Clearly she found him attractive and even amusing, that was true, but she wasn't conceding an inch. Bijou Breaux was not as easily charmed as he'd first thought she would be. He was older. More experienced. She definitely looked up to him and yet, she was elusive, just out of reach. Every time he thought he had her wrapped up, she found a way to elude him. Quite frankly, it was maddening.
Bijou didn't respond but went with him to his car. He opened the door and she slid inside. For a moment his heart pounded hard just looking at her sitting there. Composed. Beautiful. His. He had never really considered that he'd find the woman. She stared straight ahead, her little nose in the air. Damned if he didn't even find that cute. He'd never admit it to Gage, but maybe he really did have "it" bad. He just wasn't going to define what "it" was, not now. Not yet. He needed time to figure a few things out.
Like what the hell he was going to do with her when they weren't having sex. Maybe lock her up somewhere where he knew she'd be safe, because as it was, it seemed like every person he met was bent on causing her harm in some way.
He stalked around to the driver's side door, noting Bob Carson was down the street with a camera, clearly using a lens that would bring Bijou close. He considered how many years he might get in prison for "accidentally" running the fool over with his car. He slammed his door with unnecessary violence, earning him a look from Bijou.
He started the engine and indicated Carson with his chin. "You know, you do need rescuin' whether you want to believe it or not."
She made a face at him. "I'm not a wimp, Remy, no matter what you believe."
"I believe half of New Orleans is tryin' to kill you and the other half wants to go to bed with you."
Her mouth twitched and she covered her lips with her palm, coughing delicately and then clearing her throat several times.
Remy glared at her. "Woman, you'd better not be laughin' at me."
"Just a little. I think you take your job far too seriously. Bein' a homicide detective has made you a little bit paranoid, Remy. Yes, this situation with these murders is bizarre, but you said yourself if he wanted me dead, he would have already gone after me."
A growl rumbled through his chest. Usually that was more than sufficient to stop any arguing from his siblings or fellow detectives. She simply raised an eyebrow, not looking very intimidated.
"The serial killer is probably the only one not out to get you," he groused.
"Don' sound so happy about it," Bijou said.
He reached out and took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. It seemed a small victory when she didn't pull away from the contact. He took the gesture a step further and locked her hand against his heart. "Is that what you think, Blue? I'm in it just for the sex?"
She turned her head then and looked at him, hunching a little, as if he'd struck a body blow. Her amazing blue eyes always sent an electrical charge sizzling through his body. She blinked, drawing his attention to her impossibly long lashes. Before he drove straight into the bayou, he forced his gaze back onto the road.
"You jump around in the conversation, Remy. I'm havin' trouble keepin' up."
"No, you aren't. Now you're just stallin'. I told you a long time ago, chere, you're no coward, and it's time you just told me what was upsetting you. I'm gettin' the feelin' you think our relationship is about sex and nothing else."
He glanced at her again and just before her long lashes veiled her expression, he caught a flash of pain in her eyes. Instantly he felt as if a giant hand squeezed his heart hard. Upsetting her was one thing, but genuine pain was another. He didn't like ever being the cause of that. She'd had enough pain in her life and he would bet his last dollar she was facing more.
He was positive her agent and his murky friend were up to no good. And he knew Bob Carson was. The man followed her everywhere taking photographs and selling out her privacy. He couldn't yet prove that Carson was stalking her and destroying her property, even frightening her, but he would find the proof. She knew all three men, had known two of them for years, and it would hurt to find out that they really cared nothing for her . . .
The moment the thought entered his mind, he cursed himself. Of course. What an idiot. His brothers were right. Bijou had never been important to her father or her nannies. She'd never been loved by anyone. She probably had no idea what it felt like to have someone caring for her. He'd talked about the sex and little else.
"I think our relationship is about your leopard bein' crazy about mine, as well as the great sex," Bijou stated. "I think that because you said it. More than once."
Remy tightened his fingers around her hand, keeping her palm pressed tightly against his heart. "Then I'm a moron if I made you believe that." Looking back, he realized he had said just that. He shook his head.
