Page 68 of Home for Justice
Tyler felt the weight of it settling on his chest. He blew out a breath, his mind racing through possibilities. Justice, Jack, and he were standing between Milton and millions of dollars.
“And it looks like he’s got a new investor backing him,” Sadie added, flipping another screen. “Big money. Rumor screams Mafia ties. If Milton can pull this off, he saves his company.”
“But if he fails…” Devlin finished grimly, “he’s done.”
Sadie nodded. “Which puts a big, flashing target on you and the McClay’s backs.”
Silence settled over the room, heavy and full of unspoken possibilities. Tyler pushed to his feet, rolling the tension from his shoulders. “Lots of little pieces,” he said quietly. “But nothing is fitting together yet.”
Devlin let out a rough laugh, shaking his head. “Welcome to real investigating. Security work’s a cakewalk compared to this shit.” He pointed his coffee mug at Tyler in a mock toast. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.”
Tyler gave a grim smile. He believed it. Every person in this room had his back and, by extension, Justice’s too. And whoever was coming after her, after Jack, after their way of life, wasn’t going to win. Not while he still had breath in his body.
Tyler, Cory, Frazier, and Todd drove to his house, setting up the security system that they’d put off for a day, giving the arsonist a chance to get to him. Much like Jack and Justice’s house, they added security lights and cameras to the exterior. He wouldn’t be caught unaware again, this time knowing someone was outside his house. Todd had explained that if someone was present, he would receive a notification, and his new watch, provided by Bert, would capture video and audio of the camera’s output. They spent the rest of the day installing motion sensorlights around the house and an alarm system that would also connect directly to LSIMT and the sheriff's department.
The sun had dipped low behind the ridgeline, casting long amber shadows across the property as Tyler stood on his porch and waved off the Keepers. The evening was quiet with just the hum of insects in the grass, the distant bleating of goats in their pen, and the crisp scent of fall in the air.
He walked along the path through the meadow to the McClay’s house. Jack was already sitting out front, a blanket over his lap, a cup of coffee in hand. His cane rested against the porch rail beside him, within easy reach. He didn’t speak as Tyler approached, just gave a faint nod and motioned to the chair beside him.
Tyler sat, stretching his legs out and leaning back, letting the silence linger. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Just two men watching the sun bleed gold into the valley.
After a while, Jack broke the quiet. His voice was low, gruff, and threaded with fatigue. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I know enough to be worried.”
Tyler didn’t reply right away. He could feel the weight of Jack’s concern hanging in the space between them, thick as the mountain dusk settling in around them.
Jack shifted slightly in his seat. “I hate being sidelined like this. Not being able to go out and walk the fence line. Or check the back field after dark. Or stand beside Justice when someone’s threatening what’s hers.”
“Jack, you were out there last night, working alongside all of us.” His gaze shot to the cane, which Jack had not been using for the past couple of days. “Did you overdo it?”
Jack’s lips pinched together, then he finally shook his head. “Nah. I just brought it out here in case I was stiff getting up. Precaution only to give Justice peace of mind.”
There was a pause. Then Jack’s gaze turned toward him, steady and sharp beneath thick silver brows. “And I need to say something to you, Tyler. I appreciate what you’ve done and what you’re doing. But I don’t want you with her out of some sense of… indebtedness. To me. To the family. That’s not what she needs. Or deserves.”
Tyler let the words settle before answering, choosing his next ones carefully. His eyes stayed on the distant line of pine trees silhouetted against the sky.
“I get that,” he said quietly. “But I’m not here because I owe you anything.”
He exhaled slowly, then turned to face Jack. “When Gramps was in the hospital, and I’d just realized he was at the end, it nearly took me to my knees. He and my grandmother had always been a great influence in my life, both as a child and a young man. And when my parents were killed, it didn’t matter that I was already a grown man… they became the most important people to me. I was still overseas when my grandmother died, and while I made it home for the funeral and helped Gramps afterward for a few weeks, I wasn’t there for any of them at the end. But then, he was dying, and thank God, I was right there with him.”
Tyler’s voice broke, and for a moment, he sat and simply breathed as he looked over the fields. “I walked out of his room and stood in the lobby of the cardiac unit. Heart breaking at the last of my family dying. And for a few moments, I felt completely alone in the world. Had no idea what to do with the utter pain I felt.”
Jack stayed silent, listening with the same care that Tyler had recognized in Justice. Clearing his throat, he continued.
“Justice didn’t know me. I was a stranger. But somehow, she saw that in me. Without hesitation, she came over and put her hand on my shoulder. Just touched me. And when she offereda hug, I didn’t even question it. I just hugged her back.” Tyler swallowed, the memory still raw in its quiet power. “Something shifted inside me that day. Something I couldn’t explain. It was like a thread pulled tight between us. And I’ve felt it ever since.”
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, his voice firmer now. “So no. I’m not here out of obligation. I’m here because I want to be. I want to protect her. This land. My legacy. What you built. And what she’s building now. And if I’m lucky, what we’re building together.”
Jack’s jaw moved slightly, like he was working something over in his mind. Something in his shoulders eased just enough to show he’d heard the truth in Tyler’s words. After a moment, he gave a faint nod. “She’s been through a lot. I was a mess when Patricia got sick. I always thought I’d go first. Never thought I’d have to see the love of my life fade away. As I struggled, Justice moved back home and took care of everything. And I know her heart ached just like mine did. But damn, if she didn’t bring joy to Patricia and me as we discovered how to live while dying.” He let out a shaky breath. “And Justice is still here, taking care of things. I just want to make sure someone cares about her.”
Tyler nodded once. “So do I. And I want that person to be me.”
Jack held his gaze for a long moment, then dipped his chin. “Good. Then we understand each other.” He pushed himself to a stand. “I have supper started. You want to come in and help? We’ll eat when she gets home.”
“I’d be honored, Jack,” he said, smiling at the thought of Justice walking through the door.
30
Justice clutched her third cup of coffee like a lifeline, willing the caffeine to drag her through the endless afternoon. The familiar clank of tools and the low rumble of engines echoed from the service bays as her team worked with frantic energy to make up for the lost time.
