Free Awaken by Priya Grey, Ozlo Grey

of her business, although he knew Mimi thought otherwise.  
    He repeated, the tone in his voice hard and flat, “Like I said Mimi, this is none of your business.”
    Cooper moved to walk past her, but Mimi grabbed his forearm. He jerked his head and glared at her. Mimi stared back at him, wide-eyed.  
    “How do you know this girl can be trusted, Cooper? Everything you’ve created could be ruined.” She placed a hand on his chest and looked up to his face. “I’m the only one youcan trust. I hope you realize that. By telling this girl the truth about who you are, you’ve opened up pandora’s box. Nothing good will come of it.”
    Cooper stared Mimi down. Although he hated to admit it, Mimi was right. He had risked too much by being honest with Lacey. He swore long ago to keep this part of himself hidden. Now he was exposed. But, he wasn’t about to have Mimi tell him what to do.
    “Mimi, let go of me,” he growled.  
    Mimi finally got the message. She removed her hand and took a step back. She dropped her eyes to the ground. “I’m just looking out for you,” she said softly.
    “Go home,” Cooper said flatly.
    Cooper turned and was about to leave the room but stopped. He wasn’t wearing his mask. Nobody at Nectar knew who he was, besides Mimi… and because of his stupidity, now Lacey Winters. Angry with himself, he raised his arms in frustration and put his mask on before stepping into the hallway.  
    He needed to make sure Lacey kept his secret.  
    He clenched his hands into fists as he hurried toward the locker room to change. The whole time he cursed himself for the mistake he had just made.

    Mimi watched Cooper storm out of the room. I’ve never seen him like this, she thought to herself. What has this girl done to him? He’s falling in love with her. Why else would he reveal himself with so much at stake?
    The thought sent Mimi into a panic. She began pacing the room franticly. I’m the only one who understands him, she convinced herself. I’m the only one he can trust.  
    Mimi stared into the crackling fire. This stupid girl is going to ruin everything we have. I can’t let that happen. I can’t. I won’t.  
    As she continued looking into the flames, Mimi grew determined to keep things exactly as they were.

Chapter Twenty-Five

    About an hour later, the buzzer to the front entrance of Lacey’s apartment building rang. It must be him, she told herself. He wants to explain himself but there’s no point.  
    Lacey tried to ignore the buzzer, but it kept ringing. When the sound grew annoyingly incessant, she dragged herself out of bed and walked toward her front door. She pressed the button on the intercom.
    “Go away.”
    “Not until I talk to you,” Cooper said quickly through the intercom.
    “Well, I don’t want to talk. In fact, I never want to see you again. Leave me alone. Goodnight.”
    Lacey let go of the button on the small box mounted on the wall of her foyer. She returned to her bedroom.
    Five minutes later there was a hard knock at her front door.
    At first, Lacey thought it might have been Penelope. But then the knocking turned into banging. She was forced out of bed and threw on a pair of grey sweatpants.
    Lacey looked through her peephole and saw Cooper standing in her hallway, dressed in a business suit, rubbing the back of his neck.
    Now what do I do ? she wondered.  
    Cooper banged on the door again.
    “He’s going to wake up the whole building,” she muttered.
    Although she knew she might regret it, Lacey took a deep breath and cracked her front door open. She kept the security chain in place.  
    “How’d you get inside?” she asked, staring at him.
    Cooper leaned forward, against the doorframe. “An old man on the first floor came home drunk. Told him I lost my keys.”
    Lacey rolled her eyes. “Nice to know I live in such a secure building.” She eyed Cooper up and down. “Just go home.”
    “I will,” Cooper said, his face leaning closer through the