Really?" I walk over and close my office door. "There more I should know?"

I didn't think they'd use the Star Team for this.

"Yeah, that's why I'm calling. A few got spooked and have taken off."

"Shit," I mutter.

“I’m sending you some information over now. I have obtained some video footage of the individuals who managed to escape.”

“When is the raid happening?” I head back out of my office and upstairs.

"They have already initiated a call out."

This implies that the team will arrive within the next two days, if not sooner. The team will be pulled in, briefed, and then they’ll all be airborne this way.

There is no way I’m going to miss this. I’ll have to call in a few favors, but I don’t care. I want to be there when they burn that place to the ground.