CHAPTER- 5

                                    

                                          
1 MONTH LATER
Ace POV:
"You can't find him! Are you fucking kidding me?! Find him before I cut all your necks. Dismissed!" My voice reverberated through the room, each syllable sharp and lethal.
The tension in the air was palpable as everyone scrambled to avoid the brunt of my wrath, nodding in synchronized agreement before scattering like frightened animals.
The pressure was immense, and I could feel it in every muscle, every fiber of my being.
Hours of fruitless yelling had done nothing to quell the anger that simmered beneath the surface.
Noah's disappearance gnawed at me like a persistent itch that refused to be scratched. How could no one locate him?
The incompetence of my men was infuriating, but the thought of involving Liam, the best hacker in our group, was equally unsettling.
Liam could locate Noah within an hour—no question about it. He was a genius when it came to computers, a master at unearthing information that others would consider buried forever.
But if I involved him, it would bring unnecessary drama to my doorstep. The kind of drama I despise.
Hudson, in particular, didn't trust me when it came to girls. To him, I was just a fuck boy, a label I've come to resent.
Not that he's entirely wrong—I've had my fair share of women, but I always make sure it's consensual.
I never touch a virgin. If anything, I consider myself a gentleman in that regard. A fuck gentleman.
And about Iris... She was different.
She wasn't like the others. She wasn't someone I could easily categorize, and that alone kept me on edge.
She was always wandering around the house like a snail, moving silently through the corners, cleaning something, anything.
Silent, shy, and submissive— three traits I never thought I'd find intriguing, yet somehow, she managed to pique my curiosity.
"Boss," Ivan's voice cut through my thoughts as we pulled up to the mansion.
"I'm not deaf, Ivan," I replied calmly, though I could feel his glare.
It didn't matter; it's not like he never messes with me.
Stepping into the mansion, my eyes instinctively searched for the snail, but she was nowhere to be found. Disappointment flickered briefly within me, surprising me with its intensity.
I hated to admit it, but Iris had a way of amusing me, of keeping me curious in a life that had otherwise grown dull with routine and violence.
The last time I saw her, she was at the kitchen sink, immersed in a strange ritual.
The sink was filled with water, utensils floating aimlessly, and Iris was making two cups 'fight.'
"Who sent you here? Who is your boss?" she'd murmured, her voice barely audible as she pushed the cups under the water, making them bubble and sink.
It was an odd sight, yet strangely endearing. 
I'd watched her from the doorway, hidden from her view, captivated by her childlike playfulness, something so innocent and pure in a world where I'd long forgotten what innocence looked like.
I opened the bedroom door, half expecting to find her there, but the room was eerily empty, just as I had left it.
As I turned to leave, a faint sound, barely more than a whisper, caught my attention. It was soft, almost imperceptible, but there—sniffing sounds coming from the wardrobe.