Page 225 of The Fire We Make

Ace had briefly entertained letting it go. Perhaps someone else had already gotten to him. Isaac had so many enemies and without the King-Kincaid protection, there was no telling who or what had caught up to him.

That’s why when Joy had gotten a call from one of her allies in Vegas telling her that the man she’d put the word out for was kicked out of his casino, Joy couldn’t wait a minute longer to give Ace the peace she knew he craved.

Ace chuckled. “What can I do for you, Rose? Need something to tide you over until our wedding night?”

He punctuated his offer by gripping her hips tighter and dragging her across his length, which had grown from semi-hard to steel.

Joy groaned, seriously considering it but the clock on her side of the bed reminded her that she was short on time.

“No,” she giggled, ignoring the way the friction made her core pulse with need. “I need you to get up. I have a wedding gift for you,” she purred with a kiss to his jaw.

Ace released a deep hum in the back of his throat as she swirled her tongue over the small round scar she’d left on his neck. “Does my gift happen to be under this?” he asked, his hand slipping beneath the black satin slip dress she’d worn to sleep. She hadn’t bothered to change on her ride over. She and Ace would need to suit up for what she had planned anyway.

“No, better.”

Ace snorted. “Unless you found a way to clone yourself, I doubt it.”

Joy threw her head back with a laugh. “Do you really think the world could handle two me’s? Do you think you could handle two me’s?”

Ace grinned. “The world may implode with two Joy’s but I’d put both of y’all through the motherfuckin’ mattress.”

Joy rolled her eyes, climbing off of him. “Get up and get dressed. I’ll explain everything on the jet.”

Ace’s brow cocked. “Jet?”

Ace had to admit, Isaac had picked the perfect hiding spot.

The desert sun rose over the modest home that was unremarkable enough to remain unnoticed, but nice enough to maintain a semblance of the comfortable lifestyle he’d been used to. Nothing about it looked like the life of someone on the run.

Ace and Joy knew better though.

They entered the quiet house and easily navigated their way through, thanks to the floor plan they’d studied on the plane ride over. They moved with synchronicity that seemed to spill into every facet of their lives together, swinging around to check corners, covering each other's backs and keeping aim in the event someone emerged from the shadows.

They found the master bedroom in the back of the house, the door ajar slightly and a trail of clothes leading them straight to the man of the hour and his unlucky companion.

Joy went to the woman’s side of the bed where she was wrapped in Isaac’s embrace and the Walmart sheets. She nudged the woman with the barrel of the gun until her eyes opened then bugged at the sight.

Her shriek startled Isaac awake, making him jump up. He reached for the gun under his pillow but found the space cold and empty.

Ace cleared his throat, making Isaac’s attention swing to him. He froze seeing Ace’s face and his piece dangling from Ace’s forefinger by the trigger.

Joy turned her attention back to the woman.

Woman was a stretch. She appeared no older than 19 at best, barely legal if that, but still had no business in the bed of a 32 year old man.

Joy shook her head in disgust.

“What’s going on?” The girl asked, tears streaming down her baby face.

“What’s going on is, you’re going to put your clothes on and you’re gonna leave and no matter what you see or hear, you’re never going to tell anyone what you saw. Is that clear?” Joy asked.

The girl nodded vigorously.

“Good,” Joy smiled. She handed over the pile of clothes she’d collected from the floor and nudged her head towards the door. “Go.”

The girl hopped from bed without a second look back at Isaac who rested lazily against the headboard, and ran out. When the door slammed downstairs, Joy turned her attention back to Ace and Isaac.

She was backup this time, only there to assist as Ace took what belonged to him but had evaded him for months.