Day 188 - Roads to Nowhere

 Roads to Nowhere

Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

There were lies all around. Too many lies for too long. Ace had that itching feeling of stress mixed with prophetic nervousness. He had lied and been lied to. Navigating the path forward was fraught with danger and disillusionment. Friendships and family could be ruined. He had half a mind to forget everything and return to his home. If hiding would have changed anything, he would have done it. But old debts were coming due and he could no longer cover what had been done and what was coming next.

Seven had met Declan on accident, but well past time. Seven had involved the police. Something had been building and he had kept it a secret. As his job demanded. But Seven was his son and it hurt Ace just a bit anyway. Just as his keeping Declan a secret for years probably hurt his son. They didn’t have time to talk it through. Declan took the information and had to move on it. Seven took the revelations as best he could. He suddenly had a secret family, and Ace feared there would be plenty of time to recriminate him for hiding it all these years, but Seven knew they had to work together now and prevent something much worse from happening.

Seven explained someone was collecting files on The Dragon’s Claw and all the family heads. War was coming. Someone had their list of targets and there was no telling when things would erupt. They had killed Nine to try and keep it a secret. And suddenly there were enemies all around. The gunman, the counterfeiters, the battles between factions and movements of new gangs. Seven saw enemies everywhere and he was certain it was all coming from someone with extensive knowledge of the families.

Ace told his son he would do what he could to help. He was happy his son trusted him enough to be told. Ace knew it was a violation of all things required of an Agent, but the bond of blood allowed Seven to trust him. Well, that might have been an overstatement. He trusted Declan with no knowledge of their relationship. Still, Ace was felt pride and joy at the thought of his son.

There was also a tinge of fear, knowing what was coming next. Not just war, but the truth about the past. Seven didn’t ask questions but he would. Ace and Declan could lie, but it wouldn’t be fair. It was well past time Seven knew about his family, about his mother, about the past.

After Declan left, Seven gave Ace a personal warning. He was being spied on, and so was Ace. Seven explained his relationships with Kira, Jade and Kaylee. None could be trusted. And that meant Ace had been tricked as well. Like father like son. Jade was a student, but a spy, sent by Queenie. But if Jade was spying it meant Queenie couldn’t be trusted.

Ace knew it. He didn’t know it when he was in bed with Queenie, but he knew it all the same. His heart hurt, but he knew it. She was out for her family. Family before all else. And Ace had been training her army. He was a fool. Even now, he wanted to go see her, to hold her and be in her bed again. A fool indeed.

Seven hadn’t sussed out who Kira was working for but he suspected her all the same. Ace was pretty sure he knew, but he hoped he was wrong. His son deserved to be a fool for a woman, and if there was a chance it was real, he didn’t want to spoil it with his suspicions.

They hugged and wished each other well and Ace offered a prayer for their safety. If this were the last time he saw his son, he could die happy. Ace hoped Seven would make it through and hoped his fears were unfounded.

After Seven was gone, Ace thought about writing his son a letter. But any letter could be lost or destroyed. If he was right, then he might be dead in a few hours. And if he were dead, his home and dojo would be destroyed and men would be sent to kill Seven as well. A letter would change none of that and would be a silly futile effort. He could give it to Declan to pass along. That might be safe for the time being. But in reality, he should have warned his son and neither of them should be returning home ever again.

Maybe he was a fool, but Ace wanted to believe there were solutions and war could be avoided. He should talk to Queenie. Get her support. Find out where she stood and with whom. But to ask her would be to admit he suspected her and to either hurt her at the accusation or risk her wrath. And he didn’t want it to be true. He didn’t want it to be her.

Better to find out the other way.

Ace left to go and find Gideon.