Page 61 of Double the Redemption

Grinning, he walked back into the kitchen. He wanted her to trust him, to rely on him.

If he was lucky, he’d get to do that later, maybe slower and deeper. He wanted to taste her, savor her, and show her just what he could offer.

Once he finished the dishes, he found her helping Asher into a small sweater and his shoes, avoiding his gaze. It did nothing to hide the flush covering her cheeks.

“Walk. Going for a ’alk, Ink,” Asher chattered.

“We are, buddy. But you have to promise to stick close to your mama and me, okay? It’s getting dark.”

He lost his smile and nodded. “Okay, Ink.” He got to his feet and looked at his mother. “Go, Mama?”

“I have to get a sweater and shoes too, baby. Give me a minute.” Then she was off down the hall, still not looking at Ink.

Ink smirked but kept his attention on Asher as the little boy pointed out all the designs on his coat and shoes. Something about a show with a blue dog. He recognized it from what the other kids watched, especially Ronin, though he wasn’t super familiar with it.

When Naomi came back out staring straight ahead, she easily ignored the hand he outstretched to her. He let his hand drop, unoffended. That was probably a bit much, but Asher took it, and that was fine with him.

“Alright, let’s go for a walk,” Ink chirped.

They left the apartment, and Ink was careful to keep Asher between himself and Naomi; her gaze darted around, fast and sharp, taking in every detail, including the fact that Taz was still on the roof watching.

He guided them through the lot and toward the dirt road that led to where some of the members had built houses. It was a safe place to go, and it wouldn’t be around the main clubhouse, where most of the rest of the club would be.

Asher skipped, grinning. “Look, Mama!” he exclaimed, pointing at the flowers along the path. “F’wers.”

“Yep, those are flowers, baby. Did you want to pick some for home?”

“Yeah!”

“He loves having flowers on the table,” Naomi muttered, her voice distant. He looked down at her, concerned. Her eyes were sad. “My room at Diego’s was right by the garden. It was the only place we were allowed to go freely. It was small, enclosed, and protected by snipers above. When Asher was only a year old, I took him out there to teach him how to pull weeds and plant flowers. It was the only thing I could do that wasn’t numbers. He insisted on helping me pick them after that.”

Ink wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her into his side to offer her comfort. She stiffened but didn’t pull away. “You survived, Naomi. That’s what matters. And he obviously associates the flowers with something good, because you can see how happy he looks right now. He thinks he’s going to give you something pretty and to make you happy.”

She shivered. “I know. Everything makes me think of Diego. It was all I knew for so many years. I wanted Asher to have some peace and a sense of normalcy. The worst was when my father came and saw the flowers. He’d sneer at them, saying I was turning that kid into a sissy or something.” Her lips twisted. “He never called Asher his grandson. He was just that kid. Someone he could use.”

He really hoped he had a chance to meet the bastard and make him pay for all the hurt he’d caused her. Caused both of them.

“It doesn’t feel like it now, but maybe that’s for the best. He wants no stake in Asher beyond what he could be. That means he doesn’t get to dull any of the shine or joy in your son. He gets to grow up with a mom who loves him, lets him be who he wants to be, and be happy.”

Naomi watched Asher, then finally lifted her gaze to meet his. Her blue eyes swirled with curiosity, wariness, but also something that made his heart trip.

“Mama, look!”

Their moment broken, they turned to Asher clutching a large bouquet of mangled flowers.

Ink chuckled. “That’s one way of doing it,” he murmured, squeezing her. “Great job, kiddo. Want to keep walking to see what else we can find?”

Asher nodded and hurried off.

He took it as an excellent sign that when Naomi eased away to follow, she stayed close to him. He fought the urge to take her hand, telling himself it would happen. Soon.

This was only the first step, but it was a good one.

24

INK

“Guess he’s not getting his bath tonight,” Naomi murmured as they made their way back toward the warehouse. Ink carried a passed-out Asher in his arms, pleased that the walk seemed to have relaxed Naomi even more.