Page 122 of The Fire We Make

“Joy Thibodeaux. Mr. King’s associate.”

”Ah,” Harris nodded. “Well I hope to see you again soon. Both of you.”

He started for the door, but was halted by Ace calling his name. “Hey, Harris.”

The detective paused and turned. “What?”

”You put your hands on another member of my staff, and Internal Affairs will be the least of your worries.”

”Another threat, huh King?”

Ace just smiled.

Harris stomped out, leaving the door wide open.

“The fuck was that?” Joy asked, slamming the door shut.

“He wasn’t talking about nothing. He got called into Internal Affairs this morning and thinks I had something to do with it.”

“How would you make that happen? Even if you made a report, that wouldn’t come back to you.”

Ace shrugged. “A sinking man will grip onto anything to not drown.”

Joy eyed him. ”I see.”

Ace returned to his seat and began typing away like nothing happened. Joy was slower to reclaim her seat, watching Ace with questioning eyes.

Chapter Thirty

“Agh.”

A yawn ripped through Joy’s body as she stretched.

“Don’t do that,” Ace said through a yawn of his own, triggered by hers.

Joy giggled. “My bad. It’s so late.” The time on her watch said it was almost midnight. Ace was used to working 18 hour days but even he was whipped.

Their days had been filled with trial prep and jury selection for Blue's case and Joy had never been so tired yet she was more fulfilled than she’d been in years. Still, a part of her felt she was only living out half of her purpose though.

With the demands of this case, she hadn’t had much time to connect with the contacts she’d made at the anniversary party. She made a mental note to start on that the moment she had time to spare.

“It is. Let me drive you home,” Ace requested as they stood at the glass doors separating them from the elements outside.

“I told you I can get home myself,” Joy declined.

They loitered in the empty lobby, neither of them quite ready to let the other go yet. Their bodies were close, the heat radiating off of them in waves made them both oblivious to the chill of the blaring air conditioner.

“I know you can.”

“If you just wanna spend more time with me just say that,” Joy joked, a teasing grin on her lips.

“I wanna spend more time with you,” Ace replied, his stone expression giving away no humor.

Joy’s smile slowly faded. “Adonis, I⁠—“

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. We should stay professional. I don’t know you. You’re not a good girl. Did I miss any other of your bullshit excuses?”

“They’re not bullshit,” Joy protested, looking away from his eyes and out into the street.