THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.

FIRT CASE.

Jace's P.O.V

It feels like she has been gone for forever. When the door opens, my eyes meet hers and, just like all the other times before, she is hard to read.

I see no additional bruises on her. That makes me feel better.

I know there is no getting out of it, no matter how hard I try. I was ready to give up my life, but I am not willing to see Amelia pay for my sins.

“Fine, I will work for you, but I have my conditions,” I say just before he walks out.

He walks back to where we are seated. “Let us hear them,” he says in a dismissive tone. I am in no position to negotiate, but I won’t go in without some precaution.

“You and everyone in your organization should stay away from my family,” he nods. “After three cases, you let Amelia go. She is no longer to be part of this,” he looks reluctant.

“That will depend on your performance,” he says. That seems reasonable enough. “Anything else?” he asks, shifting his position.

“Yes, the last one. I won’t work for the BLACKSWANS indefinitely. I want a contract. Eventually, when I am done, you let me go.” I know that is asking a lot, but I need to know there is a day I will be free again.

“That seems reasonable. But if you ever uncover the identity of Alex Carter, I will kill you. No one and nothing will be able to save you,” he threatens and I believe him.

“I have no intention of knowing what I shouldn’t,” I say as convincingly as I can. Honestly, the first thing I intended to do was uncover his identity.

“Good, since that is out of the way, let’s get to work,” he goes around me and cut the zip ties, freeing me.

I hate that I am leaving Amelia behind. I kneel before her, “I will come for you.” It is a promise I intend to keep.

She nods, but I am not sure if she believes me.

The mansion looks somehow bigger now, compared to the last time. “What is the first case?” I need to get out of here. “What is the rush?” I look back to the basement.

August catches me and smiles. “Ooh,” he says, as he walks me to an office. The office is huge; actually it seems everything in this damn place is exaggerated.

“One of my men was found in possession of three kilos of cocaine,” he says, going through his cabinets.

“And you want me to defend him?” I ask the obvious. He doesn’t answer. He continues looking for something, until he produces a file.

“Everything you need to know is in there?” he offers me a very thin file. I open it. It contains only the defendant’s name, Marcus Hayes, and the location where the drugs were found.

“This is everything?” I look up from the file. “That is everything you need to know,” I close the useless file.

“You think I can win a case with this?” He must be joking. “I have heard of you. You are a shark in a courtroom,” for the first time, I hear a tinge of respect in his voice.

“Thank you for the compliment, but this is not going to help me,” I put my hands inside my trouser pockets.

I stare at him, not willing to stand down. I don’t care if this Marcus Hayes goes to jail. But according to August, the freedom of Amelia hugely depends on how this case turns out.

“Fine, you can do your investigation. And I will tell my people to cooperate in case you have questions,” he gives in.“Good. Now can I leave?” I am thinking of seeing my mother and sister before heading to my office. “Yes. You will find your driver and bodyguards waiting for you,” he says, escorting me out.

“Do I really need bodyguards?” the number of men around the mansion seems to have increased. They all bow to him as we pass them, and give me death glares which I ignore.

“You work for the BLACKSWANS now. It comes with a lot of threats and dangers,” that makes me feel even worse.

Like he had said before, I find three brand-new cars waiting for me outside the mansion. There are ten guys outside waiting and that is excluding my driver. They bow to August.

I don’t know how I feel about being protected by people who clearly hate me. “He is an important asset. Keep him safe and alive,” he says, looking at them. “Yes Boss,” they answer in unison.

“Jace, you are free to ask any question regarding the case. But let me prepare you, some answers will not be pleasant to hear, and some may land you in serious trouble,” he warns me before taking a step back.

The answers he is guarding so fiercely are the answers I want. Eventually, I will need leverage against the BLACKSWANS and Alex Carter.

I watch August from the rearview mirror until we are out of the compound.

“Can we stop by some place first?” I am not sure what his orders are. “Of course, Sir. You are the one who tells me where to go?” he says respectfully.

We take the familiar road to Jack’s place. I leave my bodyguards assessing the surroundings for any dangers. “JACE!” Jenny is the first to notice me. She runs to me and I embrace her.

“Where have you been? We have been looking everywhere for you. Mom almost went crazy,” just then my mother enters the room.

She stands at the doorway in shock. I see her eyes welling up. She looks at me in disbelief. I walk to her. “I am so sorry,” I take her hands, which seem to snap her out of the shock.

She brings me in for a hug. I hear her sobbing, and my heart breaks. I had promised myself that I would never make her cry.“I can’t believe you are here,” she says, when she finally lets me go.

“I am, but I can’t stay for long,” my sister walks to where we are standing. “Why not? Are you in trouble?” she asks, concerned.

I cannot worry them anymore. “No. I just have to meet a client. I will send someone to bring you back to the city,” it is time that they resumed their lives too.

We talk for a short while before I head back on the road. I hate leaving them again, but the quicker I am done with this case, the faster we will reunite.

I have not been able to sleep because of all the unwanted excitement. I take the drive back to the city as an opportunity to take a nap.

“We are here, Sir,” I open my eyes. We are in the city, but in front of a large building I do not recognize. “You were supposed to take me to my office,” I say, rubbing my eyes. "This is it. It is the legal headquarters of the BLACKSWANS,” he explains.

Out of nowhere, a disheveled guy walks right into the car. He starts slapping the tinted windows of the car. He looks like he is high.

I open my door and get out. He runs to me and holds on to my arm. I try to free myself, but he won’t let go.“They are after me. They are going to kill me,” he is looking around like he is really afraid.

My bodyguards get out of their cars and two of them try pulling the crazy guy away. “Leave him,” I say to them. They reluctantly let him go.

“Who is after you? Who wants to kill you?” I ask, looking at his bloodshot eyes. “The BLACKSWANS.”