Page 60 of Justice For Me

He watched Dante eye him critically, eyes searching for any hint of…what-the-fuck-ever, he didn’t know, just felt like the Dom was digging into his very soul, shuffling his secrets like a deck of cards, preparing to spread them out for everyone to see…expose him.

“How long have you been working out, son?”

The voice was soft and low but his damned blue eyes were sharp and way too inquisitive.

“Long enough,” he answered politely. “I wanted to get in some weight training before my morning run.”

He blinked slowly, eyes widely innocent and body perfectly still.

Dante’s head tilted to the left and then to the right. It was bloody unsettling. Fuck, his right leg begged to start bouncing.

“Kneel for me, Justice.” The order was issued calmly but in a voice much different than the usual friendly tone he had learn to associate with Dante. This tone, accompanied by a fierce scowl, demanded submission.

He’s not my master. He’s not my master. The defiant chant looped over and over in Justice’s mind.

He dropped to his knees.

Dante stepped closer. He felt a hand brush hair from his face and tuck it behind his ear.

“Breathe. In and out, calm and steady.”

Justice tried to breathe properly. His body wanted to grasp the help being offered but his mind still felt so fucking muddled and blurry. Malachi’s betrayal lingered in its continual pursuit to hurt him. “Did I do something to displease you, Dante?”

“Did you do something to displease Malachi? Is that why you’ve spent the entire night in the gym, trying to punish your body?” His hand cupped the side of Justice’s face in a very non-sexual touch. “Or did Malachi unknowingly do something to displease you?”

Justice raised his eyes and glared. Naturally, it would beunknowinglyif Malachi had been the transgressor. “That would be our personal business, wouldn’t it, Sir?” He mocked.

A finger under his chin tipped his head back even further.

“What did Malachi do, Justice? What happened that made you hide?” He tapped the side of Justice’s head. “What made you hide away in your mind?”

Justice snorted and tried to look away but a sudden grip on his chin, much more forceful than before, forbade the escape. “Nothing happened,” he hissed between teeth clinched together so tightly he feared his jaw might snap from beneath the pressure.

“Breathe,” Dante coaxed again. “Deep calm breaths for me, son,” he added. A long minute passed with the only sound being Justice’s deep breaths. “Think before answering me, Justice. Did Malachi do something wrong…or did he inadvertently hit one of your triggers?”

Blue eyes snapped toward Dante and grew stormier with each breath. Trigger? Fucking trigger? What the fuck did he know about what he was feeling? “Fuck off.”

Panic started settling in.

A small smile tugged at Dante’s lips. “I’ll ensure Malachi punishes you for that smart mouth, young one. Now, was it one of your triggers?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play games with your health, Justice. I’m referring to your Reactive Detachment Disorder and the personal triggers that can lead to an episode if you aren’t careful. You damn well know what I’m talking about!”

Justice felt every last ounce of his confidence and security erode beneath him.Dante knew.Shame.Self-hatred.Undesirable.

“Please, kid,” Dante whispered. “Please tell me this isn’t something you’ve kept from Malachi.”

“He…he doesn’t need to know.Theydon’t need to know,” he argued, his own fucking voice trembling as panic now rushed the door to his heart. “I can handle it.”

“Whether you can handle it or not, kid, is irrelevant. A dominant/submissive relationshipmustbe built on trust and honesty. It does not have a chance of survival without those two foundations!”

“Please don’t tell. I’ve got this. I always do.”That’s a fucking, fucked-up lie!

“Not only would that be unfair to you, Megan, and Malachi, it would be unhealthy, as well.” He put his hand on the back of Justice’s neck, using his tight grip to attempt to calm Malachi’s boy. His dear friend was going to be fucking, royally pissed about this. Those types of secrets were dangerous in their world. Hell, everything about RAD screamed that a Dom/sub relationship could lead to disaster…or utter bliss. Malachi just had no idea what a thin rope he’d been balancing on.

“I’m ashamed.”

---