Page 178 of Deceit

“If you were really sorry—“ He tightens his hold now around my waist. “—you’d at least kiss my cheek and pat my head when you send me on my way out.”

“Dude, I just bandaged your—“

“Are you listening?”

“Are you leaving right thissecond?” I snap.

He nods. “I gotta head to Santa Monica. You called when I was on my way.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, I’ll reimburse you for—“

“I didn’t pay for the ticket, sweetheart. But I’ll forgive you if you—“

“Kiss me,” I finish for him. “Really? This pushy shit isn’t cute. Let me go, or I’m going to push my thumb in your gun wound.”

Kai remains unfazed at my threat. “I might need a bombshell at my side soon. I’m working on something, and I may require your sexiness in a dress and extremely high heels.”

“Done.” I raise a brow. “Can I get up now?”

He releases me and I have to redo his whole bandage again. My cell rings, and I pick up without looking.

“Hello?”

“He’s fine,” Lucien says on the other line. “Pissed…but fine.”

I release a heavy exhale. “Thank fuck.”

“No major damage, he should fully recover.”

I turn my back on Kai and begin to stride for my room. “About that…” I lower my voice. “I might need you on standby.”

“Don’t you think this has gone on long enough?”

“Not until he’sdead.”

“Emmy, Bishop is not doing well.”

I shake my head as if I can keep his words away from me. “I know.”

“I’m not going to ask you anything about what you’re doing but….your real baby daddy is pushing for another DNA test. I think we’re over our heads here.”

“I know.”

“You’ll talk to Kyson?” Then he quickly catches himself. “Fuck, you can’t.”

“Mills will.”

“Also, I’ve received a court order too for your children’s DNA results. Alexander is making his move.”

My eyes snap shut on their own. “Okay, I’ll…get on it.”

“Judge Collins,” he tells me. “He’s a patient of one of my associates. I can see if he has an appointment coming up. He’s the judge who signed the court order.”

“That’d be great. Thank you.”

“Let me know if you need anything else. And keep the blood out of it.” I salute him with two fingers, and he hangs up, aware that there isn’t much I can do but come clean to everyone.

Thing is, if Alexander knows I’m alive, it’s not going to be good.