Page 21 of Hounds Ascend
“Shit.” I mutter.
“What?” Cass asks, appearing next to me and shoving his swim trunks into the saddlebag.
“Moccasins are at the bar.”
“Fuck.” Linc and Cass say in unison.
Cass dials a number in his phone and begins pacing again. His hand runs through his hair as he walks in no particular pattern.
Whoever he dialed answers almost instantly.
“Get to the bar. Now. I don’t care, just fucking get there. Because there are Moccasins in my motherfucking bar!”
That was the end of their conversation. Cass ends the call and shoves his phone inside his cut.
Without a word, he gets on the bike. I don’t wait for instructions, once he’s situated, I grip onto his shoulder for stability and sling myself onto the back of the bike. The engine roars to life, followed by Linc’s and we take off toward the hotel. The ride is short and tension-filled. I can feel the anger radiatingfrom him. Once we’re in the room, Cass calls Linc inside with us. My phone hasn’t gone off, I know because I checked it the entire way to the hotel. It’s in my hand and I have a death grip on it, waiting anxiously to hear from Mindy.
Cass goes to say something, but he’s interrupted by the ringing of his phone. He answers it quickly.
“Yeah? Good. Okay. Thanks, brother. Hey, put a prospect at the bar at all times. Alright. Later.”
I exhale the breath I’d been holding when he answered the phone, my focus on Mindy. From what I’ve gathered, things are okay, and we don’t need to worry. I haven’t paid much attention to Linc, but I look over to find him looking as relieved as I feel. He must have been worried about Mindy, too.
“Well?” I ask, looking at Cass.
“They took care of it. Nobody did anything stupid and everyone’s okay. They were just snooping around, putting their noses where they don’t belong. Snapper and Old School took care of it and they’re putting Leo and Shorty on alternate shifts at the bar at all times.”
“Damn it. I knew I should’ve went home.” Linc sighs and shakes his head.
“You did right by staying, but you can go home if you need to. I know I would if it were Lilly that were there while all this shit was going on.”
“No, I’m going to stay here. Leo and Shorty have it covered,” Linc says.
I sit at the foot of the bed, letting the guys talk. I zone out. Mymind is no longer in Gulfport. What were they doing sneaking around the bar? Were these guys like the guys that took me? Ignorant junkies who couldn’t follow simple directions? Is it Asher’s doing? How could he have seemed so sincere and still proceed with this war? My head is all over the place.
The sound of the hotel room door closing brings me back to the moment. I sit up, looking around. Cass is leaning against the desk, looking down at his phone. His eyes stare up at mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“What is it?” he asks.
“Nothing really. I’m just trying to figure out why they’re hanging around the bar. What do they want?”
Cass sits down on the bed next to me, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
“They’re just trying to stir up shit. Don’t let it worry your pretty head, baby.”
I sigh and rest my head in Cass’s lap. He has to be the most comfortable human being I’ve ever met. As comfortable as my body is, my mind is nowhere near it. I can’t stop thinking about what’s going on at home, regardless of Cass’s attempts at reassurance. Something is off, but I’m not sure what. Cass said they would retaliate, so why would they go into the bar and not cause a scene, at a minimum? It’s just not adding up.
Cass rubs my shoulder gently. “Psst.”
“Hmm?” I open one eye to look up at him.
“Why don’t you get ready and we’ll see if Clayton’s ready togo eat. I’m starting to get a little hangry.”
“Okay, baby. Oh! Can you go down to the bike and grab our bags from earlier?”
“Yep. I can.”
