Page 38 of Home for Justice
“The situation is changing,” Jordy insisted, his voice rising again. “This area’s growing. And my brother needs to make sure he’s making the best use of his land.”
Jordy turned toward Tyler again, his beady eyes gleaming with what he probably thought was charm. “You’re new around here, son, but you need to know that your grandfather’s land has some real value if you play your cards right.”
Tyler’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “My name is Tyler. Or Mr. Marconi. Not son. And I’ve been coming here since I could barely walk. Spent every summer on that land. I know every creek, every ridge, and every deer trail better than you ever will. So no, I’m not new.”
He paused for effect, letting the silence settle before adding, “And it’s not my grandfather’s land anymore. It’s mine.”
Debbie’s scowl deepened as she blew out a puff of smoke. “No reason to get uppity.”
Justice cut her a glance, rolling her eyes before nodding at the casserole still in his hand. “Is that one of the ones dropped off after the funeral?”
He looked down, then back at her, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “It is. I got lucky because everyone labeled theirs, so I know what’s in it. Mostly chicken. Should be good for Jack.”
Her lips curved into a small but genuine smile, and she touched his arm briefly. “Thank you. That was really thoughtful.”
That one small gesture settled something in him.
Behind them, Jordy huffed and muttered something under his breath. Debbie flicked her ash onto the gravel like she owned it. But Tyler didn’t look back at them again. Not when Justice was standing beside him like she belonged there. Not when dinner and a warm house were waiting just inside.
“Well, I’m starving, so let’s go?—”
“I want to see Jack!” Jordy barked, his voice cracking with urgency and entitlement.
The interruption slammed against the sweet moment he was having with Justice, and Tyler felt the last thread of his patience snap. He opened his mouth, prepared to tell them they had ten seconds to get off the porch or he’d be on the phone with the sheriff.
But before the words could leave his lips, the screen door creaked open.
Jack stepped out onto the porch with slow, deliberate steps. He wasn’t rushing, but also wasn’t frail. He stood with the kind of dignity that silenced everyone instantly. Dressed in his clean jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, his hand rested lightly on the porch post. Jack’s gaze moved over all of them as Jordy puffed out his chest while standing at the bottom of the steps. Debbie’s eyes narrowed as she smoldered like a cheap cigarette.
Jack’s glare cut to Jordy, but then his face lit with a grin as he looked at Tyler. “Good to see you, Tyler. Can’t thank you enough for bringing dinner.”
Then his gaze found Justice. “Sweetheart, you take Tyler on in, and I’ll be there in just a minute.”
“Dad—”
“Go on, Justice,” he said, soft but firm. “And Tyler, make yourself at home in the kitchen.”
Tyler met Jack’s eyes and nodded, understanding exactly what the man was doing. This wasn’t just about sending them inside to eat. This was about Jack having his say on his own terms. Without his daughter defending him. Without needing a damn bit of help.
“Let’s go, Justice,” Tyler said gently, sliding his free arm around her shoulders.
She hesitated, her gaze flicking to her father. Then she looked up at Tyler as trust settled in her expression. With a slight nod,she turned toward the house, letting him guide her through the door. The screen door clapped shut behind them, but she left the wooden door open. Not all the way but just enough. Tyler noticed. Hell, he appreciated it. A woman who knew how to protect what was hers. A daughter who wasn’t about to let anyone mess with her father, even if she respected his need to stand on his own.
He stayed beside her in the living room, casserole carrier still warm in his hand. He could’ve gone into the kitchen, but instinct told him not to leave her. Not until they knew they were gone.
Outside, Jordy’s voice carried again. “Jack, if you play your cards right and talk to the developer, he’d make a deal that’d be good for all of us.”
Tyler felt Justice tense beside him, her arms folded tightly.
Jack’s voice answered, firm and clear. “Jordy, I don’t see how you figure that. I own this land. Free and clear. It was never part of Dad’s Will. I bought it myself almost thirty years ago. So what’s twisted in your head or come outta your wife’s mouth that makes you think you’ve got any claim here, I truly cannot imagine.”
The unmistakable sound of Debbie’s huff came rushing out. “Selfish! Always been so damn selfish!”
Jack didn’t skip a beat. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re going to leave. I’m going to walk back into this house and have a nice dinner with my daughter and Charlie’s grandson. That’s it. That’s all there is. There’s nothing else here that concerns you.”
Tyler could imagine the slump of Jordy’s shoulders, the way petty men deflated when their power plays failed. But he also knew some people, like Debbie, didn’t go down easy.
But Jack didn’t entertain either of them. The screen door snapped shut behind him, the sound as final as a judge’s gavel. He closed the door, turned toward the living room, and found them both watching him. He raised a brow and smiled likenothing had happened. “Tyler, I don’t know about you, but I’m gettin’ mighty hungry. I have some salad and rolls that ought to go well with the casserole. Let’s eat.”
