Releasing Tension

Playlist for this Chapter: Warriors by Imagine Dragons.

* JAKE KNIGHT *

A party. Nicholas 'Ace' King was planning a fucking party while the woman he loves if fighting for her life and may die any second.

Pathetic.

And then to make matters worse, he raided one of Gio's safehouses and got shot at. Again. Now he needs a stick to walk like an old man although the bullet only grazed his left leg. He's gone crazy after the test reports were revealed that day, and it's been a week now.

"The fuck are you doing Ace?" I shouted at him as I entered his office.

"Choosing a theme. I could use the help." He said casually and I rolled my eyes, making my way over to him. I gave Matteo and Stuart a questioning look but they both shrugged.

"Why on earth are you throwing a party Ace?" I gritted out and he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Because I want to. Why?"

I swear to god this guy is nuts.

"Why?" I scoffed. "Because your girl's dying, that's why!" I snapped and not a second later his fist collided with my jaw, making me stumble backwards.

"She is not dying!" He shouted. I knew he needed to release the tension and this was the only way to do so. Stuart and Matteo stood up, trying to intervene but I gestured t them not to. They also knew he was tense and would blow up any second now.

Looks like it'll be this second.

"How do you know? You're here organizing parties and going to clubs, drinking, smoking and what not. I bet you've even slept with someone by now." I hissed and saw his jaw clench.

And there it was, I saw something snap in him as he lunged at me, knocking me over.

I fell to the ground with him on top of me and he punched me again. I felt the all too familiar metallic taste of blood in my mouth and punched him back, making him fall back so I could get up. There was no way I was letting him hit me without acting back.

"You don't know anything." He hissed and I smirked.

"I wonder what Dove will say when she finds out you were sleeping with other women while she was in a coma. And that you had the audacity to throw a party too. That is, if she wakes up." I smirked at him and saw his eyes darken dangerously.

Sorry Dove, but I really do hope you wake up. I'm just doing this to rile him up.

"You keep your fucking theories to yourself. I know what I'm doing and it doesn't concern you." He said, leaning on to the desk for support because of his injured leg.

"Oh yeah? I bet you don't want to share those women. Are they that good?" I cocked my head to the side and in the next second, another punch was thrown to my stomach and I kicked Ace's leg, making him stumble and fall over while he hissed in pain.

I know what I said was hurting him and I knew very well that he would never cheat on Dove. But I had to make him release the tension inside him some way. And this was all I could think of.

Not that I'm enjoying it.

"Fucking bastard." He said to me, blood coming out of his nose and his injured leg, staining his dress pants. I helped him up and he winced in pain but hi it just as quick.

"Don't worry. I now you didn't cheat. I was just trying to release some tension." I said and he huffed before glaring at me.

"I know. Don't say that kind of shit again or I'll forget what you mean to me. And thanks. I feel like I won't need to kill Liam after all." He said and sat on the couch, pouring himself a drink an downing it in one go.

We sat in silence for a while before he spoke up.

"Masquerade party." Ace said and we all looked at him.

"What?" Matteo asked.

"Masquerade. Everyone will be there. When Dove wakes up, to celebrate her health. The final part of our plan." Ace said and I looked at Stuart and Matteo who shrugged.

And then it dawned on me.

"Gio will be there, won't he?" I asked, realization hitting me like a slap in the face.

"We'll draw him in there. And end it. Once and for all." He said and I nodded.

"He won't be alone." I said and Nico nodded.

He'll have an army of men with him ready to strike at any moment.

"We'll be ready." He assured us and continued with his drink.

"What about the wedding?" I asked glancing at Stuart.

"Adrianna and I agreed to host it once Dove wakes up. Draw enemies there because we know Sofia isn't the only traitor." Stuart said and Ace nodded.

"Good. The men have been informed, yes?" Ace asked us and we nodded.

"Only the trusted ones. We have a few suspects and they're being investigated." Matteo added and we sat there in complete silence waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Any news from the doctors?" Matteo asked Ace who ran a hand across his face.

"No progress." He said and I knew he was breaking inside no matter how much he tried to hide it.

"Better get that changed, your pants are soaked." I told Ace who looked at his bloody pants and sighed. I handed him his black cane.

"You too. Messed up your pretty face." Ace retorted and I rolled my eyes at him while he snatched the cane from my hands and got up.

I swear he carries it like a diva.

He got a black cane especially made with a red ruby on top. It's one of those that really rich people carry to show off their wealth but don't really need it. Not that Ace isn't rich. He's absolutely loaded, owns more than half of Italy and more in the States.

"I'll get the bandages changed. Get the driver ready, I need to visit the hospital." He told me before leaving and I glanced at Stuart and Matteo.

"He'll be fine. Just give him time." Stuart said and I sighed, bracing for the day ahead.

It's going to be a long day.