Page 106 of Double the Redemption

“Because they can’t find him. Glitch told me they can’t, and I’m the only one who might be able to. I can recall things. I was with him for so long, and I’m one of the only people who can pull up those memories, even that small.”

“So, what, you’ve spent the last three days going back through your time with him, trying to find some small thing that might help? You’ve been reliving the hell you endured?”

It made his chest hurt thinking of how she was forcing herself to do that. All out of fear. Did she not trust him? Trust them? Even now, after everything?

“Hell would be going back to him because he can find us, Ink. I can’t allow that. I can’t allow that for Asher. Because he’ll kill me. After everything I’ve revealed, there’s nothing about me that matters. They have what they want. They took eggs, and they’ll make more of me. More of Asher. But Asher, Diego thinks he’s his. That he’s got a claim to him because he had him created. And he’ll make sure to get him.”

“Baby, that won’t happen. We won’t let that happen. I won’t let it happen. You’re both safe here.”

“I’m not safe until he’s captured or dead, Ink. You can protect Asher and me, I know that, but why live with that threat over our heads forever? Why worry ourselves if I can help find him?”

“I know you think that finding him will make it all go away, baby, but all you’re doing is making him burrow deeper and deeper into your mind. You’re giving him power over you again.”

She stilled and stared up at him. He might be pushing his luck, but he couldn’t stop now. He needed her to understand.

“Every time you think about him, every time you let your fear push you into this space of reliving all the time you were around him, you let him in. You give him the space in your mind again that he has no right to be. You took Asher and ran to protect him. You wanted to get away from him, so why are you letting him back in?”

Okay, that might have been a dick thing to say, but he didn’t know what else to do. Or how else to get her to understand?

39

NAOMI

Ink’s words were a slap to the face. How could he say that? How could he think that?

No. He was wrong. He had to be wrong.

She wasn’t letting Diego have that power over her again.

Was she?

She wanted to yell at him, scream that he was wrong, but the cold water he’d doused her with seemed to clear some of the haze in her mind. The fog had kept her hyperfocused for the last couple of days.

The day she’d spent worrying about Diego. Remembering the words he used to speak to her. The threats. The way he used to watch her and talk about her. Or the ways he’d tried to talk in code around her, but she finally understood. She cracked it, though she’d been very careful not to let on that she had.

It was those conversations she’d been forcing herself to remember. Trying to figure out what was true and what was the usual bullshit he used to spew.

“I’m not saying that to be cruel, Naomi,” Ink murmured, dragging her out of her thoughts. “I’m saying that because this isn’t what I want for you. I want you to talk to me. Let me work through this with you. Let me be here to hold you up when the memories become too much.”

Her throat thickened with emotion. “I … I just want it to be over, Ink.”

“You have no idea how much I want that too, baby. I want to find him and kill him myself. For everything he’s done to you and Asher.” He pressed his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes, breathing him in. “I can’t do that if you shut me out and try to solve everything yourself. I know I’m not as smart as you, but another perspective isn’t a bad thing, is it?”

“No.” It came out in a whisper. “No. I’m sorry, Ink. I … I sometimes do that. I hyperfocus, and it’s like I can’t shut my mind out. It makes everything a puzzle that has to be solved. Finding the links and strings that are just out of reach.” She winced and pulled away. “Though, I don’t think I’ve ever gone this far off the deep end.”

“You were panicking and trying to sort it out yourself. But you’re not alone anymore, baby girl. I’m here. All you need to do is call me or text me. I’m always going to answer for you. Because you are important to me. No, you are the most important thing to me. You and Asher.”

She blinked. “Even more than your club?” It felt wrong to ask, but she couldn’t regret it.

He stilled, staring at her. The emotions that crossed his face were fascinating—shock, uncertainty, longing making his mouth work and jaw clench—but finally, they settled on determination. Her heart pounded.

Was she scared of the answer? Probably, but she still needed it.

“I love my club, baby. It’s part of who I am, but when it comes down to what I need in my life and what I will kill for, it will always be you and Asher first. It has to be. My club is close behind, but if the club made me choose between them and you, it would be you. I’d always pick you.”

Her ears rang as she absorbed his words.

Them. He’d pick her and Asher over his club.