Ace of Spades ( Mc No limits Book 2)
Chapter 3

Ace

I didn't know what seemed worse, her crying at night or what she was going through during the day. Whatever those bastards gave her left her body, and she reacted very badly to everything around her. I heard her vomiting so many times, and her crying was torture. Mother was with her during the day, and Alice and Ivy often came too. I then had time to get some sleep or just rest. But my thoughts were always with her. During the night, I sat in front of the house as promised and kept watch. Since she has been here, she's barely spoken and barely eaten, but I knew it wouldn't be easy. The whole situation is very difficult, and I'm aware that she needs professional help. Now it was important to get her trust so we could then give the help that she really needs. Adding another doctor or therapist might be too much, so Doc kept an eye on her.

He cared for her wounds and tried to do this quickly as best he could because she was very upset every time he came to her. He was never alone with her; Mom or Alice were always with them, but she seemed to stay calmest around Ivy. I think it's because of the way she threatened Doc that he should be careful or she'll beat him up. I had to laugh every time he comes, and I hear her threatening him.

Music also played a big role, and I often heard her playing music on the radio that Mom brought her. Alice wanted to bring her a phone so she could use it to listen to music, but she refused.

I watched King and Ivy disappear into their house and shook my head laughing. He was happy, and Ivy was a good woman for him, accepted and loved by everyone.

"It's broken," I heard a soft, quiet voice say behind me, and I turned around, confused. The woman stood in front of the door and looked at me sadly as she held the radio in her hand. She had a huge shirt on that went to her knees so as not to put additional strain on her scars.

"Can I see?" I asked her as I slowly came to the door. She held out the radio to me and took a few steps back with her head bowed. Apparently, Mom was able to persuade her to take a shower because standing in front of me was a young woman with long hair and skin that wasn't smeared with dirt. "I think the battery is empty," I said as I tried to turn on the radio and it was only faintly audible. Her face seemed to be in panic as she stared from me to the radio.

"I didn't want to break it," she said in a panic.

"It's okay doll, the batteries run out over time. We just have to change them, and you'll have your music again," I explained to her. She looked questioningly from the radio to me as she rubbed her hands together nervously.

"I think there are batteries somewhere in the kitchen...should I check...can I come in?" I asked her.

She looked nervously from the door to the kitchen and back to me.

"Or you can look for yourself...it's your house now," I said to her to calm her down. She studied my face and the kitchen again before taking a step towards the kitchen. "Can you look?...I...I'm afraid of the dark," she said quietly. She's afraid of the dark...I just nodded and slowly came into the house. She stood a few steps away from me and watched my every move. "There should be batteries somewhere here," I explained to her as I opened all the drawers. The only place I hadn't looked yet was the storage room, and when I opened the door, I saw a little mouse that startled me. I am a man who has seen and experienced a lot, but small crawling animals that run past me with precise speed were not for me. My reaction must have looked pretty ridiculous because I heard her laughing behind me. Not a forced laugh, but a loud, heartfelt laugh. If that's what it takes to make her feel better, then a mouse running around me would be worth it. "It's not funny doll, they're pretty fast," I said as I turned to her laughing. Her face beamed, and for a brief moment, I saw no fear in her eyes. "Nora.." she said still smiling. "My name is Nora."

"It's nice to meet you Nora. My name is Andrew, but everyone calls me Ace," I said, smiling.

"I like Andrew more," she replied.

"Then you can call me that," I encouraged her. "Here are the batteries," I said to her as I went into the storage room. Her smile seemed even bigger as I turned the radio back on and handed it back to her.

"May I ask you something?" I heard her ask shyly.

"Whatever you want doll," I answered her.

"Ivy told me we are in California...Las Flores. I...May I...The community...May I see it?" she asked me anxiously.

Since I knew it was already late, and almost everyone was in their houses, she wouldn't run into anyone to scare her.

"Sure you can. You're not caught up here Nora. You can leave the house whenever you want," I explained to her and went back to the door. I watched her as she turned off the radio next to the door and laid it down. She took a few steps on the porch and kept turning to the door and then to me. "Do you want me to accompany you?" I asked her, and she just looked at me. "It's ok Nora, I'm happy to do it," I said to calm her down.

