Page 23 of Ace of Spades

"So she's young," Brody catches on.

"She's young."

"And would you say she’s attractive?"

"She's not,notattractive. That's not the point though," I say.

"This is how I know you’ve been out of the game too long, man. That isalwaysthe point, brother."

I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair.

"You ever tell anyone how I got my nickname?"

He cocks his head to the side. "No. Why would you even think that?" By the way he asks me that, I know he's telling the truth.

I sigh. "She called meAce."

"This new girl?"

I nod.

"Could she be somebody's daughter maybe?"

"She said she heard it once on the show."

His brow knits, as he thinks. "You think it was—"

The doorbell rings and we both look in the direction of the front door.

"Damnit. That's probably the commercial broker." He looks at his watch. "He's early. Look, I gotta go grab my laptop since I sent Mags on a wild goose chase.”

“Serves you right,” I tell him.

He shakes his head, “Mind getting him settled?"

I nod.

I’m not too excited about this meeting. But this is what it's come down to.

Steele King's Customs is no longer making enough money to justify keeping the doors open. We have less than three months before everyone that works for us will be out a job.

Brody's bailed us out time and time again. He has what seems to be an endless supply of capital but I can't let him do it anymore.

Which is why I took out a second mortgage on the house I share with my brother and Theo. Brody has enough on his plate to have to also keep the sinking ship that is our passion project, afloat.

But now with my family home on the line, selling and cashing out might be the only option.

Thator a miracle, which I stopped believing in long ago.

The doorbell rings again and Brody pushes his chair back, picks up his cane and Milo instantly gets up to follow him. The golden retriever is always on duty.

Together, they disappear down the hall into his office.

I make my way to the door and swing it open. But much to my surprise, it's not the agent standing there.

Green eyes, even brighter now with the sun beaming down above her. Thick, red hair.

Why isshehere?

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