MY GANGSTER CRUSH

Chapter Eight: Dangerous Distractions

The morning sun poured into the vast dining hall through the tall French windows, catching on the chandelier crystals so they scattered flecks of light across the polished mahogany table. Everything gleamed, silverware lined with military precision, plates of buttered croissants, eggs prepared by the chef just so, and an array of jams displayed like museum pieces. The smell of roasted coffee beans and warm bread filled the room, but for Ava, it all seemed distant, muted.

She sat perched in her usual spot, posture perfect, nightgown exchanged for a crisp white dress her mother insisted upon for mornings. Her father, rigid in his pressed suit, sat at the head of the table, already buried in the thick folds of his newspaper. Her mother, immaculate in silk, held her porcelain teacup with elegant fingers, her eyes cool and observant.

The silence was deafening, punctuated only by the faint clink of cutlery against china and the occasional rustle of newsprint. It was the kind of silence Ava had grown up with, a silence that demanded perfection.

But her fork hovered midair, her appetite long forgotten. The events of last night replayed in her head like an endless reel: Jace’s lips pressed against hers, the way his hand had lingered at her waist, the thrill of his voice whispering danger and desire into her ear. Her lips still tingled, her skin still burned, and her heart still thundered.

She stabbed at her food without realizing it, the fork scraping across her plate so loudly it made her flinch. Her mother’s sharp eyes lifted immediately, catching her.

“Something on your mind, Ava?” her mother asked, her tone deceptively light, but laced with suspicion.

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. She forced her lips into a polite smile, willing her cheeks not to betray her. “No, Mother. Just… thinking about schoolwork.”

Her father lowered his newspaper, his voice deep and commanding, resonating across the table like a gavel striking wood. “Then think less and eat more. You cannot afford distraction, Ava. Not if you want to live up to this family’s name.”

The weight of his gaze pinned her to her seat. Ava lowered her head immediately, murmuring, “Yes, Father.” She obediently raised a forkful of food to her mouth, though it tasted like ash on her tongue.

The rest of breakfast passed in oppressive silence, her thoughts screaming while her body moved mechanically.

By the time Ava reached school, she was still in a daze, walking through the bustling hallway with books clutched to her chest. Students moved around her in waves of chatter and laughter, but she barely registered any of it, until her gaze fell on him. He was leaning against a locker as if the entire school belonged to him, his dark hair falling carelessly into his eyes, a dangerous half-smile curving his lips. His plain black jacket looked out of place among the pressed uniforms, yet he carried himself with such raw confidence that he seemed untouchable.

Her breath hitched, cheeks flooding with warmth. She dropped her gaze immediately, fumbling with her books in a desperate attempt to look busy. But it was too late, his eyes had already found hers.

In just a few strides, he was in front of her. The air seemed to shift, charged, as he leaned closer, close enough for her to catch the faint scent of leather and smoke that clung to him.

“Morning, Princess,” Jace drawled, his voice low and teasing, sending shivers down her spine. “You look like you didn’t sleep a wink. Don’t tell me…” His smirk widened. “…you spent all night thinking about me?”

Ava’s cheeks burned crimson. She hugged her books tighter, trying to shield herself from his gaze. “Y-you shouldn’t be here,” she stammered.

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with mischief. “Funny. You don’t sound like you want me gone.”

“Jace, please”

“Still blushing from last night?” he interrupted smoothly, his eyes flicking down to her lips for a fraction of a second before returning to hers.

Her knees felt weak, her heart hammering so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “Stop…” she whispered, but the way her voice quivered gave her away, it wasn’t a plea for him to leave. It was the opposite.

Before she could crumble completely, the school bell rang shrill and insistent, echoing off the lockers. Students rushed past them, filling the hallway with noise again.

Jace lingered for one last moment, his eyes locking onto hers with a heat that made her breath catch. “Saved by the bell, Princess.” His smirk turned softer, almost intimate. “But don’t think you’ll get away from me that easily.”

And then, just like that, he was gone, slipping back into the sea of students, leaving Ava reeling, her skin tingling as if his presence still lingered.

The rest of the school day passed in a haze. Ava went through the motions, notes scribbled, questions answered, but none of it registered. Every second, she replayed his words, his smirk, the way his gaze seemed to strip her bare.

That evening, the dining room gleamed under the soft glow of the chandelier, the table once again set with dishes fit for royalty. Ava sat in her place, hands folded neatly in her lap, but her mind was far from the clinking of cutlery and the polite conversation her mother carried with her father.

Her phone buzzed softly in her lap. Her heart jumped. She slid it under the table, screen glowing.

Still thinking about me, Princess?

A smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it. She typed quickly, fingers trembling.

But her father’s voice cracked like a whip. “Ava.”

Her head shot up, nearly dropping her phone. His eyes locked on her, sharp and unforgiving. “Put. That. Away. This is family time. You will not disrespect this household with childish distractions.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “Sorry, Father.” She tucked her phone hastily into her pocket, bowing her head. Her mother’s eyes flicked toward her but remained unreadable, her face a perfect mask of control.

The rest of the meal dragged painfully. Ava chewed every bite with effort, swallowing against the lump in her throat. Her father continued talking—about business, politics, the family name—but she barely heard a word. Her mind was already upstairs, with her phone, with Jace.

When dinner finally ended, Ava excused herself quickly, her movements almost too eager. Her heart raced as she hurried to her room, closing the door behind her and locking it.

Her phone was already buzzing with a new message.

Don’t let Daddy scare you. You’re mine, Princess.

Ava pressed her lips together, her chest tightening as heat spread across her skin. Her fingers trembled as she typed back: You’re impossible. What if they had caught you last night?

The reply came almost instantly, as if Jace had been waiting just for her: Then I’d have stolen you away before they could touch you. You belong with me.

Her heart skipped. She curled deeper into her bed, the glow of the phone screen painting her face in the dimness. It was reckless. Dangerous. Unforgivable if her parents ever found out. And yet… her lips curved into a secret smile she couldn’t hold back.

Another message flashed across the screen.

Come see me tomorrow. My place. Don’t make me wait.

Her pulse leapt violently. She sat up straighter, staring at the words until they blurred. Every warning she’d ever been given, every rule, every stern look from her father, every polished lecture about perfection,vnone of it mattered in this moment.

What mattered was Jace. The way his voice made her shiver, the way his gaze made her feel seen and alive.

Her fingers hovered over the keys, her whole body caught between fear and exhilaration. She shouldn’t. She couldn’t. But her heart was already betraying her, racing toward him with no brakes. Ava took a breath, cheeks flushed, and whispered into the stillness of her room as if he could hear her:

“Yes.”