She nodded her head, and I walked a few steps in front of her. At first, she seemed scared and kept turning towards the house, but when I started talking about the community, she listened to me. She caught up with me and walked next to me as I talked, and she even followed my finger as I showed her the buildings I was talking about.

We walked down the street to the gate, and I explained our security measures.

"Who do we have here?" said one of the prospects when he noticed Nora at the gate.

"Are you kidding me? You're not talking to her! You're not breathing into her, and you're not even looking at her! Get your ass in your seat right now before I rip your head off!" I called out to him when he didn't see me and turned on Nora. What the hell is he thinking about her being one of the Club Rotters?!

"I'm sorry, Ace. I didn't know she was with you," the boy replied and took a few steps back. Nora hid behind me as I reprimanded the prospect, and I turned to her as I asked, "You good?"

Her eyebrows narrowed, and the fear in her eyes was clear.

"It's ok, he's not doing anything," I said reassuringly. She looked from me to the boy who was already walking away and back to me. "I got you, okay?" I added reassuringly.

She nodded and took a step back. Her small hands that had touched me a moment ago held the shirt she was wearing, and she looked nervously at the floor. "Bruce...give me a damn blanket from the guardhouse," I called behind me, and the prospect ran to bring it to me. "I'm really sorry miss," he said as he handed me the blanket, and I just stared at him. When he left again, I turned to her she was watching him and then the blanket. When I put it around her, she looked from my arms to my eyes. Her face seemed relieved, and she looked at me with those cognac-colored eyes.

"You got me," she said quietly.

I just smiled at her and nodded, "I got you, doll."

My fear was another panic attack, but that didn't happen. She followed me as I went back towards the safe house and didn't say anything. "Thank you, Andrew," was the only thing she said as she went back into the house and closed the door on me.

When I went to the house again around evening the next day, I heard mom talking to her.

"Please honey...you have to eat something," I heard mom begging. Shortly afterward, Mom came down the stairs and lit a cigarette. "She doesn't want to eat...I don't know what to do," she said to me frustrated. I looked from mom to the plate and took it from her hand. Mom followed me up the stairs and called after me. After knocking, I came into Nora's room and placed the plate in front of her.

"Eat!" I said, and Mom stood next to me in shock. "Ace darling..." mom started, but I interrupted her. "Listen Nora if you don't eat then I'll take the batteries, and we definitely won't go out together again," I said to Nora who just looked at me. Mom stared questioningly from me to Nora, who took the plate in her hand. She started to eat and glared at me. "Happy Andrew?" Nora asked as she began to chew.

I crossed my arms over my chest and just watched her. "She told you her name?" I heard mom ask in surprise. I looked from mom to her who was still staring at Nora.

"I'm sorry, Evelyn," she said shyly.

"Oh honey, you don't have to be sorry. I'm just so happy that you're starting to trust us," I heard mom reply. Mom's eyes were full of tears, and she held back her emotions as she looked at me proudly.

"You damn well eat this now," I said to Nora, who just looked at me with narrowed eyebrows as she chewed.

"If you eat all of it I'll show you what real music is...promise," I said in much softer tones. Nora looked at me questioningly as she didn't understand what I meant. "I'll be back in 10 minutes. Once you've eaten everything, I'll play you whatever you want...ok?" I asked, and she nodded, confused.

When I came back from my room with my guitar, I saw the empty plate and my mother's proud face. "So what should I play?" I asked as I sat down on the chair next to her bed. She just looked from my face to the guitar confused, so I started playing to calm her down. As I started to sing, I looked at her, and her face seemed relieved, calmed if not even happy. She just watched me, and her eyes slid from my fingers to my eyes again and again. When I looked up at her after a few songs, she was sleeping, and mom nodded towards the door, so I followed her out. "I can't believe it, Ace," she whispered excitedly.

"I have to talk to King. Take care of her until I get back," I said to mom, and she nodded happily. I didn't get around to it sooner, but at least now I know her name, and Tom might get his answers.