Rule #1: Never Date An A.C.E. [COMPLETED]

Chapter 33: Rule #35: Ace Before Anything Else

I fell asleep at one point, all but given up. Death was imminent and it was worse that they were making us wait.

I awoke to a squeal of hinges. I sat up and looked around wildly, seeing our door standing wide open, Lacey standing outside with a smirk on her face.

"Great, the she-devil is going to kill us," I mumbled, standing and stretching from the ground. Lacey rolled her eyes as she moved to open the cell with the boys in it. I raised an eyebrow at her lack of goons but was surprised when she came over to unlock my handcuffs.

"This she-devil isn't going to kill you," Lacey chuckled and I frowned at the change in her behavior.

"What are you doing here?" Dylan came over, directing his question toward Lacey.

Lacey finished unlocking us before answering, "Despite how much I hate you," she looked at me, "I don't very much like Ace being completely disbanded. Rule number thirty-five, Ace before anything else, right?"

"How can we trust you?" Boone said, narrowing his eyes.

Lacey shrugged, "I did just risk my life to come down here and let you all out."

"True," Alex said, thanking her. Everyone chorused their thanks as well, as I grumbled a 'thanks' as well.

"What's the plan?" Levi asked, wiping his glasses off with his shirt. Everyone looked toward me and I shrugged.

"No idea."

"I have something," Vanessa started. She explained her plan and we all agreed it was the best plan of action. We exited the cell, and I looked at the remaining prisoners as we passed. The three of them ignored us, and for that I was thankful.

I didn't know if I wanted to let them out, despite what they had said about Ace.

We snuck upstairs, heading towards the Armory. We fumbled around in the dark, trying to keep our presence a secret as we tried to collect weapons. After getting what we thought as sufficient, we began to stalk down the hall to where Lacey said they were holding the Director. When we came across any enemies, we easily took care of them without the use of guns to limit the noise we made.

As we neared the cafeteria, I slowed until I was in the back of the group. Dylan saw me and followed what I had done.

"Will you be able to do it?" he asked as I looked anywhere but him.

"Sure. I've killed tons of people working here."

"But none were your parents," Dylan wrapped his free hand around my own. I sighed, my heart clenching at the thought. "I can do it for you," Dylan whispered and I considered it for a second.

"They won't believe you," I said. "I can do it."

"Alright," Dylan kissed my cheek lightly and I made my way back up beside Lacey. She looked at me, a flash of pity crossing her face before she gripped my arm.

"Ready?" she whispered and I nodded, patting my side where my knives were kept. The rest of my friends blended into the shadows as we stepped into the light. I took a sharp intake of breath at the sight I saw the Director in. Lacey's bitchiness returned as we walked toward the small group in the center of the room, "This one decided she wanted to join."

Aiden narrowed his eyes, "Why were you down there?"

"Taunting," Lacey rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on my arm. I could tell she was enjoying herself and I internally scoffed. "Then she decided she didn't want to die. What a baby," Lacey rolled her eyes again and marched me toward the Three Princes and my parents. My heartrate increased with each step we took.

"We are so glad you decided to join us, sweetie," Dad pulled me into a hug and I hugged him back, hoping he couldn't feel the knives.

"Yes," Mom nodded from over my Dad's shoulder. I pulled away, a fake bright smile on my face as I swiftly took out my knives. I stabbed my father directly in the heart and threw the other at my mother. I choked on a sob as my father crumpled, dead, at my feet. I managed to catch my mom in the left shoulder and she was screaming at me to be detained. The Three Princes sprung into action, as well as the other members of the organization as my friends burst into the room. I was fighting against Luca when a gunshot rang out and he collapsed to the ground. I breathed a sigh of relief at him finally being dead and yelled thank you to Boone. Aiden was soon upon me, striking me quickly. I was barely holding him off until he slipped on some blood and fell to the floor. I got on top of him and punched his face repeatedly until he stopped moving. I looked up to see my friends triumphing against the opposition when I spotted my mother out of the corner of my eye trying to sneak away.

"No, you don't," I snarled, running after her. She noticed me following and broke into a sprint, holding her wound tightly. I pushed her to the ground from behind and she turned, her eyes wide as she looked at me.

"You won't kill your poor, defenseless mother, will you?" She said, moving to sit up. I pointed another knife at her, my chest rising and falling as the adrenaline began to disappear. "You killed your own father, Bella."

"You don't get to call me that," I gritted my teeth. "You targeted me, my friends, and the place I work. How dare you."

"How dare you," Mom rose from the ground, glaring at me. "You could've been rich beyond your wildest dreams, dated a handsome boy, and been in a family with us."

"I have a new family," I snapped. "One that actually cares about me, unlike you." And with that, I took a step forward and plunged my knife into her stomach. She keeled over, and I watched as the life left her eyes. I threw down the knife, falling to my knees. I screamed in agony as the reality of what I had done set upon me.

I killed my parents.

I rocked back and forth as I hugged myself, to distraught to even cry. Dylan found me and cradled me in his arms as he whispered that we had won and everyone was safe. I stared, shell-shocked, at the wall in front of me. After a while, Dylan stood me up and we made our way to another large meeting room, as the cafeteria was covered in dead bodies. I stumbled the entire way there, my mind working overtime as I began to think I shouldn't have done what I did.

Dylan pushed open the doors and I trailed along behind, my hands in fists. The room erupted in cheers and I looked up to see everyone clapping and smiling at me. I stared at them and tried to pull a smile on my face.

But I couldn't do it.

The celebration continued as people congratulated each other. I slipped out of the room, desperate to be alone.

I had barely made it out of the door when a small voice sounded from behind me, "Isa?" I closed my eyes in desperation but knew I couldn't snap at him. I turned and opened my eyes, looking at Junior. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"No," I said, sitting on the ground against the wall. Junior hesitantly walked over to me and sat beside me. He pulled my hand from my lap and grasped it with his own.

"You will be," he said, laying his head against my arm. We sat in silence, staring at the wall in front of us as the sounds of celebration sounded on the other side of the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N

We're so close to the end now!

XOXO

sborek