She took the bottle and gulped down a little as I spun around, searching for Shadow. My lip lifted in a snarl when I saw him standing in front of Grim. Pres was already letting him have it but I stomped forward and shoved him up against the nearest wall, getting right in his personal space.
“What the fuck you think you’re doing, prospect?”
He swallowed hard but lifted his chin. “Taking care of Mimi like you asked. She needed to get outside for a bit and I was her escort like you told me.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice and it pissed me off.
“Never told you to take her out of the compound.”
“Never told me not to do it either.”
Rael let out a chuckle, pulling me off Shadow with Mammoth’s help. “Kid messed up, no doubt about it. He’s sorry, right?”
At Rael’s stern expression, Shadow lowered his head. “I apologize, Mr. Dixon. I wasn’t aware that taking her out of the Crossroads was wrong.”
Fuck. He was right. Sighing heavily, I turned to Mimi as she pursed her lips.
Shadow didn’t know shit because he was a prospect and club business was only common knowledge among patched members. He should have had some common sense and asked before he left. Couldn’t tell me he didn’t think of that.
It wasn’t his fault alone though. I should have been clear and given explicit orders since I knew it wasn’t safe outside the compound. Kid was smart and used the loophole I created to do what he wanted. The only thing holding me back was the fact that Mimi wanted to leave and he didn’t let her go alone.
My body relaxed as I reined in my Reaper and my temper. Wasn’t easy but I managed to nod in his direction.
“You ever do something like this again and I won’t be responsible for what I do.”
Grim turned to Shadow. “My office. Now.”
Shadow’s shoulders squared back and he followed Grim down the hall and out of sight. Rael gave me a chin lift and I knew he had my back.
My attention focused on Mimi as she stood. Now that she was safe, I was pissed that she left and didn’t send me a text or try to call. Communication was important. I needed to know that she would be honest with me. Sighing, that was a lot to ask when I couldn’t always reciprocate. Club business remained between members only and that meant I couldn’t always fill her in on the dangers or threats against the RBMC.
My agitation increased along with my ire when I thought about how Sean Jones could have snatched her at any time. She must have seen the truth on my face because she stood and began walking toward our room.
Following, I shut the door once we were inside and turned, hoping like hell I could keep a tight hold on my temper and not fuck this up.
“Let’s talk about risk, Mimi.”
My voice was soft, too calm and it was obvious as my hands clenched at my sides that I was more pissed than she had ever seen. Didn’t want to spook her but at the same time I wasn’t letting this shit slide.
Taking a determined step toward her, my body flinched as Mimi backed away until she bumped into the bedroom wall next to my dresser. One trembling hand rose to brush the hair out of her face as I stalked forward and caged her in, hands planting on either side of her head with a loud slap.
“You went out alone and exposed yourself to our enemies.” My voice lowered to a growl as my teeth clenched hard in my jaw. I barely was able to speak the next words. “Do you have a reason for such reckless stupidity?” She had to know that the Russians and the Black Market Railroad wanted her dead. Alexi Voltoy almost killed her. Didn’t matter if she was unaware of the assassin at the hospital. She knew the Russians and their brutality firsthand.
Mimi’s chin lifted in the air. Such spirit, even after all she had been through. A fighter.
Fuck, I loved that about her.
“Those Russians will come if they want. I can’t stop them. Being cooped up in here is still making me feel like a prisoner sometimes. Freedom is important to me and I won’t stay hidden forever.” Her eyes flashed defiance but there was a hint of fear and doubt in her voice. “They won’t take everything from me, Dale. I won’t let them.”
Dale. My real name. Her sincerity soothed my Reaper but he didn’t like the fact that she felt like a prisoner in our home.
My heart was still racing from the panic I felt when I thought she was missing. Paying attention was difficult but I managed. All I wanted was to surround her with my arms and keep her caged within forever. No one could fuck with her t
hen.
My teeth flashed with a hiss as I responded, hoping she could see how much she meant to me. “No, we won’t let them,” I declared, daring her to disagree.
“We,” she whispered as her haunted eyes strayed to mine and locked. Memories of the past were trying to take her down.
My forehead lowered to hers as I sucked in a few ragged breaths. “Us.”