Burnout_ A Legal Heat Novella - Sarah Castille Page 0,33

to… I mean, we were only together a few days…”

“I’m not him.” Ace leaned down and brushed his lips over her forehead. “I would never hurt you, Sophie. Never betray you. I get that you don’t trust me yet, but I wanna make it right. I wanna wipe that bastard’s face from your memory. I want to show you that you weren’t wrong about me, and that you can trust yourself.”

Sophie closed her eyes and leaned into his warmth. Despite her misgivings, some part of her trusted Ace. Maybe she was crazy. Because what cop in their right mind trusted a criminal?

“You don’t get off that easily,” she murmured into his chest. “Just because you show up, throw your weight around, get rid of the competition, play the repentant alpha male card, and say sweet things, you don’t get a free pass.”

Ace chuckled. “How ’bout a warning? Don’t think I could do time ’cause I didn’t like being away from you, even for a short spell.”

Sophie mocked a scowl. “If I ever see you with a bunch of women in your lap again—”

“You won’t.” He cut her off, kissing away the creases on her forehead. “Only woman I want on my lap and by my side is you. Anything you need, anything you want, I’m there for you.”

“Well, I definitely need help.” Sophie sighed and hugged him tight, soaking in the feeling of having someone to lean on. “You were right about the police not wanting to treat Ryan’s disappearance as a missing persons case. And not just that, my supervisor suspended me for not disclosing my family relationship with him even though I didn’t know he had a criminal record.”

“I’ll find him for you.”

“We can find him together. I’m not a police officer anymore, so now I can do what it takes.” Sophie pulled away, and gave him a half smile. “Biker style.”

“Sophie—”

“He’s still my brother, Ace. He may have done some bad things, but he’s never been violent, and he’s always watched out for me. If Ryan hadn’t already been in jail when I finally told Jason what happened, I don’t know what he would have done.” Her breath hitched. “I know he would do anything to find me if our roles were reversed. I’ll do no less for him. Even if it means breaking the law.”

Chapter Eight

Damn.

The hint of vulnerability in Sophie’s voice sent Ace’s pulse skyrocketing. He wanted to go down to the station and teach them all a goddamn lesson about the true meaning of justice and then another lesson for breaking Sophie’s faith in the system. Her disillusionment made his heart ache. No way would he let her break the law and throw away her career.

“Not gonna happen,” he said, his voice gruff. “Any law breaking will be done by me.”

Although he hated to admit it, she had what it took to be a good cop—a respect for the law, a good heart, and a sense of fair play. If there had been more cops like her when he was growing up, maybe he wouldn’t have chosen the biker life. But every time he’d reached out, he was pushed back into a system. His cries for help were ignored. Abused and alone, he’d quickly learned that there was no point calling 911. Invariably, the police would turn him over to social services, and they, in turn, would send him back to the family that had abused him, or place him with a new foster family often worse than the one he’d been with before. If only one person had listened…

Sophie pressed her lips together. Ace braced himself for the storm. Already he knew Sophie had a stubborn streak, and it wouldn’t be easy to change her mind. But he was more than up to the task.

“My decision,” she snapped, and damned if the fire in her eyes didn’t turn him on. He loved her spirit, her strength, her determination to do the right thing regardless of the consequences, but he wasn’t going to let anything hurt her, and he wouldn’t let her hurt herself.

“I want you to talk to Ice.” He crossed the room and leaned against the wall, putting some distance between them. Just in case.

“Ice?” Sophie frowned. “Isn’t he the club’s VP?”

Ace nodded. “He was a Vancouver cop for over fifteen years. He made a decision to quit the police and join the Riders, but not for the reasons you expect.”

Although he doubted she would understand, he and Ice still believed that