Page 110 of Unexpected Redemption

As for Viktor, I’m starting to fear he’ll escape consequences. Unless I step outside the law and take care of him myself.

Aside from Lettie’s testimony, we havenadato turn over to the feds, Unfortunately, her word on the matter is tainted since she didn’t include him in her original statement. Still need to figure out what the fuck to do about that.

Mia and Klein must grow tired of waiting for an email reply, so they take their seats and get back to work.

Retrieving my cell, I contemplate texting Detective Salgado to see if she’d be willing to have an off-the-record chat. If Lettie comes forward to discuss Viktor’s involvement, I need reassurance they won’t turn the tables on her.

Then again, is that something I can ask of Lettie? Now, of all times? She’s fucking pregnant and already recovering from a horrible nightmare. The last thing she needs is to think this whole fucking case rests on her shoulders. Not to mention how I’d hate to put all my faith in the cops, trusting them to protect her. Imagine if she ended up under their scrutiny. Or worse—charged with obstruction of justice.

No. I won’t risk her.

Without another thought on the matter, I slip my phone back into my pocket.

We’ll find a way to take Viktor down without involving Lettie. She’s been through enough.

Now, we wait for someone to reply to the cryptic as fuck message we just sent.

Mia and I burned ourselves out yesterday and this morning, trying to figure out anything we could about this random email address. Ended up with nothing, exactly as we predicted. It’s essentially a burner account. If someone replies, we’ll see what else we can find about the sender’s location. If anything.

The reply will likely be sent through a VPN or something we can’t trace unless Mia has some magic up her sleeves.

Speaking of, I level her with a sidelong glance. “What did you say you were working on yesterday afternoon? In your office?”

Her cheeks lose some of their rosy shine. “Um. Huh?”

My brows pull in tight as I search her features. “Yesterday afternoon. I don’t recall what you said you were working on when you went into your office. Around 16:00.”

Mia’s lips part, and her eyes bounce toward Klein, who has stopped typing. His body tenses, and his hands freeze over the keyboard. My vision catches on a bob in his neck.

Shifting backward, I press my spine harder into the lumbar support of my chair. “Dammit.What is it? No hiding shit about this case.”

Neither of them will meet my eyes, which lodges a metric fuck ton of dread into my gut.

Klein reaches for Mia’s arm and gives it a soft pulse. “Let’s tell him.”

Her eyes widen, sharpening to barbs as she flings an accusatory glare at him. “Klein, I was hoping you’d help me come up with something to distract him, not fucking give me no way out. Your conscience is too damn pure at times.” After filling her lungs, she sticks her tongue out at him and finally meets my stare. “As you have surmised, we have something to tell you.”

Despite being tempted to demand she spit it the fuck out already, I manage to keep my cool and wait for her to start talking.

“Tomer, I researched an email Redleg received yesterday. We believe it was from Viktor.”

I try to swallow around a rock trapped halfway down my throat. Unable to force it, I cough and press my fist against my sternum. “Is it safe to assume this communication wasn’t sent to our general inquiries email account?” I raise my brows, pausing to give her a chance to answer.

Her gaze drops to her lap, and she worries her lower lip before finally admitting, “Yeah.”

With her confirmation, everything unfolds in front of me like a brochure that’s been pressed flat on my desk, all creases removed. “Lettie got the email. It’s what triggered her.”

There’s no question, but she nods in agreement anyhow.

My pulse distracts me, pounding furiously in the side of my neck. Without thought or reasoning, I fling my hand on it, cupping it as if I could slow the frantic pace.

Klein shifts, his chair squeaking and diverting my attention toward him. He holds my eye contact warmly. “Tomer, we didn’t hide this from you for any reason other than compassion. And we knew we couldn’t conceal it indefinitely. Mia needed a little time to see what she could find out about it.”

I find myself nodding along, but my vision fades in and out briefly as I process what I’m hearing.

My instincts tell me to run to Lettie’s side. As if I need to soothe her worries and love her through whatever memories the email stirred up.

But I did that yesterday. Only I had no idea what I was comforting her for at the time. All I knew was that she needed me. For as long as I live, I’ll be there when she needs me.

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