Back to the present day, with Ace's jaw still on the floor

"Well? What explanation do you have?" Jaxx glared at me, bringing me out of my daze.

I stared at him blankly, then back at Jacob's resignation letter. It was professionally written, and the reason for his resignation was that he failed to uphold the standard of his work, which led us into this corporate dilemma. The resignation was effective as soon as legally possible, but he said he would still help us in any way he could regarding the breach for the next thirty days that he would still be under our employment.

"For fuck's sake, Ace! We had a plan, you had to talk to Jacob yesterday but you ended up fucking someone's brains out! No, let me rephrase that. You let someone fuck your brains out because the way you're standing there, staring at me like a deer caught in the lights, makes me think you have no functioning brain with you this morning! De puta!" he threw the folder across the room, sending the contents flying in its wake.

I still stood there rooted on my spot, unable to speak.

How did last night happen? I was at Legazpi Park one minute, the next I was drinking in some bar, but then I don't remember much. I don't even remember how Mona was there. Her name didn't even register in my brain this morning, but why did she look so damn familiar?

I shut my eyes and held my head. What the hell happened? Think, Ace, think! 

I was supposed to go to Jacob's gym and talk to him, but I ended up going to the park. Why?

"Ace, please tell me you got something." His large desk was a massive barrier between the two of us, but even with my eyes shut, the iciness of his glare still sent a chill down my spine.

"Ace of hearts," I breathed.

"What?"

"That's what I got yesterday, Jaxx, the Ace of Hearts. After that, I went to the nearest bar to calm my nerves. The next thing I know, you're ringing me up, and it's ten in the morning the following day."

"What?" he asked again, this time louder and even more confused.

"I answered you the first time."

"Fuck you, you were supposed to get the Ace of Spades. What happened to that theory?" He leaned over his table like a bear ready to take a swing at the honeyed beehive hanging in front of him.

"Jaxx, my office was bugged. Before you ask me 'what' again, can I please have some coffee? I'll explain what happened yesterday and how I think Brigs is working for Beau or Alvaro, or both. And how, right now, I think he's also in danger. But I don't give a lot of fucks about him because he bugged my office," I said in one breath, and it was Jaxx's turn to stare at me dumbly, jaw wide open.

"Well? Coffee, chop-chop!" I clapped my hands. He glared at me but turned around to his get his coffee press.

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"Oh my fucking god. You're going to be the death of me, Ace," he groaned after my storytelling time. He tilted his chair back while I sunk deeper on the seat across from him.

"You have to talk to Jacob. Today. Not tomorrow, today. Tell him not to fight on Wednesday. That fight is not worth it. I know the guy, and he is going to kill Jacob. Literally kill him without remorse," he said.

"Why do you still keep track of these guys and the fights, Jaxx? I thought you said it was just something you did for fun a few times, and you stopped this crap years ago?" I asked. I had a growing suspicion he wasn't done yet.

I knew Jaxx joined this faux fight club when we were in college, and though I didn't watch any of his fights, he said it was no big deal because it was just for fun, and it was nothing but bragging rights with the other street fighters. He used to still go to street fights after we graduated but said he'd stopped fighting since we studied abroad and started up our firm.

"I just want to keep connected with the guys," he said, avoiding my gaze. He picked his phone up and started fiddling with it.

"You're lying. Put that thing down. Do you still fight?"

"Do you see bruises on me?" he placed the phone face down.

"Answer the damn question. Do you or do you not?" I insisted as my brows knitted and anger began to simmer inside. He did not have to tell me his activities, but he did not have to lie about this, especially when it involved his friend!

"Occasionally," he admitted in a small voice while his index and middle fingers alternately tapped his lips as he fidgeted in his seat. It was comical how, from a predator, he was now sinking back like a scared lamb.

"When? Why? Fuck, I have so many questions!"

"When the price is right," he said nonchalantly, now drawing circles on the back of his phone.

"For god's sake, Jaxx, you don't need money!" I said, pounding both my fists on my head. I wanted to hit something – Jaxx's face preferably – but had to restrain myself. I could never understand this guy. He did not need the money, yet he would risk his life doing stupid things for it!

"I never said it was money, Ace. I just said when the price is right," he replied, looking out the window. Jaxx could never keep still when he lied. He tries, but never could.

"So exactly what is the right price, huh, Jaxx? A concussion? A chance to beat someone to appease your ego? An entire building?"

He grinned modestly. "Something like that."

"Quit being a jerk and answer me, dammit!"

"Favors. I strike a deal with certain people, and I make sure they win their bets. If the player they bet on wins or if I win, if I was the one in the ring, they get their money, and I get my favor. No strings attached. And it works both ways."

"That's a fucking gamble. What if you lose?"

"Then there's no deal," he shrugged. I gauged him for a while before calling it bullshit.

