Page 69 of Until Ace

It’s so far from the truth I feel like laughing.

“Baby,” he starts again, his tortured eyes meeting mine.

Tortured. He feels tortured, because he thinks he hurt me by saying all that.

I need him to know how much it all means to me. “I love you, Ace Sterling. I don’t care what it says about me, what anyone thinks about me, as long as you know that two seconds after I laid eyes on you in Beverly’s kitchen, I fell in love with you for all eternity.”

Ace closes his eyes slowly, his head coming down, and he rests his forehead on mine. “Love you too, baby.”

His tone is full of relief.

God. No matter what happened before, no matter how much pain and heartbreak I went through in my life, it was all worth it for this single moment, standing in Ace’s kitchen. For him to hold me in his arms and say those words to me, I would go through it all over again.

And again.

And again.

“Good,” I whisper, swallowing the wave of tears threatening to spill.

* * *

“Is this really a good idea, Mandy?” Mia asks, her face worried.

I haven’t said exactly what I’m planning to do, just that I’m going to deal with the problem that drove my mother to Ace’s door.

“I don’t think so,” I say uncertainly. “But you’ve had the pleasure of… well, not exactly meeting them, but experiencing them. You’ve seen how they act, how she is. And if I want any kind of future with Ace, I know I can’t have her in my life.”

“But do you really need to go out and do whatever you plan on doing to get her gone?” Mia eyes me suspiciously. I guess my vague explanation didn’t convince her of anything. Then again, it’s a bunch of bullshit, so it’s no wonder that she doesn’t believe me.

“I’m just going to talk with my father, nothing else,” I tell her again. It’s a lie, of course, but I can’t exactly tell her the truth.

I'm asking Mia to go along with the cover story of us going to dinner together, so I can sneak out to find the Russian guy my brother owes money. It’s my hope to convince him I shouldn't be the one to pay off my brother's debt by prostituting myself. That’s not exactly a reason that would make her agree to go along with my plan, so I haven’t gone into detail.

Merely thinking about it is making my hands shake.

If I’ll be able to actually speak when I come face-to-face with the man is another worry I refuse to think about now.

“But to go out to Pleasure Den?”

The Pleasure Den is one of the most notorious strip clubs in the city. I honestly have no idea where to find Mr. Gorskiy, but I know Jim goes there all the time. I once heard him talking on the phone and he mentioned the name, saying something about the poker tables. I guess there’s more going on in that club than just women dancing and men salivating and drinking.

“Well, he likes to go there at night,” I make up. I have no idea if my father has ever stepped foot in that place, but I want someone to know where I’m going. Call it self-preservation or whatever. I don’t know how this will go, and if I end up missing, at least they will know where to start looking. “To relax,” I continue with my broken explanation. Mustering up the courage, I straighten my shoulders and look Mia directly in the eyes. “You’ve seen my mom. I’m sure she made your skin crawl and your stomach turn. Now, think of having to live with her, day in and day out.”

Mia doesn’t say anything for a moment, just looks at me.

“Hmmm… I can’t decide if I want to know what you’re really up to, or if I should just go along and pretend I believe you,” she says almost to herself.

“Mia...,” I start, but she puts her hand up, effectively shutting me up.

“Listen, I have no idea what’s going on, because you won’t tell me.” I open my mouth but have no chance to say anything, as she continues, “And some part of me understands. I wasn’t all that nice to you until recently. But I hope”—she grabs my hand and holds tight—“that one day soon, you’ll finally open up. I promise I’ll do anything in my power to help. But even if I can’t, I’ll always be here to listen.”

“I…,” I start brokenly, on the verge of tears again. What is it with all these happy tears recently?

“Now.” Mia releases my hand, her face turning serious. “As long as you promise to text me once you’re done, so I’ll know you’re home safe, I’ll go along with your plan.”

The relief that settles over me is chased away by fear.

How am I supposed to walk up to a mobster, a man who wants to essentially pimp me out, and convince him to leave me alone?