Page 62 of Justice

“Do you remember the day I showed you this scar?” Pointing to the angry line under her chin. The scar had made him see red and vow to destroy the man who gave it to her.

“Jones gave it to me, backhanded me when I tripped and spilled his drink. I can’t be with someone who associates with him.”

“Wait a second, the man is a hundred years old, how in the fuck did he hit you hard enough to leave a scar like that.”

Disbelief washed over her face and for the first time since they laid eyes on each other, she looked at him as if he was a stranger.

“Are you calling me a liar?”

Her story didn’t seem plausible, and when he remained silent for too long, she unloaded on him.

“Jones is the last man remaining on my list of men I plan to kill. And now I know where he lives, his motherfucking days are numbered.”

“I can't let you do that, Justice.”

“Oh really, and why is that?

“Because he pays me a great deal of money to protect him and take care of any situations he finds threatening.”

Reaching up, she pulls the earrings from her ears. “I guess you better sit outside his fucking house, and while you're busy sucking the balls of an animal like Jones, find yourself a new girlfriend. I’ll have my shit out of your apartment by noon tomorrow.”

Justice places the earrings in his hand, and slides into a cab that pulled up behind her. Before he could react, the taillights of the taxi have disappeared around the corner.

“She’s been to prison, did you know that?”

Dread fills his belly as he hooks his hands on his hips, tipping his head back in frustration at how much worse tonight is about to get.

Spinning on his heels. “Really, Joanna? And where the fuck do you think dear old daddy was during your high school graduation? Everything about you comes from people who have spent time in prison; your clothes, the vacations you take. Every fucking thing about you comes from the crimes we all commit so you can wake up every fucking day and spend the blood money you crave. It’s the only reason you're with Jones, hoping you can have him killed the first time he tells you no. Get over yourself, Joanna. At least Justice earns her way in life, when was the last time you held a job?”

Drake didn’t wait for her answer as he pushes past her, handing his ticket to the valet. As he waits for his car, he cell rings with a call from Tobias.

“Yes?” he barks into the receiver.

“Where the fuck are you?” He demands, an urgency in his voice.

“At Murphy’s on Fifth, why?”

“Is Justice with you?”

“No, she took off in a cab—"

“Grab the next cab you see. I need you to get the fuck out of there now.” Tobias interrupted, his voice raised and he could hear an engine in the background.

“I’m getting my car now. What the fuck is going on?”

“No, leave the fucking car and get into a goddamn cab! There is a hit out on you. Jones double-crossed us, he’s hired a guy to take you out for what we did to Steele.”

Drake looks across the parking at his car sitting against the fence. As the valet approaches the vehicle, he watches as two men come from behind the fence, handing the valet something, and then getting into a black SUV parked behind.

Looking around, Joanna is nowhere to be found, and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as he looks to the street for a taxi.

“Jones hurt Justice,” he barks into the phone as he moves past a couple who have a taxi stopped at the corner.

“I know,” Tobias calls into the phone. “Tymeless has her on the other line, she is going to the safe house. Get your ass there, now!”

Drake jumps into the back of a cab, slamming his hand on the Plexiglas until the man shifts into drive and speeds off down the block. He would have a lot of apologizing to do, and he didn’t care what it cost him, Drake was going to get Justice back.

CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE

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