Page 3 of Unexpected Redemption

“Like consultants?”

“Exactly. And in exchange, they’re much more cooperative on matters that pertain to our clients. Or, in this case, Redleg family.”

Her eyes widen. “They let you do whatever you want?”

“No. Not at all. We’re still expected to follow the law. They share information with us that they used to keep guarded. If we need help or back-up, they’re usually on the scene faster. For example, if I tell them I need a SWAT team, they’re already rallying it before they ask me for details. It allows us to protect our people better. And it’s nice to have friends with badges in case we fuck up.”

“I see. And about this Lenkov stuff specifically? What’s the deal?”

“We’re pulling together evidence and helping locate the ones in hiding. When we have something they can use for prosecution, we feed it to them. If they find something of note, they share it with us. It’s working well. Especially with the new liaison they assigned to us. She’s incredible.”

Her forehead bunches.

Answering her unspoken question, I explain, “The woman who interviewed you. Detective Salgado. She’s working with Patterson now that our partnership has expanded.”

“I see.” The subtle bobs of her head grow more flamboyant. “That’s good.” The tone of her voice isn’t very convincing.

“Something wrong?”

A weighted sigh escapes her. “The reason I asked was to ensure you’re not doing anything that’ll get you thrown in jail. As much as I want justice, Ineedyou with me more.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to give you both, sugar bear. Justice and me by your side.”

She traces the outline of my lower lip with her thumb. “Do you promise?”

“Yes. I absolutely promise.” I rub my nose across hers. “Give me a kiss.”

Her face brightens instantly, and she tenderly slants her lips over mine.

After withdrawing, I ask, “Remember the night I left you with Stella and Freya at my house? With Kri and Marley?”

“When you burned down the nightmare shack and brought back Waffle House?”

She’s so damn cute. Before continuing, I kiss her again. I can’t keep my lips off her.

“Yes. That night. You brought me into the kitchen before I left. Remember that?”

She nods.

“Do you recall what you said?”

“Lord only knows, and he ain’t telling.”

Wearing an ever-widening smile, I scoop her hair back to reveal every inch of her face to my greedy gaze. “You told me to come back to you the same man you fell in love with. The other day at the women’s shelter, you said something similar. It’s stuck with me.” I tap my chest. “I carry it around in here. Every time vengeance starts to blind me, I hear your voice. It’s kept me from crossing that line. In fact...”

“Yes?” she prods, adding a pulse of her hands on my nape.

“The night I found Skidmark, I almost killed him. I could have. Then I heard your voice and remembered I wanted to be someone you could love. We weren’t even together at that point, and I was still determined to be better for you.”

Her eyes gleam, and her throat ripples with a forced swallow. “Really?”

With my lips pressed tightly together, I can only nod and soak up her loving expression while trying to decipher it.

Is it pride shining back at me?Nah.

Blinking away my musings, I tell her, “With my sugar bear’s words in my ear, I called Detective Patterson to come get him and spared that fucker’s pathetic life.”

Playfulness dusts her features as she lowers her chin to look at me from under her lashes. “Did you at least hurt him a little?”

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