His Lady in White - Ace Merrill

Five rules

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Chapter 4 - Five rules
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Cora stood in the hallway of Ace's place somewhat nervously, as if unsure how to fit in, while she glanced around.

From what she could see the place was a mess. There were clothes half draped over various parts of the stair banister going upstairs, stains on the carpet, small dents and holes in the wall.

The place couldn't have looked more of a tip if Ace tried. Cora silently began to rethink the agreement, the deal, the choice she had made knowing nothing about him.

Though the more she thought about it, the more it seemed surprisingly more appealing to die at the hands of a killer than go back to her family and marry that man...

She looked at the door Ace had disappeared behind, telling her to wait there while he broke the news to his 'boys.' She could hear the sounds of guys talking and it just made her even more nervous.

Just as she turned and went to go reach out for the front door handle, realising what a stupid idea this was, the immediate sound of hysterical laughter was heard from multiple men.

The door to the living room opened as Ace stood there with a grin on his face.

"They wanna meet you." He grinned happily.

"Do they? Doesn't sound it?" She asked quietly as it was a surprise Ace managed to hear her over the loud cackles of laughter from the other cobras.

"No that's just them laughing because they don't think I can fake being faithful to one woman, come on."

Cora went to question what Ace had just said but before she could, his hand had wrapped around her wrist and she was pulled into his living room.

There she saw 6 other guys. They were each either lazing on one of the couches, stretched out on the floor, one was even stood in the doorway to what appeared to be the kitchen.

It was at the sight of Cora standing there beside Ace, barefoot and in her wedding dress, did their laughter stop.

"Oh shit it's not a joke..." One of them mumbled as he stared at Cora open mouthed.

"Lads, this is Cora, the new ball 'n' chain." Ace seemed to smile proudly as he gestured between the cobras and Cora.

Though before any of them could say anything, Cora's head immediately snapped up to him.

"Ball 'n' chain? That's what you're calling me?" She almost wanted to spit out the words as she could feel herself glare at him.

"Woman?" Ace offered up. "Property? Wifey? Honestly, you chicks these days ain't never satisfied!" He sighed out as he waved his arms slightly.

"You can't call me your property! I'm not some bit of furniture!"

"I never called you furniture! I'm saying that if you're gonna have my surname, then you're gonna belong to me."

"You have go to be kidding me?! You're telling me I now 'belong to you'?!"

"Ain't that what a wife is for?"

"No it's not."

"Ten dollars says they're divorced by the end of the week." Eyeball was heard mumbling to the others as they all continued to watch Cora and Ace debating.

"So they're not actually married?" Charlie asked, not wanting to admit he was somewhat confused by the whole plan.

Billy shook his head. "Not legally but they got the arguing down to a T."

"I seen my old man and ma go at it like that." Vince added.

"I want some rules laid out." Cora's voice spoke firmly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Ace let out a cocky, sarcastic laugh. "Oh don't worry lady, rules are gonna happen." He ended giving her a serious look, that seemed to suggest she shouldn't break the rules he made.

"Okay you sweet newlyweds, I got an idea." Eyeball spoke as he jumped up from the couch, holding his hands up. "Both of you write down five rules you want the other to follow, no matter what and then you both get you're own way."

"I'm the man! I don't have to follow no rules!" Ace scoffed immediately. "She's the wife, she follows my commands!"

"Keep talking like that and I'll make my first rule for you to keep your mouth shut at all times near me." Cora snapped.

"Look both of you need this agreement, Ace you wanna finally get your uncle's approval and he said you're on the run?" Eyeball spoke questioningly as he pointed at Cora.

"I'm not on the run." She corrected quickly.

A couple of the others scoffed, clearly not believing her.

"Look these rules might be the only thing that helps you both get through this. Merrill you go to the kitchen and write down your five rules, Lady you're with us." Eyeball answered as he stepped aside to gesture where he had been sitting, wanting Cora to take his place.

"Hang on, why the fuck is she staying with you?" Ace half snapped as he scanned the other cobras.

"Dude... She gets to set you five rules that you have to follow... Course we're gonna stay and help her." Vince spoke with a shrug as Cora let a small smile come to her face.

Ace watched as Cora lifted her dress up slightly, making her way to where Eyeball had gestured for her to sit. His eyes scanned the gang that were his so-called friends.

"Oh really? You're siding with her right now?" He scoffed as the cobras remained sat and stood near Cora. "Fine. Get your ass ready for my list of rules Lady." He pointed at Cora as he walked out the living room.

"Something tells me I'm about to regret this choice." Cora muttered under her breath as she took a deep breath.

The others clearly didn't care as they had instantly began trying to argue over what rules she should make Ace follow.

"Have him stop smoking!"

"Make him unable to talk to any other girl!"

"Make him unable to sleep with another girl!"

"You have to make him be the one that always pays at the bar!"

"Oh oh! what about making him sacrifice every game he ever plays so he never wins?!"

Cora's head snapped in different directions as she constantly scanned them all, trying to listen to all of their ideas.

"Lady, why ain't you writing this down? You're missing some great rules Ace would hate here?" Billy stared at her blankly.

"Some of these are a bit..." Her voice trailed off as she reached for the paper and pen they were arguing over. "How about you just let me write the rules I choose?"

"You are not about to waste this opportunity, are you?" Billy tried to keep calm as they all watched her eagerly.

"Relax, I have this under control." She spoke calmly as she leant back against the couch and took a deep breath before bringing her pen to the paper.