Page 28 of King of Hearts

Jason

WE NEED TO TALK

It’s been two days since that text made my heart drop, and I’ve done my best to avoid Eve in the meantime. Now, as I race down the freeway to Clover to meet with her, I feel the guilt of this week’s events weighing heavy on my shoulders. The fight at the house, the way I handled myself with that woman on my table, snapping at Ace and Jack: perhaps this will be my chance to apologize for it all.

The parking lot is empty, except for the handful of cars scattered in the VIP lot on the side of the building. I recognize Maya, Eve and Ace’s cars, along with a handful of maintenance vehicles. Pulling up next to Eve’s spot, I step out onto the asphalt and brush the front of my suit. The dark, crimson fabric glows under the moonlight as I walk up to the front and open the door. Silence greets me: loud, deafening silence as I let the door swing shut behind me and look towards the bar. Ace is behind the counter, chatting with Jack as Maya and Eve sit side by side on the stools across from them, their backs to me.

“Ahem,” I clear my throat as I make my way over. Eve turns to face me and I nearly trip over myself. As she rises from her seat, my eyes devour the sight of tight white lace clinging to her every curve, leaving precious little to the imagination. Her red pumps are paired perfectly with the color of her lips as the curls of her hair cascade over her shoulders, framing her face in fire.

It takes everything in me to resist the urge to bend her over the bar and take her in front of everyone.

“Hi handsome,” she says, her arms extended towards me as I embrace her and kiss the top of her head.

“Hello princess,” I whisper into her hair before backing up to marvel at her. “You look absolutely incredible. I swear I’m the luckiest man alive.”

As I smile at her, I look up over her shoulder at Ace and Jack, and notice Jack scoff slightly and turn to walk down the length of the bar. A growl rumbles in my throat as I tighten my grip on Eve’s arms before sliding one hand around the small of her back and bringing her in close against me.

“Easy killer,” she says as she laughs dryly and tries to push herself against my chest. “No need to get possessive. We all know who the King is around here!”

My neck cracks as I snap my face down to hers.

“I don’t appreciate that tone,” I mutter through clenched teeth. “And I especially don’t appreciate being placated.”

Eve’s smile fades as she swallows and nods.

“Hey man, why don’t you come sit down?” Ace chimes in from the back, sliding a couple empty glasses along the bar in my direction. “Let’s all talk and have a drink, eh?”

My upper lip curls in a sneer as I release Eve and walk around her to the empty barstool, aware of Maya’s eyes tracking my every step. Eve takes her seat next to Maya, tossing her hair over her shoulder and

“No warm welcome, Maya?” I toss the words her way without so much as turning my head, and she shifts in her seat.

“I’m still a little bitter over the bruises you left on Eve’s neck…or have you forgotten?”

Her words are like ice, sharp and cold, thrown in my direction with harmful intent. Of course Maya would feel a certain way about a man leaving marks on a woman, but who is SHE to tell me what I can and cannot do in my relationship? With MY partner?

“I should’ve known that Eve would have told you everything by now.” I reach across the bar to grab at a bottle of whisky, but as my fingers brush the cool, perspiring glass, Ace swoops in and yanks the bottle from my grasp.

“Nah, we’re not drinking this tonight,” he says as he sets it on the counter behind him and reaches for a bottle of Macallan single malt. “THIS is the GOOD shit. The very best in aged scotch.”

I watch him pour, aware of Jack moving silently around the bar to come up behind Maya. As Ace finishes and I bring the glass to my lips, I pivot to face Jack and raise my glass to him.

“Cheers, man,” I say as I drain my cup, keeping my eyes on Jack. He looks at me, dips his chin slightly and sets his glass on the bar.

“Jason, Eve didn’t tell us shit. We saw the footage from your house,” Jack says as he steps around Maya and Eve, putting his hand on Eve’s shoulder. “Eve has done nothing but think about you, and putting you first.”

My stomach clenches at the sight of Jack’s hand on her shoulder: Eve sees this and smiles up at Jack as she gently removes his hand.

“Jace, baby, we all wanted to meet up with you to talk about our future together,” Eve says, rising and coming to perch herself on my lap. “I love you, and I want you to be happy. So tell me, what is it you want?”

I wrap my arm around her and look up at her face. Those deep emerald eyes peer down at me, her full lips parting slightly as she exhales gently. She curls into my arm and kisses my forehead as I smile against her arm.

“I want you, Eve. I’ve only ever wanted you. And I know they know it, too.” I motion towards the other members of the Suits. “They’ve known me for a long time, and they’ve been my family for years. But I didn’t know what family was until meeting you.”

