I fell in love with the mafia devil

chapter 20: confessions

Ace's pov:

We have been stuck in traffic for what feels like a year now, and I'm annoyed.

"Traffic is a trend here isn't it?", Ashley asked, already knowing the answer to her question.

"People here are very busy, especially at this time of the day", I replied regardless.

It was quiet for a while until I started to speak up again.

"You saw what I did there, to that girl, do you still feel safe around me?",I asked hesitantly
"Yes",she replied instantly, without hesitation
"Why?",I asked yet again
"Because somehow, I trust you. It's weird isn't it? A captive trusts her kidnapper, ironic I must say. I feel more safe in your house more than I ever felt in mine, I feel more safe around you, more than I've ever felt with anyone else, and I trust you more than I've ever trusted anyone else", she said, with her eyes darted on the road

How can she trust me this much? She barely knows me. If only she knew what I knew

Our car started moving again, and yet with a minimum of two minutes traffic occurred again

You can start listening to the song now. I recommend that you download the song, so that you can be able to listen to it while reading for the best experience.

"Have you ever loved someone?",Ashley suddenly asked
"Those who love are weak, and I'm certainly not weak", I replied, giving my honest answer
"What? Those who love aren't weak", she scolded.
"Then what is love according to you?", I asked, waiting impatiently for her reply

Ashley looked outside the window, and I could see her reflection on the window. She uttered, "love is unexplainable. But I know for sure that love is a feeling, a feeling that makes you do things without you even knowing the reason for it"
"Have you ever loved someone?", I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I have loved. I loved Nick", she said, and the smile plastered on her face started fading, "-I loved Nick, but I was never in love with him"
"Isn't loving someone and being in love with someone the same thing?",I asked curiously
She began to smile yet again,"no, well, I don't think so. You can love you sister, your brother, your friend. But when you are in love, you can move mountains for that person and still don't know why. You can stare into that person's eyes, and see a future with her. You can fight with the person you love and still not care, but when you fight the person that you are in love with, you feel like a piece of your heart has been taken away, it's as if your world is crumbling down. When you are in love, you try by all means to protect her, you can fight yourself, or anyone for that matter, but not her. You don't just trust her, but you believe her, you see light in her, you see kids, a house, memories that you guys will share till you grow old. When she leaves, you feel a whole lot different, as if something important has been taken away from you. You become obsessed with her, you become possessive over her, you could let the world burn just to see her at a peaceful state. And sadly, you can even let her go, for her own sake. You would sacrifice your needs just so that she can meet hers. You would never want to see her leave, and yet you would open many doors for her. That's..... how you know you are in love with a person"
"-and you see, I've never felt that way towards Nick",she added, as she turned to face me.

"You've been hurt, and yet I could sense a ray of hope in you voice", I said, whilst looking at her
"Being hurt is part of life. There was a time in my life where I would listen to depressing songs, and sit around in my room doing nothing. But sometimes, you just need to realise that you will find love, just not with the right person. So I believe that I will find love yet again. Somewhere out there, there's my soulmate, my significant other. Someone who would love me as much as I would love him", she said, smiling.

"You haven't tried escaping", I uttered.
"Meaning?", she asked in confusion
"You have been in my house for weeks, and yet you haven't even tried escaping yet, why?", I asked.
"Maybe it's because deep down, I know I find peace in your house, than mine. If I ever wanted to escape I would, but I find joy in your house, the joy that I couldn't possibly find in my house. Ironic huh? I find happiness in seeing Catie skittling around the house, I find happiness in seeing how Marie takes care of you and Cruise, and I find happiness, my happiness in....in...you", she said.

'I find my happiness in you'
Her last words kept ringing in my head, and I refuse to believe that she's telling the truth. I refuse to be vulnerable to a person who would hate me once she finds out what I know.

"I don't even find happiness in myself, and yet you are telling me that you find happiness in me", I scoffed, shaking my head in disagreement.
"The only reason why you can't find happiness is because you are not allowing yourself to find happiness. You are restricting yourself from being just like everybody else, from being normal.
You are trying to be cold towards everyone, you don't smile alot, I've never seen you laugh, you are trying to be cruel, but one thing is contradicting that, and it's your eyes. I've seen how you look at Catie, Marie..."
"-Ashley..", I cutted in.
"-your eyes are longing for a hug Ace. You eyes are longing for love. You say bad things, but your eyes contradict your words. They tell a story, a story that your mouth is unable to tell. I can see how your eyes soften up when Catie laughs, how your eyes soften up when Marie tells you to have a good day at work, how your eyes soften up when Cruise tells you that you are his brother from another mother. Your actions, might say something else about you, but your eyes define you. And I don't know 'bout you, but I've been told that eyes don't lie", she said.

"Why are you trying to see the good in me?", I asked, shifting my eyes from her, and back on the road as the cars started moving again.

"I'm not even trying, but the truth is the truth Ace. You are a good person, and I'm not the only one who sees that. The only person who doesn't see it, is you", she said softly.

I didn't reply, I couldn't. For the first time in my life, I, Ace Leone, was lost for words.

The car ride was silent ever since, Ashley ended up falling asleep and I would gaze at her from time to time.
She sleeps like a baby, as if she has never been troubled before. She looks more peaceful when she's asleep, and I can't stop myself from staring at her.

I know that if she was awake she would be telling me how rude it is to stare, but how can a person not stare at her. She is just....beautiful

Whewwww talk about a car ride.
Hold up Ace keeps on saying 'if only she knew what I knew'....what's that supposed to mean?
What does Ace know that Sofia doesn't?
Could it be that Ace knows something about Sofia?

Well keep on reading to find out more about this 'secret'

Challenges of the day:
>if you liked their conversation in the car, vote for this chapter
>if you want to see more of Viper, comment #Vamparina
>if you have read more than 3 chapters, add this novel to your library
>follow me so that I can mention you in my fan's list

~~Thank you all Munchies for reading~~🥺💜