Read Online Ashton And Justice by Stephani Hecht - Free Book Online
Authors: Stephani Hecht
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
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walked in and figure out what needed to be done.
The wait seemed to take forever. He became so tense he jerked when Craig spoke, "Good thing you're wearing a mask at the law enforcement gala tonight. Otherwise, the papers would have a field day about all the marks on your face."
A low growl worked its way up Ashton's throat. Here Justice was humiliated and probably brokenhearted by some of the things that'd been said and all Craig cared about was whether or not a few journalists would see a bruise or two. It made Ashton want to deal out a few blows of his own to the bastard's smug face.
Thankfully the door opened, the bell tinkling, reminding Ashton a bit of the sound that ended a round of boxing. As hoped, Craig quickly took a few steps back and plastered on a smile, acting as if nothing more than a friendly exchange had been going on.
"Is everything okay, here?" Baker asked, his voice blessedly cool and even.
"Yes, I was just leaving," Craig replied.
Ashton could hear the sounds of footsteps leaving before Craig added, "Justice, I'll see you at the gala tonight. Your costume will be delivered to your apartment later this afternoon."
The bell sounded again marking his departure, but Ashton still waited a few moments. Once he knew it was safe, he rushed out of hiding. Justice leaned heavily against the counter, one hand to his face. A thick trickle of blood ran from his bottom lip, the trail going down his chin and the front of his shirt.
"Shit," Ashton breathed.
He reached out with trembling fingers to touch the wound, only to pull back when Justice let out a hiss of pain. Baker studied the scene for a moment, his flat gray-eyed gaze going back and forth between Ashton and Justice.
Ashton knew the man was taking in everything and pegging the situation. While Baker may look the part of the thug, with his large muscles and dark buzz cut, he also struck Ashton as damn intelligent. In the end, all the man did was give a slight nod.
"I'll go get the first aid kit from the car."
After he left, Justice stated, "You called him in here, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I couldn't figure out any other way to make Craig stop hurting you."
"Aren't you worried about your dad finding out about us?"
Ashton knew for a fact that Baker would be giving a full report once he got back. While it annoyed him, Ashton couldn't fault the man. He had a job to do and one of them was to report any threats against Ashton. Call him crazy, but he felt pretty certain making nice with the enemy's son would rank up high on the threat list.
"You let me worry about that," Ashton said as he pulled Justice into a gentle embrace.
He just needed to hold the man. To know that, if for at least that brief moment, he had Justice under his protection. Justice tried to pull away, "I don't want to get blood on your shirt."
Ashton cupped him by the back of the head and brought him in for a proper hug. "Don't worry about that, either."
It gave Ashton a small measure of relief when Justice finally gave in and sagged into the embrace. He even rested his cheek against Ashton's shoulder as he let out a shuddering sigh.
"I so did not want you to have to witness that," Justice said.
"It's not your fault, so you have no reason to be embarrassed. I just wished I'd been able to stop it sooner."
"It's okay. I've had much worse."
That pissed Ashton off so much every muscle in his body tensed. For the first time ever, he understood the rages his father sometimes flew into. At that moment, Ashton could have been capable of just about any act due to his anger.
Justice shook his head. "I'm just shocked that Craig did it here in public. One of the unspoken rules in my dysfunctional functional family is that we always keep our problems private. This is the first time Craig ever hurt me outside of our house or my apartment."
"He shoved you at the party," Ashton reminded him.
Justice's face twisted up in a grimace of pain and fear. "Yeah, I guess he did. He's been getting worse
The wait seemed to take forever. He became so tense he jerked when Craig spoke, "Good thing you're wearing a mask at the law enforcement gala tonight. Otherwise, the papers would have a field day about all the marks on your face."
A low growl worked its way up Ashton's throat. Here Justice was humiliated and probably brokenhearted by some of the things that'd been said and all Craig cared about was whether or not a few journalists would see a bruise or two. It made Ashton want to deal out a few blows of his own to the bastard's smug face.
Thankfully the door opened, the bell tinkling, reminding Ashton a bit of the sound that ended a round of boxing. As hoped, Craig quickly took a few steps back and plastered on a smile, acting as if nothing more than a friendly exchange had been going on.
"Is everything okay, here?" Baker asked, his voice blessedly cool and even.
"Yes, I was just leaving," Craig replied.
Ashton could hear the sounds of footsteps leaving before Craig added, "Justice, I'll see you at the gala tonight. Your costume will be delivered to your apartment later this afternoon."
The bell sounded again marking his departure, but Ashton still waited a few moments. Once he knew it was safe, he rushed out of hiding. Justice leaned heavily against the counter, one hand to his face. A thick trickle of blood ran from his bottom lip, the trail going down his chin and the front of his shirt.
"Shit," Ashton breathed.
He reached out with trembling fingers to touch the wound, only to pull back when Justice let out a hiss of pain. Baker studied the scene for a moment, his flat gray-eyed gaze going back and forth between Ashton and Justice.
Ashton knew the man was taking in everything and pegging the situation. While Baker may look the part of the thug, with his large muscles and dark buzz cut, he also struck Ashton as damn intelligent. In the end, all the man did was give a slight nod.
"I'll go get the first aid kit from the car."
After he left, Justice stated, "You called him in here, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I couldn't figure out any other way to make Craig stop hurting you."
"Aren't you worried about your dad finding out about us?"
Ashton knew for a fact that Baker would be giving a full report once he got back. While it annoyed him, Ashton couldn't fault the man. He had a job to do and one of them was to report any threats against Ashton. Call him crazy, but he felt pretty certain making nice with the enemy's son would rank up high on the threat list.
"You let me worry about that," Ashton said as he pulled Justice into a gentle embrace.
He just needed to hold the man. To know that, if for at least that brief moment, he had Justice under his protection. Justice tried to pull away, "I don't want to get blood on your shirt."
Ashton cupped him by the back of the head and brought him in for a proper hug. "Don't worry about that, either."
It gave Ashton a small measure of relief when Justice finally gave in and sagged into the embrace. He even rested his cheek against Ashton's shoulder as he let out a shuddering sigh.
"I so did not want you to have to witness that," Justice said.
"It's not your fault, so you have no reason to be embarrassed. I just wished I'd been able to stop it sooner."
"It's okay. I've had much worse."
That pissed Ashton off so much every muscle in his body tensed. For the first time ever, he understood the rages his father sometimes flew into. At that moment, Ashton could have been capable of just about any act due to his anger.
Justice shook his head. "I'm just shocked that Craig did it here in public. One of the unspoken rules in my dysfunctional functional family is that we always keep our problems private. This is the first time Craig ever hurt me outside of our house or my apartment."
"He shoved you at the party," Ashton reminded him.
Justice's face twisted up in a grimace of pain and fear. "Yeah, I guess he did. He's been getting worse
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