Princess of Brooklyn

Chapter 8

Ace's POV

I know that Nikki probably hates me now. I'm such a scabber! My brain won't shut up and my heart is racin'. I loved Marie and still do... but she hurt me. That's why I left. She wouldn't let me break up with her 'cause of what happened.

And Nikki, well... I think I like, no, love 'er. I want to be with her but with Marie's got on me, I can't do nothin'.

Before I left, I wrote a letter and gave it to Snickers to give to her. I hope she'll forgive me.

"Acey! Come on! Time to go." Marie sang. I put my only bag in the carriage and hopped in.

As we rode away, I waved goodbye to the newsboys.

"Ey Snickers! Don't forget about the letter!" I yelled. Snickers nodded and waved along with the other boys.

*Nikki's POV

NO! My heart felt like it shattered into little bits. Why would Ace want to leave Brooklyn? With Red!

I wasn't thinkin' straight and ran out into the road. All of the sudden, a series of yelling and horses neighing began, followed by someone tackling me to the ground.

"Nikki! Are ya hurt?" A voice said. My vision was blurry from the tears in my eyes.

"Get off of me!" I growled.

"Alright, alright." The voice got off of me. Once I stopped crying, I saw that it was Dutchy.

"Did ya see Ace?" He asked. I nodded and we walked to the lodging house.

Once we entered, the whole joint went silent.

"Heya Nikki." Snickers said, holdin' a piece of paper.

"Hey Snickers." I sighed. He handed me the paper.

"This is from Ace."

I nodded , crumpled it up, and shoved it in my pocket.
"Thanks."

"Look, I know ya mad, but please read it." He glared at my pocket, and then me.

"Why should I?" I snapped.

"I would tell ya, but I promised not to. That letter..." He pointed at my pocket. "It explains everythin'."

"Okay." I give 'em a crooked smile.

I say goodbye and quickly leave. A tear escapes my eye and I slide up against a brick wall. I pull the paper out and began to read.

Nikki,

I know ya probably hate me now, but I wrote this to tell ya why I left. After my mother died, my father became abusive. Marie was one of our maids. She was there for me.

We had a secret relationship and when my father found out, he freaked out.

Shortly after, he got drunk and was all over her. I freaked out and pushed him down the stairs. He died that night. Because of me. Marie turned on me, too, telling the cops. I escaped and never looked back.

She threatened me, sayin' that if I broke up with her or wouldn't come back with her, she would turn me in. I didn't want to.

Before I could finish, a man's voice echoed in the alleyway. He was drunk. I quickly ran back home and crawled in my window.

Tip toein' to the kitchen, I grabbed my papa's bottle of whiskey. I went back to my room and pulled out my brown suitcase. I grabbed a few dresses, my brush, some money, and finally, the bottle of whiskey.

Tired from the previous events, I his my suitcase under my bed and the letter under my pillow.