Chapter Eight #2
I press the red button and slip it into my pocket, making sure the ringer is on loud in case Mindy needs anything between now and when she arrives.
Raven is walking around the master bedroom, looking around in the same awe that I had when I’d first seen it.
“Mindy will be here tonight.”
“Good. We can plot on how we’re going to get away from the prospects they’re gonna put on us. I want in on the action.”
“I’m fucking in. I’ll get Mindy in on it. Get her to drive my car here.”
I shoot Mindy a text.
Lilly: Get Linc to let you drive my car. My keys are in my room at the club house.
Mindy: What are you up to, Lil? Whatever it is, I’m in.
I grin mischievously at Raven. “She’s in.”
“Hell yeah. Okay, how many exits are in this house?” she asks.
“Uhh. Four, I think.”
“Okay, we know there’s going to be prospects at every door, so we’re probably going to have to find a window to go out of.”
“A downstairs one, preferably.”
“No shit,” Raven says, rolling her eyes.
“I’m just saying, we won’t be any use if we have broken ankles.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Wait…have you done this before?” I ask.
“What? Snuck away from prospects watching me? I don’t know what ever would have given you that idea.” Raven feigns innocence.
“I knew I liked you for a good reason. If we’re going to get involved, we’re going to need weapons. I have a pistol. Do you?”
Raven lifts the back of her shirt, revealing the piece that is tucked into her back.
“Never leave home without it.” Raven beams, tugging her shirt back down. She has it concealed perfectly because I would never have known it was there had she not shown it to me.
“I’m all for going after them, but what exactly are we going to do?
” I ask. The more I thought about it, the more dangerous it sounded.
It also sounds like Cass is going to be livid, but I can’t just sit back and do nothing.
These men are willing to go to war to protect me and the other women, then we should be willing to do the same, shouldn’t we?
“I haven’t quite figured that part out yet.”
“Oh. That’s reassuring. Maybe we should just hang back here and see how things pan out.” My suggestion is met with a questioning eyebrow raised in my direction.
“Ready to back out already?”
“No. I just don’t want to distract the guys from what it is they’re there to do.”
“And how exactly would you distract us?” Cass’s voice booms from the doorway, making both of us jump at the sudden and unexpected noise.
We stare at Cass, who’s walking toward us with Micah right beside him.
Shit.
“Uhh…with our bodies?” I ask, putting on my best fake grin.
“Mmhmm. I see. I’m sure that’s what you were talking about.” Cass’s tone is neutral and he doesn’t seem angry, which I find odd. Surely it would piss him off that we were considering interjecting ourselves into a club war.
“It was,” Raven says, stepping up.
“Oh. So you two weren’t planning on trying to escape the guys that are going to be guarding the house, making sure you’re safe?” Micah asks.
We look at one another then back at the guys. Raven shrugs her shoulders.
“Raven, can I talk to you in private?” Micah asks, walking out the bedroom door before she has a chance to respond. She follows behind him and Cass stands next to me beside the bed.
“Hi,” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Hi. You aren’t angry?” I ask, looking up at him.
“I’m pissed but no harm was done, so what good does it do to be angry at you for it? You were just trying to help. And I get it. I think it’s a stupid move but I get it. That just tells me I’ll have to make sure the guys keep an extra eye on you and the girls. Carrie and Lucy will be here soon.”
“So will Mindy.”
“Yeah, Linc and I pulled a few strings at the hospital.” Cass smiles down at me, and I melt beneath his gaze.
“You never cease to amaze me. Are you sure you have to do this tonight? I overheard some of the plan and I don’t like it, baby. I don’t like the thought of you out there fighting with these unpredictable junkies.” I lean into him, resting my head on his chest. He sets his chin on my head.
“I know baby, but it’s going to be okay. They have to be shown that we aren’t kidding. We mean business.”
I sigh deeply but I don’t have a rebuttal. Cass is right. They can’t just let those motherfuckers keep hurting them. I lock my fingers behind his back, pulling him impossibly close to me and breathe in the comforting scent that is Cass.
“I hope you’re right.”
We stand just like that for what could have been ten minutes or thirty seconds. I bask in the comfort that I know is going to dissipate as soon as he leaves, so I soak in all the good vibes I can before he leaves.
Micah’s voice cuts through our comfortable silence, causing me to squeeze Cass a little tighter.
“You ready? Everyone just got here.”
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Cass pulls away and takes my face between his hands. His lips crash into mine but are gone just as fast.
“I love you.”
I smile, half-heartedly back at him. “I love you, too.”
Raven has re-entered the bedroom at some point between Micah coming in and Cass kissing me. She looks like she is still plotting something. I can almost see it in her eyes. I link my arm through Raven’s, giving her the biggest fake smile I can muster.
“Let’s go welcome the hoard, shall we?”