“And why is that again?” Dez asked.

“Because we can’t prove she’s done anything wrong and she still has enough clout to at least get the benefit of the doubt. And trust me when I say we don’t want to go head-to-head with bears.”

Crush pushed his half-eaten plate of bacon fat away. “I’m telling you, though, she wouldn’t go after Whitlan unless he had something on her. Something besides his word. Because she could discredit him on that shit in two seconds.”

“Then how do we deal with this?” Cella asked.

The She-wolf raised those cold, dog eyes. “Leave it to me.”

Van Holtz looked at his mate. “Dee-Ann ...”

“If he’s alive, I’ll find him. That’s what I do. Besides, I got this far.”

“Be careful,” Crush warned her. “Baissier hates wolves.”

“Darlin’, I’m always careful.”

“What about you, Crushek?” Gentry asked.

“What about me?”

“She attacked you in your home. You can’t go back.”

“Ever? I just bought that house.”

Gentry sighed, looking at Van Holtz.

“I think what Chief Gentry means is you should go someplace safe for the time being. I can arrange something until we sort this all out.”

“Yeah ... great.”

“What about Malone?” the She-wolf asked.

“What about me?”

“You and the bear are fuckin’.”

“Aw, baby, now don’t be jealous. You’re just a little too butch for me.”

“I think,” Crush cut in before the two She-predators could get into it, “she means that Baissier probably already knows about us, which means she might come at me through you. Or even your family.”

Cella and the lynx looked at each other and started giggling.

“Oh,” Cella said when no one joined in. “You’re serious.”

“It’s best to take precautions,” Van Holtz suggested.

Crush pushed away from the table and stood, taking Cella’s hand. “Could you excuse us for a minute?”

He walked out, Cella with him, stopping when they reached the living room again.

“Baissier’s desperate,” he reminded Cella.

“I know she is.”

“Well, I don’t want you or your family to get caught in the middle of that.”

“Don’t worry about my family. The Malones can take care of their own.”

“What about Meghan? Josie?”

“Archangel Gabriel couldn’t touch them, much less some overwrought bear.” She reached up, pressing her palm to the side of his face. “But to ensure their safety, I’ll crash somewhere else. The family will protect Meg and Josie. I can take care of myself.”

“You’ll crash with me.”

“At a Motel Hell off the turnpike? I’d rather live in an alley.”

“I think,” Smith said from the archway, “we can do a tad better than that so as not to hurt your feline sensibilities, Malone.”

“You’d better, Smith. You do know how I like my comforts.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“It’s got a stocked refrigerator and a full bar, none of that mini shit in the suites. Also room service. Y’all need anything, you just let me know.” The She-wolf grinned. “Just ask for Sissy.”

Crush looked around at the Kingston Arms suite Dee-Ann Smith had gotten them into. The Kingston Arms hotel chain was an extremely high-end establishment that usually only the wealthiest full-humans and shifters could afford to stay at. He was sure that Baissier had probably stayed at a few, but he doubted she’d hand over money for one of these suites. It was really hard to justify ten grand a night on one’s expense report.

Cella scanned the living room they stood in and nodded. “This is nice.”

Nice? She thought this was just nice? God, what was she doing with him? Even with his pay increase working for Gentry’s division, he’d never be able to afford a place like this. And he wasn’t sure if he really wanted to be able to. With that kind of money came all sorts of high-level problems.

“Oh,” the She-wolf said, “I’m sure this ain’t as fancy as a Malone RV or camper, but I’m sure y’all will somehow manage to make do.”

Sneering, the She-wolf walked out, the door slamming behind her.

“Is there anyone you don’t manage to irritate?”

“She’s a Smith wolf.”

“So?”

“I was put on this planet to irritate Smith wolves.”

He shook his head, feeling exhausted after the last couple of days. “Just be glad she didn’t eat you,” he sighed.

“Um ... what?”

Cella’s phone rang and she quickly answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hey, baby. Are you all right?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s fine. Now tell me what’s going on.”

Cella liked hearing the strength in her daughter’s voice. Yeah, she’d only turned eighteen, but she was already growing into her fangs. Becoming what Cella’s Great-Gram would call, “a proper little She-bitch.”

As an adult Malone female, Meg should no longer need protecting, but Cella wasn’t taking any chances. Not with her two girls and Jai. “Unsecure line, baby, but you can get specifics from Kathleen. Just understand, you, Josie and the rest of the cousins, Jai, too, don’t leave that street unless you’ve got your uncles with you. Do I make myself clear?”