Page 164 of Unexpected Redemption

“Come for a walk with me, son.”

Oh lawd.

Son?

I’m running out of fluids from the ocean of tears I’m bawling.

As they stroll down the hall, Boss Dad throws an arm over Tomer’s shoulder. Watching them go, all I can do is hope they’re both ready to heal their hearts. My caterpillar deserves them both in his or her life.

Chapter 36

Thing two

TOMER

On the night Lettie accepted my collar, I told her there were three things I needed before I could sayI have it all.

Viktor Lenkov is dead in the ground, where he belongs. That was thing one—not affiliated with Dr. Suess.

If the tone of the evening is any indication, it’s possible I’ll be crossing the second item off my list—making peace with Big Al.

Once that’s done, there’s nothing stopping me from marrying Lettie.

Boss throws his arm over my shoulder, silently leading me away from the throngs of apology givers. Like I told Sue, the new sign would’ve been enough for me. Everything else, though, made that momentous gesture insignificant.

Not to say it was. It means the world to me.

Somehow, their words affected me more.

All these years, I assumed the worst in everyone. Figured the Nofunfuck sign and frequent jokes were how they honestly felt.By believing that lie, I discounted all the positive things they’ve said about me and their kind gestures.

Like when Sawyer spent an entire day hitting store after store to buy all the furniture, bedding, and related supplies to furnish Lettie’s room at Freya’s apartment. And how Leo sent Jonesy and Aaron to rough up Davidov when I couldn’t do it myself. How Kri and Shep dropped everything on a moment’s notice to keep Lettie safe and have my back when I went to torch the trafficking house.

And how Big Al stopped me from killing my father, dragging me out of that shack before I did something I could never undo.

Not that I’d likely want to. However, he knew I didn’t need that on my conscience. I suspect he saw me as a better man and was determined to help me see it too.

Perhaps he’s finally accomplished that.

Boss leads me into the copy room. My feet stop short in the doorway, and I gasp. With eyes bulging, I scan the room from wall to wall, floor to ceiling.

It isn’t a copy room anymore. It’s an office.

A nice as hell office.

Some of the cabinetry remains, including the counter. But the file cabinets, copy machine, and random supplies are gone. In their place is a massive workstation, three monitors hooked up to machines hidden under the desk. In the corner is a two-person couch with small tables on each end. There’s a padded ottoman in the spot where a coffee table would be.

Turning around, I face Big Al. “What’s all this?”

“Well, Lettie seems to be the only one who uses the copy machine lately, so I moved it down the hall to the little alcove near her desk. It left me with all this empty space.” He spreads his open palms to the sides. “Figured it’d make a nice office for someone.”

Once his eyes are done tracking the room, they land on mine. One side of his mouth quirks. “Know anyone who needs their own space?”

I gesture to the corner. “What’s with the couch?”

“Well, as someone informed me recently... you’re about to become a father. And that means Lettie will be a mother.” He grows oddly shy, cheeks reddening. “Sometimes, mothers and fathers need a place to rest and feed a baby or whatever. So I assume.”

A smile ambushes my face at the idea of Lettie feeding our caterpillar on the couch while I work. Or vice versa.

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