Page 45 of Home for Justice
Sadie nodded, tapping her stylus against her tablet. “You can bet on it. You’ve got the largest piece of land left unclaimed in that area. Of course, he’s going to circle back.”
“Yeah, and I’ve already told him no.” Tyler crossed his arms, his voice steel. “And I’ll say it again. Loud and with force, if I have to.”
“Well,” Logan said, lifting a brow, “you’ve got solid folks next to you. The McClays aren’t selling either.”
Tyler turned toward him, surprised that Logan knew his neighbors. “McClays?”
Logan nodded, a small smile twitching at the edge of his mouth. “Good people.”
“I know the McClays,” Tyler said, his voice softening as his thoughts drifted back. “Met Justice not long after I arrived. Right around the time my grandfather passed away. We kind ofran into each other. Since her dad got home from the hospital, I’ve been over for dinner a few times.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Logan’s eyebrow lift slightly, a slow smile threatening to form, but the man didn’t comment on it. He simply nodded and said, “Why don’t we head outside? I’ll show you the rest of the property. Then you can meet back up with Mary to finish your paperwork.”
Tyler offered goodbyes to the others, feeling a sense of rootedness already forming in this land he loved. Following Logan out of the main building, he stepped into the sunlight, the mountain air crisp and clean, with a faint scent of pine riding the breeze. An open Jeep waited just ahead. Tyler slid into the passenger seat as Logan took the wheel. The engine rumbled to life, and they rolled down a dirt lane framed by tall grass and distant ridgelines.
He was still turning over Logan’s words about Anthony Milton when he spied Logan’s house in the distance. “I understand that’s where you live.”
Logan's face eased, and his smile beamed, changing the hard-core boss’s face into one of pride. “Yes. My wife, Vivian, teaches microbiology at the university. She’s able to do most of her work from home, which is good since our son is still a baby.”
Tyler glanced over and offered a warm grin. “Congratulations. Sounds like you’ve built something solid here. A life, not just a job.”
Logan nodded, eyes forward on the road. “Takes someone special to live this kind of life alongside a Keeper. Landon’s fiancée, Noel, is a social worker here in the county. Sisco’s married to Lenore, and they’ve got a little girl, Evie. And Devlin’s wife, Mia, works as a nutritionist with the Blackfeet reservation. So yeah… family is woven into our way of life.”
Tyler took that in, letting the words settle. The idea of family, stability, and partnership hadn’t been something he’d allowedhimself to hope for in a long time. But something about the way Logan spoke with quiet pride in his voice stirred something deeper within him.
The Jeep dipped slightly as they turned onto a gravel path that ran along the tree line. Ahead, the roof of a metal hangar appeared, nestled between a wide clearing and a backdrop of rocky outcrop. The glint of sunlight on glass gave away the helicopters inside.
“I see you’ve got a hangar,” Tyler said, leaning forward. “Cory mentioned you and Cole fly.”
Logan nodded, a gleam returning to his eye. “I used to fly tourists and led rescues over the mountains. I still have two birds we use for missions. We also have expanded into having an airplane, as well.”
The air grew louder with the mechanical whir of rotors. Logan parked and nodded toward the helicopter that was now powering down. “We still do the occasional mountain rescue, but most of the flying now supports our work. Recon. Infiltration. Sometimes extractions. One of the birds is in for a routine check today.”
He glanced at Tyler again, a knowing look flickering across his face, though his voice remained casual. “You’re welcome to take a look around. The person doing the maintenance today really knows what she’s doing.”
Tyler caught the subtle twitch at the corner of Logan’s mouth. Not a full smile. Just the barest hint. Enough to raise the hairs on the back of Tyler’s neck. They parked, and he climbed out of the Jeep, following Logan toward the hangar door. And just beyond the door, the last thing Tyler expected was waiting for him.
20
Justice had driven out to the LSIMT hangar to work with Cole as he needed one of the helicopters used by the security company to be inspected. He usually completed the necessary maintenance, but she came out when needed to assist or to inspect.
She’d spent the morning running through the checklist and ensuring it was safe. She and Cole joked around and just like always, she enjoyed his company. Her dad had met all the Keepers through the American Legion, and as an Auxiliary member, she’d been around Logan’s employees several times, although when on the compound, her time was spent at the hangar. She wasn’t sure what all they did, but she abided by the NDA she’d signed when McClay’s Mechanics were contracted for the helicopter maintenance.
The sound of a vehicle approaching caused her to turn to see who was approaching. The sun was in her eyes, but she recognized Logan in the driver’s seat. When the passenger climbed down and the two men walked toward her, she blinked. Next to Logan was…Tyler?
Justice remained stunned as her gaze landed on the tall figure standing beside Logan. Sunlight cut across the hangar floor, and in that golden shaft, Tyler stood with his usual quietintensity, his arms crossed, expression unreadable until he saw her. His features softened instantly, as if the sight of her also struck him.
But it wasn’t just Tyler who surprised her. Ever-stoic Logan had a distinct twinkle in his eye, his smile betraying a hint of mischief she rarely saw.
Justice’s mouth opened before she could think. “What are you doing here?”
As soon as the words left her lips, she winced. Tyler’s military background alone would’ve earned respect, but the way Logan stood beside him made it clear there was more. Whether Tyler was here for work or simply as a friend, it wasn’t her place to ask. And with her NDA, she’d just overstepped.
She opened her mouth again to walk it back, but no words came.
Logan chuckled, breaking the tension with ease. “Looks like you two are surprised to see each other.”
Justice grinned and tilted her face toward Tyler, her heart giving a small, unexpected flutter. She’d just seen him last night, but something about seeing him here, standing where she worked, in her world, felt different.
