Signs of Love by Kimberly Rae Jordan Page A

a woman at one of the shelters where they’d stayed who had shared about her faith. It had amazed her that someone who had gone through something similar to her had such peace and joy. She had wanted that for herself.
    Since settling in Minneapolis, she’d found a church with a strong deaf ministry and quickly got involved. The church even gave her a small salary to sign during the church services. The rest of her money came from doing things on the internet. She had a blog and an email list where she featured books that were on sale each day. She was able to earn some money through affiliate sales that way and also through some advertising spots on her blog. Freelance writing jobs that she acquired made up the balance of her income.
    They wouldn’t be able to survive on just one of those things, but all together, they generally brought in enough money to cover rent, the few bills they had and groceries. She also tried to put aside a few dollars each month…just in case.
    It certainly wasn’t how she’d envisioned her life unfolding, but at least now she and Caden were both safe. And they’d stay that way as long as she didn’t let Justin into their life. She’d meet with him this once and after that, she’d only agree to see him when she was at Beth and Daniel’s. Never again would she allow herself to be in the position where a man could use his strength against her. Justin had Craig beat in the muscle department, and she sensed the underlying tension in him that was just like her ex had exhibited.
    God had given her a brain, and she intended to use it when it came to dealing with someone like Justin.
    ~*~*~
    “Something on your mind?”
    Justin looked up from the mat where he’d landed flat on his back after Alex Thorpe had managed to get the better of him. Normally, Marcus was the only one who could do that to him. When Alex held out his hand, Justin took it and came to his feet.
    “Seriously,” Alex said, concern in his blue eyes, hands on his hips. “Is there something going on? Because I really doubt I’ve improved that much.”
    Justin walked over to a nearby bench and grabbed the towel he’d left there earlier. He used it to dry the sweat on his face before looping it around the back of his neck, holding onto each end with his hands. “Just dealing with some personal stuff.”
    “Personal stuff?” Alex arched a brow as he reached for a towel. “Dude, did you go and get yourself a personal life? A girlfriend, maybe?”
    Justin gave him a frustrated look. Alex and his sisters were the only ones in the company who knew his history and his connection to Marcus. He was kind of surprised Marcus hadn’t shared anything with Alex since the two of them were best friends. “No. No girlfriend. Just stuff going on with Beth.”
    Concern crossed Alex’s face. “She okay?”
    Justin picked up his phone and checked the display as he nodded. “Yeah. We’ll work it out.”
    He felt Alex’s hand on his shoulder and looked at him. The man had obviously gotten the hint that he didn’t want to talk about it.
    “Well, if there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
    That would never happen, and they both knew it. “Sure. I’ll do that.”
    “I expect you to keep the upper hand next week or we’ll be doing coffee so we can chat.”
    “Well, that’s definitely an incentive,” Justin said with a laugh.
    Alex grinned. “I figured it would be.”
    As the other man walked away, Justin flipped his phone over and over in his hand. There was still no text or call from Alana. He wondered if she was going to back out and found himself feeling strangely disappointed at the thought.
    “Hey, Justin!”
    Justin looked up to see Dan walking toward him, dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase. Though the BlackThorpe compound was heavily secured, he had put both Dan and Beth’s names on the approved list of visitors so they would be let in without a hassle. They didn’t visit often, but Dan had come by a few