Page 46 of Double the Redemption

“We’re not a normal group, Naomi. Karissa and Glitch are full-fledged members, and we treat them as such. They fuck up, they get their asses handed to them. The same way they would to the rest of us if the shoe were on the other foot. And they can take it and hand it back. Don’t worry about them.”

“We’ve wiped the floor with all of them more than once,” Karissa said, her dark eyes brightening with anticipation.

She was excited at the idea of this? Naomi just shook her head. It shouldn’t surprise her, she supposed. This was a whole other world.

“As long as Asher is safe, I don’t care what you do in your spare time.”

That sobered Karissa. “You’ll probably be sick of us in a few days, but we’ll ensure it. Taz, Glitch, and I will also make sure that no one gets past the gates who shouldn’t.”

She wanted to ask what it meant and why it hadn’t been done in the first place but bit her tongue. Surviving needed to be her only focus. There was only five months until the trial, but it felt like a lifetime.

Boots hitting the steps outside the door jerked her out of her thoughts with a snap. Asher scampered off the couch and took off toward the bedroom. Naomi flinched at the closet door being slammed. She swiftly followed when Jag and Karissa waved her out with hard glares. She wasn’t going to question them.

Opening the closet door, she moved inside and shut it again, easing Asher into her lap.

“Mama, I scared,” he whispered, burrowing into her.

“I know, baby. I’m sorry. I promise you’re safe. Jag and Karissa will make sure of it.”

“Ink.”

“What?” She tried not to wince at the name. Thinking about Ink was a bad idea. Being a mixture of pissed off and hurt was never good. She was liable to throat-punch him if he got too close again.

“I want Ink,” Asher blubbered as he tried valiantly to hold back his sobs, his little body shaking.

Damn it. That was exactly what she had tried to avoid. Her son was hurting, not understanding that Ink was part of the reason for all of this.

The closet door opened slowly, yanking her from her thoughts, and she stilled, waiting. She saw the boots first, the scuffed ends and navy laces instead of black. Ink. His face was ashen, eyes full of pain.

He must’ve heard Asher. She tightened her grip on Asher, who clung to her so tightly the fabric of her T-shirt tore slightly. Her glare was icy as she looked up at Ink. She was so angry that her heart was shattering from the pain this entire situation was causing her son.

“Naomi,” he murmured, crouching down. The apology and regret didn’t move her, but his voice was enough to have Asher turn and look at the man he wanted.

“Ink,” he sobbed, releasing her and trying to squirm away. “Mama, let go. See Ink. I see Ink.”

“Asher, stop,” she ordered, but he was beyond reason, screeching and fighting to get away from her. It only broke her more.

“Naomi, please, let me help,” Ink begged. He cautiously lifted his arms out toward her. “Please.”

She wanted to scream at him to get away. This was his fault. He did this. He caused this. He made himself important to her son, made him trust him.

Asher kicked her in the belly, knocking the wind out of her. Twisting himself, he wrenched out of her grasp, and Ink swiftly moved to grab him to keep him from falling. “Ink!” Asher sobbed, curling into him.

Naomi stared, trying to get her breath back and fighting the sharp urge to snatch her son back, but she knew that would only make things worse.

“Shhh, it’s okay, buddy,” Ink soothed, rubbing Asher’s trembling back, but his eyes never left Naomi. He didn’t try to leave the closet or step out of her line of sight.

A part of her recognized he was doing it for her benefit, but she was too angry. Too hurt that her son didn’t want her to protect him. A hard lump formed in her throat, but she refused to let this man see her cry.

It took another full five minutes before Asher’s sobs finally settled and he lay peacefully against Ink, his little face red and streaked. He twisted Ink’s T-shirt in his grip, and his eyes grew heavy until he went slack in his arms.

No one moved for a few minutes. Then Naomi rasped, “Move.”

He shifted easily, still holding Asher, and got to his feet. He didn’t protest as she took her son and carried him to the bed then tucked him in. When she turned, he was by the door, giving her space, but she narrowed her eyes at him. Leaving, he let out a heavy sigh as he went down the hall. She followed him out, shutting the door so only a small crack remained.

Whenever Asher had moments like this, he slept for a good hour afterward. It was going to mess up his already screwed-up sleep schedule even more, but she’d handle it.

She stared down the hall at the small group of people in the apartment. Karissa and Glitch stood with Jag and Taz while Savage, Ink, Simba, and Rogue stood near the door. The tension in the room was palpable.