Page 42 of The Fire We Make

“Thank you,” Joy nodded curtly.

She felt Ace’s gaze on her but pretended not to, instead dropping in a teaspoon of brown sugar and watching it dissolve.

Joy tried to focus her attention on the almond milk she was stirring into her coffee rather than the lingering warmth of Ace’s body and the spicy scent of his cologne.

“Can you pass me the vanilla syrup?” Ace’s deep tone broke the silence again. Joy turned to hand it to him, finding him standing much closer than he was before.

They stood and sipped in silence. Neither seemed to have gotten their fill of the other’s presence but lacked conversation starters.

“Where did you come from?” he asked beside her.

Joy turned, cup in hand, to face him. “Texas,” she said, giving only enough to end the conversation.

“Texas girl… What brings you to my city?”

Joy raised a brow with an amused grin. “Oh this is your city?”

Ace didn’t reply, just gave her a cocky grin of his own like he knew something she didn’t.

“Just a change of scenery,” she answered.

His gaze sharpened for just a moment, and Joy could practically feel him searching for the truth beneath her lies.

Joy cleared her throat. “I should get to work,” she said, tossing her empty cup in the trash.

“Yeah me too,” Ace said, pushing up from his position leaning against the counter. “See you around, Rose.”

Joy paused. “Rose?”

Ace motioned to her mouth and her hands that rested on her hip. “That’s what you remind me of. The red nails and lips,” he said, his gaze lingering on said lips. “Pretty to look at, but a ‘lil sharp. Like a rose.”

Joy rolled her eyes but inwardly, she liked the way the endearment sounded. The only nicknames she’d ever had were birthed out of bloodshed and were now tainted.

“My name is Joy,” she said firmly. The last thing Joy saw before she exited the kitchen was a smirk playing across Ace’s lips.

Chapter Eleven

Ace knew something was wrong as soon as he left the courtroom.

He’d just finished his third hearing that day for his soldiers who’d gotten caught up for some reason or another. Ace’s first few weeks as the Boss had been rough and when he exited the courtroom to see Jrue waiting there for him, he knew it was about to get worse.

Jrue silently fell in stride with Ace as they took quick strides down the courthouse steps. It wasn’t until they were secured in the back of the car did Jrue speak. “We had a problem in Manhattan. Their warehouse got raided this morning and they took Blue in,” he said without prompting.

“What?” Ace exclaimed.

Jrue just nodded. “They got a few of his soldiers too but Senior was able to get them out. They weren’t budging on Blue though.”

Ace sighed. “Fuck.”

“Where’s Peanut?” he asked through gritted teeth. He wanted to hear from the man he’d put in charge of this borough. Since Blue was out of commission, the next best was his right hand.

“Waiting at the office for you,” Jrue informed him.

Ace nodded and sat back, his leg jumping and his hand working his lighter the whole ride back to the office.

The door thumping against the wall announced his arrival and the room stilled as he entered.

He rid himself of his suit jacket slowly as he walked deeper into the room.