Chapter 30
Justice clutched her third cup of coffee like a lifeline, willing the caffeine to drag her through the endless afternoon. The familiar clank of tools and the low rumble of engines echoed from the service bays as her team worked with frantic energy to make up for the lost time.
Their customers had been gracious enough about the unexpected closure, but every apology Justice offered felt heavier on her shoulders.
And though she kept thanking her lucky stars that the smoke had not damaged anything, the water had been mopped, new chairs and reception desk had been ordered, and the local glass company had already come out to measure for replacements, the sight of the plywood still nailed across the office window was a slap in the face every time she looked up.
A brutal reminder of the intrusion they’d suffered.
Carla kept the reception area running with her usual cheerful smile, chatting easily with customers and smoothing over any rough edges as she sat on a folding chair with a small folding table in front of her.
Justice was grateful because her emotions were balanced on a razor’s edge.
One wrong look, or one too-loud complaint, and she was liable to snap like a frayed belt on an overworked engine.
Her cell buzzed against the desk, and she nearly jumped. When she saw the caller ID, her brows lifted in surprise. She swiped to answer. “John?”
“Justice, hey,” her cousin said, his voice low, tentative. “I know you’re at work. Is this a bad time?”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the tension throbbing behind her eyes. It was a bad time. Hell, it was a bad day. A few bad days. But John rarely called, and the last thing she wanted was to brush him off.
“I’m a little busy,” she admitted, softening her voice, “but I have time for you. What’s going on?”
A sigh came through the line, heavy enough that she could picture him running a hand over his face.
“I hate to ask, but… can you tell me what’s happening? I got a call from home.” Another pause. “You know how Mom is.”
Justice leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling for patience. Oh yes. She knew.
Debbie’s talent for drama could fill an entire theater.
“Yeah, I know,” she said carefully, biting down on a dozen snarky comments. “But what exactly are you talking about?”
“I got a call from Mom this morning,” he said, his voice tightening. “She’s flipping out. Said you wouldn’t let them see Uncle Jack when he had a heart attack. I felt like an idiot. I didn’t even know your dad had a heart attack.”
Justice’s stomach twisted. She hated that John had to hear about it secondhand.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “Honestly, it’s been a couple of chaotic weeks.
My mind was focused on Dad, the hospital, and getting him through surgery.
I didn’t think about calling anyone outside of our little circle. ”
“How’s he doing?”
She smiled softly, her heart warming. “He’s doing great. The surgery went well, he stayed in the hospital for about a week, and now he’s home, getting stronger every day.”
“Good. I’m really glad,” John said, and the relief in his voice soothed a little of the guilt clawing at her.
Justice leaned forward, bracing her elbow on the desk. “Was that the only thing Debbie was worked up about?”
The hesitation on the other end was answer enough. Justice’s shoulders sagged.
“It was hard to discern what she was raving about,” John admitted.
“Mom and Dad are mad because, apparently, Uncle Jack isn’t giving them what they think they’re owed.
I didn’t really know what they were talking about…
and honestly, I didn’t want to get into it with them.
Christ, Mom calls, and all she can do is bitch about everything. She never even asks me how I’m doing.”
Justice’s chest tightened with sympathy.
John carried his own scars from growing up under Debbie and Jordy’s roof.
Not physical scars, but his desire to get out of the area the instant he graduated.
He was about six years older than her, and they’d never been close as kids.
They still weren’t close, talking only a few times a year.
“John,” she said gently, “I’m sorry you’re getting dragged into this mess. I’ll tell you what I know, but none of it’s going to surprise you.”
She paused, collecting her thoughts. “You remember your dad asked Grandpa for his inheritance early, right? Took it years ago?”
“Yeah,” John said immediately. “Dad got his money, spent it how he wanted. So, after Grandpa died, everything else was supposed to be left to Uncle Jack. Since you lived there, you inherited the house, and I received some money based on the house's value. That was the deal.”
Justice nodded even though he couldn’t see her. “Exactly. But now… your parents are acting like that deal never happened. They burned through their money, and now they’re clawing for a share of our business. They’re trying to rewrite history because they’re desperate.”