Bijou shrugged. Her lower lip trembled and she bit down with her small teeth. "It's all right, Remy. I'm not askin' anythin' from you. I'm a grown-up. I was there, just like you were. I wanted to have sex with you. It's not like you forced me. I'm well aware people have casual sex all the time."
"What we had was not casual sex. Had you ever had sex before, believe me, chere, you would never even consider attaching the word casual to what we have together."
"Remy, I'm well aware we barely know one another. I'm not one to jump into bed with just anyone . . ."
"I know that. I was there, remember? I should have been much more careful with you that first time," he admitted.
"I wasn't sayin' that. I just mean, you don' know me any better than I know you."
"You'd be surprised at how well I know you, Bijou. I didn't lose track of you over the years. And I'm a cop."
She turned cool eyes on him, although again, there was that tiny hint of amusement. "You investigated me?"
"Of course. Did you expect anythin' less?"
"No, I guess not. But that doesn't mean you know me, Remy. Nor do I know you. I didn't even know about the leopard business." She lowered her voice when she used the word leopard, clearly still uncomfortable with the idea of being a shifter.
He pulled her hand up to his mouth, brushing his lips over her knuckles. "I'm not good with words. I know that. Not with anyone I care about, but there's a hell of a lot more to our relationship than our leopards--or great sex--regardless of what I may have said earlier."
"See, I don' know you that well, or I'd know whether you were just sayin' that to make me feel better, and keep me around for your leopard, or if you mean it."
"I've never once told you a lie. We do have great sex. And my leopard is crazy about yours. Maybe I left out how I feel, but only because I've never actually felt this way about a woman before. It's new to me as well, Blue. Just give us time. We're interrupted every two minutes and I have to find this killer. But you're on my mind, every moment, you're on my mind."
Bijou smiled at him a little tentatively, but her smile reached her eyes. "I'm apparently not the most lovable person in the world."
"That's bullshit."
"You said yourself half of New Orleans wants me dead."
"True, I did say that, which is why you're goin' to stick close to the Inn when I'm not around. My brothers will keep their eyes on you when I'm workin'. Do you have anything important goin' on in the next couple of days?"
"Arnaud asked me to go to the openin' of his gallery showin'. That's tomorrow night." Her smile widened. "It gives me a chance to dress up. It's a black tie affair."
"Don' be usin' the word affair in the same breath when referrin' to that Frenchman," Remy groused. "He's all over you."
"No, he isn't. We're just good friends. I'm worried about him. He doesn't pay any attention to the news or what's happenin' around him. He spends half his time drawin' and the other half workin' on his sculptures. It's rare for him to show up at a gallery and actually talk to anyone who wants to purchase his work. I don' want him to be an easy target for this killer."
"You're worried that if he's around you, he might be next."
She pressed
her lips together and nodded. "I'm worried about you too, Remy."
He gave her his leopard grin. Dangerous. Predatory. "Worry about the other guy, chere."
15
REMY glanced out the window of the Inn and froze. "What idiot let him go out there before he talked to Robert?" He swung around to glare at his brothers.
"You know Drake. He just gets that look on his face and you back off and let him do whatever he wants to do."
Saria moved up beside her brother to stare out at her husband. She gasped, one hand going defensively to her throat. "Can you stop him if he tries to kill Robert?"
"What do you mean, tries?" Remy demanded. "Robert doesn't stand a chance against Drake. Not even if Dion was stupid enough to try to help him. Robert challenged him, and you're pregnant. What do you think his leopard is goin' to do?"
"No one said anythin' about Saria bein' pregnant," Lojos pointed out with a pious expression.
"Do you have any idea how bad this is?" Remy asked, worry edging his tone. "Two male members of Drake's lair came into his home uninvited. His pregnant wife asked them to leave repeatedly and they didn't. One laid out a challenge for leadership of the lair in Drake's own backyard. He's always in control of his leopard, but this is too much. Mine would be killin' both of them by now."
