Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ace lowered into the throne-like chair behind the desk. He placed his hands on Joy’s hips and with a gentle tug, brought her down onto his lap. His arms encircled her waist, holding her firmly against him.
“Whatchu got?” Ace asked once everyone was present and seated.
“We got him,” Remy said.
“Marco?” Ace asked.
Remy nodded. “Hacked into some cameras and found him hiding out right outside of Baltimore.”
Ace chuckled. “Innocent men don’t hide two states away.”
“No they don’t.”
“Where is he now?”
“I already sent his location over to Sasha. He should be waiting for you at your warehouse along with the two other lieutenants he was working with.”
Ace shook his head. “How many were there?” he asked.
How many of his men had planned a coup under his nose? How many people had been sowing the seeds of dissent while he was distracted?
“Just those three and a few of their soldiers. Most of them were taken out at the gala though,” Remy said. “From what I was able to gather, a lot of their soldiers either weren’t on board or weren’t aware of what was going on.”
Ace nodded, his blood boiling. “And was Marco working alone?”
Remy heaved a deep sigh. “That’s the other thing… There’s something you should see.”
Ace’s brows furrowed, bracing himself to be faced with the proof of what he already knew.
Remy flipped his laptop open and mirrored it to the television hanging over the fireplace.
They all watched as Marco pulled into a parking spot in the very back of a bank. A moment later, a familiar Lamborghini pulled up.
“Who is that?” April asked.
“Just watch,” Remy said.
The car parked opposite of Marco so their driver’s windows faced each other.
When the second driver lowered their window, shock rippled through the office.
“Adonis,” Joy whispered. “Is that…”
“Mhm,” Ace answered, his nostrils flared. He was sure if he opened his mouth, he would breathe fire.
They all watched as the two men engaged in a heated argument they couldn’t hear, then the second driver passed large stacks of money through the window.
“When was this?” Ace asked through gritted teeth.
“A week ago,” Remy answered.
“Fuck,” Jrue cursed.
“Oh shit,” the twins said together.
“Oh hell nah,” Von snapped.
Ace wasn’t sure when he’d fished the lighter out of his pocket but his right thumb was working overtime, snapping the top open and closed at a feverish pace. His left hand caressed Joy’s rib cage.
The evidence was damning and if he was unsure before, he was certain now that his suspicions were correct.
Ace tapped Joy’s thigh for her to rise. “Von, let’s go handle Marco.”
Von moved immediately, heading to the door. His phone was already to his ear, no doubt dialing Sasha to meet him.
“Rem,” Ace said. “Find Isaac.”
Remy saluted.
Everyone filed out of the office.
“April,” Ace turned to his sister. “Will you take Joy ho–”
“I’m going with you,” Joy interrupted.
She placed her desert eagle in the holster on one of her thighs then pulled two knives out of her purse and sheathed them to the other. Once finished, she stood up straight and smoothed her hand down the simple black dress she’d worn to dinner.
She looked beautiful and deadly.
His queen prepared to go to war with her king.
She looked up at him with determined eyes and a bright smile. Ace couldn't help but smile back.
“You know you don’t have to do this?” Ace asked.
“I want to go,” Joy assured him.
Ace stepped closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Baby you don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“Don’t do that, Adonis,” Joy snapped, shoving at his chest.
Ace couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do what?”
“Treat me like some porcelain princess now that you know my past. I’m a soldier… just like you.”
She stepped closer, gripping him by the lapel of his jacket.
“I just got you and he tried to take you from me. I’m riding too, so let’s go.”
Ace’s dick stiffened at the possession and rage he saw in her eyes.
“Don’t talk like that Rose,” he warned. “We don't have time to take care of this." He pushed his erection against her, letting her feel just how much her words affected him.
Joy smirked.
“Let’s go put these niggas in the dirt, then we can take care of it.”
Ace kissed her. “Let’s roll then.”
The warehouse was in a tense silence when Ace entered, Joy at his left and Von on his right.
Marco sat in the middle, his two accomplices on either side of him. They all waited with busted lips and cut cheeks for what would come next.
“I heard you niggas wasn’t happy with how I’m running shit,” Ace said. His voice was calm but it broke the silence like a gunshot through glass.
When no one spoke, his calm shattered.
“I protected you. Let you make money in my streets. And this how you repay me?!” Ace roared. “If you had a problem with how I ran shit, you knew where to find me. Well, I’m here now. You got my full attention. So tell me—what the fuck was worth moving behind my back?”
