Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Joy woke up to the smell of coffee and soft kisses trailing up her back.
“Mmm,” she groaned as she came out of her slumber.
“Wake up, Rose,” Ace’s deep voice rumbled in her ear.
“Five more minutes,” she protested as she stretched.
Ace chuckled. “We have a long day ahead of us. You gotta get up, baby.” He waved the fresh cup of coffee beneath her nose like a smelling salt and strangely enough, just the scent was enough to rouse and energize her.
“There she is,” Ace grinned when she popped an eye open. “Take this and come downstairs for breakfast. April and my stylist will be here in a few hours to help you pick a dress for tonight.”
Joy wracked her sleep fogged brain for what tonight was before it came to her.
“The charity gala,” she sighed.
“The charity gala,” Ace confirmed.
He climbed out of bed with a final kiss and Joy watched his strong back exit the room as she sipped the perfectly made coffee. A content sigh seeped from her lips.
Joy was happier than she’d been in a long time and for the first time since she was exiled, she felt like things weren’t that bad. Her performance at Blue’s trial weeks ago had garnered her media coverage and her a solid place in the firm as the top associate.
She and Ace had fallen into a domestic comfort and Joy wondered how long they could live like this. Tip-toeing around each other with lies and half truths about who they really were.
They hadn’t discussed what happened that night with the detective but Joy saw Ace in a new light and not for the first time, she realized she wasn’t the only one who had something to hide.
After handling her hygiene, she slipped on the Versace robe Ace had gifted her a week before and met him downstairs.
She found him in the kitchen, a cup of coffee of his own resting beside him as he folded omelets at the stove. He looked up and smiled when she entered.
“Almost done,” he promised her.
The news played softly on the kitchen television, and Joy turned her attention to it while she waited to be served.
She listened to the reporters give the latest in the city as Ace moved around the kitchen behind her. The clinking of utensils and the low sizzle of the pan competed with the reporter’s voice.
“…Another arrest tied to the Black Mafia…”
Joy’s grip tightened slightly on her coffee. The organization’s name instantly rang recognition but her face remained neutral.
Were these Ace’s men?
“Investigators seem to be unswayed by the recent acquittal of “Blue” Hill a few weeks ago…”
“Busy morning?” Joy asked as Ace lowered her plate in front of her.
“Always,” he sighed as he took his seat across from her.
“That DA just doesn’t quit huh?”
Ace shook his head with a deep sigh. “No he doesn’t.”
“I thought Blue’s trial was the end of this,” Joy mused.
“It’s never over. This is a witch hunt. Luckily, we established a bias against them so arguing these new cases won’t be so hard.”
“Hm…,” she hummed, stabbing her omelet with her fork. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about something…”
Ace looked up at her. “What’s that, Rose?”
“That detective…”
He stilled.
“Which detective?”
Joy tilted her head and Ace tilted his, a silent stare off over eggs and toast.
“What’s your question, Joy?”
“He seemed pretty interested in you and your family.”
Ace shrugged. “Comes with the territory.”
“Mm,” Joy hummed.
“Where’s this coming from?” Ace asked, setting down his fork.
Joy pushed the eggs around on her plate. “I just wanna make sure you’re not in any trouble.”
Ace smirked slightly. “You worried about me, baby?”
“You seem like you can handle yourself,” Joy said, images of Ace ferociously slamming his fists into Detective Harris surfaced to the forefront of her mind.
“Yes,” he nodded. “I can.”
“And do you handle yourself that way often?”
“I do whatever’s necessary to protect the people I care about,” Ace said, pinning her with his intense stare. It simultaneously felt like a promise and a threat.
A normal woman would be worried. A normal woman would have run for the hills. A normal woman wouldn’t feel a thump beginning to resonate at the joining of her thighs at the thought of a man killing just for the crime of touching her.
And he’d do it again, his eyes said.
Ace held her stare unapologetically, almost daring her to shy away from him now that she’d seen a different side of him.
Joy didn't look away, and she could only hope he didn’t either if he saw a different side of her.
“Finish your breakfast. The stylist will be here soon,” he said, effectively ending the conversation.
Joy nodded, letting it go, and brought her mug to her lips.
She felt Ace’s eyes on her as she took small bites of her breakfast but didn’t look up.
Across the table, he stood and left the room. Joy felt when his energy returned, looming behind her.
The subtle bite of cold metal on her chest and kisses behind her ear made her suck in a breath.
