ACE

Chapter 70: New Neighbors

Playlist for this Chapter: When the Party's Over by Billie Eilish, Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift.

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I looked at my watch one more time. It was 8 p.m. and we were outside Giovanni's mansion, my men hidden in different areas around the property.

"Showtime." Jake said into the earpiece and gave me a nod while we waited in the dark van that was safely hidden from view.

The lights were on meaning someone was home. Just then Abigail and Caleb, made their way to the front door with a tray of brownies in their hand.

Classic neighbourhood gestures.

They rang the doorbell and the door opened a few minutes later, revealing a plump lady in her fifties.

"Hello there! I'm Stella, and this is my husband, Carter. We're your new neighbours and bought the estate next to this one. We just wanted to come say hi." Abigail's voice came through the earpiece and Caleb shook hands with the lady.

"Oh! That's so lovely, it's good to have neighbours around. My name's Geneva." The woman said when Jake and I glanced at each other.

She was lying.

"Hello, Geneva, it's nice to meet you. Are you the owner of this house?" Cole asked looking around and she shook her head.

"I'm staying here for a while, this is my nephew's house." She said when Abigail and Chris nodded in understanding.

"Well, why don't both of you come on inside?" She asked and they smiled at her, leading them in the house and closing the door behind them.

"There, zoom the camera." Jake told Lucas who nodded and we all looked at the video of 'Geneva' leading them to what I assumed was a dining room.

Lucas had expertly inserted a camera in a necklace which Abigail was now wearing, giving us a clear view of everything.

"That place seems to match the description of what Dove told us." Jake said and I nodded.

At first I was surprised when these two approached me and demanded that they be part of our plan. But I valued their loyalty and friendship for Dove because they were willing to do anything for her as well.

"Your house is beautiful! Does your nephew live here alone?" Abigail asked as they sat on one of the couches.

"Thank you, dear, and yes. He lives alone, unfortunately. Although I think he might get settled soon." She said with a sparkle in he eyes that made me uneasy.

"Did he get a girlfriend or something?" Jake muttered from beside me when I scoffed.

"Really?" Abigail asked and the woman nodded.

"So he is engaged?" Christopher asked the woman who chuckled, shaking her head.

"Not yet, but he has his sights set on a beautiful young girl. An angel, she is. I keep forgetting her name, though" She thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"I'm forgetting too many things now, blame it on my age. But that girl is a beauty beyond compare." She gushed.

"Your nephew must be lucky!" Abigail exclaimed and the woman nodded.

"He is. I've never seen him so adamant on anything before. But who can blame him? She's got the most beautiful pair of bright blue eyes that could draw anyone in!" She said, making my heart drop.

"And her long beautiful hair, I was shocked at first because of their light colour, but she told me she had dyed them." She exclaimed and in that moment I tensed all over.