4. Cuddly
Chapter four
Cuddly
Kazimir
S everal blue-balled minutes later, we finished dressing.
My mouse had picked out our outfits, placing me in a lightweight, tailored linen suit in a light shade of beige. I preferred black or dark blue, but Emily claimed New Orleans was notorious for the heat and that the dark, thick fabrics would cause heat. Plus, I was intrigued with her dressing me.
To my pleasure, the suit fit me well. Everything was slightly tapered to my liking. She had even paired it with a crisp linen button-down shirt and high-quality leather loafers.
She went to the side of the room, picked up a straw hat, and brought it over to me. “Here. This will help.”
“Who? A farmer?”
“This is a designer—”
“Straw?” I glared. “You already did not give me any pussy and put me in linen. Let us not push this.”
“Take the hat, Kaz, and try it on.”
I grabbed the hat and then tossed it in the trash. “Now you are going too far.”
“The hat is to shield you from the sun.”
“What is the sun to a lion?”
She groaned in annoyance. “Whatever.”
I watched her stroll away, enjoying the view. As usual, my mouse exuded elegance. Today, she wore a flowing pink dress made from this thin material.
“Interesting.” I headed over to touch it.
“No. Stay your ass over there.”
“I just want to touch your dress.”
“There’s no need to touch it.”
“What is that material—silk or chiffon?”
“It is the kind of material you don’t touch.”
The dress had a fitted bodice and a slightly flared skirt that reached her ankles. She paired it with these tan strappy sandals.
Gold hoops dangled from her ears. I imagined the earrings bouncing when I slammed my cock into her.
Emily grinned. “Stop looking at me that way.”
I raised my hands and finished buttoning the top of my shirt.
She sprayed some sweet-smelling perfume on herself.
Someone knocked.
She set the perfume down. “Come in.”
Baba entered. “How is my favorite couple?”
“Not so happy.” I grumbled and then spotted Emilio in her arms. “Well. . .now I am happy.”
“Ignore him.” Emily strolled Baba’s way.
Paolo came in too, holding a large cookie in his hand. Chocolate smeared on his fingers and wrist.
How is he already dirty?
I checked Emilio and then Paolo, realizing they were both wearing matching green overalls and white short-sleeved shirts.
For some reason, that brought a big smile to my face.
“I really like this new look, Kazimir.” Baba nodded. “You look like the Lion on vacation.”
“I thought it would be better than his signature thick designer black suits. In New Orleans, we need less Brotherhood Boss of all Bosses and more cuddly lion.”
I sneered. “Cuddly?”
“Good morning.” Emily landed a kiss on Baba’s cheek. “How are my babies?”
Paolo showed Emily the cookie in his hand. “Look, mysh .”
“I see. You are so lucky.” Emily shook her head and then frowned at Baba. “A cookie for breakfast? That’s how we are going to start the trip?”
Baba held complete innocence on her face. “There’s vitamin C and D in that cookie.”
“There are no vitamins in cookies. You are spoiling Paolo as usual. We talked about this.”
“And I declared that, I will spoil them all I want.”
My mouse grabbed Emilio out of Baba’s arms. “And how is my little prince?”
Baba huffed. “You are just going to take my baby without asking?”
Emilio cooed.
Shaking her head, Emily headed back over to the bed and sat down with our son. “Did he keep his wet nurses busy?”
“Very busy.” Baba perused my outfit again and gave me a thumbs up.
I deepened my frown.
How long do they think I will be a good little lion?
Baba put her view back on my mouse. “Emilio and his wet nurses were perfect. However, every two hours the spoiled lion cub gulped and gorged on milk as if he was a starving baby. This is probably why in all of my future visions of Emilio, he is quite a big man.”
“Really?” My mood brightened. “Emilio will end up being even bigger than me?”
“A few inches taller, Kazimir, and with your hefty shoulders and bulky arms.”
“Well.” I gazed down at Emilio. “That will be interesting indeed. As soon as you are walking, son, we will be in the gym.”
My mouse rolled her eyes. “Can you let this boy be a kid?”
“What? I lifted weights when I was young.”
“We are not giving our kids the same childhoods we had. Remember?”
