Montana Falls (Red Diamonds #5)

Chapter Seventeen

I was giggling so much my cheeks hurt. My head was leaning back against Kody’s shoulder, his laughter rumbling against my body, as I snuggled against him like the world’s best pillow. I had Logan’s hand in mine, fingers laced together, and I squeezed it just because I could, because I was happy, ridiculously happy. The tequila was buzzing through me, making everything feel soft and warm and a little bit hazy, like I was floating through a dream I never wanted to wake up from.

John was dead.

I was drunk.

Things were fucking great.

“Okay, but seriously, bunny,” I slurred, turning my head to look at him, my vision blurring just a little. “When you dance, I swear, you look like, like…” I struggled for the word, then burst into a new fit of giggles. “Like a sexy giraffe.”

“Sexy giraffe?” he echoed, raising his eyebrows in that way that made my heart do a stupid little flip. “Thanks, I think?”

“Yeah,” I nodded sagely, even though I could barely keep my head from bobbing. “All tall and… and wobbly but, like, in a hot way.” I bit my lip, grinning up at him. His face was close, close enough to kiss, but we were moving, the car bouncing as he took another turn.

I didn’t want to crash and die just for a kiss. Not yet, anyway.

“How are you driving so good?” I hiccupped. “We’re all fun and drunk and you’re… you’re a hero. A driving hero in his car, never crashing it. I would crash into a pole.”

“Same.” Misha snorted.

Lincoln chuckled at me. “I’m stone-cold sober, princess. Someone’s gotta get you all back to the hotel in one piece. I had like two beers a few hours ago, that’s it.”

“Boring!” Kody groaned dramatically, his arms wrapped loosely around my waist to keep me from sliding off his lap as we turned into the drive-thru Lincoln had promised to find. “You’re missing out, man. You should have done a shot from our girl. She tastes fucking delicious.” He descended into Hungarian that I presumed was compliments.

Partly because he was kissing my neck as he spoke. Mostly because I was awesome enough to compliment.

“That’s ‘cause he’s responsible,” Price chimed in, leaning forward from the backseat with a grin. “Unlike the rest of us. Lincoln is smart and mature and the best.” He poked my arm. “You are drunk, gorgeous. Hot and drunk and hot.”

“Hot two times?” I stuck my tongue out at him, then turned back to Lincoln, leaning as far forward as I could without falling off Kody’s lap. “You know we love you, right? You’re, like, our designated hero. Our… what’s it called? The thing that saves you when you are bad and looks out for you?”

“Guardian angel?” Logan supplied helpfully. He was the best, too.

“Yes! That!” I pointed at Logan, my finger swaying a bit before I found my balance. “Guardian angel! That’s you, bunny. You are my angel and everyone’s angel. You do brave things and hero things, and you murder bad guys for me and be a driver when I am drunk.”

Lincoln glanced at me, his smile softening. “Yeah, yeah. What do you guys want from the drive-thru?”

“Fries!” I shouted, way too loud for the small space, but I couldn’t help it. The idea of salty, crispy fries was suddenly the best thing I’d ever heard. “And nuggets. So many nuggets. Like a million. A bazillion.” I made a gun shape with my finger, pointing it his way. “All the nuggets or you die, El Diablo. ”

“Milkshake!” Misha added from the back. “And more fries!”

“I got it,” Lincoln said, turning his attention to the intercom. He started rattling off our order while we all burst into a new wave of giggles. Logan was still holding my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, and I couldn’t help but smile at him again, my heart so full I thought it might burst.

I was flirting with disaster, drinking all that tequila, but I felt so alive, so free. Why did it matter that my stalker was still out there? Cassie could suck a dick. Someone else’s dick. A monster dick that tasted all gross and icky and bleh.

I turned my head slightly and kissed Kody’s cheek just because he was there, and why not? He grinned, squeezing me a little tighter, and I felt Logan’s hand tighten around mine.

Everyone was all squeezy and touchy and fun.

I liked them. Loved them.

I would kill anyone who hurt them.