Eve looks down at me with a touch of sadness in her eyes, and my brows furrow.

“Did I say something wrong?” I ask as she rises from my lap, my arm sliding from her waist. She reaches over to the bar to grab her drink and turns to face me, a small smile playing on her lips.

“No Jace, not at all,” she says as she sips her drink.

“I disagree,” Maya chimes from her seat. “Eve talks about how you helped to open her up and embrace her true self. How she loves you for that. Isn’t that basically the same thing we did for you? We took you in, removed your mask and gave you a place to be yourself. HE treated you like a son, HE gave you everything, and now you want to leave it all behind? Leave US behind?”

Maya’s mention of the old King of Hearts stops me in my tracks. I haven’t heard her talk about him in years, and I can tell by the cracks in her voice that she’s speaking from the heart.

“Maya, of all people I would’ve thought YOU would be supportive of me wanting a normal life.”

Ace shuffles behind the bar, pouring me another drink and sliding the glass towards me.

“J, you know there can be no normal life.”

His words hang in the air as we all shift our attention towards him.

“I’ve tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, seeing how much you care about Eve, but you KNEW the rules of this when you agreed to become our new King. There is no ‘out,’ there is no ‘leaving’...there is only the group. Only the Suits. Everything–everyONE else–comes second.”

I look over at Eve, her lips pursed as she sips her drink and glances my way.

“Jason, I never wanted you to change for me. I fell in love with you for who you are, for what you are, and now you want to try and have a normal life together? What is that going to look like? A house with a white picket fence? Kids? What kind of parents can we be to a child when we spend our lives covered in blood? When you choke out the woman you claim you love more than anything?”

I chug my drink angrily, hissing at the sting as I slam my glass on the table.

“We would be amazing parents! I would do whatever it takes to make my family happy, you just have to give me the chance!”

I rise from my seat and step towards Eve, nearly losing my balance and grabbing the bar top for stability. Jack takes a step towards us, positioning himself behind Eve and my lips curl in a sneer.

“You don’t always have to protect her, you know! That’s MY job!” I shout at Jack as I wrap my arm around Eve’s torso. I don’t care if I seem belligerent, I’m done with people telling me what they think is best for me, or what I can and cannot handle.

Eve shifts in my grip, turning to face me as I blink the fog out of the corners of my eyes.

Man that scotch is some strong shit.

“Jason…I want you to know that I do love you,” she says softly as she turns her head to kiss my arm. My head is swimming, and as I lean back against the bar top, she stands and takes my face in her hands.

“Everything I do has always been for you. You helped me to accept who I really am, and for that I’ll always be grateful. You once told me you were willing to leave the Suits behind, to leave THIS life behind, for me. For US.”

Sick. I feel sick. My face scrunches while I fight to keep from vomiting, my vision clouding as I try to focus on Eve’s face.

“I’ll do anything for you,” I slur as I slouch onto a barstool, the strength in my legs failing as I feel my knees crash into the floor. Black is flooding my vision and I fight to maintain consciousness.

Eve looks down at me with a small smile before kneeling beside me.

“There’s just one thing I need you to do,” she whispers before I pass out.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The faint sound of Maya’s voice echoes softly through my ears, as if she’s speaking from far away. Slowly I blink my eyes only to be met with more blackness. Soft, slightly sheer blackness…and the smell of fabric softener.

What the hell?

“We all agreed, there’s no going back now. He made his choice, just as we made ours.”

Jack. Jack’s voice sounds closer, and as I move to sit up, I feel something holding me back. I try to lift my arm, only to find it bound to my side. I shift my weight and feel a hard, cool surface at my back. I inhale deeply, and that’s when I smell it. The all-too familiar smell of steel, copper, and death.

“What the FUCK is going on!?” I yell as I jerk my body from side to side, feeling all of my limbs bound and tethered to the table. I can feel something on my face, sliding slightly back and forth as I thrash, and it takes me half a heartbeat to recognize the familiar feeling of polished leather and elastic wrapping above my temples.

My mask. I’m wearing my mask.

“Yeah but to broadcast it? Do you really think his regulars are going to stand for this?” Maya continues to speak, ignoring my cries as I hear shuffling around me.

“The people won’t care. As much as they say they’re here for justice, they’re just here to satisfy some sick urge to see death firsthand. It doesn’t matter who is on the table.”

Ace’s words are enough to still my struggle: I will my body to go still as I try to catch my breath. It isn’t until then that I hear a voice speak out from next to me. Soft. Cold. Emotionless. A voice I’ve grown to love, now void of any warmth and humanity. A voice that I feel is going to be the last thing I hear.

“Shall we begin, then?”