Page 28 of Hounds Ascend
“You aren’t supposed to scratch on that one,” I tell him.
“Yeah, I know. Damnit!’
Clayton stands with his arms crossed in thesame spot he had while he was watching Cass and I play, with a smug grin on his face. Cass sets his cue on the table.
“Good game, old man.” He offers his hand to his father who accepts and shakes his hand.
“Still not taking your time when it comes to closing out your game, I see.”
“Old habits die hard,” Cass chuckles.
“Lilly, I think you’re up,” Cass says, walking toward the door that leads down the hallway.
Clayton and I play a few games, all of which result in him beating me. If I thought Cass shot a good game of pool, I ain’t seen nothing ‘til Clayton had started shooting. No wonder he got to be such a good shot, he learned from a professional.
Linc stands by the island for the duration of our time in the game room and I can’t help but notice that he doesn’t seem himself. Probably has to do with all the bullshit going on back home. He’s already confirmed that he has a lot on his mind, but I still worry about him. I’ll have to get Cass to check on him later. He would be more apt to open up to a member, and that’s fine with me.
As the night carries on, Highway Sinners and Tattered Saints begin filling the room and I’ve given up the table and am now standing around the island with some of the guys. They brought ice chests of beer back here but there’s still liquor at the bar in the front if anyone’s choosing a mixed drink. I downed two of my regulars already and am working on my third when I hear it.
The sound is eerie, sending chills up the back of my neck. The sound of Linc, screaming. The sound is a mixture of anger and agony. My head whips toward him and I spot him holding his phone in his hand. At first I think someone had swung on him, but now that I’m looking at him, it isn’t anything of that nature.
Cass is at his side immediately with Clayton right there with them. The look on Cass’s face falls as he looks at Linc’s phone screen. Clayton wears a look of sympathy as he hangs his head. The falter in Cass’s guard is gone just as quickly as it had appeared and is replaced by anger. He’s livid and I know what that means. Someone is going to pay for whatever it is that had just happened and I don’t want to be around to watch it.
Cass motions for Micah and his guys to follow him down the long hallway that leads to what I assume is their meeting room. All patches and Linc go inside, leaving Raven and myself standing in the game room, clueless and unaware of whatever it is that’s going on. I can only assume it’s the worst. Something happened back home. I want to know what it is so badly because now my stomach is twisted in knots as I sit at the bar in the main room of the club house, waiting for them to emerge from their private conversation.
Raven pours me another drink and sets it down in front of me.
“Got a smoke?” I ask, realizing I’d left mine on the bike and I’m not in the mood to walk outside and get them.
“Yes ma’am, I do.” Raven pulls one from a green pack behindthe bar and hands it to me.
I light it and exhale slowly, letting the nicotine touch all those parts of my soul that need soothing before I take another sip of my drink.
“What do you think happened?” Raven asks, the concern in her eyes making my heart twist.
“I’m not sure, but whatever it is…it certainly can’t be good,” I sigh and take another pull from my cigarette.
Chapter Five
Lilly
The longer I sit here, the quicker worrisome thoughts dance through my mind. Why would a prospect get a message instead of a patch? Who did it come from? Did they have his family? His family isn’t from here, but I know the Moccasins have charters all over the continental US. My brow creases with worry as I wait patiently for the guys to come out of the damn meeting. Raven’s been trying to help the best she can but the only thing that will ease my mind would be confirmation from Cass on just what the hell is going on.
After an hour of agonizingly waiting, Cass and the guys finally re-enter the game room. Cass still bears a look of anger while Linc looks like he has a multitude of emotions in play. Clayton presents himself as the leader I envision he may have once been, confident and strong as he walks behind them. Brock is at Clayton’s side, making me wonder where he had been all night. I hadn’t seen him since we arrived at the clubhouse. He didn’t even walk in with them.
Behind Brock, the rest of the Sinners and Saints make their way out of the room. Cass walks over to where I’m sitting with Linc behind him. I wait patiently, at least as patiently as I can,for Cass to say something. The air is thick with tension, and the quiet is deafening.
“We have to go. They’re retaliating,” he says, pressing his lips to my forehead.
“What’d they do?” I ask, hoping my voice doesn’t give away just how concerned I am.
Cass inhales a deep breath and sighs before he looks down at me.
“I…I can’t tell you.” His words are forced, and I can tell he wants to tell me what happened but maybe he’s refraining to try to protect me.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“I just can’t, alright?” he snapped, turning to Linc.
