Page 194 of What We Burn

Thor releases a slow, terse breath through his nose. “Go on.”

I continue, explaining how Milo followed her, freed her, secured the room, and started the preliminary cleanup. I inspected the scene, checked Sage’s injuries, and destroyed every item she wore into the room. “The motel cameras and vehicle trail are being handled. We have someone getting the hatchback. Dean is en route for the body, and I called in cleaners for the biological cleanup.”

“Milo remains on-site?” Odin asks.

“He’s waiting for the crew to get there.”

“And Miss Adams?”

“Downstairs.”

Loki lifts Odin’s glass from the side table and takes a sip.

“Of course she is.”

Odin lets the silence stretch until it becomes pressure.

“Dale Stine was a rapist on our list and he’s dead,” I say. “The scene is contained. The disposal is covered.”

“The outcome isn’t the problem.”

His voice stays level, meaning he’s furious.

“She took intelligence gathered for an active operation,” he continues. “Abandoned the protection assigned to her while another man is hunting her. Compromised a personal vehicle, created a crime scene your existing team couldn’t process, and forced an unplanned recovery and cleanup.”

“She planned an op on her own and succeeded.”

“She was trapped under a corpse. The only reason this can be deemed a success is because of Milo’s incessant need to track the movements of the people he cares about.”

“Milo did exactly what he was supposed to do. His job was to keep her safe, and that’s what he did.”

Odin’s eye narrows.

I don’t drop my gaze. “Another rapist is off the streets thanks to what she did tonight. I’m not going to pretend I dislike the result.”

“Do not mistake a successful outcome for acceptable conduct.”

“I don’t.”

The difference matters. So does the fact Sage is alive to learn it.

Loki crosses one ankle over the other. “She’s more dangerous outside the mission than she is inside it.”

Odin turns his head.

“You keep excluding the poor girl, then act surprised when she organizes her own entertainment.” Loki examines the contents of Odin’s glass before taking another sip. “Give her a place inside the operation and at least we’ll know where she’s pointing the knife.”

“You’re suggesting I reward insubordination?”

“I’m suggesting containment, darling.”

Thor shifts beside him. “Inside an operation, she has a plan. And backup.”

“Outside it, she has a knife and Milo,” Loki adds. “A terrifying combination even before you give her car keys.”

“She’s excellent with a knife,” I say, willing my dick to stay down because she’s fucking magnificent with a knife. “We could use her.”

Loki raises the glass toward me. “See, Odin? We’re all in favor of the Murder Kitten—as Milo likes to call her in his paperwork.”