Page 46 of Ace

"This place leads us to the bad places, and before you argue with me, which I know you will, there are worse places than this. Much, much worse places. We're able to find those really bad places by letting these ones stay in operation. There's always someone who wants more than these places can offer, and although the people running these may not be running the others, they have those connections. We don't need to police what kinks people have who go to places like this because they need to feed something the public would consider immoral. We need to find the place where men, women, and children are being trafficked so they can't be hurt or assaulted against their will."

I watch her throat work on a swallow as she keeps her eyes locked on the screen. "I never thought of it that way."

Maybe I didn't explain myself as thoroughly last night as I had hoped, but I can see how her mind is working, and it's already imagining that Sadie ended up in a place like Ijust described.

"Places like this are the lesser evil of some very bad things," I continue. "In a perfect world, we'd eradicate the bad places and police the places like this."

Her eyes snap in my direction. "Places like this should be wiped from the face of the earth."

"Is that you speaking or an echo of your father's political stance?"

Her eyes narrow in annoyance, but I won't let her irritation keep me from trying to explain my point.

"The other night you paid ten grand to watch a guy strip. I paid ten grand to cuddle with someone. Although those were chosen because they're considered some of the less deviant options they have, have you stopped to consider why they're listed in the first place? Couldn't someone go to a legal strip club or meet someone for a cuddle? They could if they didn't have the scrutiny of the public questioning why they might go there in the first place. There's a place in our world for the sex industry, Cora. It just needs to be governed and held to very high standards. Until that happens everywhere, places like that spa will always exist."

She turns her head, eyes meeting mine, but I know better than to think that just saying the words makes her change her mind. That's the thing about politics and religion. There's nothing anyone can say that will make people shift their views, and something like this had to have been ingrained in her head from the day she was born.

"I think—"

Her voice halts when my phone rings, and I don't hesitate to answer it, needing the reprieve.

I wish I had a better poker face because when I answer and Kincaid tells me what they've found, I know she can read it all over my face.

Chapter 20

Cora

I have no idea what's being said on the other end of the line, but I know with the way he looks at me that not only does it have to do with Sadie, but what he's being told isn't good news.

Tears are already forming in my eyes before he hangs up the phone.

They're streaking down my face when he stands, running his hands through his hair as he looks up at the ceiling, as if he wishes he was anywhere but here in front of me right now.

"Just tell me," I say, swallowing against the ball of emotion threatening to clog my throat.

He shakes his head as if he's going to deny me at first, and I see the anguish in his eyes when he turns back to face me.

Instead of staying across the room, he sits back down beside me. I pull my hands back when he reaches for them as if it'll stall the news I'm about to receive.

He frowns, but I don't see any judgment in his reaction.

"Cora," he says, having to pause to clear his throat. "Sadie has been found."

I nod my head, knowing this isn't going to be the good news I was hoping to get.

"Tell me," I demand,needing to hear it so it can be real.

"Her body was found just outside of San Diego."

"California?" I snap, as if her being all the way on the other side of the US makes any damn difference. I have no idea why my head wants to latch on to that piece of information.

"She was listed as a Jane Doe, and the town just got around to uploading her information into the national system. We've been running the database daily to—"

"You thought she was dead this entire time?" I growl.

"We always have to consider all possibilities," he says. I know if I hadn't just gotten devastating news, I could understand his explanation, but my first instinct is to blame, and he just happens to get caught in the crossfire. "I'm so sorry."

Once the first sob escapes my throat, I know there's no way to stop the subsequent ones.

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