Page 23 of Double the Redemption

“She has a point,” Ice muttered.

Savage rubbed a hand along his jaw and glanced at Rogue. They said nothing, yet so much was communicated in silence that she almost felt uncomfortable.

Finally, Savage huffed out an annoyed breath. “We’d appreciate it if you could do the books. Get them set up so that when you’re done, someone else can come in and take over without much trouble.”

“I’ll need access to a computer that I can input all the information.”

“You’ll use the computer in the garage after hours for now until we can get Code and Glitch to rig up a laptop that can’t be traced back to you. I’ll have Esme set you up on her account so it looks like it’s her,” Rogue told her.

“Are you filing paperwork to say she’s on maternity leave?” She held up her trembling hand when Rogue stilled, his eyes narrowing. “If someone’s looking for me, especially someone in the government, they can figure out that she’s not working and someone else is doing it. I shouldn’t advocate not filing with the government, but maybe consider not filing. Find a way to pay her benefits under the table if you have to. Anything that makes it look like she’s still working.”

“She’s got a point,” Ink agreed. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“Fine,” Rogue said. “I’ll talk to Fury.” He pinned her with a cold stare. “Don’t fuck up my system, Naomi, or I’m going to be pissed.”

“Rogue,” Ink warned, his smile slipping.

“I’m not going to panic this time.” However, she was on the edge. When had she ever been this forward with men like them? “I won’t fuck up your system. I’ll probably make it better and piss you off by making you follow the new rules.”

Rogue muttered something she couldn’t catch, then nodded briefly. “Show up tomorrow night to talk to Esme and figure out how she’s got shit set up. Then you do it every night for the next few weeks until things are done.” He got up and walked away.

“I feel like I should salute or something,” she muttered.

Ink snickered while Ice grinned.

“Rogue is to the point,” Savage explained, sighing.

“Yes, but he also didn’t consider that I have a young son who goes to bed early and I can’t just leave.”

“We’ll have someone watch him,” Savage offered.

She stiffened, ready to refuse. Watching her son play with other kids, Ink, and Ice was one thing, but she wasn’t about to leave him alone with anyone else.

“I’ll watch him,” Ink offered. “He knows me. Or, if you’re not ready for that, we could probably bribe the twins.”

“Bribe us how?” Wren asked, popping up behind him.

Naomi and Ink jumped, and Ice gave them a stern look. “What have we told you about listening in on conversations?”

“You told us not to stand and listen to club business. Speak about things out in the open, it’s free game. Besides, I only heard the last part, so it wasn’t like I heard anything I shouldn’t.” She looked at Naomi. “Win and I can watch Asher. We stay in the apartment over the garage with Scarlett and Rogue most of the time now anyway, so we wouldn’t be far from you. And Scarlett will love having him around.” Her eyes brightened. “I’ll get her to bring home some books and things for him to read with us.”

Naomi hesitated. It was a good plan, but Asher being so far away from her, surrounded by strangers? Her hands were already going clammy from panic.

“I-I’ve never left him with anyone, so I don’t know how he’s going to do,” she admitted. Peering around the corner, she saw Asher sitting on the couch with Win, looking at a book. His eyes were fixed on the book as if he never wanted to look away.

“We’ll have a responsible adult with us,” Wren rushed to assure her, giving a megawatt smile. “And we can make sure to check in with you frequently, if you want.”

“I-I can’t pay you. I don’t have any cash with me.”

Wren waved that away. “We don’t need to be paid. Besides, we’ll tell Rogue we want a bigger allowance this week or something to make up for it. He owes us.” Her grin was wicked, even as Ink snorted.

“He owes you? I’d think it’s the other way around. Wasn’t it you who lost his favorite wrench while you were trying to fix something when he wasn’t looking?”

Wren shrugged. “And as I told him, it’s important to focus on the part where I was trying to be independent. I don’t want to rely on a man for anything, right? He wants me to be self-sufficient when we leave for college.” Her smile was sly.

Ink shook his head. “Pulling out the double whammy. Good for you.” He looked back at Naomi. “I can vouch that the girls are really smart and responsible, and Scarlett will be with them.”

“I don’t really know her …”