Mac ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that,Vixen. We’re just trying to protect you. This is messy. Club business always is.”
“I don’t need protecting. I don’t mind messy.” I was still standing between the two of them, but Dalton came closer, and ran a tender thumb along my jaw.
“We know, baby girl.”
My eyes searched his, which don’t give anything away.
I frowned. “Then tell me.”
Dalton brought me to him, stealing a kiss that I pulled away from with a huff. “Tell me,” I demand.
But another look between Dalton and Mac said I’d already gotten all the information I was going to get tonight. I scoffed, and stomped over to the fridge. Pulling out a couple big bags of salad mix, I turned my back to them and distracted myself by focusing on a salad to go with my chicken. I could feel them watching me.
“When do you leave?”
They both answered, “Tonight.”
That gave me pause, and I froze for a second before asking, “And when will you be back?”
“Tomorrow.”
I knew that if I were to have turned around, they’d be standing side by side. My dark prince and my knight in shining armor. Different, yet so similar. There wasn’t a thing I could do to keep them from going. And what kind of person would I be if I even asked them to? They were saving lives. Innocent lives. They had to go.
“Please,” I whispered, “please just be careful. Come back to me. Promise me that.”
My words were met with silence, then strong hands wrapped around my waist, turning me around. I found myself sandwiched between the two men, who had moved closer to me. Dalton had his thumbs hooked through two of the belt loops on my jeans.
Mac took my hand, tracing soothing circles over my palm. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep, gorgeous. WhatDalton and I do is dangerous. Being a part of this club is dangerous. But I can promise you that there are very few forces on this earth that would have the capability of stopping me from coming home to you.” He brought my hand to his lips. “Very fucking few.”
I leaned my head back against Dalton’s shoulder. “I love you both so fucking much. Just be careful, okay? I… I don’t deserve this. Us.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dalton open his mouth to protest, but I pressed my head back into his neck and he quieted. “One day you’ll understand. But, for now, let’s just eat. You two need food and rest before you go.”
Without another word, I disentangled myself from between the two of them. Mac sent out a text and, a few minutes later, more of the club came pouring in.
Rodney shot me a wink. “I thought we were doomed to my cooking or something.”
I laughed, but it felt a little forced, and I took a step back for the flood of people helping themselves to a plate before taking their seats at the table.
I don’t see Maria or Holly, and Dalton noticed my questioning look. “They’re at home, Vixen. Jackson and Diego are going with us.”
That made sense—they were probably cashing in on some much-needed family time. I sat between Mac and Dalton, and was quiet throughout dinner. Dalton bantered back and forth with a few of his friends, his hand never leaving my thigh under the table. Mac, meanwhile, was sipping a whiskey, leaning back in his chair, and just watching everything around him.
When he caught me looking at him for the millionth time, he leaned towards me and pressed a kiss to that sweet spot between my neck and shoulder. “Just breathe, gorgeous.” He whispered the words into my ear, making me shiver.
Instead of everyone just leaving after the meal was over, like normal, every person at the table helped clean up. The mood was somehow more somber, as if everyone knew something was going down. I found myself watching Dalton and Mac. They had left on plenty of these so-called errands, and I’d grown used to coming to find rooms empty but clearly freshly slept in. They were here, and then gone again. For their safety, and ours.
But this time, there were kids involved. This was a greater risk. They couldn’t travel to the safehouses alone—they were more valuable to the DiAngelos.
I couldn’t help but think this would all be a hell of a lot easier if my dumb ass hadn’t fallen in love with the Mills brothers. I glanced over at the men in question, aware that it’s too late to go back now. Nor would I, even if I could. I was just going to have to trust that they knew what they were doing, and wouldn’t do anything stupid in their determination to bring Silas down.
Chapter 20
After dinner wascleaned up, the two of them disappeared to make final arrangements, and I headed to the rooms to see what needed to be done. As I was straightening up the bed in one room, a knock on the door had me turning to find Maria standing with a mountain of toys and stuffed animals in her arms. Seeing my friend preparing for this like I was, somehow made it more real.
She smiled at me, but there was a shadow in her eyes that wasn’t usually there.
“Hey,chica. Wanna help put these out?”