“I love you,” I declared, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then I twisted around, almost knocking my head on the seat, to look at Logan. “And I love you.” I let go of his hand to reach back for Misha, his fingers already curling around mine. “And I love you too!” I laughed, my whole body filled with this wild, spinning joy. “I love all of you!”

Price leaned forward again, this time his chin resting on the back of my seat. “I guess that’s a good thing, future wife,” he said, his smile lazy and warm. “Because we kinda love you, too.”

The car filled with our laughter as Lincoln passed back our food, the smell of fries and nuggets making my mouth water. I honestly had no idea how I managed to hold the bags and behave myself as we drove the last two minutes to the hotel. Okay, I stole a couple of fries out of the top bag, but that was just a secret. I left everything else as we finally pulled up into the parking lot underneath the hotel.

The second Lincoln parked, we all hurried to clamber out. The world tilted as I tried to stand, my legs wobbly and unsteady. But because I was a good boss, I fixed myself and stood upright.

Okay, that was also a lie. A big fat drunk lie.

“Whoa, easy there,” Misha said, his arm slipping around my waist, holding me up. “I got you, sweetheart.”

It was a good thing Price and Kody had taken the food between them before I’d got out the car; my nuggets would have been everywhere, and that was sad.

I liked nuggets.

With sauce. Lots and lots of sauce.

“Of course you do,” I murmured, leaning into Misha as Price came up on my other side, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “You’re all so strong and, and sturdy and… you know?” I felt like my brain was made of cotton candy, all fuzzy and sweet. “Like the pillars of a building.”

“Pillars?” Price chuckled, helping steady me and Misha as we stumbled through the lobby. “That’s a new one.”

“Yeah!” I insisted, grinning up at him. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” I said, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Like, really, really beautiful with tattoos and a smile and a big dick.”

“Okay, that’s enough tequila compliments for one night,” Lincoln said, still laughing as he held the suite door open for us.

We stumbled inside, all of us a tangle of limbs and laughter, and I felt like I was glowing, like I could burst from how much I loved them, every single one. They were such a good collection of men, and I was glad to have snapped up every single one.

They were mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.

It was perfect.

Misha guided me to a kitchen stool, and I flopped down, my head spinning. “You guys are the best,” I murmured, my eyes heavy. “Like, my favorite people in the world. I am glad you kidnapped me and kept me.”

The others piled into the room, stripping clothes and grabbing food as they made their way to the couches, and someone stuck a random movie on. I wanted to join them, but I had to do something important first if I had the energy.

With a huff, I got to my feet, fingers reaching to find the zipper of my dress and failing miserably. Lincoln grabbed the ketchup from the fridge, and then smirked as he pulled me toward him.

“Why do you disturb me, bunny?” I drawled.

“I’m taking your clothes off. You always complain that you bloat when eating and you’ll be uncomfortable in this dress.”

“You know too much.” I whispered, as he unzipped me and helped me out of my clothes, even my bra, and then slid his t-shirt over my head. “I have to kill you for the secrets you know.”

He held his hands on my waist, keeping me steady. “You couldn’t kill me right now. You’re drunk.”

“You’re drunk.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and he snatched his hand out, grabbing it with a laugh.

I could do nothing but let him hold me, as he laughed and laughed, and I did my best not to drool all over the place like an idiot.

“Look how nice it is when you shut up for five seconds.” He breathed.

“Hmmhmmhm.” I replied.

He snorted and let go of me, not before he wiped his hand on my cheek. I swatted him away and pounced, licking my tongue over his cheek like a dog.

“You gross bitch.” He laughed again. I liked him laughing. He was so pretty when he laughed and less like El Diablo and more like my friend.

My best friend. One of five.

“You don’t like my tongue on you, bunny?” I wondered.

“Not unless it’s in my mouth or on my dick.” To emphasize his point, he yanked me close again, shoving his tongue between my lips and stealing a kiss before he pulled away, handed me my food, and ordered me to take a seat with his bossy, not hot at all, voice.

I did it. I sat down and ate and talked and smiled.

I recalled the way John took his last breath, and my smile got wider.

I remembered how his scream sounded as he fell, and I almost laughed.

