Page 96 of Unexpected Redemption

That old familiar feeling returns, filling my chest and sinking into my stomach like a brick.Well fuck.

“What am I missing, Boss?”

“Nothing this time, T. Let’s see.” He taps his fingers on his desk. “All the morning tasks I gave her were done without issue. None of which wereexplicitlyrelated to Lenkov.”

“Such as?”

Clearly indulging me, he rattles off a list of a half dozen simple tasks. She placed a few phone calls for him, made changes to his schedule, ordered some supplies, and other random shit. Aside from making calls, none of them are likely to cause her any anxiety.

“Is that it?” I ask once he comes to a stopping point.

Scratching his beard, he leans back in his chair and sighs. “Other than that, it would have been routine emails and screening my calls.” He stiffens suddenly, snapping his finger. “I also asked her to sit with one of the payroll folks. I want her to learn how to prep it the way Peg used to do so I can sign off faster.”

“I’ll ask her if she did that yet. Maybe someone in payroll talked to her about the... you know.”

As good of a place to work as Redleg is, it’s still a job. Word spreads fast when something unusual happens. Boss’s secret daughter being abducted by traffickers and rescued by our tactical team isn’t an ordinary occurrence. So the gossip train is alive and chugging along regarding Lettie. It stands to reason that someone might have said something they shouldn’t have.

Then again... if that’s the case, why wouldn’t Lettie tell me? Why would she need to talk to Simone first?

Boss rolls out his neck and shoulders. “If you find out that someone asked her about that shit, send them to me for an ass chewing.”

I stand abruptly. “All right then. Let me know if you think of anything else that could have set her off.”

If I stay here another second, the tension will choke me out. Without waiting to be dismissed, I hoof it toward the door.

“Tomer, stop.”

My legs turn to bricks in reaction to his commanding tone.

Hands cast into fists at my sides, I glance over my shoulder. “Yes, Boss?”

“Get your ass back in here. We need to figure out our shit, or else the women in my life will never let me have a moment’s peace again.”

Fucking hell.

Is he serious?

As much as I want to unfuck our shit, this isn’t the way. Not because Madeline fucking guilt-tripped him into it.

“No disrespect, Boss. But ifthat’swhy you want to fix our shit, no thanks. I know I fucked up royally, but I also know we can’t move past it unlessyouwant to. I can’t want it enough for us both.”

Turning on my heel, I stride two steps away before stopping. Facing him again, I fling my arms to the sides. “Hopefully, you’llcome around soon. Because you’re going to be a grandfather in about seven or eight months.”

I don’t slam the door behind me. No sense in making more of an impact than I’m sure I just did.

Might not have a fucking job tomorrow.

Can’t find it in me to care much.

Chapter 20

Just lose it

LETTIE

As soon as Tomer excuses himself to see Boss Dad, I put my hands up in the shape of the letterT. “Whoa, there. Time out.”

Mia and Klein freeze in place, eyes widening in shock.

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