She looked down and gasped.
A dainty pendant glittered between the valley of her breasts. Rubies, emeralds, and diamonds made up the shape of a rose on a thin gold chain.
“Adonis,” she breathed, running her fingers lightly over the necklace. “What is this?”
It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she’d ever seen and the most touching gift she’d ever received.
Ace leaned down and spoke into her ear. “A rose for my rose. You like it?” he asked.
Joy nodded, speechless. She looked over her shoulder to look into his eyes.
“I love it,” she said.
Ace smiled, his eyes soft yet blazing with something Joy couldn’t name. He opened his mouth like he was about to speak, then closed it. Joy had never seen him look so uncertain and wondered what thought he’d stopped from falling from his lips.
“Good.” he said, kissing her forehead.
He straightened, caressing her cheek with his thumb on his way up.
Joy and Ace entered the banquet hall arm in arm with Jrue and Remy flanking them on the right and the twins on their left. When she’d asked why Von hadn’t accompanied them, Ace answered that Von wasn’t involved in firm business and therefore didn’t attend these things with them.
The room was filled with politicians, lawmakers, law enforcement, attorneys, city officials, and businesspeople with deep enough pockets to influence them all.
“Why are we here again?” Joy asked softly. She felt like she was having deja-vu from her time at home, attending banquets and speeches with Jermaine. Only this time, she was on the arm of someone she respected. She was there not as an ornament or tool but as a partner.
“Try to fix the goodwill with the influential people in the city,” Jrue answered, snagging a drink from the tray of a passing waiter.
“Representing known criminals especially in high profile cases like Blue’s puts a strain on our relationships.
People’s memories get real short when you write a check and promise a favor, though. ”
Joy nodded in understanding.
Ace turned to his siblings and spoke in code, giving what Joy was sure were marching orders and the group dispersed.
They spent an hour mingling and rubbing elbows with city and state officials. People congratulated them on a job well done and Ace assured them he was committed to justice.
Out of her periphery, Joy watched as Isaac Kincaid approached wearing an expensive suit and the scar Ace had given him that night at the club. He didn’t seem hostile but his expression wasn’t friendly either and his weird vibe made Joy stiffen.
“Wassup Ace,” the man said. The handshake they shared was stiff, if not a little awkward.
“Isaac,” Ace replied, eyeing him up and down and widening his legs in a defensive stance.
“It’s good to see you again. We didn’t part ways on the best terms.” Isaac’s words were polite but his tone put her on edge. His eyes fell to Joy and a lustful glint that bordered on predatory lit his eyes. “Good to see you too, Ms. Thibodeaux. I don’t think I made the best first impression.”
Ace pushed Joy behind him with a discreet hand on her waist. His posture was casual and anyone looking from afar wouldn’t suspect how on edge he was, but Joy could see the tension coiled tightly in his body and feel his energy.
“We should have a conversation,” Ace said, clapping a hand on Isaac’s shoulder. “Shit’s been crazy around here but I want us to have a sit down soon. Our grandfathers wouldn’t want whatever animosity brewing between us,” Ace said.
Isaac’s eyes darkened but he smiled. “Don’t even worry about it man. I understand. Y’all have a good evening.”
He walked away with a tip of his glass and Joy opened her mouth to speak on Isaac’s weird behavior. She didn’t get the chance before Ace’s attention was being petitioned for by a voice behind them.
“King. Twice in one quarter. I’m starting to feel special.”
They both turned, finding Vincent Price walking towards them with a regal swagger and glass in his hand.
Ace chuckled softly, extending his hand for a handshake that Vincent met halfway.
“You remember my associate, Joy Thibodeaux,” Ace said motioning to Joy.
“How could I forget a face like this?” Vincent asked, grasping her outstretched hand in his and placing a kiss on her knuckles.
“My associate, and my woman,” Ace clarified, pulling Joy closer with a possessive hand on her waist.
“Should’ve put money on it,” Vincent chuckled, releasing Joy and taking a step back with his hands up. “Congratulations on the case Ms. Thibodeaux. Your praises are being sung all over the city.”
Joy smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Price.”
Vincent inclined his head, taking another step back in anticipation of taking his leave. “Good to see you both. Ace, I’ll see you again soon.”
Ace nodded in response.
Joy turned to look at Ace and found him already looking down at her.
“What?” she giggled at the fire still in his eyes.
“You and this dress gon’ get me in trouble.”