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Deke slid his hands up her thighs. “You would think he would, but apparently not.”
“I cannot tell you how much I want to pound my fist into his balls. If he even has any. Goddamn coward hides behind his designated scapegoats.” She clasped her hands together. “Can we peel off his nipples when we find him? Like, seriously?”
Sensing it was a genuine request, Deke couldn’t stop his lips from curving despite his mood. She always managed to do that. Always managed to crack through the stubborn wall of his anger, no matter how black his mood. “I doubt anyone would try to stop you, even though our boy has got to be someone from the pride.”
For his cat, that was the worst part. The betrayal slashed at him. If you couldn’t trust pride, who could you trust?
Bailey let out a sigh. “Poor Maisy. He would have used her all over again. If she’d marched into that café and confronted Sam, only to realize she’d approached the wrong person yet again, she’d have been wrecked that our boy played her a second time.”
Which he evidently didn’t care about. “I don’t get why he won’t just stop. He could have left the matter alone. Could have quit while he was ahead. He didn’t. I know he wants my attention, but why? What is he getting out of all this on a personal level?” Deke just couldn’t see it.
“Questions for the ages. If he’s so intent on being up here in your head”—she tapped his temple gently—“all I can think is that you must be up in his. If it was someone who had a thing for you, I really don’t think they’d go about it this way, so it can only be someone who has beef with you.” She sighed. “I don’t know why people cling to grudges.”
Deke did a slow blink. “You cling to grudges.” Tighter than anyone he knew.
She waved that off, as if it wasn’t relevant. “Well, I say we don’t give him what he wants; that instead of thinking and talking about him, we focus on something else.”
“I’m up for that.”
“Groovy.” She tipped her head to the side. “Whatever shall we talk about?”
He cupped her hips and tugged her closer. “You.”
Her brows lifted. “Me?”
“There are lots of things I’d like to know about you.”
“Hmm, like what?”
“Tell me where you learned how to hack and fight and build bombs and fly helicopters,” he urged, but she went still, her expression closing over. “I don’t know what it is you’re hiding, but you can trust me, Bailey. I swear to Christ, you’re safe with me; anything you share is safe with me.” He gave her hips a gentle squeeze. “Let me in a little more, baby. I won’t make you regret it.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Uncertain, Bailey dug her teeth into her lower lip. Did she trust Deke? Yes. He’d never given her a reason why she couldn’t. And it was well-known that he never broke his word. But this wasn’t a simple secret, and it was instinct to clam up and say nothing.
Names of ex-members of the Movement were leaked from time to time. Every one of those people were then either hunted by extremists or tracked down by the human law authorities. Humans generally didn’t interfere with shifter business, but extremists weren’t shifters. They fell under a different law system, and so any shifters who wronged them were expected to pay for it.
As such, ex-members rarely shared their past occupation. Havana had told Tate, but they were mates—his loyalty was therefore primarily toward her. She didn’t have to worry that he would ever betray her.
Luke was made aware of their past because she and her girls trusted that he’d hold his silence, even if only out of loyalty to his brother. Like Deke, he was a man of integrity. And just as she couldn’t foresee the Beta ever breaking her confidence, she couldn’t envision Deke doing it either—particularly not when it would endanger her.
Her gut told her she could trust Deke, and her snake agreed. Nonetheless, Bailey hesitated. Why? Because she doubted he’d believe her.
Not that she thought he underestimated her in the same way he once had. But she still wasn’t certain he’d buy that she’d given eight years of her life to any cause, let alone one so noble. She wasn’t certain he’d believe she had it in her. If anyone else displayed such incredulity, it wouldn’t bother her. But with Deke, it would sting.
There was only one way to find out how he’d react, though, wasn’t there?
Deciding to take the risk, she cautioned, “You can’t tell a soul.”
Clasping her hands, Deke gave her an earnest look. “I won’t say a word to anyone. Whatever you tell me will remain between us.”
Puffing out a breath, she sat up straighter. “We were members of the Movement once. Me, Havana, Aspen, and Camden.” She held her breath, awaiting his response.