“My cub will need muscles—”
“Emilio will not need muscles to lift a paint brush.” She kissed Emilio’s forehead and then she winked at Paolo. “Both of my babies are going to be famous artists, learning art in some of the best schools in Europe, and knowing all different types of languages. They will have their own studios and maybe even tons of art museums throughout the world.”
Absolutely not. They will rule our empire and be threatening, murderous bastards that terrify the world.
Baba leaned against the wall, silent, but with that knowing look—the one that said she knew the boys’ outcomes and even more.
Tell her that I am right, Baba.
“Muscles.” Paolo went over to Emily.
“No.” She shook her head. “Art.”
I nodded. “He was correct the first time.”
Paolo sat down next to her and held his cookie close to her face. “ Mysh ? Want?”
“Aww. So sweet. Yes, baby.” Smiling, Emily leaned over, took a tiny bite of the cookie, and chewed it. “Yummy. Salted caramel with pecan and chocolate.”
Paolo beamed and returned to munching on the cookie.
Emily swallowed and frowned at Baba. “I can totally taste the vitamins.”
Baba smirked. “And now that we are here, how are you both feeling about New Orleans?”
Emily let out a long sigh. “I am ready to get this started.”
“Good.” Baba gave me a sad smile. “The cards said that Lunita appeared. How are we doing?”
“She came. . .twice.” Emily rolled her eyes again. “But. . .I figured something out to knock her back down.”
I shifted my weight to the other foot.
“Excellent. You are getting more control.” Baba leaned her head to the side. “What do you think changed from usual?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, it’s because now I truly know she exists and will harm people I love, so there’s this. . . necessity to control. Now, I’m ready to get on with this.”
Baba gave her a sad smile. “This voodoo woman will want to take her time. That means that patience will be important in these first few days.”
I focused my view on Baba. “The Butcher talked about my need to be nice to people in New Orleans. What do you see?”
“I agree.” Baba let out a long breath. “This Delphine will need you to acquire certain items that will require you to step outside of your comfort zone.”
I quirked my brows. “What do you mean step outside of my comfort zone?”
“Kazimir, your comfort zone is homicidal maniac. While in New Orleans you need to walk on a different path—one that will involve friendly smiles, saying thank you, and even asking for these items with the world please .” Baba blinked. “Do you know how to say please?”
I scowled. “What items will Delphine need?”
“ She will tell you.”
Emily rocked our son in her arms. “Can’t I just get the items myself?”
“I wish, Emily, but the answer is no. You will be busy with Delphine, beginning your mental training so that when Kazimir gets these items, you can go within yourself and use them.”
“Go in myself? What does that mean?”
Baba sighed as if already exhausted with us. “Do you think that all Delphine will need to do is make a potion, you drink it, and that’s it, you are healed?”
Emily nodded. “That was my thinking.”
“We are talking about layers upon layers of trauma that involved your brain splitting to defend itself. Delphine even attempting to heal your mind is an almost impossible mission. I am still not sure why she is so. . .determined to do it. When I look, there is this. . .wall of darkness like she is trying to hide it.”
What?
Emily’s bottom lip quivered. “But can she heal me?”
“I see many different outcomes.” Baba’s expression tensed. “Let us just. . .proceed with caution.”
“That was useless information.” I pointed at her. “I want more of an answer than that while we are here.”
“That is all you are getting, Kazimir.”
Someone knocked on the door.
I called out. “What?”
The door opened.
Tisha stepped inside. He wore a dark blue suit with his hair tied up in a ponytail. When his gaze went to me, he snickered. “You look very cute, Kazimir.”
I gritted my teeth. “What do you want?”
Tisha gestured behind him. “We have some glammed-out pansy waiting outside next to our cars, sparkling with diamond cufflinks.”
I frowned. “And?”
Tisha curved his lips into a smile. “Can I shoot him? I ask because Maxwell claims that we cannot kill this guy.”
I held out my hands. “Why not?”
“Kaz?” Emily widened her eyes. “Baba and I have just been saying to keep it chill here and now you are asking why Tisha can’t shoot one of Jean-Pierre’s people?”
“Is it not a fair question?” I turned my view back to Tisha. “Why did Maxwell say we cannot shoot him.”
Tisha shrugged. “Apparently, this is one of Jean-Pierre’s cousins. He calls himself the Comedienne.”
“Oh.” I chuckled. “You can definitely shoot him.”
Baba let out a long breath. “This is going to be a very long trip.”