His Lady in White - Ace Merrill

Buy-a-bride

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Chapter 3 - Buy-a-bride
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"What is it your uncle wants you to do?" Cora asked as she lifted her head from Ace's shoulder and to look at him better.

"What do you mean?" Ace asked as he lightly bounced her on his back to keep her steady and keep his grip on her thighs with her legs wrapped around his waist.

"You said if you didn't do what your uncle wanted you to then you'd have no money?"

"Oh that." Ace mumbled with a nod. "So he's a bit of a loan shark, you know? Lending people money and charging a massive amount of interest in return."

"Does he do the whole 'breaking legs' and 'smashing windows' deal if they don't pay it back?" Cora asked, almost half jokingly but her small laugh stopped when Ace nodded.

"Pretty much. Anyway I do some work for him here and there and he's got all these flash ideas for the 'future of the business' as he calls it." Ace grumbled with a small roll of his eyes.

"What ideas?"

Cora felt Ace shrug as he continued to carry her through the woods.

"Dunno, he won't tell me till a certain point when I'm ready."

"When are you ready?"

"Well how the fuck do I know?" Ace scoffed out as he once more lightly bounced her on his back, making sure he had a firm grip. "He said he'll let me know when I'm ready."

Cora nodded slowly. "So what-"

"ACE!" A much deeper male voice was heard as Cora instantly felt herself tense up on Ace's back.

"Speak of the devil and he will appear..." Ace muttered under his breath as he continued to walk closer to what appeared to be one of the small car parks near the woods.

Cora tapped his shoulder for him to put her down as she saw a taller and much older gentleman stood near a car.

He was dressed in shabby style clothing, yet even with his ragged brown hair, Cora instantly knew this wasn't a man to mess with.

"Pops I was about to-" Ace had started to explain as he lowered Cora to the ground, letting her step back a little and brush her dress down.

"Ace you-" Pops seemed to stop as his eyes fell on Cora. "Ah ha! You bloody brilliant boy!"

Both Ace and Cora seemed to take a small step back as Pops came straight over to them, his face overly happy and cheery.

"I fucking knew you had it in you to start making me proud!" Pops continued as he quickly shook Ace's hand before looking back at Cora with a grin.

"Oh look at you! No wonder my nephew made you a well kept secret, well fucking hell you are a delightful looking peach!" Pops exclaimed, grabbing her neck as he pulled her into him.

Cora went to protest but she felt his lips kissing both of her cheeks, before he pulled away.

"Oh welcome to the family little one! Bout time we had some female Merrills in town." Pops muttered as he looked at Ace, completely missing the two blank looks on Ace and Cora.