Even when our food was done, and our yawns got more ferocious, I couldn’t keep the vicious glee from my face as I ordered everyone to bring cushions and blankets into the lounge so we could have a big sleepover. It seemed the most fun thing to do and a way to cement our evening without splitting up and going to separate beds to nap away the rest of the night.

Logan and Price were the first to fall asleep in our giant pile. The others were like me, either wide awake or too drunk to care about sleeping. And as their fearless leader, it was up to me to entertain everyone. But I was unable to do that without their help, so I had no choice but to outsource.

“Someone tell me secrets they would take to the grave. I wish to be entertained.” I yawned.

Lincoln pulled me closer until I was lying on top of him instead of on my cushions. His strong body was such a nice cushion, and I had half a mind to get him stuffed full of goose down feathers so it could be even better for me.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping, not talking?” He said in my ear, his voice deep and rough.

His voice went straight to my pussy every single time. It was a bit of a problem.

“No. I want secrets. So talk or die.” I sat up quick, my hands wrapped around his throat, my legs straddling his hips.

He swatted me away a second later, barely any effort required on his behalf. But it was fun to try.

“I don’t like being choked. Do it again and I’ll spank you.”

I did it again. Totally for no reason at all.

Lincoln flipped me over, pinning me to the ground. His big hand found my ass a second later, slapping me a handful of times, enough to imprint him on my skin and make me burn in the best sort of way.

Enough to make all the men still awake pay strict attention to me.

“You still wanna gossip, you brat?” Lincoln rubbed my ass cheek with his hand, squeezing nice and hard.

“Yes.” I giggled into the floor. “Gossip to me, El Diablo . Gossip and make me happy. That is an order for all of you.”

He let me up with a sigh, but he can’t have been that mad seeing as he kept me snuggled in his arms, holding me close enough we were in danger of becoming one person.

“When we get married one day, I want a big wedding.” Kody confessed first, as he rolled over and tucked his face against my chest. “I’m talking loads of flowers, bridesmaids galore. Lots of food, and a big band. And I want it outside, somewhere with a beautiful view.” He sighed into my chest. “Then I want to go on vacation back to Hungary, so we can fuck in my childhood bedroom and I can prove to my past self that I was cool enough to bag a hot girl one day.”

I faked a sad face. “Is that all you like me for? My hotness.”

“Yes,” He deadpanned before he snorted. “I think you have an alright personality, too. Sometimes. And that tiny bit of psycho murderer in your soul gets me hard.”

“You’re so sweet, papi .” I kissed the top of his head. “Okay, someone else go next. Keep the gossip coming.”

“I want to get a tattoo.” Misha chimed in from the couch, his head resting on a pillow on Price’s lap. “Something cool. But I’m terrified it will hurt.”

“I’ll get one with you.” Linc squeezed my ass with his hands, and I pretended not to like it. “It’s more the idea that it hurts, that messes with your brain. But it really doesn’t feel that bad.”

“I will get one too.” I declared. “A big one on my back.”

“No, you won’t.” Kody snickered and moved his face over, biting my nipple and making me suck in a sharp breath. “You don’t like tattoos.”

“But I want to be in the club.” I pouted. “How about we all get a piercing?”

“Where do you have left to pierce?” Misha asked.

“My pussy.” I grinned wickedly. “Maybe you could all get somewhere similar.”

“I’m good thanks.” Lincoln snorted into my ear. “Moving away from painful things back to secrets – I’m scared of moths. They creep me out. But so do butterflies – they’re basically just fancier moths.”

“I’m going to put a butterfly garden in our forever house and make you sleep in it when I’m mad at you.” I mumbled into the top of Kody’s head, only getting the slightest of yanks on my hair in response, not the spanking I’d been mildly, sort of, not at all, hoping for.

“We’re having a forever house, are we?” Lincoln asked.

“Yes. A big one with lots of rooms for sex and violence.” I promised. “Now, someone tell me something worse. Something dark and sexy and fun…” My eyes were closing, but I was still awake.

The four of us stayed up long into the night, the sun rising and Logan and Price waking back up for a while again, before we passed out together. After sharing secrets, spilling stories.

Just being us. Being together.

Like I hoped we would be forever.