Page 52 of Redemption

Cash frowns. “I don’t blame you. I can’t even begin to explain what the fuck that was about.”

Chapter Seventeen

Ever

“Okay, so I’ll have a look through her computer, and you check the drawers and cupboards,” I joke, trying not to smile.

Pete nods, looking serious as he replies, “Got it.” He starts to walk off and then turns back to me with a grin, amusement coloring his expression. “That one nearly worked. I mean, by all means, go ahead and search through her computer. I say this with so much love, but how many times last week did I have to remind you what your password was?”

“Hey now, that’s . . .” I smirk. “Very true.”

He chuckles as he walks over to the desk. “It’s a good thing that you’re my bestie, and I love you millions because at this point I could easily steal your identity.”

I shrug. He’s not wrong, and we both know it. “Yeah, but I’d know it was you. Only you know all of the details when it comes to that sort of thing.”

“Very true,” he replies, sounding distracted now that he’s at the desk and looking through her computer.

My mission is completed though.

I just wanted to make him smile and pull him out of his head. I know he’s worrying about Elijah, and the fact that Mr. R has said that the team can come back and visit despite it being an active case means that the case has gotten complicated and even more dangerous than it already was. I know that Pete said Elijah tried to call Trick first to fill him in, but the fact that it was serious enough that he couldn’t wait for a few more hours to try again, and then bypassed Trick and went to Mr. R, says how serious the situation is. Although Elijah was probably glad that Trick didn’t answer, so Trick didn’t have to break that news to Peter.

While Trick is the one who is logistically in charge of the teams that make up our family, both he and Mr. R acknowledged that it was a lot of responsibility, pressure, and logistical stress for him to take on by himself, even with Cash’s help. So there are certain things that they agreed that Mr. R would deal with, and if for whatever reason a team couldn’t get hold of Trick, they’d call Mr. R if it was urgent. I can only assume that Eli’s situation is urgent and has to do with one of the more serious situations that they agreed Mr. R would handle. Mostly because he didn’t wait and try Trick again.

Which means, although we don’t have an idea of what’s going on, Trick most likely has it narrowed down to a few choices.

He would tell Pete what those options are if Pete asked him, because we don’t keep things from each other unless there are certain circumstances. However, I know that Trick is glad that Pete hasn’t asked him, because nothing that he knows is definite, and with something like this he wouldn’t want to worry Pete with what-ifs.

Which is probably why Pete hasn’t asked.

As soon as we get home, I’ll check in with Pete. He’s not okay. Then again, I wouldn’t be if one of my guys was going on a job that could last months or more. I mean more means years, doesn’t it?

A wave of emotion crashes over me, and despite the fact that we’re supposed to be doing something serious, we aren’t in danger. There’s no real time restraint, so I head over to where he's leaning over the desk and wrap my arms around him tightly.

“Ever?” He asks as he stands up and immediately pulls me into his arms. “Are you okay?”

I nod and swallow down the emotion trying to climb up my throat. “We’ll figure it out, Pete. I’ll think of something.”

Pete stiffens slightly and then hugs me tighter, his head resting on the top of mine.

He clears his throat, and when he speaks, the emotion is heavy in his voice. “Thank you. I love that you said that, but I think this time it’s just something that I’m going to have to come to terms with, and that’s okay. I’ll still be able to talk to him occasionally. I have you guys, and Shadow. It will be okay.” His voice cracks as he repeats it again, “It will be okay.”

“I love you,” I tell him. “If you want to you can come and stay in your room at the house until Elijah and the guys come home, either when we get home now or when he leaves for longer. Whatever you need.”

Pete nods against my head, “I was planning to anyway when he’s gone for months with no real end in sight. I find it difficult enough to be in the house when I know that he’s coming home relatively soon, hence why I come to stay up at yours as often as I do. I just know I’m not going to want to be there when the time he spends away is indefinite. So I was always planning to stay at yours, whether you wanted me to or not. Come on, let's get this done so we can get home. I want to introduce Shadow to Luc’s new puppy.”

Message received loud and clear, he’s done with this conversation. That’s fair enough. We shouldn’t be having the conversation now anyway.

Stepping away, I smile. “Yes, and Runa. She loved playing with Shadow when he was a puppy.”

“I’ve still got the videos,” Pete says as he turns back to the computer.

“Me too,” I reply, as I resist the urge to hug him again when I see his cheek glistening.

I force myself to turn around and head over to the huge wall-to-ceiling, bright, gloss white cupboards that sit opposite the desk.

Shit, that would give me a headache after a while. Imagine if the sun hits it wrong, you’d go blind.

Call me traditional, but I would much rather have the mahogany carved wood shelves and desk with hidden drawers that are so well made they’re just beautiful, with knick-knacks and books everywhere than whatever the hell this is.