Bodyguard: Ace Cain

|29| I'll Quit

|I'll Quit|

Was I hearing things wrong? Did Ace just declare himself to be an assassin? I know I told him nothing he said would turn me away, but assassin. That was quite a bit to process and, naturally, unanticipated. I had assumed that at some point he would say something about working for the Trubisky family. He wants me to think that both Jake and he kill people occasionally. There's no way it was true. Jake is only 18! Although I understand that our lives differ from those of most teenagers our age, it is still crazy for him to be practically a murderer.

It was difficult to picture Ace doing the same thing. He has portrayed himself as a benevolent guardian who only cares about keeping people safe. And yet, this is his way of life? Murdering people for money is a part of his job? Did my father still employ him to keep me safe even after learning this? He could not have overlooked his past. Unless, that is, he was uncaring, which is more like my father.

I forced myself not to display concern on my face. With the information he had just given me, it was difficult. I am not criticizing him, per se. I found it more complicated how he got into this kind of predicament. The Ace I know is not a murderer. Even though he is very good at controlling his emotions, being in such a stressful situation would break anyone. He is not capable of carrying it out in such a casual manner.

Ace looked at my face and makes assumptions right away. "See, I knew if I told you, you would look at me differently!" His eyes flashed with worry as he panicked.

I shook my head in an attempt to soothe him. "Shut up, I don't see you any differently," I replied. "I'm just...How did you end up as an assassin?

I was compelled to ask for more information. I could not believe he would say something like that. The notion that I had a sexual relationship with a murderer also bothers me. I was incredibly infatuated with this person. Someone who would keep me forever enmeshed in my father's world. I believed that Ace would help me escape this life of sorrow. Rather, he would be drawing me further into it.

Sitting on the bed he slept in, Ace sighed and drew me along. Sitting on his lap, his arm encircles my waist. His stunning eyes widen with anxiety as he prepares to share more information with me. I am glad he was more open with me, even though I was not happy to hear about this aspect of his life. He is determined to come clean to me and reveal who he is. I am grateful for that much.

"I have been seeking revenge for my father, as I mentioned," he said. "But I wasn't exactly prepared to kill someone. The act is heinous, so I needed training."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Training from who?" I prodded for more.

His eyes glowered at me, all emotion gone. "From only the bloodthirstiest family in the underworld," he said.

I knew he was talking about the Trubisky's the moment he used the word "bloodthirsty." Despite being aware that they are all insane, I had no idea they were also assassins. My father's work is beyond my comprehension, but it still raises questions in my mind. Is it that he needs someone dead, or worse when he calls them? More importantly, how is he comfortable having them around? My father is extremely knowledgeable about his partners and clients. Nor is the history of the Tribisky family a secret. Is my father not concerned about any of this?

I listen to him and remain silent as I take in what he is saying. To think I started to get close to Jake. I wonder if he has modified his strategy in response to a risky plan he has developed. For Jake, it is not entirely implausible. Why he had targeted me was also a mystery. It came out of nowhere, which made me think he had more tricks up his sleeve.

In any case, it was unclear to me how I was supposed to interpret any of this. Ace was not a callous murderer. Regretfully, his desire for vengeance drove him to look for advice from the worst possible people. Given how uncaring the Trubisky family is toward others, it was probably done on purpose. To achieve his objective, he would require precisely that kind of training.