The Bodyguard

33. (m)

"What are you thinking about?"

The next day rolled around faster than the two of them were expecting.

When you're so wrapped up in someone, time moved startlingly quick.

Come afternoon, they'd snuck through the hotel and ended up at a random bar a couple blocks away. It wasn't discreet or private, but neither of them cared. They were far too focused on the other person.

Ace sat in the spinning bar stool, Jasper between his legs and his hands resting lazily on Jasper's hips. They'd quickly learned it was Ace's favorite spot to hold on his body. Whenever he'd reach out for Jasper, it was the first place he went — so natural and familiar.

The guard watched as Jasper took a sip of his drink before setting it down with a sigh. A couple bruises peeked through his jacket collar whenever he stretched his neck. Ace didn't need to tell Jasper how much he loved seeing those marks on his body.

"You really want to know?"

The bar patrons droned on around them — paying them no mind. Jasper thought the dim lighting made Ace look especially handsome.

"Of course."

"Okay," Jasper shrugged. "I'm thinking about killing my mother."

"Jasper—"

"Stop," he interrupted. "I know what you're going to say. No revenge."

"Exactly."

"I can't just let it go, Ace," Jasper argued. "I can't. I won't."

Ace understood his frustration first hand, because he felt it probably ten times over. However, it would be like bringing a knife to a gunfight to retaliate against Karla.

Neither of them had the resources nor the power.

"I know," Ace nodded. "I know how you're feeling. I'm angry too, but it's not worth it."

"If I could just come up with a plan. Someway to expose her-"

"No."

"You're not listening to me," Jasper huffed. "If we discredit her then she'll lose the election and that will be enough retaliation to last me a lifetime."

"Jasper, no," Ace said more sternly this time and Jasper gave him an incredulous look. "No amount of retaliation is worth it. Not if she hurts you in the process."

"So we just let her get away with it?"

"If it keeps you safe, then yes."

"And what about you, Acen?" Jasper exasperated. "Huh? What happens if she threatens you with something else — gives you another ultimatum? We just let her? I don't want to be afraid of her."

"Maybe you should be," Ace sighed. "I don't trust her not to hurt you, okay? She won't ask me to do anything else for her."

"How do you know that?"

"I don't. Not entirely, but I know this is what she wants, okay?" Ace sighed, ran one hand through his hair.

"She's betting on me telling you. She wants your retaliation. If you do, she'll know that I told you and that gives her all the more reason to hurt you. She already knows that we're—"

"You told her about us?"

"Of course not," Ace reassured. "But she suspects. I denied it, obviously."

Jasper met Ace's eyes, his jaw clenched and he looked to be in deep thought.

Inside, he knew that Ace was right — his mother was probably waiting for Jasper to act out, so she had a valid reason to cut him out of her life for good.