Page 144 of Unexpected Redemption

“I’ll call you from the road so you can keep me updated,” he announces as he darts out of the office without another word.

Impulsivity strikes, and I dash after him. “Wait, Big Al. I’m coming.”

Two steps into the hallway, he halts so suddenly that I nearly slam into his back.

He spins around, one of his brows already cocked into an impressively-high arch. “No.”

My neck cricks at an odd angle as his one-word decree renders me silent.

Seeing the objection in my expression, he restates his decision. “No, Lettie. You’renotcoming. Stay here.”

“Why?”

“You don’t need to see it first-hand or deal with the fallout. Watching it on the screen was already too much for you. Stay here, where you’re safe.”

Oh, hell no.Once again, I’m a child being put in my place by someone claiming to know what I can handle.

Planting my feet, I jut my chin and slam my hands on my hips with extra oomph. “I’m going. Either I can ride with you or drive on my own. I’ll be nice and let you pick.”

His nostrils flare. “I said no.”

“We seem to be having a communication breakdown. I didn’t ask for your permission. You might be my dad by blood, but I don’t need a father to put me on restriction.”

My words cause him to falter a step, but he doesn’t change his offer. Instead, he doubles down, shaking his head emphatically.

“Driving on my own it is then.”

Pursing my lips, I bob my head in a curt nod and bolt around him. A little roll away and half sashay.

Huh. Maybe there’s some validity to the square dance lessons after all. I misjudged you, drunk llama.

Big Al’s heavy steps chase after me. “Lettie, stop. Tomer’s safe. I’ll bring him back to you.”

“I’ll bring him back myself, thank you kindly,” I huff, breath coming choppy. “He needs me. I don’t turn my back on people I love.”

I bite my tongue to stop from finishing that sentence with... unlikesomepeople.

He sounds like he’s getting closer, so I pick up the pace until I’m nearly jogging down the hall.

I must look like Emily Ross, Amy Pritt, and Karen Stickler when they were training for that silly speed-walking relay race they were having against Daisy Nijs, Jodi Lucas, and Marni Ortiz. They could’ve trained ’til the cows came home, and it wouldn’t have mattered. They’ll never beat the record held by the OG trio—Judy Barker, Emily Gospodarczyk, and Shannon Fissel.

“Dammit, Lettie. Don’t be so stubborn,” Boss Dad husks out in frustration.

Stubborn? He ain’t seen nothing yet.

Once I get to my workstation, I bend to grab my purse from my desk drawer. When I rise to my full height, he’s standing in front of me, blocking my path. A chill runs up my spine at the uncomfortable sensation of being trapped. But one look at his face, and the panic leeches out of me, quickly being replaced by nagging irritation. His eyes are so much like my own that being scared of him would be like fearing my shadow.

And I haven’t been scared of that in weeks.

“It isn’t safe,” he insists, his tone a hair gentler.

“You see these?” I tap at one of my ears, and then the other. “I heard you and Klein talking to the police. By the time we get to the scene, it’ll be crawling with cops. No safer place if you ask me.”

Licking his lower lip and grinding his jaw, he cuts his gaze to the side, then back to me. “It’s going to be red tape and dealing with the cops. There’s nothing you can do there.”

“If nothing else, I can hold his hand while the police interview him, exactly like he did for me.” Taking a step toward the right, I attempt to pass my grumpy bio dad. “After facing off with Viktor and taking a life, Tomer’s bound to be upset. So I’m gonna be there for him. As long as my heart is beating, he’s never going to face his struggles alone.”

Instead of letting me pass, Boss Dad tries to do his brain lookey-loo thing at me. His focus intensifies like he’s inspecting me for lice from three feet away.

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