Page 14 of Judge's Justice

I should tell him he doesn't have to do that. Should tell him this isn't his problem, that he's already done enough, that I can't ask him to fight my battles.

But Grace is at the table watching us with worried eyes, and my hands won't stop shaking, and Judge is standing here like a wall between me and everything terrible telling me that someone will protect us.

So instead, I just nod.

"Does he know where you are?" Judge asks.

"No. I booked the Airbnb during the bus ride. Paid cash for the bus ticket. Used a credit card he doesn't have access to for the rental."

"Good. Keep it that way. Don't tell anyone where you are unless you trust them completely."

"The only people who know are my best friend Jennie and my mom."

"You trust them?"

"With my life."

"Then that's fine. But nobody else. Not until we know the situation with the Vipers is resolved."

Right. The Vipers. The war. The fact that I accidentally walked into a conflict between motorcycle clubs because I had the worst timing in the world.

"I'm sorry," I say suddenly. "I'm sorry I brought this mess to your town. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of my problems on top of your own."

Judge looks at me like I just said something incomprehensible. "You didn't bring anything. You just existed in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's not your fault."

"But now you're… You're here. Protecting us. When you should be focused on your club, on the war, on—"

"I am focused on my club. Protecting civilians is part of that. It's the whole point." His voice is steady. Certain. "You and Grace are under Iron Phoenix protection now. Whether you asked for it or not. Because that's what we do. That's what Phoenix built this club to be." He pauses. "The Vipers, the club we're at war with, they've become everything a club shouldn't be. Trafficking. Drugs. Hurting innocent people. Phoenix left them three years ago because he couldn't stomach it anymore. Built the Iron Phoenix to be the opposite. To be what a club should be."

"And what's that?"

"A brotherhood that protects instead of destroys. That stands up for people who can't stand up for themselves. That uses strength for something that matters." His eyes are intense on mine. "You asked for help last night. Maybe not from me specifically. But you got off that bus looking for safety, and you found danger instead. So, I'm making sure you get what you came for."

I don't know what to say to that. Don't know how to process this man who spent all night in the cold and is now standing in my kitchen telling me that my safety matters. That Grace's safety matters.

Grace taps the table. We both look at her.

*Is Mama okay?* she signs.

Judge signs back without hesitation. *Your mama's okay. I promise.*

*Are you still going to show me your motorcycle?*

*Yes. If your mama says it's okay.*

They both look at me.

I take a breath. Try to steady myself. My ex's texts are still burning a hole in my pocket, and there are people called Vipers who might be looking for me, and I have no idea what I'm doing.

But Grace is looking at me with hopeful eyes, and Judge is standing here like he's willing to fight the whole world if that's what it takes to keep us safe.

"Okay," I say. "Yes. You can show her the motorcycle."

Grace jumps up from the table, signing *Thank you thank you thank you* so fast her hands are a blur.

Judge's expression softens again. That same small almost-smile I saw last night when Grace asked if he was a superhero.

"Come on, kid," he signs. "Let's go see the bike."