Page 44 of Hounds Ascend
Cass must’ve seen the distress in my eyes because he lifts a hand to my chin until my eyes meet his. “Hey, I’m sure she understands. She knows that we have a lot going on with the club bullshit. I bet Linc and her are having fun being together, just the two of them.”
“Thank you,” I sigh, looking at him with sad eyes.
“For what?”
“For making me feel better. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The rest of dinner is uneventful and I miss any other information that Snapper may have offered up during my conversation with Cass. I know the war is starting, but I failed to realize that it was about to be a full-on fucking battlefield. Especially with guys coming from all aroundandthe Highway Sinners on their way into town. Shit is getting serious, and it makes my nerves bad already.
I don’t know how I make it through dinner and keep mypizza down from how sick to my stomach I feel about the whole thing. Riding home, I take that time to think of the possible outcomes and where we would end up. After the thought of losing Cass unwelcomingly plasters itself across the big screen in my brain, I think better to push all thoughts of the war out of my head for the time being and enjoy the sun that beats down on us as we make our way home. Everyone else on bikes has parted ways, leaving only us and the truck with Scott, Leo, and Shorty behind us.
We arrive at home and I go inside without saying a word. I need to know more about what’s going on and I don’t think Cass will be forthcoming with any intel since the last time something major happened he kept the details from me. I head directly for the open master bedroom and plop on the bed, phone in hand. From this angle, I can see if anyone walks up from outside or from the door inside.
I immediately shoot Raven a text.
Lilly: Backup for what?
Raven: Those damn Moccasins. Micah said they were making threats on members and ol’ ladies.
Lilly: What the fuck? I haven’t heard about any of this.
Raven: Yeah, I know. Cass told Micah that he hasn’t said anything to you because he doesn’t want you to worry because they have it under control.
Lilly: If it’s so under control, then why the fuck are all these other people showing up?
Raven: I don’t know. I’m just the messenger.
Lilly: Did Micah say why y’all are coming? Did he say what y’all are coming here to do?
Raven: Nope. All I know is I’m getting dropped off with you and the other ol’ ladies. I’m sure they’ll have a prospect or two on us so we won’t be able to leave.
Lilly: Of course. Why are you coming too?
Raven: Because Micah won’t leave me alone. Y’all aren’t the only ones who have beef with another club.
Lilly: Sounds like they’re cut from the same damn cloth. See you soon.
I roll my eyes and toss my phone on the bed. The sound of raised voices has me on high alert. I tiptoe toward the door of my bedroom, turning the lights off. I listen closely. The raised voice is Cass’s, putting me a little at ease.
“We have to fucking find them, now! I have a few grenades at the clubhouse that will take care of some of their fucking houses. Molotov cocktails never hurt anyone, either. I’m tired of this dumb shit. They’ve come after our family, our women, and our fucking books. It’s time to give them the real war they’ve been asking for and show them just who it is they’re fucking with. Theywillbe made an example out of, and they’ll learn quick that Lucifer’s Hounds are not to be fucked with.”
“Leo. Shorty. Take the moving truck and get to the clubhouse.”
Cass’s voice lowers after Leo and Shorty walk out of the house. He and Scott are talking about something that I can’t make out. Taking a chance on it, I walk out of the hallway andinto the kitchen where Scott and Cass stand. They both look at me upon my arrival and stop talking mid-conversation.
“What’s going on?” I ask, hoping he would assume I heard yelling and was curious.
“Shit’s about to get messy, baby.” His voice is grim, but his face says otherwise. He was serious in that way that only he got when things were, as he put it, about to get messy.
“What’s my place in all of this?”
“You’re going to stay with the other women of the club. I’ll have prospects with y’all and a few new patches to make sure nothing happens.”
“Where?”
“Here. It’s new and they don’t know about it, so it’s the safest place.”
