Page 48 of Justice

“He’s Catholic?” Justice is surprised given the line of work he does. Although, they do say the best criminals wear a suit every day.

“We both are.”

It had been years since she’d sat through mass, however, she could still recall Father coming to the house after her dad died, telling her mother she couldn’t marry for a year.

“How long ago was the memorial service?” She tried to calculate how long she had been out against the day Deidre was killed. Had it been more than forty days?

“They squeezed a wake and a funeral out of him. Her family can do a memorial service on their own, as Drake would rather forget her.”

Justice sat back in her seat, more confused than ever. If Drake hated Deidre, then why would he go to all this trouble to revenge her death?

“You got something to say, you better go on and say it.”

Her eyes flashed to his, she could feel the heat of her anger traveling up her chest, coloring her neck and face. She’d learned early on in prison not to let anyone get the best of her, and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Hell yes, I’ve got something to say!” Moving her body to the edge of the leather seat, her index finger cocked and raised, ready to pound into his chest. She had nothing to lose at this point, her certain death waited for her when this plane touched the ground. If she was going down, she sure as hell wasn’t going to be quiet about it.

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Making it seem like you’re some big hero, riding in on your metal horse, out to save the poor damsel in distress. All the while, you’re more evil than the man you hunt. Oh, you make it sound good; team up with the girl, flirt with her until she spills her secrets, and in the end, she does the dirty work for you. And because you have a reputation of being a hard ass, you dazzle her with pretty words, and tease her with the sexual tension you cooked up in the bathtub like prohibition gin. When the job is done, and let just be honest here, you ain’t about to ride off into any sunset with loose ends dangling in the breeze. So, you hold one more carrot in her face, promising to help her get the one thing in life you know she wants. When, in reality, your plan is to turn out the lights for her, closing her mouth and another chapter in your book.”

By the time she had said her peace she was out of breath and slightly shaking, but she wouldn’t take it back, not a single word, and if he pulled his gun out and shot her now, she wouldn’t beg him to spare her life.

“You know what I like best about you, Justice?” Dropping his leg and leaning forward, removing some of the distance between them. “You have no problem saying what’s on your mind. It’s a good quality to have, and one of the reasons I like you so much. You dropped some serious accusations just now, some of which are true, but most are misconceptions. And since we have another hour and change before we land, it’s only fair I get to clear my name.”

The phone in Tobias’s hand vibrates, the name on the screen reads Boss Man, however, he ignores it as he places his forearms across his thighs. “It’s true when you accuse me of using you to get to Red. It had been my plan all along to find a girl as a distraction to ride through the gates, but I never set out to save you from anything. Not because I didn’t want to, but because you didn’t need me to. And yes, I did flirt with you, but not for the reason you claim, but because you are a gorgeous woman, and any man with working eyes can see this.”

His phone vibrates again, but his eyes remain on her. “You could never be a loose end, and you’ll never have to fear death when you are with me, and especially not with Drake. I’ll make you a deal, you go back to the bathroom and shower, use any product you want, and when you get back, I’ll tell you a secret of mine. One that even Drake, my best friend, doesn’t know.”

Justice leaned forward, a new determination in her eyes, ready to not only challenge Tobias but win. “Well, I’ve got a counter offer. You tell me the secret, and if I feel it’s worthy enough, I’ll take my happy ass back there and shower away. If not, I sit here until we land, and meet this friend of yours looking like this.”

Tobias looks at his phone, a smirk forming on his lips. “You know how we met in the coffee shop, correct?” The smirk growing into a full smile as the tips of his ears grow red. “Well, I hadn’t put you being in the same prison as Deidre until a few minutes ago.”

“Seriously?” The word tumbled from her lips, surrounded in shock and laced with humor.

“Oh, yeah, and it gets better.” Leaning back in his seat, he silences his phone as it begins to vibrate once again. “Drake sent me to deal with the man Deidre was fucking behind his back, inside the visitor’s lounge…in the same prison.”

Justice couldn’t contain the laugh, which erupted from her chest, sending her head back into the leather of the chair.

“You win, Tobias, you so fucking win.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Drake lookedat his phone as the events of the newscast played out. Molly turned to face him; a new smile took over once the tears had been wiped away.

Red has been handled. On my way back with a surprise for you.

A smile tickled his lips as he assumed what the surprise would be, he would take Tobias and celebrate the successful and quite possibly prosperous endeavor. But first, he needed to convince the lovely lady across the room to come help him, give her enough incentive to stay in Boston.

The plane is in route. Hurry back, I have another job for you.

Drake pocketed his phone, “Now, Mr. Hannigan, I know you didn’t bring me all this way to discuss Deidre’s troubles in prison. So, how about you tell me the real reason I’m here, so I can get back to Georgia and find Justice?”

“Fair enough,” he replied, motioning to the sofa against the wall. Stetson muted the television, changing the channel to the Celtics game. Molly resumed her seat, tucking back into her forgotten slice of pizza.

“Molly, in my line of work, it is imperative I know everything about the people I deal with. Failing to uncover even the smallest detail can be disastrous. That being said, I did bring you here to confirm what I have been able to dig up on you.”

Her brows dipped low, creating a deep valley between her eyes, “You mean my granny?”

Emma Jean Baker, one of the country’s most sought-after counterfeiters, and Molly Smith’s grandmother. According to what he’s read, Emma Jean had printed more than ten-million dollars worth of counterfeit bills, mastering her craft well enough the US Mint had to add measures to stop her.

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