Page 3 of Justice
“I will be fine,” I stated though I didn’t believe this really.
He dropped his arms to his sides and said, “Scarlet, please tell me what this is about. I can’t help it if I don’t know what it involves and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“That’s just it. I was told not to tell anyone.” I lowered my head. “I don’t know what to do, except do as they tell me.”
Justice came close and gently grasped my arms. “How are these people going to know if you tell me?”
I let out a long breath. They would know if I showed up with him at my side.
“You have to trust someone,” he urged. “I think you realize or youshouldrealize that I’m trustable?”
“It isn’t that, Justice. I don’t want you or anyone else involved. If they see that happening, you might get hurt. And…she will be killed.”
Justice let go of my arms. “So, you want me to hide you in a vehicle and then just let you out on some street corner? I’m not sure that even if I wanted to do that and I don’t…I don’t believe we could get away with doing that anyway. Our escorts will see you.”
I bit at my lip and suggested, “Maybe you can distract them or something?”
Justice pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Damnit, Scarlet. I can’t just sit in a car and watch you sneak away into God knows what kind of situation, all by yourself!”
I stared at him. “Ok, never mind then. It’s okay. I can figure this out by myself.”
Justice shook his head. “No, that’s not okay. I know now. So, you might as well tell me all of it.”
I gave him a slight smile at this new approach he decided to take. “You and your courtroom tactics.”
He smiled back. “When pushed, it is my go to solution.”
The man was so adorable and I really liked him. Actually, he was the first man I ever had as a friend. I had found most men only wanted one thing from me. I was a stripper, so I never hated them for that as lust was part of the whole genre of stripping. But I never wanted to date any of them. Yes, the other girls did, but I’d rather have one as a boyfriend who never saw me strip. In Ramton the pickings for a good man to date were slim to none. The town had lost many people who were decent over thelast year that O had moved all her crap and drugs in. I stepped forward and hugged him. “I appreciate all your efforts, Justice. I really do.”
Wrapping his arms around me, he kissed the top of my head then said, “I don’t think you know how much you mean to me.”
Pausing at hearing this, I pulled back and tilted my head at him.
He went on, “I...well, I hoped we might eventually be more than friends.” He stepped out of my embrace. “I mean damn. You are beautiful, smart and lovable.”
I stared at him.
“I know you probably heard all that before.” He shook his head.
“I’ve heard the beautiful part.” I shrugged. “Not to be arrogant, but that is a line men have used on me, many times at the club and elsewhere. But I have rarely heardsmartand never heardloveablebefore.”
“Oh, really?” He chuckled.
“Yeah, so it was almost original?”
“Well gosh, I suppose I got it halfway right?” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Gosh?” I actually smiled now. “I love that you are so polite, you hardly ever cuss, you only drink a little and you are such a damn gentleman.”
Tucking his head back while looking insulted, he replied, “I’m not sure all of those are actual compliments?”
I laughed now, almost forgetting my trouble. “They are, Justice. They are.” I tapped his arm. “You can go ahead and leave, ok?”
Staring at me an emotion flashed in his eyes. One, I’d never seen before.
“Look Scarlet, I don’t want you to be in this alone. I get it, I do. You're scared for someone's life, but I’m not going to just forget it either. If it was me and I was in bad trouble, would you turn your back on me just because I told you to?”
I looked away as I gave him my answer, “If it was your personal business, I would have to, right?”
