“Thanks for helping.”
“Always, Emily.” He sat down at the long table. “Anytime you need me, feel free to come. The lion is a hard man to love, but at times, he can be a little kitten begging to be rubbed and cuddled.”
I laughed and went on with my plan, letting him know the things I need and the arrangements that needed to be made. Somewhere in between the planning, Pavel discussed his hair treatment plan and I had to admit, he was my favorite choice of all in the Bratva.
“Eggs and mayonnaise.” Pavel took his hair out of the band. “Simple ingredients. Not the flash like you see on products. No fragrances or extra chemicals.”
“And what do you do?” I touched my own hair, wanting the gloss and shake Pavel possessed.
“Oh, in time, sweet Emily.” He winked. “I can’t give all my secrets to you.”
“Come on. That’s not fair.”
He put his hair back in a ponytail. “I’ll tell you one day, when I know that you can keep a secret. Everyone envies my hair. And they should.”
I giggled. “It is beautiful.”
“Kazimir picks at it. He has, all of our lives, but I know he dreams about it.”
I don’t know about that, but it’s worth noting what you do to those strands.
An hour later, I woke up Kazimir, made sure he had breakfast, and then gave him the package of clothes Pavel’s main man had purchased for our date.
“Here you go.” I gestured to the big box. “Open it up and put everything on.”
Kazimir tore the box open like a kid on Christmas, looked inside, and quirked his brows. “What are we doing today?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He turned to his guards as if asking them. They remained silent. All knew they were to keep their mouths closed and play along. Frowning, he directed his attention to Pavel who promptly shook his head.
I put my hands on my hips. “Don’t get them shot.”
Kazimir lifted the big tweed blazer from the box. “And I’m supposed to wear this?”
“You’ll look adorable.”
He grumbled, “I better get my cock sucked in this.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Kazimir set the blazer on the side and pulled out the brown leather trousers. “Are these pants for me or you?”
“They’re clearly too big for me, Kaz.”
“It’s leather.”
“Yes.”
“I’m a man.”
“I’m well aware that you’re a man, and it’s not tight leather. Would you relax?”
He set the pants back in the box. “This won’t do.”
I couldn’t keep the silly smile off my face as I crossed my arms. “Doesn’t matter. You and your sister are constantly dressing me up. Now, it’s your turn.”
He waved his guards away. “Leave us and take these pants.”
One smirked. Pavel snorted. All left, yet none of them took the outfit away.
Kazimir looked at me. “You’ve taken over my men.”
“I have not, but I know one thing. You have less than an hour to get dressed. I expect you in your cute little outfit with a smile on your face.”
He frowned. “At least it doesn’t have a bow.”
“Hey, I can add one, if you keep on talking.”
“You wouldn’t.” Kazimir dragged himself into the bathroom. “Are you coming into the shower, mysh? I surely deserve some help getting dressed.”
“I bet you do.” I shook my head and headed over to the nightstand. “Give me a minute.”
“A minute?” He groaned.
You’re so spoiled. That’s why I love you.
“Go ahead. I’ll come in there to help you.” I grabbed my phone.
Kazimir went into the bathroom. The sound of the shower came on next. Quickly, I dialed Boris’s number.
Boris picked up before the second ring finished. A sense of urgency filled his tone. “Emily, you can call me?”
“Of course, I can. Why?”
“We couldn’t call you. None of us.”
“What?” I scrunched my face in confusion. “My phone has been on the whole time.”
“The calls have been redirected.”
“To where?”
“Nowhere.”
I let out a long breath.
Who else could do that but Kazimir? What are you hiding, lion?
I tapped my side. “Don’t worry. My phone will be fixed by tonight. Did anything happen?”
“They’re not letting us in the house, but some stuff definitely happened. I saw some guys dressed in plastic carrying out a dead chimpanzee and a baby one too.”
More cut animals?
Pain hit my stomach. “Where was it?”
“I don’t know yet. Kazimir’s men are not letting us get anywhere close to this, but I’m sure it was a message to you.”
So monkey head guy is still busy? That motherfucker better be lucky I’m in Paris.
I kept my voice calm. “Stay off the property for now. Get strong. Make sure everyone’s united. I didn’t know I was leaving the country. It was a surprise.”
An attempt at distraction, but not clever enough.
For now, my crew was a bunch of outcasts and independents. None probably were used to taking orders. I was thankful they’d hung around in my absence. That being said, I couldn’t stop the rage building inside me. Kazimir had attempted to block our communication. He was going too far.