ACE's Point of View

The air was heavy, and none of us could really talk without choking. We left the warehouse as soon as the doctor, who happened to be Vince, allowed us to take Jacob to the 'hospital'. 

We exited the main highway, and the streetlights were now few and far between. The road started to narrow until the cement came to a complete halt, and we continued on a dirt road. There were a few electric posts but no streetlights, so we continued to drive in darkness save for our headlights.

"Ace, bro, will you be all right?" Chino looked at me worriedly as we drove to another warehouse that Beau owned. We would meet there and put an end to all of this. Jaxx was seated behind the driver's seat, closely watching a sedated Jacob strapped at the back of Jaxx's SUV behind the passenger seat. The plan was to go to the warehouse and him with Brigs. 

Just before the ninth round, the admiral showed up and told us to finish the game. We were running out of time, so Jaxx conceded to injecting Jacob with a cocktail mix of sedatives I got from Vincent. 

Chino convinced the decent doctor it was for the greater good because he was also against the idea. As luck would have it, they were friends from college, and Vincent owed Chino many favors from the crazy things he put our friend through.

"I have to be. I can't face Beau pale and sick and looking like he could just flick his finger at me and I'd die in an instant," I sighed.

"You better get your shit together, Ace. I'm too fucking tired to put up with his bullshit. And I'm really worried about Jake. Are you sure that Vincent guy gave us the right dose?" Jaxx complained. I could understand his agitation, but I was just too spent to reassure him.

"Oh wait, he's waking up!" Jacob moaned while Jaxx and I stared at him expectantly. However, he just fell back to sleep. His breaths were deep and steady.

"I guess it was the right dose," I murmured. "Jesus, where is this place?"

"It's in the gates of hell, that's where," Chino replied without humor, his grip over the steering wheel tightening.

"Don't you have an extra shirt in this car?" I asked Jaxx as I looked at the shirtless, knocked-out man beside him, bothered that he might get hypothermia from the full blast air conditioning.

"I'm wearing it. This guy lived in London. Nineteen degrees is a warm sunny day for him," Jaxx reassured. "At least he has his trainers on."

Five minutes later, Jacob regained consciousness and was about to start round ten at the backseat when both Jaxx and I subdued and calmed him down. We explained what just happened and told him that we had to meet Beau at his designated spot.

I told him I knew that he was being blackmailed. I knew what he did and how he blocked the hacker. All the information he wanted was in a hard drive, but it was also equipped to erase all data itself with one wrong entry. And I made sure they would make that mistake. Everything was in a hard drive. All he had to do was hand it over to Beau in exchange for Brigs.

The part of the hard drive in exchange for Brigs was a lie, of course. Beau wanted Jacob and the hard drive. 

But we could not tell him that, not yet. I know it will hurt him, and I don't know if he will ever forgive me or if he would give me the chance to explain. But this was all a necessary sacrifice to get everyone out alive – Jacob, Brigs, Jaxx, Chino, and maybe even Carlo.

"You complete and utter git! You could have just told me about this beforehand. Then we did not have to beat the daylights out of each other!" Jacob groaned.

"I wanted to tell you that afternoon at the gym, but you would not listen," I interjected.

"You could have tried harder, Ace," his cold blue eyes were now on me, accusing and hurting.

If he only knew what would happen soon. Me not telling him about the plan was nothing compared to what's to come. The hurt in those eyes would crush me for sure. Therefore, I made a mental note not to look at him when the inevitable would happen. I just hope I can hold a straight face and finish the job.

"We had to fight, you moron, and it had to be realistic. People paid big money on both of us, including Beau and Alvaro," Jaxx rolled his eyes at him.

"Well, you didn't have to break my damn rib to prove that bloody point," Jacob hissed and placed a hand over his right side. I sighed and faced the windshield again. I could not stand seeing him in pain. Both he and Jaxx looked like shit with all the cuts and bruises.

"I meant that one. That was for being a complete asshole, for doing that thing I said earlier in the cage," Jaxx replied casually, and Jacob just sighed.

"So, did you win?" Jacob asked, breaking the silence. After all that has happened, it was his concern?

"Alvaro did," Jaxx replied. "But I'm going to ask for a rematch when this is all over. Then, we could just play without a ransom hanging over our heads."

