Page 51 of Justice

“Oh, hey,” her smile is instant, as she stands and looks past Tobias to Laura, her eyes growing in wonder. “This must be Erin.” Holding out her hand, for Laura to shake. Before Tobias can correct her, Laura interjects.

“Oh, no. I could never be that pretty. My name is Laura.” Looking to the floor as she normally does, tiny mumblings coming from under her breath.

Justice reaches over, placing her finger under Laura’s chin. “Hold your head up, darlin’. Don’t let the asshole who told you that shit have any more power over you.”

Laura’s eyes narrowed in confusion as she hands over the garment bag. “How did you know?”

“Pfft, I’ve had plenty of assholes in my life. Ain’t never believed a word they spoke, even if their tongues came notarized.”

The smile that split Laura’s face was contagious. Pointing at the garment bag, “I don’t know if those will fit, or if you’ll like simple clothes, but it’s the best I could do on such short notice.”

Justice tucks the garment bag under her arm and turns for the back of the plane. “They are clean and thicker than what I have. Considering the white stuff falling outside, I ain’t gonna complain.”

As Justice disappears behind the bathroom door, Laura turns to Tobias. “New girlfriend?”

“Nope, not even close.”

“Oh...” Her tone condescending, and while his history lives up to the barb, Tobias has plans to change how she looks at him.

“And not a fuck buddy either. She needs help, and I’ll do everything I can to make something right for her.”

Laura looks at him with a new tenderness, placing her hand on his shoulder and opening her mouth to say something when a booming voice sounds behind her.

“Tobias?”

All eyes turn to Drake, who stands feet shoulder-width apart, several flakes of melting snow on his dark hair. To his right stands a tall woman Tobias doesn’t recognize.

“Come on in, Drake. The coast is clear.”

Tobias moves around Laura to properly greet his boss, with his hand extended the pair share a one-armed backslap.

“Thank you for handling the issue, but you mentioned having something to show me?”

“I do, but I need to ask a favor from you first.”

Tobias moves to where his computer rests, the program still searching for Tymeless. Reaching into the storage closet, he pulls out the trunk he placed inside before takeoff.

“Let me see what you’ve brought me, and then we’ll discuss favors.”

As Tobias sits the trunk on one of the leather seats, the bathroom door opens and Justice walks into the main cabin. “Laura, I can't thank you enough. These are the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever worn.” Tugging the thick sweater over her hips with one hand, while holding the garment bag in the other.

“Justice?” The woman beside Drake shouts, pushing her way past him and running down the aisle.

“Molly? Oh my, God. Is it really you?” Colliding in a tight hug, the pair blurred into a ball of sobbing mess.

“Come on, Drake. Let me introduce you to your surprise.” The trunk momentarily forgotten as Tobias led Drake down the aisle where Justice and the woman spoke in hushed voices.

“Justice, I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

What happened next Tobias wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t seen for himself. The moment Justice looked at Drake, something sparked between them. He watched as his long-time friend, and boss, did something he had never done in his entire life; he fell in love.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

Drake had seenhis fair share of beautiful women, but none of them compared to the creature before him. He’d scoffed at love at first sight, believing the notion to be a lie Hollywood created to sell more tickets and place unrealistic ideas into impressionable minds.

However, as he looked into the soulful eyes of the woman before him, he not only understood the concept, he dove headfirst into it. He knew in an instant he would do anything; kill any man who got in his way of having her, not only in his bed, but also his future.

“Hello,” he spoke softly. His hand found hers as if two magnets, bringing her soft hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on the back.

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