She's the girl all the bad guys want - Ace Merrill

I was keeping that promise.

You could have cut the silence with a knife. A blunt knife at that.

"So what are they gonna do?" I spoke up, gripping tight onto Donna's hand as well as holding Ace's with the other.

"From what I gather they're waiting around at the moment. Like lions waiting to pounce."

"When are they gonna come for him then?" Vince spoke up.

Donna turned to him and shrugged. "That was all I could learn I'm afraid. Although..." she paused and her voice trailed off.

"What..?" I mumbled.

"Think about it Shell. You're smart. If they think Ace has stolen one of their own and plans to marry her... when do you think they're gonna strike?"

Silence again. No-one knew what to say. But we all thought the same. The day I become a Merrill would be the day they take him. Our wedding day.

"You don't think they'd actually do that?" Teddy spoke up as he stepped forward.

We all turned to face him as I shook my head and stepped closer to Ace. I felt his hands grip onto my waist as I leant my head into him. His arms wrapped tight around me as I felt him gently kiss my head.

"It's not just Ace they want." Donna spoke up. "With Ace gone they'd take Castle Rock." She turned to face Gordie, Vern, Teddy and Chris.

"You think the cobras bullied you bad? They're kittens compared to our guys. You couldn't even fight back. Our lawyers are the type to look at you and laugh."

I gripped tight onto Ace's shirt as I felt his grip around me tighten again. There was no way I was letting them take him from me. I'd fought hard enough.

"So what are we gonna do?" We all turned and saw Gordie step forward bravely.

"There's nothing you can do kid." Eyeball said. "You're tiny, they'd eat you up and shit you all out for breakfast."

"Not without a fight they won't." Chris said as he stepped forward. "Chambers boys don't go down without a fight."

A small smile appeared on Eyeball's face but it soon disappeared as he shook it off and stepped forward.

"Well you ain't getting involved. Dad would kill me if I got you killed." He said sternly and firmly.

Chris shrugged and stepped towards his brother.

"And he'd kill me if I got you killed. This hasn't just come down to Ace and Rochelle getting married. We're past that. It's Castle Rock versus the View. And if I'm not standing on their side I gotta stand somewhere."

I felt my heart grow as I watched the young boy stand so proudly, ready to defend his town, his friends and his brother.

"Shell..." I turned and saw Donna staring at me, tears in her eyes.

I let go off Ace and leapt at her, we held each other tight as we knew it was ultimately going to come down to Castle Rock versus the View. My heart was torn. My family or Ace and all these boys who wouldn't stand a chance. I felt Donna cry into me. Her heart was torn. Her family or me and the man I loved.

"Wait how are they gonna know when you're wedding day is?"

We pulled apart and she wiped my eyes as I wiped hers. Turning to face Billy who had moved a little closer to the younger boys, Vern had edged closer to his older brother, they're problems seemingly pushed aside as he felt protected by his sibling.

"Actually that's a point." Chris spoke up. "Think about it. If they wanna hit us and Ace on the day of the wedding then to do that they'll need to know when you're actually getting married."