“Rael would freak out, and you know it.” I turned to Cam. “I can’t wear that.”
“I know.”
And she did know. She was married to Rael’s twin.
Back on the rack it went as we kept combing through the rows of silky, beautiful dresses, still not finding anything at this boutique in Vegas that felt right. We’d been searching for the perfect wedding dress for five hours already.
“I think we need to take a break. My feet are starting to ache, and I’m thirsty,” Mimi informed us.
“That makes two of us,” Cam agreed. “Nylah?”
“I’m more frustrated than thirsty, but yes.”
“I say we snag lunch at one of the casinos. Maybe even try a few slots.”
Why not? “Sure.” I tried not to let the failure of finding a dress get me down. I just hadn’t had many chances to go shopping, and every time I tried, I ended up disappointed.
“Girl, lose that frown.” Cam linked her arm with mine. “Come on.”
Mimi linked my other arm. “Operation turn that frown upside down commencing.”
I snickered. “Patriot is rubbing off on you.”
She didn’t deny it. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
“But he’s good to you.”
“So good. The best,” Mimi assured me.
Not that I doubted it. Patriot had rescued my sister and helped her heal from the trauma of her past, including the trafficker who tried to kill her. I would never forget what Patriot did for Mimi, and knowing he loved her warmed my heart.
My sister would never have stayed with him if he hadn’t been kind and patient. She’d been through so much, and knowing he was scarred from his time overseas and fighting his own demons helped her trust and help someone else go through an equally heartbreaking time.
Patriot and Mimi were perfect for one another.
We didn’t end up having lunch at a casino. Instead, we found a trendy café and sipped on cocktails, enjoying the afternoon without kids or responsibilities. This was just time for us ol’ ladies to do a little shopping and have a day to ourselves.
As soon as I thought it, Mimi nudged me. “Zane is watching us.”
Cam shrugged. “I’m not surprised. We’re the three wives of officers in the Graven Bastards. We don’t go anywhere without protection, danger or not.”
True. “I’m not bothered by it. It’s kind of nice knowing if something happened, we aren’t three hours away from help.”
“Sometimes it’s a bit much for me,” Mimi admitted.
I could understand why, after what that bastard Alexi had done to her, but he was dead. Patriot ensured he paid for what he did to Mimi and the other captive women. Still, ghosts from the past were hard to ignore, much less forget. Mimi fought so hard for freedom that the idea of losing it, no matter how minor, threatened to tear apart the peace she found with Patriot. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s not a big deal. Really. Just makes me think of things that I’ve already let go.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m always here for you, Mimi.”
“Me too,” Cam added. “I know exactly what you mean.”
Cameron had been kidnapped and assaulted before Chrome found and rescued her. I hated that two of the women that I loved most in the world had been violated in the worst way.
Mimi blinked as I released her hand and she reached for Cam’s. “And that’s why we’re fighters, Cam. We faced hell, and we won.”
“We did,” Cameron confirmed. “And we’ll keep fighting.”
