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The redhead’s eyes flared as they dipped to the bite on Bailey’s throat. Fresh and deep, it made a statement that the feline couldn’t miss. Ha.
Well, it was hard to like this person for obvious reasons. More, knowing that the woman had kissed Deke, touched him, had him inside her, made icy blades of jealousy stab Bailey in the chest. The same emotion rubbed her snake’s nerves raw.
Feeling like messing with the redhead, Bailey chose to play dumb. “Who are you?” she asked, keeping her tone bored.
Rigid, the feline pinned her with a fevered glare. “Who am I? I’m Dayna.”
“Dayna …?” Bailey prodded, letting her brows squish together.
A low, cat-like hiss slithered up the bitch’s throat. “The woman whose man you marked,” she spat.
“Your man?” Ensuring she appeared appropriately confused, Bailey looked at him. “Does this female have a claim to you?”
“No,” he stated, his tone firm and unyielding.
Bailey slid her gaze back to the redhead. “Huh. I’m confused. Wait, are you the one who’s been in New Zealand for years?”
Her face flushing, Dayna’s fingers retracted like claws. “Australia. And yes, that’s me. He and I made a commitment to each other.”
“No, actually, you both committed to a promise,” Bailey corrected. “A promise you broke when you didn’t come back exactly when you swore you would.”
“I’m here now. And I’m staying.”
Bailey tipped her head to the side. “Funny how you only decided to do that after he branded someone else and told you he was done with you. Felt the need to come piss all over what you feel is your territory, did you? How cliché.”
“Deke isn’t territory to me. He’s someone I care about.”
“Maybe. But you’re not really here for his sake. You’re here because you can’t stand that he’s moved on—it’s written all over you in bold letters. I sure hope you’re not expecting me to step aside and let you have him. ’Cause yeah, I won’t do that. He’s mine now.”
“Yours?” Dayna snorted and notched up her chin. “I think not. He might have marked you, but he hasn’t been sharing your bed for long. I know him far better than you do—and not just in a biblical sense. We grew up together. We were friends for years before we were lovers. We have the kind of bond you can’t begin to understand.”
“If that’s true, why is this happening right now?”
Dayna’s head jerked slightly. “What?”
“If you care so much for him, this whole scene wouldn’t be playing out, because you’d have let him go years ago so he could live his life. Instead, you held him to you all this time. That’s pretty damn selfish whatever way you look at it.”
The redhead’s mouth flattened. “You know nothing.”
“I know that there’s no way you’re back for good. It would have taken you a lot longer to get your affairs in order if you honestly meant to relocate here after a long stay in a whole other country among a whole other pride. You’re here to win him back and convince him to move to Australia with you.”
Dayna blanked her expression. “You’re wrong.”
“You’ll swear that on your nephew’s life?”
The feline hesitated, her eyes blazing. “You don’t get to talk about my family.”
“Just did. Might do it again.”
“You’re a mouthy little bitch, aren’t you? I’m not understanding what he sees in you.”
“I suck cock really well.”
Dayna scowled as Aspen and Havana moved to stand a few feet away, both all smiley and casual.
Aspen waggled her fingers at Dayna in hello. “I’m just making sure I have a good view of Bailey wiping the floor with you.” She gestured at them to ignore her, adding, “As you were.”
Dayna returned her gaze to Bailey, a glint of dark amusement now dancing there. “They really think you have a shot against me? Oh, how precious.”
Gerard rounded the bar fast. “Dayna, how about we go sit down,” he proposed, crossing to her. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked in person.” He didn’t look very surprised to see her, so maybe he’d known she was coming.
The redhead didn’t even look his way. “Maybe later, Gerard. I need to deal with this slut first.”
Bailey’s snake whipped her tail as she hissed long and loud.
“Uh,” began Therese, materializing beside Gerard, her eyes wide, “he’s right, Dayna, you two should go catch up. I’ll come along, we can all have a drink and—”
“Maybe later,” Dayna repeated. “I’m busy here.”
Deke cursed. “Dayna, take the out your friends are giving you and walk away. Whether you see it or not, they’re trying to do you a favor. You’d be a fucking fool to take Bailey on, and they know it.”
Bristling, the female pallas cat fired him a glare. “You should worry about her, not me.”
Sighing, Deke gave a half-shrug. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Dayna blinked. “You’re not going to forbid me from touching her?”