Ace’s voice boomed throughout the warehouse as he stared down every man sitting there. Spit flew from his mouth, his eyes were blazing and crazed, and he beat on his chest with his fist to punctuate every sentence. Adonis King the Second had left the building and Menace had taken his place.
Joy stood behind him watching him move. She’d seen small flashes of the “menace” they said Ace was, but seeing it in full force was mesmerizing.
This was Ace the king. Ruthless, dangerous and beautiful.
He was pure power and rage as he addressed the traitors within his organization.
The men weren’t tied up but none of them moved.
Even Marco, the boldest of them, made no moves to swing or speak.
As much as they wanted to convince themselves and others that Ace was unfit, none of them challenged him to his face even with the open invitation he’d extended.
He’d worn one of Joy’s favorite suits of his to dinner. It was a deep navy blue, the color against his deep skin made him look like royalty and the fit accentuated every dip and curve of his muscles.
The power that he normally kept reigned in, just under the surface in a reserve until he needed it, bubbled up and made the already big and powerful man larger than life.
He was everything he thought he was and everything they whispered about him and only a fool would question his power and ability to lead.
The group of fools in front of them were coming face to face with the error of their thoughts and actions rendering them silent and frozen.
But Ace wouldn’t let the indiscretion go with simply a quick death.
No, Ace wanted to make a statement. He wanted to put on a show.
This wasn’t about leadership or even respect. This was about fear.
Growing impatient, Ace shrugged off the jacket and threw it aside. He undid the Hermes cuff links, throwing them down like the pair didn’t cost six thousand dollars, then rolled his sleeves up.
Last, he unbuckled his belt. Joy’s mouth watered and her mind wandered to what happened the last time she’d heard that jingle.
“What, y’all scared or something? I don’t have all fuckin’ night,” he continued talking shit as the men glanced at each other, still mute.
“Who the fuck told y’all it would be a good idea to come for me? Cause clearly you simple ass niggas didn’t come up with that on your own.”
One of the lieutenants shifted.
Ace’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him forward so hard the chair legs screeched across the concrete.
“I asked you a question,” Ace said, his voice low deathly low.
“I–I thought?—”
Ace smashed his fist into the man’s face, then sent an uppercut under his chin.
He hit him only twice – clean and precise – but that was enough to make blood spray across the front of Ace’s shirt.
“You thought?” Ace echoed, releasing a sharp laugh that bordered on manic.
“You thought I wouldn’t find out? You thought taking me down would be easy?”
The man was silent. He sagged in Ace’s grip, holding onto consciousness by a thread.
Disgusted, Ace let him drop.
He plucked another man from his chair and without asking anymore questions beat him until his face was swollen and a few of his teeth had scattered across the floor. One or two landed at Joy’s feet.
Joy watched it all.
The violence.
The darkness.
The evil glee in Ace’s eyes as he doled out his punishments.
The pure, unfettered power flowing from him.
Her thighs pressed together slightly, trying to control her breathing and inappropriate thoughts as she watched him work.
She should have been repulsed, or at the very least, afraid.
But those were the last things she felt as she watched the man before her. He stood over three bloodied bodies, his chest heaving and blood covering his clothes like a dark angel of death. He was shameless, wielding his power in a way that was so beautiful, it made Joy want the same.
Her pulse spiked, not with the fear, anger, or anxiety that usually preceded one of her episodes, but with excitement and, if the warmth pooling low in her belly was any indication, arousal.
Ace paused his assault, wiping the sweat that had accumulated above his lip and the splatters of the men’s blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.
He locked eyes with Joy, and a smile spread across his lips.
He could see the interest lighting her eyes. The borderline hunger and desire for her own pound of flesh.
He held his hand out.
“Come here, Rose,” he summoned her, and she walked over to stand beside him.
“Do you want to?” he asked, his voice low.
Joy nodded sincerely. It was fucked up, but she did want blood. She did want retribution on his behalf and her own. She wanted the release that came with violence. That had always come with it.
Ace nodded, a small smile on his face like he was pleased with her answer.
“Then go ahead. No one is stopping you and I won't judge you. If you want to, you don't need to hold back. Not here. Not with me.”
Joy bit her lip, still a bit unsure. She didn't speak but she was sure her fear shone through her eyes. He was always able to decipher her through them.