Page 31 of Road to Absolution

Her tough exterior appeared as she leaned forward again. “It’s simple, truly. Dick is an asshole.”

“W-What?”

“It’s what I call him.”

My eyes widened and my body trembled. Him.

Justice slowly nodded. “That’s right. Dick hates Kenny—Giver.”

I nodded, very aware. “But… why?”

“He detests weakness. Think about it. It’s why he was created.”

I scanned the woman in front of me, not one part of her being an example of— “He thinks I’m weak.”

Again, she slowly nodded. “It’s not true, though. He’s twisted. He’s damaged. All your acceptance of Kenny and his destroyed parts, Dick views with disgust. You were able to show heart, compassion—something that Dick is incapable of. He only knows how to fight. Therefore, it’s all he respects.” She exhaled long and hard. “Everything else is seen as an enemy. Something that must be… destroyed.”

I couldn’t move.

I could barely breathe.

Because I knew everything she was saying was absolutely… the truth.

Her hands wrung together. “Research. I found the articles.” Her jaw tightened. “And I’ve spoken with Giver and Dick at lengths. I know every detail they know now. I know their story. And Giver knows every detail of mine.” There was a flash of hidden pain in her eyes, but she dismissed it as fast as they had shown. “Kenny needed Dick. I wish I would have had a Dick to protect me. The person I did have was a bighearted boy who did his best.”

Kenny?

As if a mind reader, she shook her head. “No. It was a long time ago.” She wiped a tear. “That boy is now a man,” she tried to smile, “causing havoc as always.” But the smile never had a chance. Nothing we were discussing deserved it. She whispered, as if suffering for me, “I’m so sorry for what he did to you.”

Nope. No smiles.

She inhaled for strength. “Now to why I am here. Giver has finally remembered where Jenny is buried.”

I covered my mouth. Oh my God. Kenny’s little sister. According to a newspaper article, she was never found after going missing…

As if not sure how to contain the anxiety rippling through her body, Justice patted her chest. “If you decide to turn Giver in, woman to woman, I beg you to have him killed instead.”

If I wasn’t sitting, I would have hit the floor.

Scared yet determined, she nodded. “We both know there are parts of him that will never survive prison. And we both know those parts don’t deserve to finish his life out behind bars.”

She was unequivocally correct.

As if facing death, Justice’s body was now trembling. “I can collect his bones after collecting his sister’s and take them both home with me.”

Then she got up… “I’ll wait for your answer.”

And she left, leaving me absolutely speechless.

Scorch didn’t stop her this time.

I was thankful. Her words had gutted me.

After a moment, Scorch came to me, offering me a bottle of water. “Hanging in there?”

Opening the bottle, I asked, “I guess you heard all that?” Swallowing water that my body greatly appreciated, I stared up at the big man who resembled an untamed Irishman the right woman could lose her heart to.

“Not my business.”