Ace Killian

chapter 9 : The fire

Naomi's P.O.V

As we sat in silence, I couldn't help but stare. Ace was painfully handsome with his messy raven hair, he ran his hand through, a shirt that clung to the sweep of his shoulder, and the hard planes of his chest. when he laughed, the grey in his eyes flickered hot when he looked at me. I felt he could steal mt breath if he wanted to. If he weren't such a prick, I might have chosen him in another life.

"What are you looking at" he asked around a bite of food.

flushed, i looked away

"Nothing" I said hurriedly and, in a lie, but I smiled Anyway. 

he pushed his plate forward and studied me.

" tell me about you" he said like it was the first time we were talking as anything other than owner and property

wow. Ace starting a conversation. that had to be a first.

i swallowed "my childhood was.... nice. ' i laughed surprised by at the warmth that came with the memory. "I remember I always got to lick the spoon whenever my parents baked cookies"

Aces mouth quirked "your dad was nice?"

"For a while" I said " my mom was always kind-- beautiful actually. I used to catch myself staring at her the way children did a superhero's.

I smiled, then softened

"My dad was nice once. He used to call me his little girl " 

my smile faded" but that didn't last"

Ace expressions grew quiet, attentive. I kept going because he had shared and because somewhere between the food and the light, i felt like someone finally cared to hear me.

" how did you end up at the auction" he asked puzzled

i hesitated.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to" he said sensing my hesitation.

i shook my head "No -- I'll tell you. you shared your past so it only fair" I said giving him a small smile.

My throat tightened "My father... he sold me. he couldn't pay of his debts. He had a gambling addiction"

the words were heavy but precise. i did my best to remember the sequence of things continuing as he stayed silent.

"I think it began when I was 6. My father had a serious drinking problem. The first time my mother confronted him  he promised to quit butit was all lies. He got worse. he became more abusive and aggressive. my mom decided it was just better if we left, so we did".

i paused, the memory bitter and small

"But when i was 18 he found us. " the memory hit like cold

when he showed up , It had been 12 years since I last saw my father. he told my mom how he had changed but it was just lie's"

i pushed my fork into my mouth to anchor myself

"Ever since then me and my mom struggled living in that house with my father" i said continuing.

"That day I came home from the store with my mom and found my father talking to men I didn't know. they sat on the couch as if they belonged there. when my mom asked what was wrong, he ignored. the men stood, walked towards me and Before I knew it, I was being dragged out the door. I kicked and screamed as my father held my mother. she was crying out for me. I tried to make my way to her, but it was useless. There was nothing she could do as they took me away. then there was a rag and That was the last thing I remembered after waking up at the auction".

my hands trembled. all noise seemed to be non-existent. ace watched me the whole time, his jaw tight, his fork forgotten on his plate. for a moment the roomed narrowed down to the two of us and the distance from what he had done.

"The look on my mother's face...I'll never forget it" i said in a whisper, my voice breaking

" And my father wasn't even faced. he looked... relieved ".

Aces body tensed beside me 

"Naomi" he said softly, voice weighted with something real 

"I'm so, so sorry" 

there it was again...sorry. that words he wasn't supposed to know. could he actually be changing?

I looked up at him as tears filled my eyes. Forcing a smile through the ache in my chest

"Thanks" I said wiping away the tears.

We kept eating and somehow the heaviness lifted. we talked about our favorite movies, dreams, music, trivial things that made him laugh, and for a while, it felt... normal. like maybe Ace Killian had a side no one else ever saw.

we were just settling to pick a move after ace had cleaned the kitchen and dish when his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello" he answered sharply.

I watched him shift immediately, voice lowering to a hiss.

"What the fuck do you want" he turned his back, pacing toward the far end of the room in an attempt for some privacy. I could sense Angier in his tone.

i frowned curiosity getting the best of me. who was on the other side of the call.

"If you so much as..." he started, then cutting himself off, glancing back at me. his eyes were dark and calculating

before i could wonder further, The house phone rang. the sound cut through the tension like a blade. I rushed over to get it.

"hello" 

" Naomi?" jakes voice said in rushed but steady. "nice to know you're up and about. where's Ace?" He asked on the other line.

"He's right here but he's on the phone. why? what's wrong?" 

"Tell him to get his ass down here now...one of the warehouses are on fire" in the background I could hear sirens and men shouting.

my stomach dropped.

"What? ...are you okay? where is it?" I asked concerned.

" Section 4C. he knows the place. just tell him"Jake hung up before i could say more.

I turned slowly to find ace already staring at me, his call had already ended, his expression sharp and expectant.

"That was Jake" i said carefully

" He said warehouse 4C is on fire"

in an instant, Ace grabbed his coat and keys. he stormed towards the door without hesitation. 

"Don't leave this fucking house" he barked, slamming the door behind him.

i locked it after him, leaning against the wood as silenced swallowed the space.

and just like that, the softness from earlier vanished. The man who made me laugh over pasta was gone, replaced by ruthless ace Killian again.

What the hell was going on?

who was that Ace was talking too?

do you think Ace and Naomi could have somewhat of a relationship?