Page 21 of Judge's Justice

"Go," I tell them. "Now."

Nora nods and carries Grace toward the house. At the door, she stops and looks back.

"Judge?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't die."

It's not romantic. It's not poetic. It's just a terrified woman asking a stranger not to get killed protecting her.

"I won't," I say.

Then they're inside. The door locks. And I'm alone in the street with my bike and ten minutes until three Vipers arrive.

I pull out my phone and call Saint.

**JUDGE:** *How far out?*

**SAINT:** *Fifteen minutes. Canvas is with me.*

**JUDGE:** *Vipers are maybe ten out. Could go either way.*

**SAINT:** *You need backup before we get there?*

**JUDGE:** *Negative. I'm good.*

**SAINT:** *Don't do anything stupid.*

**JUDGE:** *Define stupid.*

**SAINT:** *Engaging three Vipers alone to protect a woman you met twelve hours ago.*

**JUDGE:** *Then I guess I'm about to do something stupid.*

I put the phone away. Check my knife. My gun's in the saddlebag, and I pull it out, check the magazine, slide it into the back of my waistband.

Then I stand next to my bike and wait. The street is quiet. Empty. Morning sun warming the pavement. Birds singing in the trees. Everything peaceful.

For now.

I think about Grace asking if I was a superhero. About Nora's smile when her daughter laughed. About the way it felt when Grace grabbed my hand without fear.

About Phoenix's warning: *Don't give them ammunition.*

Too late.

I'm already attached.

And I'm not letting them anywhere near that house.

Chapter 5 - Nora

I'm pressed against the window, my heart racing so hard I can feel it in my throat. Grace is beside me, standing on the couch so she can see over the windowsill, her small hands gripping the frame.

I should pull her away. Should take her to her bedroom, turn on a movie, distract her with something, anything other than watching a man prepare to fight for us.

But I can't move.