Page 59 of Grace's Redemption

“I’m not blocking you.” James put his arm around Justin. “I’m saving you from getting your balls cut off in the middle of this lovely establishment. You know how blood makes you squeamish.

I flipped up my skirt at the hip to show him my pride and joy.

“See.” James motioned toward me.

Justin’s eyes grew wide as his gaze followed the blade down my leg. It wasn’t long, but I knew how to use it to cause some damage.

“Believe me man, she knows how to use it.”

Justin pushed off of his President walked away with his hands up. “You Lady Guardians are crazy as shit.”

I was two seconds away from cracking up before I saw him.

The air departed my lungs in a whoosh.

“Gracie.” James's eyes grew wide. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head and covered his mouth with my hand.

I turned his head in the direction of the door.

Mase stood in the doorway, his father in front of him.

Their backs were turned toward me, but there was no mistaking him and his broad shoulders.

He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded at something his father said.

I didn’t feel the air return, nor did I notice James grabbing me around the waist and hoisting me up and out the back of the room.

He sat me down and leaned me back against the wall while he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Did you see who just walked in?” James said into his phone. He paused for a minute and studied me.

I wasn’t sure what the expression on my face held. I couldn’t think. All I saw were his hands. I remembered how they felt when he touched me. It’s been almost five years and a bullet wound on my side. Yet I still wanted him.

I looked down at my hands.

“She’s with me.” He put the phone on speaker.

“Stick.” Razor, the National President’s deep gruff voice filled the hallway “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I said. I didn’t recognize my own voice.

“Grace.” Anna’s voice rang through the phone, “Stay out of sight.”

The phone knocked against something and I heard muffled sounds and Papa Scott’s voice.

“Razor.” Papa Scott said. “It’s good to see you.”

“This is a Guardians party Eugene, what are you doing here?” Razor asked.

“Just popping in to say hello.” He nodded. “Thought we would have a chat, oh, and you too Justice.”

My stomach turned. He said Justice’s name as an afterthought. He hadn’t changed a bit in four years.

“We’re celebrating tonight.”

The phone went dead.