"I'd like that," the other guy chuckled. 

These fighters were idiots, both of them. I shook my head.

After another ten minutes of driving, we found the abandoned warehouse where we were to do the exchange.

There were two warehouses with the closer one badly weathered down. Some of the roof panels were dilapidated, the wall cladding was visible underneath the missing endwall covering, and several of the translucent panels were broken. There was a single lamp outside what I presume was the front near the roof, lighting the entrance. The roll-up door was halfway up. The identification 'MSI-15' outside the wall panels was still visible but was also chipping off, but this was where Beau instructed us to meet. 

"Are you sure about this? This entire thing is screaming 'trap'. I seriously would think twice before stepping inside that warehouse," Chino said as he looked around. 

There were several Jeeps and SUVs with temporary plates, all heavily tinted. I would not be surprised if each of those were bulletproof and held hoodlums waiting to jump us.

"We have no choice, A. If we don't do this, they're going to come after us and make sure each one of us is dead, including your cousin. Let's just hope everyone will keep his end of the bargain," I sighed, calculating the risk that we were taking.

"I doubt Beau will," Jacob mumbled but opened the door and stepped out. The rest of us followed. 

He almost fell when he took the first step on the rocky path, but I caught him. His arm went around my shoulder while one of mine wrapped around his waist and the other landed on his chest. On a regular day, it would have been normal. But not tonight. Not between the two of us. 

His heart raced against my palm. I could smell the faint pine forest musk underneath the sweat and blood. When I looked up, our faces were inches apart. His breath was on my cheek. Despite the dimness, the fear, pain, and sadness were visible in the dark blue ocean of his eyes.

I opened my mouth to say something, but he engulfed me in a tight embrace like it would be the last time. His heartbeat was strong against my chest. Did he feel the thuds of mine against his?

But I was dumbstruck. I refused to acknowledge that it would be the last time. We would get out of this alive. I know we would. If everything will go as planned, we all will.

The crunching of the gravel stopped. After a few moments, Jaxx cleared his throat, and Jacob let me go half-heartedly. Jaxx walked to his other side, and we both steadied him while Chino was a few steps behind us. 

They say when you're about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. That happened when I thought I was going to meet my maker during that football match we had in El Valle. But not tonight. I was sure someone was going to end up hurt tonight. My sixth sense told me. But as I was mulling about it, my life didn't flash before me.

Instead, four of the biggest regrets I had flashed through my mind, making my heart even heavier.

I regret ever involving my friends in this murderous vortex, Chino especially. He had nothing to do with this. I was just so fucking careless with that thumb drive.

I regret not telling Jaxx what we all believed was his right to know. I regret keeping that secret and breaking his trust.

I regret denying what I felt for Jacob. I regret how long it took me to accept it. I had a feeling I was not entirely straight even before, but I could not come to terms with it. Now, it's going to cost me the one person I care deeply for.

I regret being blinded by my irrational behavior towards Jacob. Because of it, I did not get to know him more; I did not let him explain. I did not give him the benefit of the doubt. If I did, perhaps things did not have to end this way.

I prayed silently to the Almighty, who I hope was listening to me that time. I hoped He heard my prayer. I hoped He'll agree to it.

Lord, I really hope you're with us right now. I have no idea if what we're doing is the morally upright thing. I do know it isn't safe. But Jaxx was on the nail when he said sitting back and letting innocent people die wasn't right. 

So, I'm asking for your help on this one, Big Guy. Please, as much as you can, keep every one of my friends safe.

Even if this plan goes south --and I have a feeling it will -- please just keep all of us safe. Let Jacob return home safely. Let Jaxx take care of his mom. She needs him. He has to live. Chino has to get out of this alive, too. He isn't supposed to be part of this.

If anyone has to die, please, let it be me. I have nothing much to lose. Jaxx can take care of JAB. My parents have Harris and Cole. I'm not married. I don't have a kid. Hell, I don't even have a dog. 

Oops, was it okay to say 'hell' when I'm talking to You? 

Anyway, if we get fucked by the fickle finger of fate, let that stray bullet hit the stupid cat on my shoulder that's always stealing my tongue. But if you have to take a real person home, I volunteer. 

This is all I ask. Pick me.

♤   ♡  ♧  ♢