**Chapter 27: Digging Deeper into the Fire**

I walked into the kitchen, still feeling a sense of satisfaction from the encounter with Jace. I poured myself a glass of water and leaned against the counter, a smile still playing on my lips. Ethan looked up from his phone, a questioning expression on his face. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in my expression. I couldn't help but tease him, and I walked over to the island, running my fingers over the surface as I began to recount the events. "Oh, just a little encounter with Jace," I said, my voice light. Ethan's expression darkened, and he set his phone down. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low. I took a sip of my water, enjoying the suspense. "I may have pushed him a bit too far," I said, my eyes sparkling with amusement. Ethan's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "You may have?" he repeated, his voice incredulous. I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I just gave him a little... encouragement," I said, my voice husky. Ethan's face went pale, and he looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "You're in deep shit," he muttered, shaking his head. I laughed, trying to downplay the situation. "It's not that big of a deal," I said, waving my hand dismissively. Ethan's expression turned serious, and he leaned in close. "You have no idea what you're dealing with," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Jace is not someone to be trifled with. He's got a lot of... issues, and you're just poking at them with a stick." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Ethan's warning. "Issues?" I repeated, my voice curious. Ethan hesitated, looking around the kitchen as if he was worried someone was listening. "Just be careful, okay?" he said finally. "You're playing with fire, and you're going to get burned." I smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement. I had a feeling that I was just getting started with Jace, and I was eager to see where things would go. "I'm not afraid of a little fire," I said, my voice husky. Ethan shook his head, a look of resignation on his face. "You're not listening," he said, his voice firm. "This isn't just about you and Jace. There are people who care about him, people who will not take kindly to you pushing him around." I felt a shiver run down my spine as Ethan's words hung in the air. I had a feeling that I was in over my head, but I was determined to see things through. After all, I had a feeling that Jace was hiding secrets, and I was determined to uncover them.