Page 46 of Unexpected Heroine

Mia’s right. Lettie’s too pure and warm-hearted. There’s a significant chance she won’t be able to look past this type of killing.

Can I take that risk?

With a heavy heart and a jagged voice, I concede her point. “Fine, Mia. I’ll ask for help when the time comes. But it doesn’t matter tonight. I won’t leave her yet. She needs me too much. Sadly, that means I’ll miss out on interrogating Davidov. Lettie’s talking to the cops tomorrow. She’s going to identify him as her abductor. We’ll need to turn him over to CPD at that point. Otherwise we’d be harboring a fugitive.”

Mia curses into the receiver. “Son of a bitch.” After a short pause, she adds, “We’ll find other fuckers to get intel out of. I promise. If he’s going into custody that soon, I need to double down my attempts to find the mole.”

“Do it then.”

“And you go take care of Lettie. Don’t let vengeance distract you from what really matters right now.”

There’s a rustling sound coming from the hallway. My bedroom door pops open.

“I’ve gotta run now. Thank you for talking me down from the ledge.”

“We’ve got your back, T. Don’t forget that. You’re not alone.”

My throat tightens with a pulsing warmth.

After ending the call, I eat up the space between me and my sugar bear. Although her eyes are puffy and rimmed with red, they’re still beguiling. As much as it saddens me to know she’s been crying, I still get blown over when she looks at me.

When she sees me, her eyes brighten. A silent whisper in the air surrounds her that says there you are. I’ve been looking for you. I’ve missed you.

Before Lettie, nobody looked at me that way.

As I take her in my arms and hold her to my chest, I find myself at peace with the decision I made on the phone with Mia. Somehow, I’ll keep my need for revenge in check.

I’ll still hunt them down and make them pay.

But I’ll do it in a way that will never taint how she looks at me.

Chapter 10

Masonry-related incontinence

TOMER

Asoft knock at the front door makes Lettie flinch in my arms.

“Relax, sugar. We’ve got a guard out there, so I’m sure all is fine.”

Placing a reassuring kiss on her cheek, I glance at the front porch camera on my phone. As suspected, it’s the bodyguard currently on our perimeter detail. Looks like he’s holding something.

“It’s just Josh at the door. I’ll see what he wants. Probably the mail.”

She scoots to the side of the couch, allowing me to stand. Like always, I offer her my hand once I’m on my feet, giving her the option to come with me.

At some point, I suspect she’s going to try to linger farther away. I’ve been sensing it coming throughout the day. Ever since Freya left a few hours ago, Lettie’s been bolder, almost intentionally putting more space between us. It’s as if she’s testing herself.

As suspected, she shakes her head to wordlessly turn down my offer. That’s my strong girl.

She reaches for the remote. “Do you want me to pause the movie?”

“No. Keep watching. I’ll be right back.”

She offers only a tentative nod as she watches me amble toward the foyer. I flash her a wink before I turn to open the door.

Josh offers me a small stack of envelopes. “Mail call.”

---