DEATH (The Justice Cycle Book 1) J Kiefer (ebook reader .txt) 📖

Pictures of her family and friends littered her room and a rather large jewelry box sat on her dresser.

She quickly stripped off the nightshirt and threw it carelessly into a corner, before rummaging through her dresser and pulling out a pair of green shorts and a white T-shirt. After getting dressed, she did another quick inspection, fixed her makeup a bit, and then took a deep calming breath before heading out to the living room.

Jared was sulking on her brown leather couch, his eyes closed and his brow scrunched like he was experiencing the migraine of the century. Steve was sitting in the matching leather recliner with his feet dangled over the arm, drinking a can of soda.

The first thing Dana did when she entered the room was smack Steve’s feet aside. His drink sloshed.

“Hey, what was that for?” Steve whined, brushing the stain off his shirt. She ignored him and sat down next to Jared, putting her arm around him.

“So, partner, what’s going on?” she inquired. “You don’t usually show up here so late unless there is something major wrong.”

“His little girlfriend dumped him for some other guy,” Steve answered for him. “It’s got him torn up really bad.”

Jared shot Steve a glare that would freeze water, but his brother just shrugged it off and went back to enjoying his drink. Dana did her best to suppress a grin.

“I’m truly sorry, Jared,” Dana said, trying her hardest to sound sympathetic. “I know how you felt about her.”

“Me too, big brother,” Steve echoed with a warm smile. “I know I am being a bit of a jerk about it, but I’m just trying to cheer you up.”

Jared sighed and sat back in the chair. “I know and I appreciate it. I just can’t believe that she would do that to me. How could she leave with some stranger?”

“I wish I had the answers, Jared, but I don’t,” Steve said with a sigh. “But I don’t think I am the one you should be talking to right now.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jared asked. “Who else would I talk to?”

“All I am saying is that I need to take a nice hot shower and get some rest. You two should talk alone. After all, that’s why you wanted to come here anyway, wasn’t it?” He stood up and stretched. “If you don’t mind, Dana, I’d like to use your shower. I’ve got a long day ahead of me tomorrow, and it’s already very late.”

“Of course, the guest bathroom is upstairs. First door on your left. There are towels in the closet, and you can help yourself to whatever toiletries you need.”

Steve yawned and ambled up the stairs. Just as he was about to put his foot on the first step, Dana called to him, “It really is good to see you, Steve. Maybe tomorrow we can catch up.”

“That would be nice,” he replied with a tired smile. “You look after Jared for me, okay?”

He winked at her and she realized that he knew more than he was letting on. She had made no secret of how she felt about Jared and had spoken openly of it to Steve when they were younger. Evidently, he hadn’t forgotten.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the two and Dana fidgeted nervously. Jared continued to sulk undaunted, absorbed in his own misery.

“Can I get you anything?” she asked, breaking the silence.

Jared looked up as if seeing her for the first time. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

“I just asked if you wanted anything,” she replied, looking him deep in the eyes.

His eyes were such a dark shade of blue that they almost seemed purple. The first time she had looked into those eyes, even though she was only ten, she had fallen in love.

“No thank you,” he murmured gloomily, looking away again. “My stomach’s a little upset right now.”

Not knowing what to say next, the conversation lapsed back into an uneasy silence. She hated seeing him this way and cursed Jasmine under her breath. How could she be such a fool? Dana would give up anything to be with Jared, and she could not understand why Jasmine didn’t feel the same way.

Dana pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging them close with her arms. Jared was not only the man she loved, but her best friend and partner as well. But there was nothing she could do for him. She could only wait until he was ready to talk, and she was determined to wait forever if that’s what it took.

It wasn’t long before Jared broke the silence. “I really appreciate you letting us crash here for the night.”

“You know you’re always welcome,” she replied with a reassuring smile. “But you owe me big time for bringing the almighty rock star here.”

Jared chuckled slightly, and Dana nudged him with her elbow. “Is that a smile I see?”

The smile only lasted a second. “I don’t know why I asked Steve to bring me here. I guess I didn’t want to go to my apartment, and I didn’t want to disturb Mom and Dad...”

“So this was the only place left to go,” she said. “I understand. You don’t have to explain anything to me, partner. Stay as long as you need to.”

He gave her another weak smile and grabbed her hand. “Thanks,” he said, his voice thick with sincerity. “This means a lot to me.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart seemed ready to beat right out of her chest. She knew that he held her hand out of friendship, but she could imagine it meaning more.

“So how did Steve manage to wind up here?” she asked, changing the subject and trying to avoid his eyes. “I thought he was in the city.”

“I don’t really know. He said he was visiting a friend, but when I asked him which one, he dodged the question.”

“That’s strange. Why would he need to be vague about which friend he was visiting?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“I don’t know.