Bijou slipped her hand into Remy's back pocket. He glanced over his shoulder at her. Her face looked pale.
"The laws of civilization don' apply to leopards. We aren't exactly civilized," Remy explained, trying to gentle the words with a softer tone.
"Absolutely lethal," she whispered. "That's what you're sayin'."
"Yes. I'm sorry. That's who we are. Robert has been leopard for years and he chose to take such a risk." Remy's gaze went back to the large leopard tearing up the trees in a rage. Drake wasn't known for being a hothead. If anything, he was always the voice of reason. If there was one man who could always keep his leopard under control, it was definitely Drake. He didn't look under control at the moment.
"I shouldn't have been so detailed when he asked me," Saria whispered, looking up at her brother. "Maybe if I'd skipped the part about Dion and Robert just comin' in . . ."
Remy put his finger over his sister's lips. "Leopards don' lie to one another. Especially mates. You had to tell Drake, and both Robert and Dion knew the chance they were takin' goin' into this." He looked out the window again. "You'll just have to trust Drake as your husband and our leader to know the right way to handle this."
He stepped back from the window and turned to face the two men sitting straight in their armchairs. Dion appeared resigned, but Robert looked as if he might try to bolt at any moment.
"Before Drake gets in here, Saria," Dion said. "I didn't know you were pregnant and I never would have brought this to you had I known. I know that doesn't much matter now, but I wanted you to know, I am sorry we upset you."
Remy reached behind him and took Bijou's hand. He had nothing normal to give her. There was nothing typical about their lives nor would there ever be. She had never been normal and now, for certain, she never would be. She was a gentle person, a caring soul. He knew all about the foundations she'd established and the way she took care of the people she'd employed for so long. It was no wonder Rob Butterfield didn't want to lose his meal ticket.
"You don' have to be here for this," Remy said. "You can go up to your room. You're safe either way. Drake would never harm you, not even in a leopard's rage."
The door banged open and Drake Donovan strode in. He didn't look right or left, just stared straight at Robert. He was barefoot, his jeans riding low on his hips and his shirt open, revealing roped muscles and numerous scars.
"Dion, get the hell out of my home, now, before I decide you've got a beating coming. Don't hesitate. Don't argue. Just go while you still can."
Drake's eyes had gone a deep gold-green, his wealth of thick blond hair falling in a wild array over his forehead. There were telltale signs of the change, the darker shadow of rosettes deep within the strands of gold.
Remy swept Bijou behind him, just as a precautionary measure, his body shielding hers. Drake's rage was under control, but it was there, smoldering beneath the surface, and with any leopard, that wasn't a good sign. Remy's own leopard reacted, snarling and raking at him, ready to leap forward to protect him as well as his mate.
The tension in the room rose as Dion slowly stood. Robert cringed and caught at his brother's shirt. "You can't leave. You know he's goin' to kill me."
Dion shook his head, his face a mask of sorrow. "I don' know what happened to you, Robert. But you did this and you have to face the consequences. I can't keep coverin' up for you. I did my best to pull you out of the things you'd gotten into, but you refused. You challenged Remy and then Drake. You're my brother and I love you, but I can't fix this one for you."
He looked straight at Saria. "Once again, I'm sorry I dumped this in your lap."
He turned and walked out without looking back at Robert, his shoulders stiff and his head up. Remy was proud of him. He didn't know if he would have the same courage to leave one of his brothers to face an enraged leader of the lair. Drake, according to their laws, could force Robert to fight him as a leopard--and he would be well within his rights to kill him.
The silence stretched out, tension building. Drake's eyes were nearly completely gold, never once leaving Robert's face, never blinking. His entire being focused on the man slumped in the chair in front of him. Robert's expression was sulky and a little defiant, even though fear permeated the room, oozing through his pores along with every breath he exhaled.
"I need to know if you're a member of this lair," Drake snapped, his voice like a whip. "Where do your loyalties lie? Answer now, Robert."
