Page 159 of Bossy Hero

Neither of those things could ever be worth her sacrifice.

Tragically, I can’t turn back time to undo it.

The only thing I can do is love her even harder.

And that’s what I’ll do.

For now, I’ll take the blessing of Sammy’s obstinance and use it to divert my focus.

Despite being repeatedly told to leave the conference room, Sammy eyes me down with the stubbornness of a goddamn donkey.

She folds her arms across her chest. “I’m not going anywhere. If you want me out, you’ll need to carry me. And may the odds be ever in your favor, considering how much these babies weigh.”

Leo attempts to persuade his sister. “Sammy, come on. You have no reason to worry about Sawyer’s safety. We’re only farming out duties for surveillance. That’s all.”

“Sweet, simple, silly Leo.” Shetsksat him, her entire expression screaming condescension. “I’m not here out of concern for Sawyer’s safety.”

“Ex-squeeze me?” Sawyer bleats in a melodic tone, then quickly shifts into a Yiddish accent. “Waddam I? Chopped livah?”

She side-eyes him, her brow arched and lips puckered playfully. “Take the corn cobs out of your ears like a good boy.”

He makes a popping sound while pantomiming pulling something from his ears.Pop. “What did you say now? Something about you not caring about my safety?”

“I said it wasn’t my concern for you that made me glue my ass to this chair. Not that I don’t care about your safety.” She pats his cheek with more of her faux condescension. “Try to keep up, summer child.”

I’m secretly enjoying her attitude this morning.

However, as part of my unending quest to defeat her brand of anarchy, I won’t let my amusement show. She’d only come back stronger, and then chaos would be the law of the land.

I stare her down. “Then why the fuck are you in here? It’s a motherfucking staff meeting, not anevery-fucking-body-who-wants-to-fucking-join-usmeeting.”

Sammy’s jaw hits the floor, and she balks with sarcastic indignation. “Wow. That was quite a swear fest, even by my standards. Kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Without conscious thought, I joke back, “No. I kissyourmother with it. And she really likes it.”

Boisterous laughter booms around the conference room. Among the twenty-two people gathered for the duty meeting, not a single one isn’t doubled over. Including me.

By the time the hilarity fades, Lettie pops her head in the doorway. A stern look colors her features. “If there’s funny shit happening, it’s rude of y’all not to invite me. Doesn’t anyone ’round here have manners?”

Tomer beams at her. “Nobody at Redleg has more manners than you.”

She angles her head to the side. “Not sure that’s a compliment, considering the general lack of competition for the title.” Her spine stiffens suddenly, and she brings her hand to the side of her forehead in a subpar excuse for a salute. “General lack of competition, reporting for duty.Heh heh.”

More laughter reverberates from the group.

Rolling my eyes and stifling my smile, I gesture for her to come in. “At ease, private. You can join us. Bring a notepad, please. You might as well help me keep track of everything.” My brows knit together as I glare across the table at Sammy. “Apparently, it’s an open meeting anyhow.”

Lettie retreats to her desk, returning a few seconds later with pen and paper. Tomer slides his chair away from me, making room for her between us. The seating change catches my attention more than it should.

He’s always on my left, and Leo’s on my right. The last time Lettie sat in on a meeting, Tomer was between us.

Not that the change should matter, but it seems significant.

The reason why it feels profound strikes me a second later. For the longest time, he was a barrier between us. Not maliciously. In his mind, he was serving as a buffer, protecting me from something he thought I wasn’t ready for.

With things between the three of us aligning, there are no reasons for him to come between Lettie and me.

Shaking free of my musings, I scan the room. “Who are we missing?” I mutter, not asking anyone in particular.

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