THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 269: REUNITED

Chapter 269: REUNITED

The bullet flew past Ace’s head, but he ducked before it could hit him.

On seeing this miss, Reign screamed out in frustration.

"Why won’t you just die?! Why won’t you just get hit and die forever?!" She screamed, and began to fire sporadically.

Ace stayed down until the shots stopped. Only then did he lift his head, and step out of the car.

"You shouldn’t have done that," Kings sneered sinisterly, and fired.

Ace managed to duck, but not before the bullet grazed his arms.

"Shit!" He cursed.

"Hopefully, that’s not your last prayer, because it sucks," Reign said, dragging her father’s gun.

She pointed it at Ace who was in pain, and held the trigger.

"You could have loved me. If you had, you wouldn’t have to die this wa—"

From his hunched position, he managed to fire.

The bullet didn’t reach the Kings, but it was enough to cause the distraction he needed.

"You bastard! Just die!"

She made to fire, when a car pulled, and four men jumped out of the car.

"Oh shit!" Reign cursed on recognizing officers Stevenson.

Kings knew it was now or never. Dragging the gun back from Reigns hand, he pointed it to Ace, and fired.

Officer Stevenson who was making his way to Ace, jumped in the way of the bullet.

He fell to the ground, just beside Ace.

In rage, Ace managed to straighten up, and fired directly at Kings.

The bullet hit him on the chest, the force sending him flying back.

"Father!" Reign called, as the three officers jumped on her.

"It’s over," Ace said, and fell beside officer Stevenson.

When Ace opened his eyes again, two men were standing beside him.

"Officer Stevenson?" He called first, trying to sit up.

"Hey, you need to rest," Alexander said. "God knows you’ve been through enough trauma."

"But how is he— You were—"

"Shot, I know. I was putting on a bulletproof vest. If you were patient enough to wait for me, we could have given you one too. I don’t know why you decided to face two heartless people with an endless supply of guns on your own. Anyway, you’re very lucky you were only grazed," officer Stevenson scolded him.

"He’s right, Ace. Your head injury has only healed. Because of all the trauma your body has had to endure, you’d need a whole lot of rest. I’m talking a whole lot. Not just physical, but also mental rest. Anyway, we had to bandage the bruise from the bullet graze. But you should be fine in give or take, two weeks," Alexander said.

"Thank you," Ace replied sincerely.

"Anytime." Alexander bobbed his head, before leaving them alone to talk.

"I have to ask you some questions before I return to the station. Are you up for it?"

"Sure." Ace nodded.

The officer finalized everything he needed to know, and was ready to go.

"Can I ask my own question now?"

Officer Stevenson smiled, already sensing that was coming.

"Sure Ace, go ahead."

"My mother, and Fay’s grandfather—"

"They’re safely at home," he smiled.

Ace released the breath he held before he asked that question.

It felt like every tensed muscle in his body suddenly relaxed.

"Lan did it," he muttered.

"You boys really need to let the cops do their work going forward. Anyway, it’s been good working with a ghost. I hope you take care of yourself henceforth. Landon will be here soon," the officer said, and tapped Ace’s shoulders in a fatherly way.

"Thank you officer," Ace said.

"Anytime."

He turned around, and walked out of the room.

Ace sighed as the door closed behind him. He couldn’t believe justice was just at the tip of his fingers.

Celine would go to court, and the case would be trialed.

With all the evidence he had, it wouldn’t take long for her to be thrown in jail for the rest of her miserable life.

He smiled, and slowly, drifted into sleep again.

The next time Ace opened his eyes, Landon was beside him.

"You stubborn fool. Are you ready to go home?" He asked.

Ace smiled brightly. "Let’s go," he replied.

Through the private exit, they walked out together to the private parking lot.

Landon led him to the car, and helped him go in. He then turned around, and went to the driver’s seat.

"You have one bandaged arm, and a bandaged head," he observed out loud, as if everyone else was blind.

"Yeah, kinda makes me a badass, don’t you think?" Ace smiled proudly.

"No shit, Ace, you have to promise to be more careful. I know you wanted vengeance by all means, but you can’t just go putting yourself in harm’s way," Landon said, not a trace of a smile on his face.

"I will. Common man, take me to my family. I want to see my mother."

