Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) by Michelle Iannarelli Page A

and her father were sitting waiting for the police officers to call her in and take her statement. Her father had his arm around her.
    Ace was walking down the hall looking for Chace when he saw Lucy and the Chief. He didn’t really want to see Lucy but he wanted to know why they were there and if she was alright.
    “Chief, is everything ok?”
    Chief Jenkins looked up at Ace but Lucy didn’t.
    “Lucy had some trouble with Tom this morning and we are here to give a statement.”
    “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do for you, Chief?”
    “You could kill the son of a bitch for hitting my daughter.”
    “Lucy, he hit you?”
    She just nodded her head.
    “Show him your face, Dear.”
    Lucy looked up and Ace’s stomach knotted when he saw how bruised it was. His first instinct was to grab Lucy and hold her tight but then the anger kicked in. How could Tom do that to sweet, little Lucy?
    “My God, Lucy, I’m sorry.”
    “Thank you.”
    Lucy cuddled herself back up against her father.
    “I’m going to get going, call me if you need anything.”
    “Thank you. I will see you later.”

S HANE WAS PACING BACK and forth. He was minutes away from stepping into the cage and for the first time he suddenly didn’t feel confident about winning. Declan was his focus and he wasn’t there.
    “Ready to go out there and make us proud, Shane?”
    “Ace, I’ve never felt so off before a fight. Dec, he always to taped my hands and then he would mentally prepare me for my fight. He could make me focus. I could barely make it through the weigh in without him.”
    “Look, I’m no Declan but I can help you. I’ve been at every fight. I’ve sparred with you. Where’s the tape?”
    Shane walked over and grabbed the gauze cloth and the tape and handed it to Ace. Ace began wrapping Shane’s hands.
    “Show time, Shane!”
    Shane turned around. Chace was standing there. Shane grabbed his gloves.
    “Let’s go.”
    Shane walked out with Chace and Ace following him.

    Declan sat in his office drinking coffee. He wanted to watch the fight and be able to remember it. He was always there, cage side. Part of him wanted to run downstairs to the Arena and make peace with Shane but he just couldn’t. He turned on the closed circuit monitor and waited for the fight to begin.
    He saw Shane approach the cage and then the officials inspected his hands and then Chace helped him get his gloves on. Ace handed him his mouth guard. Declan hoped that Shane remembered his cup. Shane stepped into the cage.
    Declan stood up and started pacing, he always worried about Shane getting hurt.

    Shane scanned the room, he secretly hoped that Declan would show up, even though he was still angry with him. The referee grabbed both Shane’s hand and Rick Marshall’s, then he backed out of the way so the fight could begin.
    The bell rang and Shane struck Rick in the face several times before he took him down and ended up rolling around on the mat. When Round One was over, they separated. Shane found himself looking around for Declan again.
    “You doing ok, Shane?”
    “I’m good, Buddy.”
    His trainer gave him some water and a pat on the ass and Shane headed back for Round Two.
    The bell rang and Shane took a skin splitting strike to the side of the head and then a few to his face and ribs. He appeared a bit stunned and had blood dripping down his face; yet he managed to take Rick down and get him in an Arm Bar. Rick had no choice but to Tap Out. Shane sprung up raising his arms in victory.
    The crowd started chanting over and over again, “Hartless! Hartless! Hartless!” which is what Shane’s name had become over the past few years in the MMA world because he was undefeated.

    Declan was in his office yelling as if Shane could hear him. Kaylee walked by his door and peeked in to make sure he was alright.
    “Come in.”
    “I was just making sure you were alright.”
    “Shane’s fighting.”
    “Then why aren’t you downstairs in the