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Bailey narrowed her eyes. “Tate told you about that, too, huh.”
“He keeps all his enforcers up to speed on anything important.”
Reaching the elevator, she pressed the “up” button. “I wouldn’t really call anything Ginny does ‘important.’ And to answer your question, my little meet and greet with the jackals happened after.”
The elevator doors had glided open, and they both stepped inside.
“Do you think she truly believes you’re Jackson’s attacker?” he asked, pressing the button on the panel to take them to their floor.
“Nope, not even a little.”
“What about his brothers?”
“It’s hard to say,” she said as the elevator smoothly began to ascend. “They don’t seem to be certain I’m responsible for what happened to Jackson, but I’m not sure they’re convinced of my innocence either. I don’t think they know what to believe.”
Deke went to speak, but then the ache in his head sharpened and began pulsing fast—telling him that his libido would soon lose its shit. He clamped his lips shut to hold back a pained groan. His cat’s attempt to help him bear the pain didn’t work this time.
Deke silently cursed. He blamed her damn scent. It was as delectable as it was feminine, and he wanted to drown in it. The sooner he got into his apartment and away from the temptation of her, the better.
He blinked hard, forcing himself to concentrate on the subject at hand. “I wouldn’t have thought Ginny would be so stupid as to pull a stunt like this. It’s not like she isn’t aware that you’ll make her pay one way or the other, and it’s never wise to anger a pallas cat pride.”
“True.” Bailey paused as the elevator doors opened. “But she’s feeling all big and brave because Jackson’s brothers are at her back,” she went on as they stepped out and began striding down the hallway. “Speaking of brothers … I like yours. Cash, I mean. He’s cute.”
Deke tensed, and his cat bared his teeth. “Don’t even think about it.” The words came out on an animalistic growl.
“What?”
“Dicking with me by pretending you’re interested in my brother.”
“What makes you think it would be a pretense? And what has your cat got against me getting hot and heavy with your brother?”
Stopping outside his apartment, he raised a brow. “Didn’t we already establish that it’s not wise of you to push me too far?”
Her gaze turned inward, as if she was searching her memories. “Oh, yeah, right, I forgot about that.”
Forgot? Yeah, he needed to ring her little neck. Instead, he yanked his keys out of his pocket. “Did you get rid of the snakes?”
Walking on ahead of him, she paused as she glanced over her shoulder. “Well … you took yours with you when you left my place days ago, and Clive—”
“Jesus, forget it.”
She snickered.
“You know something? You’re a—” He cut off as the ache in his head seemed to explode, and then it was thundering through his skull. The pain was so excruciating that it made his vision blur, his knees shake, and his head go hot. Black spots danced in front of his eyes, and he would have swayed if he hadn’t planted his feet.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Easy, big guy,” said Bailey, practically lunging to his side.
“I’m fine,” he gritted out.
“Never said you weren’t.”
“You can go.”
“Thanks so much.” Ignoring his death glare, Bailey scooped up the keys he’d dropped, unlocked his door, and then herded him inside … briefly marveling over how it wasn’t all that dissimilar to what he’d done for her a few nights ago.
His eyes went cat—the warning to leave the apartment very clear.
She scowled at the animal. “Oh, get over yourself.”
A growl rumbled out of Deke that came from his feline.
Even as her snake coiled to strike, Bailey put her hands on her hips. “Why are you being a dick?” she asked the cat. “He’s in pain. You’re in pain. But you’re so busy stewing on your own bullshit that you—”
A warm, strong hand snapped around her throat as a very feline hiss escaped through Deke’s teeth, his cat still very much in charge.
Her snake lifted her body, wanting to strike at the animal. “Hiss all you want. But if you hurt me I will ream your ass.”
Just like that, the hand disappeared from her throat and the cat let out an offended growl … as if affronted that she’d think it would cause her physical pain.
Deke’s eyes squeezed tightly closed. When his lids lifted long moments later, his eyes were their normal caramel-brown. He dragged in breath after breath, clearly trying to ride out the pain.
“You need to go, Bailey.” His voice was full of smoke and glass shards. “I can’t calm him or the touch-hunger down while you’re here.”
She doubted he’d manage either of those things easily even if she wasn’t here. He was in a bad way, and she knew he’d probably be like this for hours upon hours.
