Page 62 of Justice For Me

“I don’t have any notes about anyone leaving the castle this morning, sir. If you don’t mind, give me just a moment to call into the house. I apologize for making you wait.”

There was no way in hell Justice was allowing that man to call into the castle. He was not talking to anyone about his…well, his anything. That simply was not going to happen. Not today, tomorrow, or the day after fucking that. “Am I a prisoner here? Because I thought I was a guest.”

“Of course not, sir! It’s just that I usually have notes of all the comings and goings of the castle’s residents. All the way from Mr. Dante himself to the man who buys the groceries. It’s just how things are done.”

“Not today. Open the gate. I’m in a hurry.” He hated acting like a shit, but he hated facing Malachi and Megan even more. He was certain the man wouldn’t get into any trouble for letting the nutcase off the property. Hell, they might even give him a bonus with his check this week for getting rid of the nuisance.

“Yes, sir,” the man grumbled with a sick look on his face. “You aren’t going to get me into trouble with Mr. Malachi, are you son? I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. He’s very special to all of us.”

Well, wasn’t that just fucking toasty with champagne bubbles.

“Nah. I’m doing Mr. Malachi a favor right now. He’ll be pleased. Trust me.”

The man looked at him with blatant mistrust in his eyes, but the gate slowly opened anyway. He didn’t wait a second longer than necessary. As soon as he could fit through the opening, he was out the gate and roaring down the road. Escaping. Running. Hiding. Being an all-around fucking coward.

They say that when you’re riding a motorcycle, your mind is at peace because all it can do is focus on the ride. Not true. Not fucking close to the truth. His mind was racing wildly, desperately trying to understand, make excuses, and dream a little dream…

Maybe he had over-reacted? Maybe Malachi didn’t kiss dudes? It made him sick, literally sick, to recall the look of pity on Megan’s face when she’d watched him kiss Malachi last night. She’d known, she’d seen his desperation. He didn’t need her pity and he didn’t fucking need Malachi. They could both just kiss his ass for all he was concerned.

He was a fucking liar, he knew he was lying. He did need them…and he wanted them. He just didn’t want to be only a plaything for them in the bedroom. Megan cared for him, it was written all over her face. Malachi loved Megan, he used Justice.

Shit, he was turning into such a fucking girl. What had he expected? Malachi would fall in love with him? Yea, there wasn’t a fat chance of that happening. He was a submissive in the playroom and nothing more.

Yep, pity party in full swing. His hand cranked the throttle, edging it one nudge past safe driving. He needed the distance. Yea, but you need to be safe.Don’t do something stupid like before. Shit. Was that where he was headed? Had he gotten that pathetically weak again? No, he wasn’t that weak again. He was angry. He felt used. His heart was broken. Fuck…he was in love. He was such a fucking pussy. He was going back. He was going to take whatever Malachi offered him and was going to be thankful to get it. He was going to remain focused. He was not going to the left wrist…not until he didn’t have any other choice available to him. Hell, after they talked to Dante, they might not want him as their submissive anyway. He was broken, that was for damned sure. Would they think a broken toy would be fun to play with?

That was the last damned, worthless thought that he tossed through his mind before his bike hit a slick spot on the road and started sliding out of control. He’d been going way too fast and his mind had been way too occupied with everything except driving safe. His bike, still roaring with fury, went in one direction while he body slid in the exact opposite, kissing the pavement with each twist and turn. He felt his clothes start to tear away…then his skin…then nothing.

Malachi sat quietly in one of the loungers in the courtyard and pondered what the hell he’d done to piss Justice off. He’d been cock-deep in Meg last night when the kid had disappeared on them and then he’d been gone for a run this morning before he had a chance to ask what had rattled his chain. Megan was being pretty tight-lipped about it, too. That usually meant he’d fucked something up and they thought for some dumbass reason that if they made him try to figure it out for himself, it would be a better lesson learned. He thought they should just fucking tell him so that he didn’t repeat the same mistake again.

“We need to talk, Malachi,” Dante said as he strode out into the courtyard, a worried frown on his face.

“Okay. What’s up,” he asked.

“You told me that Justice told you about his childhood…about his problems?”

“He did,” he answered with a confused frown. “He told me he wasn’t really Conner’s kid, that he’d been found in a closet at a drug house. His mom was dead. They weren’t sure how long he’d been there, but he was pretty messed up…almost dead.”

Dante flopped down in the chaise next to Malachi. “Is that all he told you?”

“There’s more?” Malachi looked up and saw Megan staring down at them from the floor where their bedroom was located. She didn’t look pleased…she looked fucking terrified. “What else? It doesn’t matter to me, it’s not going to change how I feel about the kid. Just go ahead and tell me.”

“Justice suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder. It’s a psychological problem that occurs from a child not receiving the basic needs of comfort, love, and affection during their growth period. The disorder sometimes causes the children to not be able to develop normal, healthy attachments to others.”

Malachi snorted. “Well, I’m going to have to argue with you then, Dante. The kid is full of nothing but love. He’s fucking amazing in more ways than I could begin to explain. I’m afraid you’ve gotten some bad information. My boy’s just fine.” He waved up at Megan. She gave him a sad wave back. Fuck.

Dante shook his head. “Yes, he’s fine. He’s not broken but he does have RAD, which means you have to be very careful to help him avoid allowing his triggers to be provoked. If they are provoked, then you will need to help him muddle through all the bullshit and get back on solid ground again.”

“You’re wrong, Dante. Justice is fine.”What the hell was a trigger?

“I need you to research the disorder, Malachi. You have to educate yourself on the triggers and how to avoid letting them get away from him. His disorder is the dis-inhibited type of RAD.” Dante reached over and gripped Malachi’s thigh. “A Dom/sub relationship could be very dangerous if not handled properly, Malachi. Therearetriggers and hedoeshave the disorder.”

“Are you sure about this, Dante? He acts more normal, more loving than anybody I’ve ever known. Hell, the kid would move Heaven and Earth if you asked him to.”

“Yea, that’s a symptom. Thatcouldbe a symptom,” Dante corrected himself quickly. “Personally, from what I’ve witnessed, I think the kid just has a loving and nurturing nature about him. Unfortunately, those characteristics are the same as symptoms of dis-inhibited RAD.”

“What are the symptoms?” Fuck, please don’t let him have done something to fuck Justice up. Please. If he had toyed with that kid, regardless of how innocent he might have been, it would damn near destroy him. He loved the kid.

Dante drew in a deep breath. “Compulsive care-giving nature, desires excessive intimate contact, feels under-appreciated or unworthy of love, idealizes others, emotionally overindulgent in a relationship, jealousy, extreme emotions with mood swings, sensitive to any form of rejection, suicidal.”

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