ACE

Chapter 32: Enemy

Playlist for this Chapter: Are you Ready For It? by Taylor Swift, Enemy by Imagine Dragons

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I released a shaky breath as his hands held y waist possessively, as if telling everyone I was his.

"I'm here, my love." He uttered those words and my eyes shot open.

I turned around abruptly and saw him, dressed up in an all-black suit, the first two buttons of his shirt left open to reveal his chest.  A light stubble decorated his jawline and his eyes, they swirled wih so many emotions.

"Nicholas." I breathed out and he brought his hand up, gently stroking my cheek.

"Happy birthday, my love. Il mio unico e solo amore." (My one and only love) He whispered, placing a kiss on my cheek and I closed my eyes.

My love.

"Dove?" I heard Liam and I snapped out of my daze, staggering back a step. Nico reached out to hold me but I retracted my hand away.

"No." I whispered. 

"You can't be here." I said, shaking my head as a small frown marred his handsome features.

"I won't let you leave this time, I already made that mistake once, I'm not doing it again. Never." He said and I shook my head.

"I don't want to see you. I left to forget you. and yet here you are, with the audacity to show up here on my birthday when I told you not to look for me. To not follow me." I said it in a hushed voice so no one would hear my dad came forward, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Darling, do you know this man?" He asked and I looked at Nicholas, his eyes boring into mine.

"Not anymore." I said, and saw his eyes darken dangerously.

"You're coming with me." He said firmly and I scoffed.

"Why? So you can put a bullet through my head for talking back to you?" I spat and he looked taken aback before stepping towards me.

"What are you on about?" He asked when I huffed out a sardonic breath.

"I know everything, what your business is and all that you've done. What you told me doesn't even begin to cover it." I snapped

"You lied to my face, and that is something I can never forgive." I said and looked at his clenched jaw, hands balling into fists. I saw Jake standing behind him from the corner of my eye when met my gaze and came forward.

"Dove, why don't we go somewhere else?" He asked us and I looked around at my family and friends who looked at us with shocked expressions.

I nodded at him and he glanced at Nicholas.

"Ace, hotel. Now." He said and offered me his arm and I hesitated at first.

What happens when we're alone?

I looked at my parents and walked towards them, their worried faces lookng us over.

"Dad, I have to go and sort some things out, okay?" I told and he gave me a warm smile.

"Who is he, darling?" My mom asked eyeing Nicholas and I sighed.

"I promise I'll tell you everything when I come back" I told them and they gave me a hug and I turned towards Ava and my friends who gave me a nod. I looked towards Liam who smiled faintly at me.

"You sure you're okay, Dove?" He asked me and I nodded.

"I'll be alright. Don't worry about me, okay?" I told him and he nodded solemnly but then gave me a smile and hugged me.