“You, too…”
When she finally succumbed to sleep, she dreamt of floaty prom dresses made of tulle and sparkly things, balloons in pastel colors enveloping her and Cormac, drifting past them on a dance floor, where they clung to one another and swayed to a soft ballad.
Right in the middle of her dream, she decided it was probably the sweetest of dreams she’d ever had.
Chapter 13
“I feel like my stomach’s about to explode,” Marty complained, yanking at the hem of her ultra-short dress, which made her figure look like she’d popped right out of a magazine for curvy women.
She was stunning in the slinky black Lycra that covered her from chin to mid-thigh like a sleek glove, and if the information Toni had once given to Marty during their many conversations about Stas, she should have no problem getting his attention.
“That’s because your fat ass is warring with your gut,” Nina said on a cackle as she shoveled a freshly baked frozen pizza in her mouth next to Lenny, who was happily eating yet another can of salmon.
Marty’s lips thinned. “Shut up and mind your own P’s and Q’s. Shouldn’t you be washing your driving gloves or something, chauffer?”
Nina planted the heels of her hands on the counter of the kitchen island and leaned over, growling. “I said I’d go in. I can do more than just drive. I told you, just because I’m fucking human, doesn’t mean I can’t still handle some shit.”
“With what? Your fierce glare of death and your awkward, slower-than-an-act-of-congress ninja moves? You stay in the car where you damn well belong, Nina. You are not a vampire anymore. I repeat, not a vampire!”
Wanda dropped a red duffel bag on the island between them with a loud thunk meant to startle the two women she called friends. “Not today, girls. Hear me? We all have to focus on our jobs. No arguing over anything or I swear, I’ll personally rip your vocal chords from your creamy throats. We each have tasks. Tasks that are best suited to our abilities. We will perform said task without a peep of dissention. Now knock it off. We’re all on edge. This is it. This is our chance to finally get Cormac out from under this damn dark cloud that’s been hovering over his head and reunite him with Toni. Don’t screw it up.”
Archibald cleared his throat as he entered the kitchen and sauntered across the floor like a runway model. He wore a pinstriped suit in a deep navy blue, double breasted, coupled with a black shirt and a white tie and a matching fedora.
He was just shy of a Tommy gun and cigar.
Arch did a little twirl and winked his eye at the women, followed by a saucy smile.
Nina wolf-whistled at him. “Every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man, Gansgta!” she whooped.
“I take it you approve, ladies?” he asked on a bow.
Wanda gave him one of those fond smiles she was always doling out, but she shook her head in admonishment. “We’re not going after Jimmy Hoffa, Arch. They’re Russian mobsters, not The Sopranos.”
Arch scoffed at her, clicking his heels together. “It never hurts to dress the part, Lady Wanda. How could I possibly pass up a hat as smart as this one? If I’m to be in charge of keeping our former mistress of the dark on task and in our getaway car, it can only benefit me to get into character.”
Marty rolled her eyes with a chuckle and squeezed his arm. “You be careful, you hear me, Arch? Ex-Elvira’s a crafty one. She’ll pull out all the stops to stick her nose in where it doesn’t belong. Make sure she stays put in the getaway car. No varying from the plan.”
Nina ripped a piece of her pizza off and chewed, jamming her middle finger up at Marty.
Darnell strolled in then, his wide grin and big personality sweeping through the kitchen and warming Teddy. He fist-bumped with Carl before yanking the zombie into a bear hug.
“Do you have what we need, D?” Wanda asked as she pulled on a pea coat and dark knit cap, completely changing her overall appearance and air of sophistication to one of anonymity.
“Yes’m.” He drove his beefy hand into his Giants jacket and pulled out a recording device Cormac had sent him to purchase.
“And you’ve located this bar the freak hangs out in with his goons?”
“Yep, an’ I got the dude’s cell number, too. A direct hotline to the bad guy. All right up in here.” He pointed to his head.
“Up top, Demon,” Wanda said on a smile, holding her hand up in the air for him to high-five her.
As they all prepared to put into motion this sting they’d concocted while she and Cormac slept the sleep of the dead after drinking Arch’s special brew, Teddy fought the urge to scream.