Thirty seconds later, Bas walked through the doors. He wore “normal” clothes and wouldn’t meet Brent’s or Cole’s eyes. Joe ordered him to get rid of his weapons, seeing as he was now staying. Brent and Cole were through unloading. They had been carrying seven knives, six Chinese throwing stars, and three guns between them. Bas added four guns and five knives to the heap.
We stared at the pile in silence.
I muttered an intelligent, “Huh.”
“Just who the hell are you, young lady?” Joe asked, both hands visible now. He picked up a knife and said to Brent, “This is fucking nice, man.”
“Thanks.” Brent shrugged. No biggie.Yeah.
“I’m Ember,” I stated and shrugged, following Brent’s lead.
Joe snorted.
He searched Brent, Cole, and Bas. They didn’t have anything on them. No surprise there with the stock pile already on Joe’s desk. He turned to me. “Okay. Your turn. Arms out to your sides. Palms up. Feet shoulder width apart.”
Visions of the airport drone danced inside my head.
“That’s not necessary,” Brent stated while Cole moved between Joe and me.
Joe laughed outright. He was having a great time now. He sputtered, “I search her or you don’t go inside.”
“Fine,” I stated, dodging Cole’s arms and sliding behind Joe’s desk. I dropped my purse and assumed the position. I’d watched it happen three times now. If they could do it, so could I.
“You fucking touch her even slightly wrong and your dead,” Brent stated oh, so calmly. He leaned a hip against the desk while his eyes bore into Joe’s.
“Then I’ll burn your body and flush the ashes down the toilet after I piss on them.” Cole yawned. “I’m friends with a mortician a few miles from here. He owes me a favor.” A shrug after that lovely pronouncement.
Joe glanced at me, humor filling his eyes. I don’t think he took them seriously. I studied the tiny scar very near his carotid artery. Or, maybe he did.
He stated, “You have some very interesting friends.”
I smiled. “They’ll do in a pinch.”
“I just bet they will.”
He moved closer and ordered seriously, humor fading sharply, “Don’t move while I’m doing this.”
I nodded and stood still.
He started with my hair. Not sure what he thought would be there, but I didn’t move. Brent and Cole watched his every move. Good grief. As if the guy was going to try anything.
His hands skimmed my shoulders, and then he started to move one hand sideways down between my breasts. I jumped back, eyes wide. He hadn’t done that with the men.
Everyone went motionless.
“What do you think your doin’?” I asked flabbergasted.
“Sweetheart, he’s searching you.” Cole’s hand motioned at my breasts, looking mighty ticked off. “Women have added areas to conceal weapons.”
“Oh.” I blinked and flushed bright red, all kinds of flustered. Not good. Not good at all.
“You don’t have to let him do this. We can go back to the hotel, darlin’.” Brent studied Joe like he was envisioning multiple ways of killing him.
“No, no,” I murmured and glanced at Joe, trying not to look guilty. “Go ahead.” It wasn’t like he had copped a feel. He wouldn’t notice anything sliding a hand down between my breasts.
He was watching me and trying not to laugh. Good. Humor is always good.
I stepped back up and stared at a spot over his shoulder, breathing evenly. He started at my shoulders again and then glided the side of his hand down between my breasts. He kept moving. Whew!
