Page 36 of The Fire We Make

From the moment they met, she’d felt exposed beneath that stare — like there was nowhere to hide.

But Joy needed to hide.

Her success depended on controlling the narrative.

So she would keep her distance from the man who stirred feelings she had no business entertaining. The fascination would fade. His interest would wander.

And when it did, she could focus on what she came here to do.

Hopefully.

Chapter Nine

Ace flipped the top of his lighter open and closed, letting the flame emerge then retreat over and over again as they waited for the man they’d come to see.

Anger coursed through his veins and irritation pulled his lips up in a permanent scowl.

Ace had his feet kicked up on the dock manager’s desk while Ray and Von stood in the corner like guards.

They didn’t have to wait long. A moment later, voices could be heard outside the door, only getting louder when the door opened. The man stopped short as soon as he saw Ace and Von.

“Hey, I’ll get with you later alright. I have something to handle,” he dismissed the person he was talking to, narrowing the opening of the doorway so his guests weren’t seen.

“Daniel,” Ace said as soon as the door was shut.

“H-hey Mr. King. What can I help you with?”

Ace took his foot down from the desk and glared at Daniel. “You can start by telling me where the fuck my shit is,” he gritted.

Ace had been in the middle of getting Joy situated when he received word that none of his men received their product because there were no shipments at the docks when they came to collect. To be fair, they were pretty much done and he’d only been lingering to spend more time in her presence, afraid she’d disappear again when he turned his back, but he was still irritated by yet another interruption.

He’d had to deal with a near riot from his lieutenants. He had a plan in place to make amends for the issue but now he had to get down to the bottom of an issue that shouldn’t have been.

“I-I’m not sure w-what you mean,” Daniel said.

Ace smacked his lips and stood, rounding the desk. Once within arms length, he sent his fist into Daniels’ nose causing blood to flow, then forced him down into the chair on the other side of the desk.

“Quit all that damn stuttering,” Ace ordered, then leaned down until he and Daniel were face to face. “Why are my men telling me that they didn’t receive their shipments? If my memory serves me correctly, they were supposed to have docked last night so where are they?”

“Mr. King, please,” Daniel sniveled. “Some police officers came asking questions last week then I got a call saying to send it back. I figured that was you taking precautions. ”

Ace reared back. “A call from who?”

“I don’t know. They just called me and said they worked for the Kings and that I needed to send the shipments back because it wasn’t safe. I didn’t get a name.”

Ace pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up at Von who was shaking his head. Ace stood to his full height then paced the floor. “So you got a random call from an anonymous motherfucka telling you to send my shit back and you just… listened. No confirmation or verification. I have that right?”

Daniel’s throat bobbed with a thick swallow. “Uh… yes sir.”

Ace tsked and removed his gun from the holster on his hip. Von handed him the cylinder silencer and Ace kept eye contact with the man before him as he screwed it on.

“I don’t have use for idiots on my payroll Daniel. And I told you when we first started this little partnership that I don’t give second chances.”

“P-please. Mr. King. I’m sorry I didn’t-.”

A single muffled shot to the middle of his forehead silenced his pleas.

“Call clean-up,” Ace ordered, already walking towards the door.