Page 8 of Ace of Spades

Lately, I feel like I’ve been letting everybody down.

I turn to face him. "Don't you go run and hide," he says. "I need you here. This place is you and King's baby. You two need to want this more than me."

Wasour baby. It was. When we were two ex-soldiers ready to take on life in the civilian world.

But so many other things have demanded attention from my best friend and I. I just happen to be the only one around at the moment to have to deal with this particular project. The only one around to answer for it.

Letting out a sigh, I push the back door open, stepping out into the cool night. Out here the music isn't quite as loud. Which gives me just enough space to actually think.

There's a small group of partygoers standing around smoking cigarettes as they shiver, laughing about something I don't pick up on.

Joey, our rookie mechanic, is amongst them holding court as he usually does and he lifts his chin in my direction, but doesn't stop talking.

I nod in return but don’t engage.

My fingers twitch, the old craving sparking to life at the sight of their cigarettes. The urge is quick and sharp.

But no more cheap fixes.

No more numbing out just to get through the day.

That man is gone. He's buried beneath mountains of responsibilities, expectations, and people whoneedme to be stronger than my worst impulses.

Exhaling slowly, I push the temptation down and round the corner to the alley next to my shop. Immediately, I regret letting my brother convince me to have this ridiculous party here.

A woman with fiery red hair framed by blonde streaks on either side of her face shoves a guy that just ran his fingers over her cheek.

Another guy stands off to the side of them keeping guard. His eyes are now glued on me.

"Oh, come on, gorgeous. You get two of us," the creep motions toward his friend. "Promise we'll make it worth your time," the man croons.

Scratch that—boy—notman.

He reaches for her again and without a second thought she slaps him across the face hard.

The sound even has the small group around the corner looking this way. I motion for them to head inside. Joey rounds them up and they scram.

"I said no," she says sternly. Her voice not wavering in the least.

"Hey!" I yell out, dropping the trash bag. The other guy now turns to me and I get a good look at the woman they're harassing.

Green eyes flare as she swallows, arms coming up to her chest as she crosses them.

I slip my hands into my pockets as I approach them, counting to ten like my therapist taught me to do so many years ago.

If I don't put my hands away, they'll go flying right into their faces and I don't know if I'll be able to stop once I start. History’s proven as much.

"Well, look who we have here," the dickhead that got slapped says, rubbing his cheek.

"These boys bothering you, Miss?" I say to her, completely ignoring him.

"What's it to you, old man?" The other jerk says with a sneer.

I look at the gangly teen down my nose. "I wasn't talking to you, kid."

Unfortunately, I know exactly who this piece of shit is. I went to school with his dad. I wonder what the Breaker's Isle Police Chief would think if he saw who his son is now running around town with.

The woman angrily shoves her way out from behind them and starts down the alley and beyond the back gate without another word.

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