Ace Killian

chapter 20: Fractures

Naomi's P.O.V

The house was quiet - too quiet for a place filled with so many people.

Nora and Stacy were watching TV, Jake was doing what Jake does, and I was sitting at the foot of the couch reading a book.

My mind wasn't even on the words. it was on him.

Ace.

He hadn't said a word when he came home earlier. just stormed past us, smelling of liquor and his shirt half unbuttoned. Id wanted to follow him, to ask if he was okay, but jakes hand on my arm had stopped me.

"Give him time" he said

But patience wasn't something i had in abundance when it came to Ace.

I sighed closing my book, finally having worked up the nerve to head upstairs. Everyone's eyes followed but I didn't care.

The door to his room was shut, but light spilled from the crack. I knocked softly.

Nothing.

i tried again. " Ace...it's me."

Still silence. i pushed the door open.

The smell of whiskey hit me first. then I saw him - sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, glass dangling from his fingers. His tie was gone, shirt wrinkled, his usually sharp posture slumped. He looked... broken.

"Ace," i whispered, stepping inside.

His eyes flickered to me. for a second, I thought I saw guilt flash across them, but it was gone before i could be sure. He set the glass down with a thud and dragged a hand through his hair.

"You should be downstairs," he muttered.

" And let you drink yourself to oblivion?" I shot back "Not happening."

He gave a humorless chuckle. "You really don't know when to stay out of trouble, do you?"

I walked closer, ignoring the warning in his voice.

"Trouble?" I Asked now in front of him.

Ace then yanked my arm in a swift motion. He was now on top of me with his broad weight.

He kissed me. Then my neck and put his hand under my shirt, caressing me.

It was drunk and sloppy.

"Ace... stop" I panicked recalling past events, pushing him back.

" Your drunk"

I looked him in his eyes, but he couldn't meet mine.

He let out a hollow, broken laugh — the kind that sounded more like a wince than amusement, sharp and heavy with something I couldn't name.

He got off, returning to his seated position.

"See, Naomi... I'm trouble."

I got up scooting closer to him.

"You're not trouble. otherwise, I wouldn't care this much to come check on you"

His jaw tightened "Naomi"

"No" I cut him off, my voice shaking.

" You hurt me last night, Ace. And I know you didn't mean to, but you did. And now you're hurting yourself too. pushing me away. When do you stop trying to destroy everything good around you?"

For a long moment he just stared at me. the silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Then slowly, he reached over, his hand brushing against mine.

"I don't deserve you," he said quietly

The honest in his voice stole the breath from my lungs.

"You don't get to decide that" I whispered back, gripping his hand tightly.

"Thats my choice. And I'm choosing you."

His eyes softened, and for the first time since the party, I saw a crack in his armor. He pulled me into his lap, his forehead pressing against mine.

"You're going to regret it one day," he murmured

"Maybe," I said, my voice trembling. "But not today"

For a moment, it felt like the world had stilled - the danger, the secrets, the chaos.

It was just us.

His arms around me, his breath warm against my skin.

But deep down a seed of doubt planted itself in my chest. Because if Ace could lose control so easily ... what else was he capable off?

And if I was being honest with myself, I wasn't sure I was ready for the answer.

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Ace P.O.V

I couldn't even look at her.

Naomi.

Standing there with her wide, worried eyes like I hadn't just ruined everything the night before. Like I hadn't fucked up beyond repair.

She didn't know. God, she couldn't know.

When she touched my hand, when she said she choose me - me of all people - it felt like a knife sliding right between my ribs. I didn't deserve it.

Not her loyalty.

Not her love.

Not after what i did last night with Mia.

Every word she spoke was a reminder of how unworthy i was.

You hurt me...you're hurting yourself...when do you stop destroying everything good?

I almost told her then. Almost broke down and confessed that while she was worrying about me, I was between another womans legs, trying to drink and fuck away the image of her - her face.

But I couldn't, I couldn't risk losing her.

so, I pulled her into my lap, forehead to forehead, hoping she wouldn't feel the tremor in my chest. Hoping my arm around her would hide the truth eating me alive.

"You're going to regret it one day" I murmured.

Because I knew I'd give her reason to.

I already had.

And as she whispered "Maybe, but not today" with that damn stubborn faith of hers, I made a silent promise to myself:

If Kane or anyone else came for her, they'd have to go through me.

I might be poison, but as long as she stayed by my side, I'd keep pretending I was the cure.