Page 5 of Loving Justice

Justice heard the words, but the truth remained in Freedom’s eyes. She didn’t understand. Not really. “Daddy doesn’t know, does he?”

“No. He’d keel over.”

Justice chewed on a piece of cucumber thoughtfully. “He’d never forgive me if he knew.”

“You know he would, but it’d take some time,” Freedom answered honestly.

Her life had been a whirlwind, from unforeseen events on the ranch to Daddy demanding that the sisters marry to still be in his will and dealing with the threat of Kent revealing the truth about their affair. “Do you think Kent was behind the horses being poisoned?” Justice asked, pushing away her full plate because she was no longer hungry.

“I do. He wanted Requiem. Enough to almost kill him to teach me a lesson. Men like Kent aren’t used to being told no, as I’m sure you’re fully aware. And they’re not used to not getting their way. That worries me for you.” Concern marked Freedom’s expression.

Justice’s attention moved to a couple sitting at a nearby table. They seemed so happy, so in love. Maybe that was what she wanted. To find someone who loved her and invested in her. Kent had not invested. Those thoughts whirred through her head. “I need to be free of Kent's threat. I never would have gotten involved with him had I known…”

“Had you known what?”

With a shake of her head, Justice returned her gaze to Freedom. There were things she didn’t need to know. “Just how underhanded he is.”

“Right, but don’t go near him, Justice. Keep distance between you and Kent. Any consideration you give him will backfire.”

“Do you think he’ll pull me back into his web? I’m over him.” It seemed so foreign to her that she once cared for him.

Freedom reached over and took Justice’s hand. “I know you are over him but seeing him will only fuel the fire. Promise me you won’t seek him out.”

"I promise," she said, but Justice knew confronting the man who had disrupted her life and family was inevitable. Without facing him, she might linger in uncertainty for weeks, months, and even years until he stopped pursuing Sagebrush Rose Ranch. He’d always denied wanting the ranch, even when they were together, he’d masked the truth with his lies. He had denied many things. Like being faithful and caring for her. How had she missed all the signs? All the red flags? She felt foolish and angry that she’d trusted him. She believed that people had him wrong when she’d been wrong all along.

And by him showing the photos of her in his home, in his bed, proved that he didn’t care about anyone but himself.

“Are you going to tell the family?” Justice asked.

“It’s not my place to tell them. I’ve always believed that releasing harmful secrets means they no longer have a hold over you, but this is your decision.”

“But what if some secrets are more harmful exposed?”

Freedom pulled her hand back and shrugged. “You’ll know in time.”

Later, wrapped up in her emotions and sitting in her car in the parking lot after Freedom had pulled away, Justice debated her next step. She didn’t want her life to become consumed with secrets. She either continued her life with a dark cloud looming overhead or confronted the man with too much control over her present and future. She wanted to move on from that time of her life with Kent.

Her father and his ridiculous demands also had her head spinning.

Unlike her sisters, Justice had always admired those marrying and having children. No, she didn’t like Daddy forcing her to marry, but the idea of marriage didn’t leave a bitter taste on her tongue. Of course, revealing her feelings to her sisters would probably cause laughter among the cynical brood. While other girls dreamed of a charming prince and happily ever after, Justice and her sisters imagined large bank accounts, closets full of designer clothing, and success. It was interesting when every single one of the Roses loved getting their hands dirty and had a weakness for cowboys—rough and rugged cowboys.

Justice had always landed on her feet. Growing up with four strong, independent sisters, she’d always had to find a way to “stick” out—or be her own person. While she loved riding horses and working on the ranch, she also had a passion for art. Her taste for classical paintings was what bonded her to Kent. He was an art collector and had taken her to numerous art auction houses nationwide. He also had made one of the bedrooms at his house into a studio where she could paint. She’d found it so endearing that he’d supported her passion for creativity.

All during her adulthood, she’d prided herself on keeping things together. Lately, though, she knew less about how to land on her feet and be true to herself and more about swimming in shark-infested waters.

On one side was Daddy and his matrimonial demands, and on the other was Kent waving his dick flag.

Maybe she should consider marrying so that when, or if, Daddy found out about her indiscretions with Kent Sam would go easy on her.

It was a long shot.

Marriage didn’t scare her. Finding the right man, though, did worry her. She stared through her window watching the same young couple she saw inside head across the parking lot, holding hands and laughing. Justice didn’t realize she was crying until her cheeks ached.

How had she willingly made such a mess of everything?

Not just a mess but a life-altering mess.

Kent could destroy her family, or at least give it a good try. She’d basically handed over the magical wand for him to wreak havoc on her relationship with her sisters and father.

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