Grigori stopped. Stared. And…his face…
Zane started choking pretty damn bad.
Roman muttered something in Russian.
I was pretty sure Daniil was having a standing seizure, by the way his whole body shook.
Ember slurred behind Stash’s fake hair, “Damn, these are nice.” She readjusted her hands, getting a better feel. “Can I slip these babies out of your gown? I want to see them.”
I had to lock my knees to keep from falling flat on my ass, grabbing Daniil’s forearm for added balance, my lungs squeezing tight as I pushed the laugh back.
Grigori’s face was slowly turning a furious pink, reminding me of a heating cartoon teakettle, getting hotter and redder until the spout blows with a screeching whistle. His plump lips had thinned; his eyebrows were lowered over his dark eyes, staring at Ember’s hands since those were all that were visible of her under Stash, his attention complete and absolute on what she was doing. Slowly, and softly, he asked into the semi-quiet, “Ember, honey? Would you care to introduce me to your friend?” I was betting he hadn’t brought out his gun because Stash wasn’t physically touching Ember; it was the other way around. Plus, there was all that pesky oxygen equipment around that might blow.
Ember took a hand from Stash’s fake chest, batted his wig to the side, and hollering, “Grigori! Grigori! Come feel these! They’re amazing!”
I banged back against the windows, Daniil and Zane both gripping one of my elbows to keep me on my feet as I started choking, staring at Grigori’s pissed off face that altered to Stash, who had frozen in place at the low, threatening tone in Grigori’s voice.
Instantly, Grigori asked, “Who the fuck are you?” But I guess he really didn’t care who Stash was because only after a spurt of a pause, he stated coolly, “She’s drugged right now. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be touching you.” Confident, knowing words. His gaze darted to us like an arrow, his expression turning even more violent, and before anyone could get a word in, he pointed at Ember and Stash, asking Zane, “You’re just letting this happen?”
Ember said, “Grigori, quit yelling at everybody and come feel his tits.”
I snorted so hard it burned like a motherfucker.
Zane shook his head, pointing at them, and sputtered, “Stash—”
One word. That was all he got out before he threw an arm over Roman’s shoulders, laughing it up.
Grigori was already making his way to the bed, but he stumbled a step at Zane’s answer, staring at the black haired ‘woman’ over Ember. His furious expression turned incredulous as he advanced, his eyes widening as his gaze traveled over Stash, who was whispering something quietly to Ember from his position over her still. Grigori put the tub down on the table and took three long strides, grabbing a handful of Stash’s black hair, and yanked back.
“Ow! Goddammit!” Stash shouted as he was thrown onto his back next to Ember’s feet. He scowled up at Grigori. “The wig doesn’t come off that easy, asshole!”
Grigori’s jaw dropped, even as he tried to untangle his fingers from the wig.
Stash grunted and cursed the whole while.
The four of us standing by the window lost it, laughing our asses off, especially when Ember whined, “Dammit, Grigori! I wanted to see them!”
Grigori ignored her, finally getting his fingers free, staring down at Stash, and trying to keep a straight face. “Moonlighting, Stash?”
“Fuck you,” Stash grumbled, sitting up and righting his dress and wig. “I was on reconnaissance for a job when Ember called. I didn’t have time to change.” He scowled at Grigori. “Speaking of which, there’s a fuck load of dead Russians all over your house. Care to explain?”
Ember raised her hand. “I killed ‘em all. ‘Nuff said.” She tilted her head, eyebrows snapping together.
“You can’t be in pain right now,” Grigori stated, his fingers twitching like he wanted to touch her, his face back to a blank mask. “You’re too doped.”
She shook her head, her eyes going around to each of us, a different finger thumping with each person she passed before she hit the button for the nurse. “No. I’m not feeling a thing. I’m good.”
Grigori sighed, staring at the button she had pressed before heading toward the bathroom, dragging Stash with him, who had evidently bypassed the nurses’ station just as easily as Grigori.
Ember held up her hand. “I own the damn place.” A hand flutter that encompassed the room. “Just stay out here. I’ll fire anyone that tells you to leave.”
Grigori raised his eyebrows, letting go of Stash to lean against the wall. “Taking advantage of your position?”
Ember opened her mouth, but shut it slowly, then shrugged. “Maybe. But I want something that will require all of you in here.”
“What do you need? Name it and it’s yours. You saved us all tonight,” Daniil asked calmly. Pure fact that whatever she asked for in the world she could have.
Ember grinned. And it was a little drunken evil. “You’ll see.”
