Page 115 of Waiting for Redemption

“You sound… I don’t know,proud?” I ask, unable to pinpoint exactly what underlying tone my wife is using. She simply shrugs without another word, making me laugh.

“He was breathing when I left.”

“Wow… okay.” She picks up her phone and begins typing.

Not the response I was expecting.

“Honey? Whatcha doing?” I nod to her phone and she looks up at me.

“Telling Max and Tucker we don’t need shovels.” I keep waiting for her to giggle or raise her brows—the tell she has that lets me know she’s joking—but she just stares straight back at me with that perfect little poker face of hers.

“You’re serious?” I ask, making her turn her phone around.

Me

We’re at Mark’s motel… Any chance you guys have easy access to some tarp and shovels? Just in case.

Tucker

No tarp, but I have shovels and I’m familiar with the local Home Depot.

Max

Will drop cloths work?

Tucker

What the fuck is that?

Max

The fuck you mean the fuck is that? Have you never painted before?

Me

Never mind. False alarm.

Tucker

What a buzzkill. I was already in the truck.

“They’re insane. Both of them.” I shake my head.

“They’re loyal is what they are,” she corrects. “And you know damn good and well if the tables were turned you would have already been in the truck too.” I take a moment to just look at her, so calm in the midst of something so brutal. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that she knows I’ll always have her back. She made it clear today that she can stand up for herself and fight her own battles, but tonight when I chose to come out here, it was my way of showing her that she never has to do it alone. Never again.

My thoughts come to a halt when I see her eyes narrow on me.

“What?” I ask, a little frightened by what she may be thinking right now.

“I bet Clyde never made Bonnie wait in the car.” I shake my head, stifling a laugh. Only she would crack a joke like that while I’m covered in her ex’s blood sitting in a motel parking lot.

“You’re right, baby. I promise from now on you can beat the shit out of your exeswithme.” She turns around to look out the windshield with the sassiest look on her face I’ve ever seen.

“That’s all I’m asking for.” I can’t help but smirk as I let her have the moment before I hook my forefinger under her chin making her face me again. Her sass fades and she looks at me expectantly when she sees the serious look on my face.

“He’s not gonna bother us anymore, baby. You’re free.”

“I was free the moment I became yours, Tank.” I’d refrained from touching her up until now since I’m literally covered in blood, but I can’t hold back after hearing her say that.

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