FIFTY FIVE

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Ace's POV

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I hardly slept after Cixi left.

I kept waking up, leaning into the other side of the bed, trying to reach for Hannah. It didn't even smell like her anymore. I didn't realize it at first, but every time I started to fall asleep, it was when I thought Hannah was next to me.

When I woke up the next morning, the capos and soldiers were gone for their morning run but the, lovely, heiresses hadn't woken up yet. As I've stated in the past, no one is more of a pain in the ass than heiresses. They haven't been here long, but Cixi's already been on my ass, and I'm sure Annika won't be any better.

I busied myself with emails and paperwork until Annika and Cixi walked into my office. Cixi, who looked like she was making a business deal, stiffly sat down in a chair. Annika, on the other hand, made herself comfortable like she was going to be here a while.

"So, how do we plan to end this?" Cixi speaks up.

"I think we should ask for a meeting at the safe zone and peacefully end it there. It's three to one, he'd be stupid if he didn't surrender." Mafia wars tend to happen quite frequently. Because of this, we have a safe zone in Santorini, Greece. There, we can all meet and negotiate, without the worry of being threatened or killed.

"Ace, I think you're forgetting, he is stupid. He's sixteen and a back-up heir, he knows this world, but not like we do. Knowing Jack, he probably wouldn't even show up to the meeting. I say we back him into a corner and force him to surrender. We take all of his supplies, kill all of his men, and leave him with nothing."

"We could do that, and it would end the war, but it would also cause us to be an adversary. As soon as he took over his fathers position, he'd just come after us again. If we talk to him and get him to surrender peacefully, it would be a tense alliance, but an alliance no less. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to kill the Jack ass, but theres a reason the American Mafia is one of the top four." I want nothing more than to let him join his brother, but I can't think of myself, I have to think of my people.

"Fine." Cixi grumbles. We all hated it, but she knew I was right. "Will make yours Plan A but if he doesn't show, which he won't, we go with Plan B." I sighed, thinking it over. I didn't think Cixi's plan was smart, but we only had so many options.

I looked to Annika who had been silent this whole time. She had a look on her face, signifying that she was either thinking, or completely zoned out. Normally, she is just as, if not more, opinionated than Cixi. Annika also seemed a little conflicted, which has never been a trait of hers.

"What do you think?" I asked, signaling my question to her. She quickly turned to me, as if she was a kid in school who was just caught sleeping.

"I think it's a good plan."

"Okay, so we're all on the same page?"

"No." She immediately says, causing Cixi and I to both turn to her with confusion.

"Do you think we should change or add something?" Cixi asked her.

"Yes, but it's non negotiable. I will stand with the two of you and go along with both plans. If you won't agree to my terms, I won't join Jack's side, but I will back out of this completely, leaving you guys at a weak advantage." 

Cixi and I immediately froze. We would still be at an advantage if Annika was not with us, but it wouldn't be by much. We need to stand united if this is going to work, otherwise, Jack will think he's still got a chance.

"What are your terms?" I finally ask her.

"I won't do it unless Hannah is there."

We were all dead silent as soon as she spoke. Cixi was thinking to herself while Annika's eyes locked with mine. She was making it very clear she wasn't backing down, but I wasn't going to back down either.

"No." I finally answer. "Hannah is no longer involved in this life and she will not be dragged back into it."

"She could be involved in this life, she wants to be. Hannah is a good, strong minded leader. Up until now, all of the negotiations I've made have been with her, and I intend to keep it that way. I don't know what you're issues were, but you guys need to sort it out." Annika says, standing up. "I don't care if you see her as a bitch, someone you can't have, or someone who was the right girl at the wrong time. Me, though? I saw her as a Donna. I will continue to see her as a Donna, and I will only make negotiations with a Donna. I'll give you some time to make a decision, but my mind is already made up." With that, she left. What the fuck do I do? I can't bring her back into this life, I won't. If I don't though, I also won't have Annika. I hate relying on people, but I need her for this plan to work. 

"She's right, Ace." Cixi sighed.

"So what, now you're only making negotiations with Donna's?!" Cixi gave me a look, telling me to tone my anger down, but I was already trying my best.

"No, but I do think you should bring Hannah back."

"And so does everyone else in this fucking house. Cant you all see that I'm doing this for her?! That I'm trying to protect her!"

"Do you want to keep believing what you tell yourself, or do you want to hear the truth?"

"Yes, Cixi, please give me your opinion, because this house has apparently turned into one big therapy group." I tell her sarcastically.

"Watch your tone, Ace, I'm not one of your men." She glares. "I think you're scared."

"I'm not scared of anything."

"No, you weren't scared of anything. Now, you are. You're scared of losing her the same way you lost your mother. We may be strong and powerful, but we aren't immortal. Hannah isn't the first girl you've ever loved, I was. Deep down, though, you know she will be your last. Hannah is the one for you, Ace, and it scares the living hell out of you. You would rather push Hannah away and lose her than risk the chance of losing her for good, losing her to death.

"I understand what that fear is like, because I was always afraid of losing you. Do you know how I got over it? I accepted it. I accepted that I loved you, that I worried for you. I accepted it because I knew you were stubborn. You were stubborn, just like Hannah is. I've not only heard, but seen what that girl can do. That night she stabbed Kai, I was watching from the balcony.   

"We're human Ace, death is inevitable. If Hannah is in this life she can learn, fight, and train. She could become stronger than she ever was before. Kicking her out doesn't make her chance of survival any higher though. There are many cruel people in this world, as wells as many illnesses, car accidents, and fires. 

"The chance of Hannah dying is one hundred percent, for both this world and her old one. The difference is that this world has you. You can try to protect her, and you may be able to. If you can't though, you can still be with her until her final moments. You love her Ace, and at the end of the day, loving someone isn't about how much time you have, but how many memories you can make.

"I say all of this because..." She sighs, standing up. "I won't go along with this plan unless Hannah is there, too. I'm not doing this for the same reasons as Annika, I'm doing this because it's right for you. This war can continue on, and I will keep our alliance, but until you come to your senses, there will be no negotiations." And just like Annika, she left.

I sighed, leaning my head back in my chair. I didn't want to admit it, but Cixi was right. I was scared, I was scared as hell to loose Hannah. I would rather her go on to live a normal life without me than to never get the chance to live at all. Hannah could die at any moment though, we all could. I don't want there to ever be a day when I have nothing but memories of Hannah, but if that ever happens, I want more memories than the ones I have now.

Would she even take me back, though? I lied to her, I told her I didn't love her and that we were never together. I know if someone did that to me, I wouldn't care to be with them again. I wouldn't care unless it was Hannah.

Most people mean little to me, but her? I'd let that woman break me over and over and over again, just for five seconds of her touch, of her love. Since she's been gone, I've tried everything. I've smoked, drank, driven as fast as my cars could go. Yet nothing gave me the adrenaline, nothing made my heart beat the way it did, when it beat next to hers.

Between the war going on, everything with Hannah falling apart, my life has been a hectic shit show. All I've wanted was for things to get better, yet they kept getting worse. There comes a time when rock bottom has to hit, and it finally did.

Rock bottom hit when there was a knock on my door, causing me to look up.

"Ciao figlio mio."

My father.

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Hey Loves!! So good news, IM FUCKING DONE WITH MY FINALS!! I still have work, but I should be able to post a lot more chaps, as well as more frequently. This is going to be the only chapter tonight because my brain is fried from my finals, but more chaps will be up soon!! Comment and Vote!!

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