Love in Spades: Four Kings Security Book One (Four Kings Security #1)(4)

Mason’s laugh when he flipped Ace off made him smile. Whatever demons Mason was battling, Ace hoped the guy found some peace. He deserved to be happy.

Ace helped two officers haul his client’s crate into the back of Mason’s squad car before he climbed behind the wheel of his Camaro. “Thanks, officers!” Ace waved as he waited for Mason to get into his car.

Watching the man walk by was always a treat. As soon as Mason was on the move, so was Ace. Since his client’s property was now in police custody, Ace wouldn’t be letting it out of his sight until his client arrived at the precinct. It would take some time for the property to be released from evidence, then Ace would transport it as agreed. Soon as he was done, he’d drive off to his home away from home. Of course, that meant having to deal with his less-than-thrilled brother-in-arms. If all else failed, he’d do what he’d been doing for years when it came to pissing off King. Hide.



Ace peeked through the open blinds of his cousin’s office. Lucky was at his desk, and the room appeared devoid of one large fire-breathing King. Ace slipped inside and closed the door quietly behind him, then peered out the window to check the hallway outside one more time before closing the blinds. Lucky’s lips quirked up, but he didn’t move his eyes away from his laptop screen.

“My life hasn’t flashed before my eyes, so I’m guessing he’s busy?” Ace headed for Lucky before a noise outside in the hall had him diving behind his cousin’s desk. Just because he didn’t see King, didn’t mean King wasn’t close. They’d had years of training and honing their skills in the art of invisibility, among other things, all of which proved extremely useful for their current careers. Unfortunately when his boss was ex-Special Forces like Ace was, the chances of getting away with anything were slim to none.

“You made it to my office in one piece, you know? So I would say that is very likely.”

Ace cursed under his breath. He checked his watch. “Has he eaten lunch? You know how hangry he gets if he doesn’t eat lunch.”

Lucky leaned back in his chair. “He was about to have lunch, but then he found out you’d gone all Vin Diesel.”

Ace scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He smiled evilly. “It was more Mad Max.”

“I would advise you not tell him that. Also, it was Bibi’s BLT.”

Ace let his head fall against the desk’s edge with a groan. “I’m fucked.”

“Sí. Muy. You know how much King loves Bibi’s BLT, and how much he hates when the tomatoes make the bread all soggy and gross. He is right; it is very disgusting.”

“Wait.” Ace looked up at him. “What else did she bring?”

“For Red, his favorite—steak and aguacate tacos. For me, the carnitas, and for you, un Cubano.”

Ace’s stomach growled, and he all but drooled on himself. Damn it, Bibi’s sandwiches were foodgasmic. “And, uh, where’s my sandwich?” Like he didn’t already know.

Lucky’s grin was wicked. “In King’s office.”

“He’s holding my sandwich hostage?”

Lucky nodded. “He’s a little terrifying, you know?”

Suddenly Ace perked up, and he smiled wide, hopeful. “Where’s Red?”

Lucky groaned and shook his head. “Come on, bro. Don’t send Red to do your dirty work. That’s just, like, wrong.”

“But Red’s the only one who’s safe from King’s wrath. No one can resist that big, sappy smile of his. He’s like a big puppy. Who gets mad at a puppy?”

“King will know you sent him, and then he’s going to be even more pissed. He might even tell Tía.”

Ace gasped. “You really think he’d tell my mom?” Who was he kidding? King would totally tell on him, and his mom would take King’s side too. Lucia Olga Sharpe had claimed the Kings, Joker, and Jack as her own, and after discovering King had lost his parents while he’d been deployed, she’d gone full-mode Cuban mom on him, mothering him as if he were her own. Since Ace was her own, he reveled in her smothering King with motherly love. King adored her, no mistake about that, but she also drove him crazy. God help him if he didn’t call at least once a week to keep her updated on his health, his love life, the latest gossip, and a complete rundown of his meals for the day. Ace being around for that phone call so he could laugh his ass off was always worth King passing him the phone when he was done so Ace could be interrogated.

The door opened, and Ace stiffened.

“We’ve got a meeting with a potential client in twenty minutes,” King growled. “I know you’re there, Ace.”

Ace popped up from behind the desk. “Can I have my sandwich?”

“I ate it.”

“You ate my sandwich? What the hell? That is so not cool!”

“Neither is your agenda of driving me crazy. Tell me something—do you put it on your calendar? When you come into the office, do you sit at your desk, check your calendar, and say, ‘Oh, look at that. Today is Drive-King-Batshit-Crazy Day.’ Is that what you do?”

“You’re very dramatic. I particularly liked the way you looked at your hand as if you were looking at a calendar. You should consider a career in improv.”

King narrowed his eyes. “My office. Now.”