Page 157 of Unexpected Heroine

When the app finally loads, I take one long, deep breath and access her phone’s camera and microphone.

Looks like her cell is on the nightstand. The front camera faces the ceiling. She has the lights on in the room. But there’s only silence. No TV. No music. No talking.

I lose track of time as I stare at Lettie’s bedroom ceiling, straining to hear her breathing. Longing for a simple connection with her.

And then I hear it. Not just breathing but a shuddery whimper.

Fuck. She’s crying. Again.

Another voice comes through. “Lettie bear, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

Stella.

She’s comforting Lettie in my place. Because Lettie doesn’t want me anymore.

At least she isn’t alone.

A shadow passes the corner of my eye before a hand knocks on my window. Shoving the tablet face down on the passenger’s seat, I open the door and come face-to-face with Sue. Her large husband trails a few steps behind her.

“What are you doing here?” Sue asks, never one to beat around the bush. One of the many reasons I appreciate her.

I exit the car. “Sorry if I alarmed you. Hope you don’t mind the unexpected visit. I’ll be quick. I came by to drop something off.”

She flings her thumb over her shoulder. “He wanted to wait inside for you, but I was getting antsy.”

Turning around, I bend over to reach into the car for a package of drug-testing straws. After giving this one to Sue, I’ll still have a few left until I order more. I’ve been prioritizing my deliveries based on risk level. I still need to hit Shep’s house to get a package to Valerie and Kri. I can wait another day or so to get to Mia. It looks like she’s been staying over at Klein’s mother’s house. So I don’t think she’s at high risk right now.

Come to think of it, I should probably place a bulk order for all of Redleg. I’ll get with Big Al’s assistant on that tomorrow. She’d probably be willing to help me distribute them. The women aren’t the only ones who should use them.

When I pop my head back out of the car with the sealed package of straws in hand, Leo is standing directly behind his wife with his hands on her shoulders. He has a severe look on his face as if he’s silently communicating something to me.

I recognize the inherent warning written on his features, making me wonder if I’ve already said or done something I shouldn’t have. But I just fucking got here. How did I screw up already?

Oh, that’s right. My presence alone is enough to fuck up people’s lives.

Instead of handing the package of testing straws to Sue, I extend it toward Leo. I suppose he can take a look and decide when and how to give them to her. He takes them with a grateful nod.

Huh. Perhaps he was trying to silently communicate that I should give them to him and not her. But how did he know why I’m here?

“Sawyer said you might be coming by,” he says, answering my unspoken question. “Glad you did. I need to talk to you.”

My vision glides between the two of them. “He told me I should come here tonight.”

“Good,” Leo says with a crisp nod.

“Good,” I echo, unsure where to go from here.

The tension bouncing between us is nauseating. I thought we cleared the air about the rescue op the other day when he showed up at my place with Big Al. Why is it tense again?

Fucking people.

Sue breaks the silence. “This is super awkward, which I have some experience with.”

Despite my downtrodden mood, I chuckle a little at that. Leo laughs too.

Then the silence returns. Painfully thick tension chokes us.

I still have no idea why Sawyer wanted me to come here. And my patience on pleasantries is spent.

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