same moment, shame flooded him because he knew there was no way Ashton couldn't be hearing every word of the exchange. It made Justice want to close his eyes and shrivel up into a tiny ball.
"Do you honestly think I believe you?" Craig asked, his voice so sharp Justice couldn't help but jerk in reaction.
"Yes, I do," Justice whispered, a cold sweat breaking out over his body.
"You've always been a piss-poor liar."
Crap, the situation had gone south fast. First Craig showing up, when he'd obviously been drinking, then him airing their family issues in public. Both things he usually wouldn't dare do for fear of infuriating their father. With each passing second it became clearer that his brother was getting out of control. Justice took in a steadying breath as he willed Ashton to stay hidden. Justice didn't even want to think about how ugly things would get if his lover rushed to his aid.
"Please, don't do this." Justice didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until his brother backhanded him.
It was a quick strike, most likely because even with the booze lowering his inhibitions, Craig realized he was going too far. The blow still managed to connect hard. Pain exploded in Justice's head as his newly healed lip broke open. As the blood trickled down his chin, a small part of Justice yearned to rebel. He'd become long weary of the same old game playing out, especially since Craig seemed so intent on upping the ante, and not in Justice's favor.
He then realized it would never end. No matter how hard he tried, or how successful he became, it'd never be enough for Craig or his father. So why he continued to try so hard became a mystery to Justice. He almost finally struck back, his hand only being stayed because he didn't want things to get that intense with Ashton so close.
Then Craig stepped forward. "It's times like this I wish you'd been in that car with Mom the night she died. That way I wouldn't have to deal with you as an embarrassment."
Those hateful words made a wave of nausea roll over Justice, but even then a huge part of his thoughts remained focused on Ashton and the fact that he could be discovered at any minute. If he and Craig were to get into it, it wouldn't end well for either side
* * * *
Ashton curled his fingers around the edge of the shelf as he fought back a yell of anger. It proved to be a near impossible task. With each harshly spoken word directed at Justice, Ashton felt his control slipping a bit more.
It didn't mark the first time Ashton had witnessed violence or verbal abuse. While his father tried to shield him from it, more than once he'd seen the darker side of the family business. No other incident had ever affected him this way, though. It felt almost as if every slur and insult was being delivered to him. No, worse, because it was the man he cared about who was being hurt.
He wanted to rush forward and intervene and deliver some pain of his own. He stayed back, knowing it would only make things worse for Justice. By the way the conversation had been going, Craig only suspected Justice of something. Craig didn't know anything concrete. So, the last thing Justice needed at that moment was for Ashton to come to the rescue and announce their forbidden relationship.
He still knew he had to do something. He just couldn't sit there with his thumb up his nose while his lover suffered. An idea sprang to his head and he pulled his cell from his phone. Even though the ramifications of his action would weigh heavily in his own household, Ashton still didn't hesitate.
With shaking fingers he quickly typed out a text to his driver, Baker, one of his father's newer "employees." I need your help. Come into the store and just act like you need to buy something. Whatever you do, don't mention my name.
After he hit send, a tiny measure of hope sparked in Justice. While Baker may be fresh, he still seemed to have a pretty good brain in his head. Hopefully he'd be able to pick up on the situation once he
"Do you honestly think I believe you?" Craig asked, his voice so sharp Justice couldn't help but jerk in reaction.
"Yes, I do," Justice whispered, a cold sweat breaking out over his body.
"You've always been a piss-poor liar."
Crap, the situation had gone south fast. First Craig showing up, when he'd obviously been drinking, then him airing their family issues in public. Both things he usually wouldn't dare do for fear of infuriating their father. With each passing second it became clearer that his brother was getting out of control. Justice took in a steadying breath as he willed Ashton to stay hidden. Justice didn't even want to think about how ugly things would get if his lover rushed to his aid.
"Please, don't do this." Justice didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until his brother backhanded him.
It was a quick strike, most likely because even with the booze lowering his inhibitions, Craig realized he was going too far. The blow still managed to connect hard. Pain exploded in Justice's head as his newly healed lip broke open. As the blood trickled down his chin, a small part of Justice yearned to rebel. He'd become long weary of the same old game playing out, especially since Craig seemed so intent on upping the ante, and not in Justice's favor.
He then realized it would never end. No matter how hard he tried, or how successful he became, it'd never be enough for Craig or his father. So why he continued to try so hard became a mystery to Justice. He almost finally struck back, his hand only being stayed because he didn't want things to get that intense with Ashton so close.
Then Craig stepped forward. "It's times like this I wish you'd been in that car with Mom the night she died. That way I wouldn't have to deal with you as an embarrassment."
Those hateful words made a wave of nausea roll over Justice, but even then a huge part of his thoughts remained focused on Ashton and the fact that he could be discovered at any minute. If he and Craig were to get into it, it wouldn't end well for either side
* * * *
Ashton curled his fingers around the edge of the shelf as he fought back a yell of anger. It proved to be a near impossible task. With each harshly spoken word directed at Justice, Ashton felt his control slipping a bit more.
It didn't mark the first time Ashton had witnessed violence or verbal abuse. While his father tried to shield him from it, more than once he'd seen the darker side of the family business. No other incident had ever affected him this way, though. It felt almost as if every slur and insult was being delivered to him. No, worse, because it was the man he cared about who was being hurt.
He wanted to rush forward and intervene and deliver some pain of his own. He stayed back, knowing it would only make things worse for Justice. By the way the conversation had been going, Craig only suspected Justice of something. Craig didn't know anything concrete. So, the last thing Justice needed at that moment was for Ashton to come to the rescue and announce their forbidden relationship.
He still knew he had to do something. He just couldn't sit there with his thumb up his nose while his lover suffered. An idea sprang to his head and he pulled his cell from his phone. Even though the ramifications of his action would weigh heavily in his own household, Ashton still didn't hesitate.
With shaking fingers he quickly typed out a text to his driver, Baker, one of his father's newer "employees." I need your help. Come into the store and just act like you need to buy something. Whatever you do, don't mention my name.
After he hit send, a tiny measure of hope sparked in Justice. While Baker may be fresh, he still seemed to have a pretty good brain in his head. Hopefully he'd be able to pick up on the situation once he
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