Page 129 of Unexpected Redemption

Aww, shit.

“No. Sorry to scare you, sugar.” I look from her to Sammy, offering what I hope is comforting support. “It’s only?—”

“What’s up, T?” Sawyer’s voice echoes around the concrete tomb of the stairwell, emanating from the speaker on my cell.

“What’s your twenty? We need to exfil and double-time to HQ. The architect replied with a meeting location and time for tonight. Lots of prep to do.”

Lettie stiffens, eyes widening and jaw dropping. She squeezes my arm, her fingernails giving me a jolt of pain.Mmm. I like that.

As soon as the thought creeps in, I banish it. Not the time.

Sawyer answers in short sentences for efficiency. “First floor near the entrance. I just finished a sweep. All clear.”

“Rendezvous in lobby in thirty seconds. I’ve got the girls coming down the stairs.”

I end the call, sliding the phone into my back pocket.

“Elevator too much to ask?” Sammy grumbles, reaching for the handrail and throwing me a death glare.

Totally earned that.

I glide over to her other side to support her on the descent. “Shit. Sorry, ladies. I went into full alert mode. We can slow down. It’s only one flight.”

“It’s only one flight,” she mimics, her voice doused with enough snark to drown the county. “You try lugging two humans around inside your gut with umpteen extra pounds of amniotic fluid, all of which is pressing on your pelvic floor. Then, and only then, you can tell me it’s only one flight.”

Despite her bitching, which is entirely justified, she’s ambling at an acceptable pace.

Eventually, we get to the first floor, and only one of us needs an oxygen mask.

Sammy flops into Sawyer’s waiting arms, still bitching and fighting valiantly for each breath. “Tomer’s trying. To kill. Me.” Bracing her hands on her thighs, she bends at the waist. Correction. She attempts to bend. “He’s probably. Still mad. About the Chuck thing.” Forcing her spine straight, she meets my eyes. “I told you I was sorry.”

My ears burn as I glance between the two pregnant ladies I just hauled through the building like it was on fire. “I apologize about the stairs, ladies. I suppose I got a little overzealous about our exit.”

Sawyer examines Sammy carefully, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe. “You okay, baby?”

“Yeah. Just out of breath,” she rasps, her mouth quirking into a grin.

“What did you do to my princess?” Sawyer smacks both my cheeks playfully as if he’s challenged me to a duel. “Pish, pish, sir,” he admonishes in a stuffy British accent. “Name your second. We shall meet at dawn.”

“Very funny.” I move us to the lobby exit. “I assume the outside was clear, yeah?”

Back in business mode, Sawyer responds. “Affirmative.”

“I’ll run ahead to check the vehicle and start it up.” I release Lettie’s hand. “Stay with Sawyer, sugar.”

After I scan the SUV for trackers and other malicious devices, I start the ignition and kick the air conditioning on full blast.

Two minutes later, we’re barreling toward HQ.

Lettie nibbleson her lower lip, staring at me with a pout that stabs straight into my heart. “Do you have to go?”

“No, I don’t. But I’m going, and I’d love it if you could accept that. This is personal.”

She wraps her fingers around the edges of my tactical vest, pulling me toward her. “I’m trying, babe. I really am.” Her chin wobbles. “What if it’s a setup? If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’ll do. Me and this little clump of cells need you.” By the time the words are out, a tear streams down her pretty pink cheeks.

Attempting to lighten the mood, I tease, “Hey, is that any way to talk about our little caterpillar?”

Her smile shines through, driving the clouds from her stormy eyes.

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