Page 85 of Lucifer's Hounds

“I’m sorry, baby,” he says, holding me in his arms. I rest my head on his chest and breathe in the scent of leather and Cass. He says something to Scott that I can’t make out and then Scott’s footsteps trail off, getting further away with each step. He must have sent him inside for something.

I don’t move, and that doesn’t seem to bother Cass. He leans against his bike, keeping me close. Cass is shaking and I can’t figure out why. I lean my head and look up at him and when the air touches my face, I realize it’s wet. I’m crying. I’m the one shaking.

“What did they do to you?” Cass asks through gritted teeth.

“Did they….” He stops, unable to finish his sentence.

“No. No. All they did was beat the shit out of me,” I reassure him.

He lets out a ragged breath and looks down into my eyes. Something unfamiliar lingers in his stare. Relief? Fear? I can’t put my finger on it.

“I was terrified the whole time you were gone. And then I got that fucking picture and I almost lost it. I was scared I wouldn’t get to you in time.” His expression is sad. He’s genuinely upset. He really does care about me.

“I’m okay now, though, baby.”

I try to comfort him and laugh at the gesture.

“What?” He looks at me, confusion etched onto his face.

“I’m the one who was kidnapped and beaten, yet I feel compelled to comfort you,” I laugh, a genuine, gut-wrenching laugh and damn does it feel good.

Cass chuckles, a small smile forming on his face. His eyes are alight with adoration, boring into mine. The muscles in my stomach clench, remembering his promise the last time I saw him. I shake my head as if to shake the thought from my mind. That’s the last thing I should be doing right now.

“I have to tell you something,” Cass says, his hand reaching up to brush the knot on my temple.

I flinch away from his hand, trying to stifle the scream that beckoned at the pain. Cass drops his hand to my waist and wraps his arm around me again.

“I love you, Lilly Summers.”

What? He what? Did he just say he loves me? I know he didn’t just say he loves me.

I stare at a smiling Cass who seems slightly worried that I won’t say it back. I smile at him as my stomach does a somersault.

“And I love you, Caiden Sonnier. I think I have since the very first night I met you,” I say, fighting back tears that are blurring my vision. He kisses me gently, as if I’m a breakable piece of fine China. I ride the high from his kiss. Or his words. Either way, I’m high on what he’s doing to me.

“Hey, Prez.” Scott’s voice jolts me back to reality. I turn around to see Scott, Old School, and Snapper standing behind Jordan and Boulder. Instantly, I can feel Cass’s energy shift, sobering me up and ripping me from that euphoric state I lulled in only a moment ago.

Cass steps around me and approaches the men with an eerie calmness. I stare, in awe at how he maintains so much control over himself without leading with his emotions. Before I finish the thought, Cass delivers a blow directly to Boulder’s temple.Boulder’s head bounces with the connection and he lets out a scream. Pussy.

“They say they have a message for you,” Scott says, amusement gleaming in his eyes.

“They do?” Cass’s laughter startles me. He is full-onlaughing.

“Well, come on boys. Don’t be shy,” Snapper says, jabbing Jordan in the back.

Jordan looks over at Boulder, fear written across his face. He fucked up and he knew it.

“Asher sent us with a message to give to you, and only you,” he says, shakily.

“Spit it out.” Cass demands.

“Give us what we want. We’ve already proven we can take from you and do whatever we want. Give us our contact list that’s rightfully ours or more shit like this will continue. You brought this on yourselves,” Jordan says it as if he’s reading it from a book. Like he had rehearsed it a million times.

Old School reaches into his cut and pulls out something. He hands it to Cass, who turns to look at me. He mouths the words, “I’m sorry” before turning to face the two men.

Jordan starts twitching, freaking out. “No, man. Come on, no. Don’t do this!” he shouts.

I look closer at the object in Cass’s hand. It’s a pistol. Son of a bitch.

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