Page 29 of Hounds Ascend
“Call Shorty and Leo. Have one of them come clean out our rooms and one of them come get Lilly. She’s riding home with one of them tomorrow. Get ready, we’re about to get on the road.”
Linc doesn’t say anything, simply nods and walks away to follow the orders he was given. I’m still reeling from the fact that he won’t tell me what happened. I’m pissed, but this isn’t the time or the place to question him. Something feels off, though, and I can’t put my finger on it.
The room clears out, leaving only Cass and myself alone at the bar. He sits down next to me and downs the drink in front of me and sets the empty glass on the bar before he speaks.
“They’re fucking with us. It’s just another dumb stunt and I don’t want you to worry about it.” His voice is low, barely abovea whisper.
I think for a moment before I respond. I have to keep it together. He’s keeping something from me, I can feel it and I’m going to find out what the hell it is, one way or the other. Until then, I don’t want him to know that I doubt the amount of truth in his words.
I nod and rest my head on his shoulder. “Okay.”
“I know you heard me earlier, but Shorty and Leo are going to come get you. I’m sorry if that was a dick move, but shit just sucks right now and I’m already not the best at taking other peoples’ feelings into consideration.”
“It’s okay, just get home and take care of those assholes that call themselves bikers.”
Cass smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes as Linc walks through the front door. “Ready when you are, Prez.”
Cass wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulling my face in to his. He kisses me gently before offering an apologetic smile. “I love you.”
“I love you, baby. Be safe.” I hug him tight before he turns away, leaving me sitting at the bar alone. I sit here, unmoving for a moment before I remember my cell phone is in Cass’s saddlebag. I run outside as they’re cranking the bikes. Cass is closest to the building, followed by Clayton, Brock, then Linc. I run to the side of his bike and yell over the sound of engines.
“My phone!” I point to the saddlebag as I open it and retrieve my phone, cigarettes, and lighter. I give him one last quick peck on the lips before I turn and head back inside the clubhouse.The sound of the motorcycles fading to the distance makes my heart ache a bit as I close door behind me.
I yearn to be with them, going back home to figure out how to get these idiots to understand that they really don’t want to mess with Lucifer’s Hounds. Instead, I’m stuck being treated like some precious gem that can’t get scratched and has to stay behind while they go fuck shit up. I huff as I plop onto the barstool, setting down my phone and lighting a cigarette.
The familiar taste of menthol assaults my taste buds as I take a long drag before exhaling. I run my free hand through my hair before my phone buzzes on the bar. Two missed calls from mom, one missed call and voicemail from an unknown number, and a text from Mindy.
I open the text first. It was sent earlier at eight and it’s now after midnight.
Mindy:I can’t wait for you to get home! I miss you! And Linc.
Without responding, I listen to the voicemail from the number I don’t recognize.
“Miss Summers, this is Alanda with Baton Rouge Medical. I’m calling in regard to Mindy Hollis. You are the only person listed on her emergency contact, and she has just been in a horrible car accident. Please return my call as soon as possible.”
Panic. Pure panic grips hold of me at the words that just came out of the phone. I should’ve known something happened to Mindy.
“Fucking shit!” I yell, unable to form a complete thought.I need to get home now. I need to call the hospital back and I can’t do a damn thing from this clubhouse where I have no way out and a room full of club members that aren’t going to let me leave.
Raven is my only hope. She sits down beside me, causing me to jump. I hadn’t heard her through the scattered thoughts racing through my mind.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“I need to get home, now. Mindy, the girl that was with me yesterday, is in the hospital. She was in a bad car accident and—” My voice breaks and hot tears spill from my eyes.
Raven hugs me in a tight grip, rubbing my back in an attempt to comfort me. I don’t need comfort, I just need to get home.
“That motherfucker!” I say in disbelief as it dawns on me.
“Who?”
“Cass. He didn’t fucking tell me. Heknew! He knew I’d want to go home right away, and he didn’t tell me about her being in the fucking hospital!”
“Whoa, Lilly. He probably didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to go home and be in danger again.” Raven tries to defend Cass, but I’m not having it.
“I don’t want to talk about him or his reasons right now. I need to get home.” My words are void of emotion as I compose myself, hardening my outer shell to stone the way I liked to keep it.
“I heard him say that two guys were coming tomorrow to get you,” Raven suggests.
