CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Mouse
The door to the room opened and by the heavy steps that pounded their way in, I knew it wasn’t a nurse making rounds.
I let out a heavy breath but didn’t make a move to turn and face the man.
“Wasn’t good enough that I told you where I was?” I asked, the exhaustion clear in my raw voice.
I’d been a coward the night before, choosing to send him a brief text letting him know where I was and why.
I didn’t go into details. I didn’t tell him what had happened to Amber. All I said was that I had a daughter and that she needed to stay here a little while longer.
Of course, that wouldn’t have been good enough for him. It was Iron. The Prez. The man that had to make sure all of us were alright at the end of the day.
“How the hell did you get in here, anyway?” I asked because I knew they didn’t just let anyone into this wing of the hospital. In fact, I knew I had to approve anyone for a visit. A sharp laugh cut up my throat as it forced its way out. “Never mind.”
I was sure Iron had no problem charming his way in. I’d seen it before.
He remained silent as he walked over to us. Sparrow’s eyes shifted in the direction of the big man looming over her now.
“She’s beautiful,” he said after a long moment.
She was. Big eyes. Dark blonde hair. Cutest little nose I’d ever seen. Tiniest fingers I’d ever touched.
What the hell did you say back to something like that? Thanks didn’t seem like the right thing at all.
“Where’s the mother? Amber, I’m guessing?” he asked when I said nothing back.
“Yeah. She’s gone.” I paused, the words feeling like acid in my mouth. “Dead.”
“Damn,” he blew out and I could tell he wasn’t faking the tinge of shock and sadness there. “You didn’t know?”
“Nope.” I shook my head, still unable to meet his eyes. “Didn’t know until I got the call to come here. She was gone not long after I did.”
He walked over to the couch along the wall and flopped down, arms crossed over his chest and legs spread wide. I was ready for him to tear me a new one. I deserved it. I should have told him what was going on from the get-go.
“I’m pissed, Mouse. I’m not gonna lie about that,” he said and I could feel his eyes on me. “You got a problem, you come to us. You come tome.”
I felt like a scolded child as I hung my head.
“You don’t go running off leavin’ me a fuckin’ text saying you’re taking some personal time,” he went on. “I got brothers asking me where the fuck you are. I got a table that is clueless why they are a man down. I got a fuckin’ girl coming into the compound and bar lookin’ for your ass. And I gotta say, she looked damn wrecked that she couldn’t find you. Crying in my arms just a few hours ago because she thinks you disappeared on her.”
Ingram.
Shit.
I rubbed my chest feeling a sharp pain strike through me like lightning.
“Now that’s outta the way,” he said and then sucked in a big breath, “we’re going to talk. Think it’s long overdue. And my guess is that you aren’t gonna run right now.”
I lifted my head and looked at him. His face held a tiny smirk as his arms dropped away from his chest which told me he was relaxing a little. But I wasn’t fooled, I knew there was some more shit coming.
I said nothing because it was clear there was no way I was getting out of this.
“The letters,” he said and I cringed. Why did he have to start with those? “That how shit started?”
“Prez…” I let out a heavy exhale.
