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She nodded. “I’ll expect the same in return. For now, I’ve got people to charm in there. Try to keep it in your pants, men. Remember, it’s you I’ll be going home with at the end of the night.”
“Weston will join us back at your apartment later,” I informed her.
“Are you guys going to be staying with me forever? You know I can handle myself,” she said. There was vulnerability in her eyes. She didn’t really want us to go anywhere. Whatever Bailey was involved in, she was in over her head and trying to stay afloat.
“We will be,” I said as I wrapped her arm around mine. I released her once we entered, letting her move ahead so we appeared as nothing more than her security.
The moment she was back inside, the senator was sweeping her back into his circles as quickly as if he had a homing beacon trained on her.
Bailey snatched champagne off of a passing tray. She downed it in one smooth move then handed it to the next waiter.
That was the only moment that she ever looked uncomfortable, but the expression was so fleeting that no one else noticed.
We, however, couldn’t look away from her.
The senator was trying to lead her to another group when she was stopped by a man in a knock-off suit. We all moved forward, but the exchange was too quick. He was gone in seconds, but we saw the small envelope being pressed into her hand. She tucked it away without reacting, and when she met my eyes, the shake of her head was almost imperceptible.
Who exactly was she, and what was she involved in?
ChapterTen
Bailey
My fingers shook as I tore open the small envelope. We’d come in late enough the night before that I’d all but forgotten it. Thankfully, I’d tucked it away in my clutch so I didn’t have to worry about the guys snooping.
Inside was a simple card with one thing written on it—a single address and nothing more. It was the same nondescript handwriting as before, blocky letters that showed no hint of personality.
The city was fairly new to me, so I had no hope of recognizing it without help. I typed it into my phone to search, feeling even more confused when a hotel popped up.
Did they want me to meet them? I’d need at least a time for that. Reaching under my pillow, I grabbed my second phone, letting out a sigh of relief at the lack of messages.
“Are you planning a vacation, Bailey?” Sterling asked with enough sarcasm that I had to bite back a growl. I didn’t care how fucking good the alpha smelled; he was a dick, through and through.
“Does everything you say have to come with attitude? I’m getting really fucking tired of it,” I said with a sigh. I turned around to glare at him while simultaneously tucking my phone under the pillow again.
His arms crossed as he looked down at me. Despite the fact that we were mates, there was no trust in his gaze. That feeling was mutual. They knew by now that I wasn’t simply a worker for the senator’s campaign and I knew they were definitely not just bodyguards.
“Maybe if you start telling us a little bit of the truth, I wouldn’t need to have an attitude,” he argued.
“The truth?” I laughed, standing up so I could face off with him on more even footing. “Fine, let’s start with whoyouwork for.”
“The senator,” he said. The cocky, taunting tone made me want to punch him in the jawline. I stepped forward again, not backing down.
“No, who else do you work for? We both know the senator isn’t your real employer. Don’t insult my intelligence, alpha. I’m not stupid despite what you obviously think of me.”
He narrowed his eyes, which confirmed one thing for me. Sterling obviously wasn’t used to being challenged so directly.
“You have no idea what I think of you,” he said. “And when I think you need to know more about us, then we’ll tell you, not before.”
I laughed at his ignorance and looked at him with my hands splayed out in front of me, waiting for him to realize what he’d said.
When he didn’t, I decided to help him out. “Same, Sterling. Why the fuck do you think I would tell you anything about me when you guys have given me absolutely nothing in return? This isn’t going to be one sided. I’ll walk away right here and now, mates be damned.”
His eyes widened at my threat, and I hoped he could see how serious I was. I was already facing enough without adding this bullshit to it. If they weren’t my allies, they needed to fuck off.
“Why does everything have to be a challenge with you? I think I prefer the quiet, submissive Bailey we see at work.”
“No, you don’t, otherwise you wouldn’t be here, arguing with me all the time.” I stepped even closer, invading his personal space and tilting my head up so I could glare at him. Our faces were closer than they’d ever been, and our anger-tinged scents mingled, enhancing the fire burning between us. It was so intense that I had to take slow, measured breaths so I didn’t overwhelm myself.