"That's dumb. That has got to be the dumbest shit I've heard from you after the Grace epoch."

"Fuck you!" he laughed.

"Don't they come after you and make you pay if you lose?"

"They probably will. But I've never lost. So, everybody's happy so far," he gave me a smug grin. This time, I saw the faint bruise under his stubbles. No wonder Jacob hardly shaved his beard; so he could hide the bruises underneath it.

"You fought recently. I can see the bruise now," I nodded at him. He just sighed, neither confirming nor denying.

"Anyway, you need to tell Jake to give up his fight on Wednesday." He did not give me an answer and just disregarded my observation. But that was all he needed to do to confirm my hunch.

"Why me? He'll listen to you more when it's about this stupid fighting stuff."

"You sound like a girl. You getting soft for him?" he teased.

"Fuck. You." I glared. "I'm serious, Ben. Talk to the guy. I have to figure out how to appease Lorena and her dad."

He nodded tentatively.

However, later that afternoon, I found myself walking the familiar side streets heading to the gym where Jacob trained. I was just in my white undershirt tucked in my dress pants and rubber-soled leather shoes. 

I left my bag in the Green Room where Jaxx would be waiting with the other USB victim, Chino. This talk would let us know our next move, and I hoped to everyone in heaven that Jacob would not be an ass and would heed my advice.

All eyes were on me when I opened the rickety door to the gym. Sweaty men, a few women, and some teenagers looked at me, sizing me up from head to toe. Some of them started to snigger and point. They must find it funny that someone would show up in the place in dress pants.

I gave them a small smile and scoured the place for Jacob's natural dusty blonde hair. In the far corner of the room, someone shouted.

"Ace!" a man in his mid-forties waved. It was Rovy. I took a step forward towards Rovy when I noticed the man I was looking for step out of the locker room, looking like he needed a week's worth of sleep.

He lost some weight, he hadn't trimmed his beard, and there were dark circles under his eyes. The greenish-yellow bruise on his left side was probably healing, but there were also angry reddish purple bruises on his thigh and forearms. He stopped in his tracks when his eyes landed on me.

"Jacob."

"What is it, Ace?" he sighed heavily and resumed walking. He walked past me and headed to one side of the mats. I followed him like a lost puppy, and the eyes of the other people followed me like I was a villain about to strike their precious fighter.

"Why did you quit?"

"I thought I made it perfectly clear on my resignation letter," he said as he sat down and started wrapping one of his hands.

"Yeah, well, I'm not accepting it. We still need you." He scoffed and just shook his head.

"Jake, I know you know I've been working on the damn thing on your computer. Why did you do it?"

"I thought you didn't bring work out of the office?" he said sarcastically. "Look, if this is about that breach, you should save it for tomorrow. I'll tell you what I know then."

"Okay, fair enough." He just used my line on me. Bastard.

"I still have another thing to tell you. You shouldn't fight on Wednesday." This seemed to catch his attention because he momentarily stopped wrapping and looked at me.

"Who told you I had a game?"

"It's not a game, Jacob, and it's dangerous. Your opponent doesn't have anything to lose and is not going to hesitate to kill you. You should know this by now."

"Who told you anyone was going to die?" he chuckled dryly. I could see the fear in his eyes. His clear blue eyes could not mask it even if he tried. To avoid holding our gazes too long, he returned to his business.

"Jacob, please. Don't do this," I pleaded. I was scared for him, but I was even more afraid for myself. The kris dagger was still stuck in my chest, and he had the power to twist it and push it in further, or he could just twist it, pull it out and leave me to bleed.

"Why are you suddenly begging me, Ace?" he let out a heavy sigh.

"I told you, we still need you." I need you alive. I need you.

"I'll help finish the shit with the Gutierrez's account, but I know you already know what's going on. I've seen your work on stopping it. I can hand that over to you on a silver platter on Wednesday morning if you're so worried about that. Happy? Can I do this peacefully now?" He cocked his head.

He was putting on a brave face, but I saw the slight tremble in his hands as he worked on the wrap. He was fumbling, and it was the third time he had taken the thing off to redo his wrap. He was clearly tired from fighting. The bruises riddling his body did not symbolize glory. They screamed of torment and abuse.

I wish I did not have to pester him today, but I could not bear the thought of him getting murdered in the ring and it being passed off as an accident. It hurt me that he chose to do something so reckless.

He was not just my employee, and I knew this deep down. Jaxx knew it, too. It was a matter of accepting and saying it out loud.

"It's not just that," I swallowed a lump in my throat. I was already scrabbling for words, and that notorious cat was sitting on my shoulder, waiting to snatch my tongue when I needed it most.

"Then what is it?" He dropped his hands on his thighs and looked at me tiredly.

"It's just... I can't... Just don't do this, please. Jaxx told me that this game could cause you real harm." He groaned in frustration, and I almost face-palmed myself right after. 

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