Page 180 of The Fire We Make

Joy stopped.

Through the glass, she saw Cleve sitting behind the desk that had once belonged to her. Two captains stood across from him, their drivers and guards waiting near separate trucks below, far enough away that they couldn’t hear the conversation.

“Yeah, I don’t understand why we’re switching up,” the other said.

“Because I said so,” Cleve’s distinct voice answered. “The real question is, who the fuck you think you are to be questioning me?”

“Ion want no static man. I was wondering why we fixing shit that ain’t broken.”

“I’m not slowing down because that bitch was scared of risks. We move more at once, we get more on the street, which means more money in our pockets. Anybody got a problem with that?” he asked, his eyes swinging between them.

The two captains glanced at each other, but shook their heads.

Joy’s blood boiled.

She’d spent years studying and implementing the distribution process that was most efficient but also kept them under the radar and out of law enforcement's radar. Less than a year of being gone and Cleve was already dismantling her work.

Erasing her from the world she’d helped build.

“That’s what I thought,” Cleve scoffed. “I don’t wanna hear shit about Joy or her process in my warehouse, or I’ll put you out like I did her.”

Joy’s heels echoed off the concrete floor announcing her presence.

“Oh you put me out, Cleve?” Joy asked, stepping deeper into the room.

Cleve went completely still at the sound of her voice.

The room fell silent as she emerged, Ace several paces behind her.

The Captains turned toward the sound. With wide eyes, they all watched her like a ghost who’d come back to haunt them.

“Was that before or after I cut off your hand for playing with me?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.

“Get out,” Joy ordered the Captains without taking her eyes off of Cleve. “And clear the floor.”

Neither of the men hesitated. One lifted his radio and ordered his drivers outside while the other knocked on the plexiglass and motioned for his soldiers to follow.

“Anyone who speaks a word of this is next,” Joy added before they could get too far.

“Yes ma’am,” the retreating men said in unison before pulling the office door closed behind them.

Within seconds, engines were running and the warehouse had emptied around them.

“You’ve been really busy, Cleve,” Joy spoke once they were alone.

Cleve shrugged. “Plenty to do with you out of the way.”

Joy scoffed. “I’m sure that was just your plan.”

“Nah, it wasn’t, but your crazy ass made shit so much easier for me. Thank you,” he dipped his head in mock gratitude.

Joy’s nostrils flared and a snarl left her lips.

“What is this, Joy? Come crawling back from whatever hole you got banished to for forgiveness?” Cleve chuckled, emerging from behind the desk to step closer. “If so, you’re not off to a good start. Perhaps try starting on your knees.”

“How about you get on your knees?” Ace said from where he’d snuck up behind him, dragging Cleve out of his chair, and shoving him onto the ground with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Cleve hit the ground with a grunt.