Page 62 of Guilty Minds
Justin sounds… hostile? Why? I’ve never heard him talk that way to Alex. Even after Alex returned from the service and they were estranged. Alex was always so rude to him, and yet he still took it. Justin never gave up on Alex.
Now I see a Justin I don’t recognize, and that’s saying a lot considering the level of sheer undeserved hate he threw my way the last couple of years.
Alex steps forward. “I'm having a very important talk with Kayla right now. You’ll have to wait. Or better yet, come back tomorrow.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s about to chuckle.
I imperceptibly pinch Alex’s side, and he lets out that chuckle he was holding in. It’s gone in an instant.
Justin’s nostrils flare, and something dark passes behind his eyes. Something I recognize seeing before, years ago, when he was beating Mark on that abandoned gas station pavement.Determination.Alex is obviously just having fun with him, but for some unexplainable reason, Justin is taking it too seriously. “I will leave when I want to.” He hisses, his gaze focused on Alex. He throws me one look, just one, but in that second, I can see it in his eyes that he's wounded. Like I did something to hurt or upset him.
“Wanna go at it like old times?” Alex suggests, hope lacing his voice, and I begin to worry. Alex is bigger and more mountainous than Justin —a combination which, in my mind, means an easy win. But while I might think he’s more lethal, considering his size and military background, from where I’m standing, the always cheerful and smiley Justin possesses way more danger in an unexpected kind of way. I think I see the real him now. And Alex sees it too.He’d seenit already, and I know he knows he’s dangerous. All the masks he’s been wearing around people are gone, and now, he is what he is, a wild card with a raw intensity. Who won’t allow anyone to stand in his way to—
Where exactly to? To me? I'm not worth it, at least not to Justin, and everybody present knows that. Only, it looks as if Alex may have missed the memo because he snakes his hand around my wrist and tugs me deeper behind him. The man is enormous, so I'm entirely hidden behind him.
Now I see what's happening. Well, at least a little bit. Justin's been living with so much guilt on his shoulders that my big revelation probably topped it off completely, and now he doesn't know how to let his pent-up anger and resentment out. I get the feeling that Alex knows how to do it. A good ol' brawl. Of course. I'd seen Justin getting into fights with Mark around town all the time. They are balanced opponents, but I bet he hasn't completely digested the new information that Mark wasn't at fault. There's probably a piece of him in there that knows it wouldn't be right to cause a scene with him after being wrong for so long. Alex seems like an evenly matched opponent. Plus, he's probably looking to relieve some of his own anger.
Oh no, Freya will kill me.
Somebody growls. Loudly. And it’s not a wild animal. Well, not a four-legged one, at least. What the hell is happening?
“Alex, get the fuck out of here.” Justin’s voice drips with danger.
“No.” Alex shakes his head. “You wanna have a talk? Have it with me.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” He cuts him off.
I pop out from behind Alex’s back in time to see Justin cocking his head.
“Jus, man.” There’s a new warmth in Alex’s voice. I see Justin's shoulders relax just the tiniest bit. It must have gotten to Justin finally. “It’s not gonna make you feel better. I promise. I’ve been there." He looks at me, then at Alex, then back at me.
“We need to talk, Kayla.” Justin’s voice is calmer, but there’s still an edge to it.
“Okay, we will.” It’s getting ridiculous. Alex’s game of provoking Justin might turn sideways and bite us all in the butt any second.
I move to go to Justin when Alex grabs my wrist, pulling me back once again. I look up to tell him off, but he’s watching Justin like a hawk. “Alex,” I whisper, trying to get his attention.
When he finally looks at me, he shakes his head lightly, his face grim. “Don’t go, Kayla. Not now. That’s not what he really needs.” Then he adds even quieter, only for my ears. “Let him taste his own medicine.”
There’s something in his eyes I haven’t seen before—concern—and something I’ve been seeing every single day—stubbornness. I suddenly look back, and there he is, the God of war, stripped of all his weapons but ready for the fight regardless. Justin's nostrils are flared, and although I expect his breathing to be fast and enraged, his chest barely moves.
I involuntary take a small step back and bump into Alex.
Alex puts his arm around my shoulders, tugging me into him as Justin glares. “Kayla, go to the car and drive to Freya.” Alex sighs.
“What? Why?”
“Just go, Kayla. I need to have a talk with Justin. Like old times.” His voice is pure steel. He’s never used this tone on me, so I make the right decision to make myself scarce.
I’m in my car in three big steps. It’s only when I’m inside and put my key in the ignition that I dare to glance at Justin. His eyes follow my every move, and I shudder. His attention is… toointense. But he also looks a little crestfallen, as if he’s disappointed with me. My mouth goes dry as a wave of guilt rushes over me.
I hesitate before leaving. The look on his face… it’s painful. I take a deep breath and drive off, still unsure if I did the right thing.
ChapterEighteen
JUSTIN
His hand is on her shoulders. So close to her chest. Somewhere even I haven’t been. Fuck. I look at his face and imagine how I’ll break his perfect nose. Just like he did mine in high school, so we can be even.
“Jus,” Alex says calmly just as Kayla disappears in her junk box, “Man, you’re a fucking idiot.”