Robert blinked rapidly. Remy felt Bijou's fist twist in the back of his shirt. He laid his palm lightly against her thigh. She was trembling. He wanted to reassure her, but right now, he was Drake's second and protector--not that Drake needed one--but that was the way of the lair.
"With the lair," Robert mumbled. "I was drunk, Drake. I would never challenge for leadership. Never. My leopard was in a frenzy because there was a female . . ."
"Do not place blame with your leopard. It's my job to know every leopard in this lair, their strength and weaknesses and their abilities. Your leopard isn't difficult to handle. Remy's is a fighter, continually looking for supremacy, and he always keeps his leopard under control--as I do mine. If you exhibited just a little control yourself and a little bit of discipline, you would never have a problem. You're to blame. You're responsible for the behavior of your cat at all times."
"It was her." Robert pointed a finger at Bijou. "Her leopard led mine on."
A growl rumbled deep in Remy's chest. He bared his teeth at Robert, but he remained absolutely still. Drake was the leader, and he was following the plan they'd devised. Robert had to state his loyalty so there was no safely going back.
"So you're telling me you're incapable of controlling your leopard, no matter the circumstances."
Drake's voice had gone very quiet, quiet enough to send a chill down Remy's spine. If that tone had sent a message to him, he couldn't imagine what Robert was feeling. It was a question no shifter wanted to be asked. If he couldn't control his leopard, it was a virtual death sentence. No shifter could be around humans if his leopard, with its intense mood swings and violent outbursts, ruled.
Robert shook his head. "No. No. I control my leopard. The circumstances . . ."
"Don't matter," Drake interrupted. "Either you're in control at all times or you're not. Which is it?"
"I'm in control," Robert admitted hastily. He was trapped and he knew it. He was facing life or death and there was no getting out of it.
"You were drunk and you allowed your leopard loose when you weren't one hundred percent," Drake accused. "You're totally responsible, not Bijou, not Remy and certainly not your leopard. You challenged me and you went after a claimed female. Whether or not she'd mated with her
chosen one, she was off limits and should have been under your protection."
Robert said nothing, holding himself stiff in his chair, clearly terrified as Drake laid out the charges against him.
"Last night at the club, a female leopard of our lair was threatened and every member present with the exception of you leapt to protect her. One of our most sacred laws is to protect our females and our children. I'm waiting for an explanation." Drake's voice was lower than ever, and that made him sound all the more lethal.
Robert opened and closed his mouth several times, looking like a fish gasping for air. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "I was with my friends--"
"To clarify," Drake interrupted, "these are the friends that were harassing one of our women."
"I didn't know she was one of ours," Robert lied.
The room shook with the force of Drake's roar. He leapt forward and struck Robert's face, openhanded, but his hand was a large claw and the razor-sharp tips ripped Robert's cheek open, leaving four distinct rake marks with blood welling up.
Robert howled and cowered back in his seat. Bijou hid her face against Remy's back. He could feel her trembling more than ever. Bijou had steeled herself to remain in the room and learn as much as she could about leopard law. He had to hand it to her, she had courage.
Saria gently put her hand on Bijou's shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie as well as to try to tell her to trust in Drake. He glanced at Saria, grateful for the way she read Bijou's feelings. Drake was scaring the crap out of Robert on purpose. Remy had no doubt that if Robert told any more lies, the retaliation would be swift and painful--that was their law.
Bijou had no brothers. She hadn't grown up in the environment Saria had. She knew about neglect and debauchery. She knew what alcohol and drugs could do to a man. But she had never experienced real violence, not like leopards were capable of. Remy couldn't take his eyes off Drake. His leopard was at the ready. If for any reason, Drake needed him, he had to respond within seconds, and that meant he couldn't be the one to reassure Bijou, no matter how much he wanted to do so.
"I lied. I lied," Robert admitted, holding the side of his face. Blood seeped through his fingers and trickled down his arms. "I did know she was leopard. It was obvious at one point. I didn't want Jean or Juste to think I'd turned on them."