Page 125 of Savage King

I laugh; I can't help it. Elli has always been the overdramatic one. "I should spank you, Scarlet Lambert," she nods to herself, then tilts her head, "or is that too kinky?" She thinks it over. "Yep, too kinky. Hey, and what is this?"

She grabs my hand and pulls me to the window to hold up my ring to the sunlight. "What the hell is this?"

"My engagement ring?" I pose it as a question, even though I'm sure that's what she's talking about and not my nails in dire need of a mani. I have to ask Gigi if she knows anyone who'll make house visits. I’m already sure I don't want to go to any of the places I normally go, not with four bodyguards. Probably Antonio, too.

"Engagement? What?" Elli exclaims. "Holy shit girl, that's one huge sapphire."

"Blue diamond," I correct automatically, slightly blushing.

"Holy cow, do you have any idea how much those are worth?"

I swallow. "Eight point five million dollars."

"Fuck!" She sits down on the unoccupied bed. "Alright, tell me."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Will you let me?"

She laughs. "Probably, I'm curious enough."

She pats the spot next to her, inviting me to sit down. "Spill."

And I do. I tell her everything. From the moment Carlos's men snatched me, to me being here to see a doctor for my first appointment, and, hopefully, a glimpse of jellybean. Well, almost everything. I don't mention a few minor details, like the shootout, or the second kidnapping a couple of days ago. But I make sure to fill her in on Antonio's and my shopping trip, knowing full well that she has a fetish when it comes to expensive designer things, which is actually the reason she wanted to become a doctor. Most people go into the field to help people. Not Elli. She did it to make enough money to support her expensive habits. All the better if she could help people in the process, she said.

"Shut up! He didn't!" She cries, just as I expected. A wide grin spreads over my face.

"He did."

"Okay, please tell me he has a brother." Her eyes are wide and hopeful, and I hate to disappoint her.

"Sorry."

"Dang. But that's okay. Oh, Scar, I'm so happy for you." She pulls me in for another near-death hug. "You deserve it. You really do."

I wipe a tear away. "Damn, why do you always make me cry?"

She laughs, "What can I say, it's a gift. Come on, let's see what's for lunch. I'm starving."

She pulls me up to the table and lifts the first silver dome-shaped cover. "Oh my God, is that from Martin's?"

Martin is one of our favorite restaurants. We don't get to go there very often since it's also one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, which is probably why Antonio picked it—not because he's stalking me and my habits.

"You should know that the others and I planned your demise in case you came back unhurt," she says around a big bite of steak.

"I figured." I nibble on a fry. I don't know how Martin's does it, but they have the best French fries in the state. "Tell them that I have bodyguards now who will shoot first and won't ever ask questions."

Elli freezes before she chokes on a bite of her steak. I whack her back a few times. "Better?"

Her face is red, with tears streaming down it, but she's laughing. "Oh my God, that's a good one." She shakes her head, then stills. "You're serious?"

I nod. "The only reason Antonio let me come here."

3…2…1… I count down in my head, and I'm not disappointed. "Are they hot?"

"It's kind of hard to judge, since I'm spoiled from looking at Antonio all day…"

"Oh. My. God! You're such a bitch," she laughs. "I love you."

"I love you, too." I do. And it feels so good being with her again. It's not going to be easy, but I'm dead set on keeping girls' night going. Antonio will just have to figure something out.

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