44. Bash
Chapter 44
Bash
I would have preferred to stay locked away with Stasia for the next week, but I’m determined to keep my promise to her. Which is the only reason why I agreed to leave our house and come meet my brothers. Our private room at the Elysium provides the perfect location to plan, explain what’s happening with the Russians, and ask for their help. Not that there’s any doubt they’ll help us; it’s more like a heads-up to what we need.
Stasia’s warm in my arms, where we’re sitting in one of the leather club chairs. Despite her protest, I pulled her onto my lap the second we got here, not being able to stand another second apart from her. If I could meld her into my body, I would.
She didn’t argue long, as if it was all for show in the first place, and snuggled into my chest, where she hasn’t moved since. She’s been engaged in the conversation with Xander and Matthias as we wait for Damon, but she hasn’t so much as lifted her head. She’s soft, wrapped up in one of my hoodies, which engulfs her. Even at nearly six feet tall, she looks tiny in my clothes. A possessiveness takes over in seeing her in anything that’s mine, and I’m not sure I can handle her wearing anything else from now on.
At this point, it would be worth the fight.
Damon finally arrives, and the sound from the club disappears as the heavy door clicks shut behind him. “Sorry, there was a tantrum situation that I had to take care of.”
He looks more pleased about it than he should. After all the shit he’s been through, I wasn’t sure how he’d do as a parent, but he’s an amazing dad. Nothing like our own. If Misty softened his rough edges, his kids have turned him into goo.
It’s good to see him happy.
He pours himself a drink and sits beside Matthias on the sofa. “Are you here to tell us you’re getting married?”
A thrill goes through me, and I ask her, “Marry me.”
“No.” She doesn’t hesitate, but the warmth in her eyes gives her away. It won’t be long until I’ve worn her down and she agrees to marry me.
All three of my brothers laugh.
“She really is your match,” Damon says.
Matthias nods. “I never thought I’d see the day where Bash fell in love.”
“Right? He’s been such a little shit,” Damon agrees.
Matthias looks at us. “Have you tried kidnapping her?”
Stasia stiffens, and I’m about to tell them to fuck off until she squirms in my lap, her ass rubbing against my already semi-hard-on.
I murmur in her ear, “If you keep moving like that, we’re going to have a problem.”
Her cheeks pinken, and her eyes go round. She looks stunning, and I want to tell her over and over again just how perfect she is.
I brush her hair back behind her ear and whisper, “Not that I mind.”
Damon clears his throat, but he looks happy. “Why are we here?”
I look at Stasia and nod, my arms wrapping tighter around her waist. I want to give her all my strength as she goes through everything that’s happened. She relaxes into me and begins.
My brothers are seething by the time she’s finished, their eyes narrowed into slits. They’re on the edge of their seats, as if ready to jump up at any moment and take care of things. “So we kill them all,” Xander says, and Damon and Matthias nod in agreement. They’ve been so domesticated I sometimes forget how vicious they can be.
Stasia’s clear blue eyes scan over them, then meet mine. Her nose is scrunched up and mouth twisted like she’s tasted something bad. “We can’t just go after them. I still need them to get the money to pay off the Salvatores. At least now I have the crown.”
My eyes shift to the floor, and my body grows rigid in preparation for what happens next. This probably won’t go over well. “About that.”
She huffs out a defeated breath. “What is it now?”
I wince. “I bought your debt the other day. You don’t owe anyone.”
Her eyes narrow, and her teeth clench before she relaxes in my arms, her cheek resting against my chest. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
It’s not the reaction I expected. I thought for sure she’d lose it on me, but maybe she really has accepted everything I’ve done.
“We would have killed him if he didn’t,” Xander adds. “No one threatens our family.”
I run my knuckle along her cheek. “Since I bought out your debt, doesn’t that mean I technically own you?”
“We’ll call it a wedding present,” Damon says.
“I never agreed to marry him.” She groans.
That just earns her a knowing smirk from all three of my brothers.
Xander leans forward, a conspiratorial glint to his eyes. “You do realize he’s head over heels for you, right? I’m pretty sure you could get him to do anything you wanted.”
“With the Salvatores out of the way, that allows us to go right after the Russians.” I change the subject and glare at my brother. There’s no reason to encourage her, or I’ll find myself crawling like a dog. The image of her standing over me while I kneel in front of her has my dick twitching. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Damon leans forward, directing his attention toward Stasia. “I’m guessing you have a plan?”
I blow out a breath. “She says we can’t just murder them all right away.”
“Told you he was whipped.” Xander chuckles.
Stasia bites back her smirk. “I have leftover business with my grandmother I have to take care of first.”
Damon, Matthias, and Xander wear matching dark looks, fully on board with whatever she wants to do to them.
“Just tell us what you need, and we’ll take care of it,” Damon promises.
Stasia’s smile is cut with malice. “I’m going to make them wish they never messed with my family.”
“I like her,” Xander chimes in. “She’ll fit right in.”