Page 226 of The Fire We Make

Isaac looked backed and forth between them and moved to stand but Ace’s cocking gun stopped him cold.

Isaac’s hands flew up. “I’m just trying to put some pants on, man. You gon’ kill me with my dick out?” he asked, looking down to where his naked body was covered only by the sheet at his waist.

Joy picked up his pants from the floor and threw them at him, hitting him square in the face.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, sliding the pants on below the sheet.

Once he was finished, Ace gripped him by the arm and dragged him out of the bed. None of them spoke until they made it to the living room, throwing Isaac down on the couch.

Isaac chuckled as he fell down with a plop. “Guess it was only a matter of time,” he mumbled.

There was no fear, no begging. Just the arrogance of a man who hadn’t yet grasped his predicament.

Ace’s brow cocked. “You don’t seem too concerned.”

Isaac smirked. “For what? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ace’s brow rose. “Oh you don’t think so?”

Isaac just raised a defiant eyebrow, crossing his arms over his bare chest. The posture and tone of a man who still thought he was right. Ace watched him in disbelief.

“You really thought you could take over?” Ace asked.

Isaac shrugged.

“Y’all had everything locked down. Didn’t wanna make room for anybody else. You thought this was your shit when both of our names are on the door,” Isaac seethed.

A beat of silence stretched. “So I made space.”

“By betraying us and putting the organization at risk?” Ace asked through gritted teeth.

Isaac shrugged. “You call it betrayal, I call it opportunity.”

Ace couldn’t help but laugh. “You risked everything for a position you couldn’t hold with a catcher's mitt,” he said, his voice even despite the anger simmering.

Isaac leaned forward slightly, his mask slipping for the first time. “You don’t know that.”

“I do know. Because you’re a fucking idiot,” Ace seethed. “You thought you were gonna tear me down and our whole network in the process and then what? That would make you the ruler of nothing.”

Isaac shrugged. “I would’ve figured it out. This fucking idiot outsmarted all of you for months.”

Ace chuckled.

He clapped his hands together, the sound akin to a gunshot. He continued clapping, each one increasing in force, taking a step forward until he was directly in Isaac’s face.

“There’s your applause,” he said once he was finished. “Is that what you wanted? Now look where you ended up anyway.”

Ace leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. “You know your grandfather understood something about power and this life that hasn’t seemed to get through your thick ass skull.” He jabbed his pointer finger into Isaac’s temple repeatedly.

“This life takes more than it gives. That’s why he tried to keep your family out of it. You saw the money. The name. The power. But you don’t see the sacrifices and responsibilities it takes. The consequences of every action and decision.

“You thought power was taking whatever the fuck you wanted and making everybody else deal with the fallout. That ain’t power. That’s a spoiled nigga throwing a tantrum.”

Isaac’s nostrils flared. “Get the fuck out my face,” he seethed. “You and I both know you can’t kill me so what the fuck are you doing here?” he asked, his gaze sliding to Joy then back.

Ah, Ace thought. There lied the root of his demeanor.

“That is where you’re wrong,” Ace said, removing his glock from his pants.