"Just her?" Landon teased, as he started the car.

Ace laughed, as an image of Fay appeared in his head.

She had been the reason he had enough strength to overcome his fears, and traumas.

For her to have a safe life, he would face a thousand more guns.

He just wondered if she felt even half of what he felt for her.

"Hey, I have an idea," Ace suddenly said.

"What’s that?" Landon asked.

"Let’s stop by the finger food restaurant. We’ll get something for everyone at home," he said.

"That’s good, but I’ll do the buying. You’re not going public just yet."

"Well half of the City already suspects I’m alive anyway. But if you insist." He shrugged.

"Yeah, I do. Besides, with your bandaged hand, and head, you’re practically useless."

Ace hissed harshly through his teeth, causing Landon to chuckle.

Thirty minutes later, Landon drove into the Atticus mansion.

He stepped out, and went to open the door for Ace.

"Daddy!" Ace heard the second he stepped out.

He saw little feet running his way, and his heart swelled with adoration.

Despite the slight sting in his hand, he picked Dream up from the ground, and hugged her tightly.

In a split second, the entire family had gathered around Ace, hugging, crying, and welcoming him home.

Upstairs, Fay sat beside Gabrielle in her room.

"Your grandfather did everything to protect me, even if we were both in a difficult position. He’s a good man, Fay," Gabrielle said, grabbing her hand.

"He is. I’m truly just glad you both came out fine. I almost lost my mind when I heard what happened. I had to come out by all means to find a solution."

"Cam told me it almost led to your death. That you almost burned, but he wouldn’t tell me the full story. I feel like something is being hidden from me, and I don’t know why. If only Ace was alive. I mean what’s the point of returning from the kidnappers den, when there’s only emptiness awaiting me? You know when Celine mentioned Ace was alive, somewhere deep down, I hoped it was true. I just—"

The door opened, and Ace walked into the room.

Gabrielle, and Fay’s eyes went to the door at the same time.

Fay was the first to gasp. No one had told her Ace was coming in tonight.

Her eyes went to his bandage, and her heart dropped.

"What ha—"

"Ace!" Gabrielle screamed, shaking her head in disbelief.

Ace sniffled, as he walked to the bed. He stopped just at its foot, and smiled.

"Hey mum."

Gabrielle forgetting the pain her body was in, jumped to her feet, and pulled Ace for a hug.

She broke into a wail as she hugged him.

"I thought that bitch was lying. She said you were alive, and I slapped her for daring to lie on your name. But you’re alive. My baby is alive."

She pulled away, and grabbed his face filled with facial hair in her pale hands.

"What happened to you? Your head? Even your hand? Who did all of this to you?" She cried, hugging him again.

Fay felt like she was intruding, and slowly, walked out of the room so they could be alone for a while.

She went straight to his childhood room she was staying in, and shut the door behind her.

Resting her back against the door, she burst into tears.

He had gone after the Kings again on his own, and they had hurt him. They had hurt him again.

She slid down, and as her butt touched the ground, she continued to cry.

Celine had said she shouldn’t have returned.

Maybe if she hadn’t, Ace wouldn’t be as hurt as he was.

"I’m so sorry," she whispered, as she sobbed silently.

Moments later, she was still in that position when she heard a soft rapt on the door.

"I want to be alone," she said, loud enough for whoever was behind the door to hear.

"It’s me, Fay. It’s Ace."

She jumped to her feet before he could even finish announcing his presence, and opened the door.

"How could you go after them!" She screamed at him, as he stepped into the room and shut the door behind.

"I asked Leighton to call. I knew you were going to go, so I begged her to call, so I could beg you not to go. Is your life that meaningless? Do you love bullets that much? Look at your arms. You’ve not even removed the bandage in your head, and now you have to wear one on your hand? Don’t you love your life, Ace Atticus?" She queried in tears.

Ace observed her silently. She was one to talk, having almost burned to her death because of him and his crazy family.

"Fay?"

"Don’t Fay me! I was so scared. You had no idea how scared I was. I watched you tussle with Celine. That wasn’t enough, you went after the Kings. Do you know how—"

He closed the gap between them, and pulled her into his body.

"I’m so sorry," he whispered, as he hugged her like his life depended on her touch.