Page 107 of The Fire We Make

The secure way his thick arms held her in his sleep.

Her body reacted before she could stop it. A quiver crept up her spine and her thighs involuntarily clenched together to quell the ache that was starting to form.

“Fine, thanks,” Joy finally found her voice.

Ace smirked knowingly and Joy had to divert her gaze to keep from zeroing in on his mouth now that she knew what they felt like between her legs.

His smirk dropped when the door opened and the bailiff walked Blue in.

Joy watched as they uncuffed him. His height rivaled Ace’s but he was lanky in stature. His jaw was set tight and his eyes were hard, but softened when they landed on Ace. They greeted each other with a silent handshake then Ace spoke in a low tone.

“It’s just bail,” Ace briefed him quietly in the slowly filling courtroom. “I’m not making any promises but I’m confident.”

Blue nodded his understanding silently.

Ace claimed his seat beside Joy, the two sharing only a brief glance before she shifted her attention to meticulously arranging her notepad rather than Ace’s stare.

Soon, the judge entered and opened the proceedings. “And the defense is requesting bail, correct?”

Ace stood. “Yes your honor we–”

“You'll get your turn, counselor. I'll hear from the prosecution first,” Judge Ingals cut in.

Ace’s nostrils flared but he lowered quietly into his seat.

Elliot Young stood and began speaking with a bravado Ace found misplaced at a bail hearing. “Yes, your honor. The state believes that the defendant is a flight risk. He is a high-earning narcotics distributor with access to significant resources–”

“Objection. Speculation. My client has never been convicted of any such crimes,” Ace stood.

“Overruled. Continue,” Ingals said dryly without looking at Ace.

Ace’s brows furrowed. He felt a tap on his arm and looked down to see the slip of paper Joy had slid to him.

What the fuck????

Ace shook his head. His sentiments exactly.

“Yes, as well as the nature of the crimes he’s currently charged with, we believe he is a danger to the community and should remain in custody until we can prove it at trial.”

“King,” Ingals prompted Ace to speak without a glance.

Ace cleared his throat, hoping to clear the anger out of it as well.

“Your honor, my client is not a flight risk. He doesn’t even have a passport but would be willing to submit to an ankle monitor as a show of good will. He is the sole caregiver to a young daughter and checks in on his elderly grandmother often as well. All we're asking is that you grant bail to allow my client to go home to take care of his family while we prove his innocence. The state does not have enough substantial evidence linking my client to any crimes to justify keeping him.”

“We’ll argue the evidence during trial, King.”

Ace nodded in concession and continued. “As I said before your honor, Mr. Hill is the primary guardian of his six year old daughter, Lauren who has a ballet recital next week. She’s been really working hard and he couldn’t miss the most anticipated dance display of the year,” Ace joked, earning a few endearing chuckles from others in the room.

“This is a courtroom, not a comedy show Mr. King,” the judge scowled.

“Tough crowd,” Joy muttered under her breath only loud enough for Ace to hear.

Ace paused for a moment, taken aback, but recovered quickly. He finished his closing statements, then returned to the counsel table beside Blue who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

The judge’s hostility was palpable and it became clear to everyone on the defense side that they’d all wasted their time.

“I’ve made my ruling,” Judge Ingals stated.