Ally kept on screaming, “You brutes! You’re gonna hurt Ember!”
Heck, I was already hurting. Those two hit like a freight train at the initial charge. In their defense, I don’t think they actually saw me dart from behind Stash when they took us down. And now, I don’t even think my teeny body was noticeable in the chaos.
Zane piped in, catching one of Cole’s arms, shouting, “Ember’s under you two!”
That stayed the fight. All the men’s bodies under and over me stopped moving, except for their heaving chests.
“What?” Brent asked, panting.
“Ember’s on top of me and under you two,” Stash reinforced, wiping blood from a cut on his eyebrow. His hand slid down, under Cole chest and touched my forehead. “You all right down there, doll?”
“Can’t…breathe…” I gasped, feeling more tugs on my ankle.
Brent and Cole immediately rolled off. My inside expanded in a painful push back to normal. Christ almighty that hurt! I groaned and didn’t move from my prone position on top of Stash, who started brushing the hair out of my face.
“Someone friggin’ bit me,” I whined.
“Cole likes to use his teeth.” Stash chuckled quietly. “A childhood habit he’s never been able to get rid of.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Cole commanded, but not too forcefully. He and Brent were now sitting up, picking up my limbs and feeling them over. His baby blues found mine, soft and worried. “Did we hurt you other than the bite, sweetheart?” He was examining the teeth indention encasing half my wrist.
“How to answer that?” I griped sarcastically, trying to push them away. “Of course you freaking did. Y’all hit us like bats out of Hell made out the fiery places own stone. You two need to cut back on the Wheaties.”
Stash’s body shook under mine as he chortled. He didn’t seem to be able to move much, either. He had taken the brunt of the fall and then their fists. I was real happy I wasn’t him at the moment.
“I’m sorry, darlin’,” Brent murmured, bending my other wrist back and forth, and then placing a kiss on my palm. “We would have stopped if we’d have seen you.”
Cole and Brent were gazing at me with such sincerity and concern, Ialmostfelt bad for them.
“Well, it appears it’s not just their dicks their thinking with. I do believe you’re staying, Ember,” Stash whispered thoughtfully. Since he was still my cushion he was seeing everything I was. “I’d doubted, but not anymore.”
Something in his voice made the men glance up at him. Their hands were still gentle on me, but bit by bit their eyes turned from anxious, to ticked off fury.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Cole asked quietly. Eyes like ice.
Stash coughed, and then chuckled. “You don’t think she’s the only one who can manipulate, do you? And honestly, if you only wanted her here for a lay, then it wasn’t worth it to keep her with us. We all know that. I had to know for our business’ sake.”
A pause. “Cole, pick up Ember, please,” Brent ordered, his forest green eyes scary calm.
“With pleasure, but make sure you get in a few for me,” Cole smiled sinfully, picking me up like a babe.
Brent nodded. “Done.”
He jumped back on Stash and started throwing punches again.
Chapter Ten
TWILIGHT DESCENDED. I flicked onlights as the last of the sun disappeared over the horizon. The view had been breathtaking from this vantage point. That was a definite perk to staying in a penthouse. Not to mention, it came with seven opulent bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a large kitchen, study, living and dining room. Impeccable, and only for the wealthy.
After the crew had cleaned up, Brent and Stash with a few more cuts and bruises than the rest, they had left for their meeting. I had escaped Ally’s questions by taking a long, hot bubble bath. It had been glorious after she had stopped pounding on the door. Just what my aching body had needed.
I flopped on one of the couches, flipping through the cable channels while wearing my black satin pajamas withDeath Rowsporadically stamped in yellow. Ally was furious with me since I still wouldn’t answer her questions about my back– they would only hurt her more, so she was in the kitchen frying up chicken, colored greens, mashed potatoes, and cobbler pie from a pre-stocked supply of goodies. I smelledhomewafting from the open doorway as she banged dishes and slammed cabinet doors.
Brent threw furniture, Ally cooked with passion. Ah, just like the good ‘ol days.
The door to the penthouse opened behind me as I was pulling a blanket around my shoulders. The crew came in, loud as all get out, talking eagerly about their new assignment. Zane and Brent stopped so fast the other two ran into them from behind. It was kinda comical.
All four sniffed the air like dogs scenting a bone, and then smiled. Even Zane. I guess it was true. The way to a man’s heart is through his belly. Too bad Ally’s gay.
