Page 110 of Double the Redemption

“I have a vial of holy water for you if you need it,” Glitch called after him, laughing.

He flipped her off over his shoulder, making her laugh harder.

He’d taken today off from the shop, needing a break, and he was glad. He planned to take Asher out on the bike around the property. It was a hell of a time convincing Naomi it was perfectly safe, and he’d even gotten him a tiny helmet all for him, but she finally agreed last night.

Well, she’d said yes when he brought it up to her after he fucked her hard into the mattress and she was passing out, but it counted, right?

And once she heard the good news, she’d probably be less likely to try to murder him. He hoped.

He found her folding laundry, a look on her face he couldn’t quite decipher. It might’ve been patience, or maybe even barely contained rage, but when Asher grabbed a stack of freshly folded clothes and tossed them in the air like confetti, laughing as they fell over him, he figured it out.

Especially when she snapped, “Asher, that’s enough.”

“What are you doing, little man?” he asked, arching a brow when Asher brushed off a sock that fell over his face, ignoring his mother.

“Help!” he declared, beaming.

He swore Naomi’s left eye was twitching.

Maybe he should have brought that holy water after all.

“I don’t think that’s helping out your mama, Asher. It looks like you’re making a mess.”

Asher blinked, as if shocked to be told such a thing. “No, help.”

Ink glanced at Naomi, who narrowed her eyes. She’d fully embraced him taking on a more authoritative role with Asher. And he was up to the plate. Challenge accepted.

Crouching down, he gave Asher a stern look. “Asher, your mama is working hard, and do you think grabbing the clothes and tossing them around is helpful? It’s not very kind to Mama.”

Asher stared at him before glancing over at his mother. He quickly looked back at Ink, eyes wide. “Mama mad.”

“Yep, Mama’s mad. Did Mama ask you to stop doing that?” He nodded slowly. “Why didn’t you listen?”

He gave a small shrug, but the joy quickly fell from his face, replaced by worry. Ink tried not to let it affect him, but damn, it was hard. He didn’t ever want to see Asher sad. “You need to listen when Mama tells you to do something, Asher,” he reminded him. Asher nodded. “Good. Now, how about you give Mama a hug, say you’re sorry, and then pick up the clothes?”

Asher didn’t question him, doing as he was told. Naomi gave him an approving smile when Asher bent over to pick up the scattered clothes. Ink smirked and moved to give her a quick kiss. “How’d I do?” he murmured.

“Considering I was close to losing my mind, very good. You get major points.”

“Enough points that you’ll let me take him on the bike for a little bit to show him the property?” He gave her his best charming smile.

She stilled. “Ink, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He might be too scared of it.”

“Then we’ll come right back, but I think you’ll find he’s going to enjoy it. I take all the kids on rides around when I have time. Fun uncle, remember?” She rolled her eyes. “And I have another good piece of news for you. They found Diego.”

She froze, eyes widening, and absently thanked Asher for bringing her the clothes he’d tossed, but her gaze never left Ink’s.

Ink crouched down again when Asher came over to him and hugged him tight. “Thank you for doing that for me, buddy.” Asher beamed, hugging him back before toddling off to his toy corner.

“W-what do you mean they found him?” Naomi breathed.

Ink sat on the couch next to her, lifted her into his lap, and wrapped his arms around her. “They found Diego, baby. He was at the ranch, like you said. They got him, and he’s in the best maximum-security prison in the country. He can’t hurt you now.”

Trembling, she stared at him in a daze. He waited, content to comfort her in silence. “They really got him?” she whispered, hope filling her voice. It made his chest clench.

“Yeah, baby girl, they got him. I can probably get Glitch or Code to get some security footage of them taking him down or something or in the jail if you want to see it.”

“Maybe. I … I just can’t believe they found him. All from an offhand comment he made when he didn’t really think I was listening or paying attention.” She shook her head. “He’s probably so angry, but he wouldn’t believe it was me. He was so careful except for that one time when he was drunk and in my room. He’d been pissed about a deal that went wrong and wanted me to run the numbers again because he was sure I’d made a mistake. When he realized I hadn’t, he hit me, and I went into the bathroom to get away from him.”