“And they think they can just demand it?” John muttered, disgust thick in his tone.
“Pretty much.” Justice’s mouth twisted. “But they’ve got no leg to stand on. Grandpa’s will, the early payout, all the paperwork—it’s locked down airtight. If they try to sue, they’ll lose. But that’s not stopping them from being a pain in the a–” She halted… they were still his parents.
“Go ahead and finish the statement—they’re a pain in the ass!” John's voice climbed in frustration. “You have got to be kidding me!”
“I wish I were.” Justice let out a heavy breath, the familiar swirl of anger and exhaustion tightening inside her.
“And it goes even deeper than that. A developer is sniffing around, trying to buy our property. Dad and I said no. Hell no. So now your mom and dad are pushing Dad, trying to get him to sell, thinking they’ll somehow get a cut of the payout. ”
“But… but that makes no sense,” John stammered. “Your land and house were never part of Grandpa’s inheritance. They don’t have any claim to that! None!”
“You know it. I know it. The lawyer knows it. Hell, probably every rational person on earth knows it except Uncle Jordy and Aunt Debbie. They’ve run through their money, and now they’re grasping at straws. So I banned them from talking to Dad. They’re not allowed near the house anymore.”
Silence hung on the line, broken only by the faint sound of John’s sigh. Justice could almost picture him there, sitting with his head in his hands, the burden of their shared bloodline settling heavy on his shoulders.
“Justice,” he said finally, voice low, “I can try talking to them. Maybe if it comes from me—”
“You know, John,” she interrupted gently, “I wouldn’t bother. They’re gonna be mad no matter what. But they should be mad at me and Dad, not you. You’re their son. You do whatever you need to do to keep the peace with them.”
Another beat of silence, and then a stubborn note slid into his tone. “I hear what you’re saying… but I’m still going to tell them to knock it the hell off. They’ve gotten everything they’re ever gonna get.”
A small smile tugged at Justice’s lips, warmed by the loyalty in his voice. Wanting to lighten the mood, she asked, “How’s Chicago treating you?”
John’s chuckle rolled through the phone, and it was a balm to her frayed nerves.
“Chicago’s good. Real good. I always knew I had to get out of that little town and away from Mom and Dad’s chaos.
I’ve been with the same ad agency for ten years now.
I love the city, I love my job… and I love that it’s a thousand miles from their doorstep. ”
Justice laughed, the tension in her chest easing. “I hear you. I admire you, too. I never had the urge to leave, but I carved out my own little world here. Some might think still living on family land means I haven’t gone far, but—”
“Hey, don’t put yourself down, Justice,” John interrupted, firm. “To each their own. I had to escape a toxic home. You had a good relationship with your parents and a business you believed in. You stepped up. That’s not small. That’s something to be proud of.”
Emotion pricked her eyes unexpectedly. “Thanks, John,” she said, her voice thickening slightly. “I needed to hear that.”
“I mean it.”
A comfortable quiet settled between them for a moment before John asked, “So what’s the deal with this developer? Sounds like he’s throwing a lot of money around.”
Justice rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, wishing she could roll her problems away just as easily.
“Oh, he’s offering a buyout, but it’s not worth it.
He’s a real snake. Dad and I both said no without blinking.
And thankfully, our closest neighbor isn’t selling either.
He wants to slap up a bunch of ugly condos and ruin the view, the community, everything. Not happening. Not while we’re here.”
“I don’t blame you,” John said warmly. “You’ve got a hell of a view out there. Don’t let them take it from you.”
She smiled again, feeling lighter after the conversation. “We won’t.”
“Well, listen, Justice, I’ll let you get back to it. It was good to catch up. And I’ll see if I can rein my parents in… though I’m not making any promises.”
After they said their goodbyes and the call disconnected, Justice set her phone down on the desk and rubbed the back of her neck.
If John thought he could pull his parents’ heads out of their asses…
then more power to him. But deep down, she doubted even the best marketing pitch could sell Jordy and Debbie on reason and decency.