Loving the Enemy

Chapter 8

Anna POV

As we walk down the dimly lit hallway, the tension between Ace and me was palpable, weighing heavily on our shoulders like a suffocating blanket. The echo of the man's screams still lingered in the air, a haunting reminder of the brutality we were capable of.

Silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating, each step echoing in the empty corridor. I steal a glance at Ace, his jaw clenched in a silent resolve, his eyes betraying the turmoil within. We were partners in crime, bound by necessity rather than choice, but the cracks in our alliance were beginning to show.

The weight of our actions hang heavy in the air, casting a shadow over our shared mission. Guilt gnaws at the edges of my conscience, a relentless reminder of the darkness we have embraced in pursuit of our goals.

As we reached the end of the hallway, Ace's phone rings, shattering the silence like a sudden clap of thunder. He pulls it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen before answering with a curt, "Yeah?"

I can't hear the other side of the conversation, but I watch him closely, reading the expressions that flitt across his face. His brow furrows, his jaw clenches tighter, and his eyes, already stormy, darken further. The conversation was brief, a few terse words exchanged before he hung up and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"Trouble?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Ace shruggs, the motion casual but the tension in his body betraying his unease. "Nothing I can't handle."

I huff out a scoff. "Of course.", I mumble with an eye roll.

He glares at me. "What are you implying with that, strega?" He steps closer, his accent more prominent than before.

"Nothing." I brush it off. But it looks like he really wants to solve this, oh so big problem, now.

"Didn't sound like nothing to me, Anna." He takes another step closer, getting into my personal space.

I beg you, don't. Thank you.

In response, I take another step back, but he won't be satisfied until I'm backed against the wall, made small and shy for him as he towers over me, caging me in with his arms on the wall beside my head.

I hear comotion beside us, and out the corner of my eyes I can see Sebastian and Vanessa hasten away.

Those bitches.

"Spit it out," Ace demands, his face inches from mine, his breath hot and rapid. "What the hell do you really think?"

I narrow my eyes. "You want to know what I think? I think that you're an ignorant, arrogant bastard who doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself and thinks so high of himself."

His jaw clenches, and I can see the muscles in his neck tightening. "You don't know anything about me," he growls, pushing me further into the wall. "And if anything, I believe you've just perfectly described yourself."

The sting of his words hits hard, but I refuse to let him see how much it affects me. "Oh, is that right? At least I don't pretend to be something I'm not. I own my flaws."

He scoffs, his breath hot against my skin. "You're so full of it, Anna. You're just as ruthless and cutthroat as anyone in this game. You hide behind your so-called morals, but deep down, you're just as dark as the rest of us."

I glare at him, the fire in my chest burning brighter. "I don't hide behind anything. I fight for what I believe in, and I don't leave a trail of destruction in my wake like you do."

Ace's eyes narrow, and for a moment, I see a flash of something raw and unguarded. "You think I'm proud of what I've done? You think I don't carry that weight every single day?"

His words catch me off guard, and for a split second, I see a vulnerability in him that I've never seen before. But I can't afford to let my guard down. Not now.

The conversation has turned off the real topic, spiraling into the past.

"Then maybe you should start thinking about the consequences of your actions before you act," I snap. "Instead of dragging everyone down with you."

He steps back slightly, his eyes still locked on mine. "And what about you, Anna? What consequences are you willing to face for your so-called righteous path? How many lives are you willing to sacrifice for your cause?"

I open my mouth to retort, but the words die on my lips. The truth is, I don't know. I've never had to face that question head-on before. But I'll be damned if I let him see that uncertainty.

"We're not the same, Ace," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect the people I care about. But I won't become a monster in the process."

His gaze softens just a fraction, and for a moment, there's a silence that stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words. "Maybe," he murmurs, almost to himself. "Maybe we're more alike than either of us wants to admit."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Maybe." I concede.

We stood there for a moment, the silence between us thick with unspoken words.

"Let's get moving," I say, turning on my heel, ducking under his arm and heading towards the staircase.

I turn my head slightly over my shoulder to see him still standing by the wall.

I stop by the staircase, waiting for him.

I see him clench his jaw before pushing himself off the wall and slowly walking toward me with his hands in his pockets. He passes me, but not before giving me one last look.

We silently walk to my car and get in. I get in the driver's seat, take out the blindfold and hold it out for Ace to take. He looks annoyed but harshly snatches it anyways.

Once he made a knot, I started the engine and drove out to the gates.

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