Page 17 of Double the Redemption

Rogue’s expression cleared, and his gaze moved to where Asher and the girls were bringing Ronin and Gabe into their small group. He grunted and nodded. “I’ll wait until he’s at least five before I start warning him off.” He gave Naomi a bland stare, then led them toward a table where Scarlett and Esme were talking.

“Well, would you look at that? He made a joke.” Ink chuckled. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Yeah, while scaring Naomi,” Ice muttered. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, Rogue’s harmless when it comes to the kids and women around here. The rest of us, he’ll beat to a pulp if we really push him too far.”

“Oh, yeah, because that’s so much better.” Ink scoffed.

Naomi told herself she knew they were joking, but the look on Rogue’s face reminded her of the looks Diego and her father used to give her before they threatened her. Or beat her, in a few instances. She desperately wanted to grab Asher and run.

This was a mistake. All of it was a mistake.

“Your paperwork, it’s all done,” she rushed out, shoving it at Ink and stepping back. “I need to get Asher and go.” She didn’t want to disappoint him, but they weren’t safe here. She’d been wrong. So very wrong.

“Babe, it’s okay,” Ink murmured, but her anxiety was too high.

Her head was already moving, calculating how long it would take before she could get to Asher and get out of here. How many men did she have to get around; who might try to stop her?

“Shit. Ice, watch Asher.” Ink took her hand and urged her outside, then wrapped his arm around her before she could struggle. “Shhhh, Naomi, it’s okay.” He soothed her, guiding her to the edge of the porch and easing her back against the side of the building. “It’s alright, baby. Take some deep breaths for me.”

“Asher. I need to get to Asher, Ink. He’s not safe.” Her heart roared in her ears, her breathing growing more and more shallow by the second.

She had to get to her son. Make sure he was safe. No one could hurt him. Not again. She would burn this place to the ground if necessary.

Ink lifted her clenched fist and pressed it over his heart until it lay flat.

“Naomi, do you feel that? Feel my heartbeat, sweetheart. Do you feel the steady beats? Feel how consistent and even my breaths are? I need you to do the same, okay? We have to get your breathing under control before you pass out, all right? We’ll do this together, yes?”

His words were low, slow, and almost hypnotic. She stared into his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was saying, but then she focused on the steady rise and fall of his chest. The feel of his heart thumping under her fingers. The heat of his skin through his shirt.

It was enough to yank her out of her spiral, but it did nothing to lower her anxiety.

“That’s it,” he praised. He repeated the mantra slowly.

“In through your nose. Out through your mouth.”

Slowly, very slowly, the anxiety subsided, until she could finally draw a calm, steady breath and her heart rate returned to mostly normal.

Then, of course, embarrassment took place of the anxiety. Her face flamed, and she tried to ease away from Ink, but he held her steady.

“Shhh, it’s alright, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Just take another minute.”

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, wishing the porch would open up and swallow her.

“No need for that. You’ve had a very rough couple of days. It’s only natural that something would catch you off guard. I’m sorry. It was because of my stupid joke.”

She blinked, unsure if she heard him right. “Wait, why are you apologizing? I’m the one who made a fool of herself.”

“I’m the one who made the joke about Asher being interested in the girls, knowing full well that it would rile up Rogue. We like to tease him, but I never thought it would upset you. I do that more than I’d like to admit.”

“Upset me? You don’t upset me.”

He chuckled. “No, speak before I think. I like to think I’m working on it, but around here, it’s too easy to get under people’s skin and piss them off. I’ll try to be more conscious of that in the future, especially if Asher is around. The other kids are used to me and my antics.”

“Favorite uncle?”

He smiled, his eyes gleaming. “Exactly.” He gave the hand against his chest a gentle squeeze. “You good?”

She nodded. “I’m good. I … I’m really sorry, Ink. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. It’s just …”