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Tears drip down my cheeks as my eyes flutter open and find Ace. He’s pale, his body vibrating with rage.
“It’s you... you’re Sarah’s ex... you’re the one who... fuck.” Ace fists his hands against his face as if he can’t handle the revelation.
“Surprise.” Charlie presses the blade closer to my skin until I feel the razor-sharp edge lick my throat.
“What do you want?” There’s no mistaking the tremble in Ace’s voice. He knows one wrong move and I could be sliced open.
“The only thing I’ve always wanted... to make James pay. He stole everything from me. Everything.” His hand trembles, the blade slashing tiny cuts into my throat. I whimper, pleading with Ace to do something.
Anything.
“Maria was mine first. She was mine and he took her. He fucking stole her. He ruined my life. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he tried to have me killed, but the fucking idiot couldn’t even get that right. I stayed gone for a while. Let everyone think I was dead. But time is a dangerous thing.
“When I finally came back to town, I had my sights set on only one thing—destroying him.”
“So what happened?” Ace inches closer, trying to keep his uncle’s attention.
“Some things won’t stay buried, that’s what. Donny caught wind I might be alive, so I had to lay low. Shoulda left town then, but I didn’t.” His gaze burns into the top of my head. “You know, you can thank James for everything. That’s how I met your momma. Of course, neither of them know. I was following him one day and he led me right to her. She looked so lost, so sad… She made it so fucking easy.”
My heart clenches at his cruel words. “And look how perfect things turned out. Written in the stars, baby,” he chuckles darkly. “James stole everything from me, and now… now I’ll steal everything from him.”
“You think you’re the only one he stole something from?” Ace asks coolly.
Charlie relaxes
his hand and I sag in the chair, desperate to check my throat for damage. But my hands are still tied and Charlie is still right behind me.
“What did you say?” he grits out, his focus solely on his nephew now.
“Yours isn’t the only life that fucker ruined. He thinks he can just do whatever he wants, that money gives him power. But fuck that.”
Charlie edges around me. “What are you saying?”
“I’m in. Whatever you’re planning, however you want to take him down, I’m in. But you’ve got to let her go.” Ace inches closer, keeping his eyes firmly on his uncle. “She isn’t a part of this.”
“Oh, you’re good.” Charlie points his knife in Ace’s direction. “You’re real good. A right chip off the old block. You almost had—”
Everything happens in slow motion. Ace lunges for Charlie, the two of them slamming into the wall behind me. My blood-curdling scream pierces the air as Ace grapples to force the knife out of his hand.
“Motherfucker,” he roars as Charlie stabs him in the chest.
“Ace!” I yell, straining and bucking against my restraints.
But Ace’s hand flies to his uncle’s throat as he smashes his head into Charlie’s nose. Blood explodes everywhere, pained grunts filling the air as Charlie staggers back, the knife no longer in his hand.
Ace picks it up, advancing on his uncle. “I should gut you with this. I should slit your fucking throat and feed you to the sharks.”
“But you can’t, can you?” Charlie’s blood-stained face twists into an evil grin and he chokes out a dark laugh. “You don’t have what it takes because of her. You’re weak... all for a piece of pus—”
Ace’s fist crashes into his face, sending Charlie flying backward. “I’m giving you a head-start, so I suggest you start running. If I ever see you in the Bay again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Charlie narrows his eyes for a second and then takes off, scrambling out of the kitchen and disappearing into the darkness.
“Oh God,” I cry, relief flooding me.
“Remi, fuck.” Ace rushes to my side, dropping to his knees and brushing the damp hair from my face. “You’re okay, baby, you’re okay.”
“Charlie... your uncle... he’s—”
