Page 45 of Cries of Cassie

When I need more information, I'm left with more questions. What if I just stood up, walked in there, and asked my questions? Would they kill me for what I just overheard? Victor would hurt me and yet, they’re his double fucking agents?

No way. They wouldn't. At least I wouldn't have believed they would five minutes ago. It hurts like hell to admit that I'm not so sure now.

"Connor's working on getting more. He and his guys know what to do, so we don't get deeper. Definitely not with Cassie here. She doesn't fucking touch it. Agreed?" Maddox practically barks, making me flinch. Hearing my name in the middle of a drug deal conversation has bile rushing up my throat.

The three other voices of the men I'm not sure I can trust anymore give their affirmatives to leave me in the dark. What do they plan to do with me? It can't be to keep me and continue living as we have been if they're keeping secrets.

What's their motive for keeping me? They’re working with Victor. It’s a game. I was so blinded by my love that I couldn’t see that they were playing me.

"What's our plan with our Pet?" Ripley continues, his nickname for me souring the contents in my stomach further.

Am I really just something to torment?

Maddox groans, and a chair creaks as if he's vacating it. I have to force myself not to howl in fury at his next words. "I, for one, want to lock her in a fucking room and tie her up. Maybe gag her so she can't⁠—"

"No," I whisper-cry, flying back onto my hands and backpedaling like a creepy creature in a horror film. All I can imagine is Maddox locking me in my room and calling Victor. "No, no, no." Oh my god, I really am a fucking captive. Dress it up in smiles and sexy touches, but I'm still exactly that, their prisoner who fell for their shit like the idiot I am.

The sounds of curses and my name being shouted send me into a deeper panic. I can't see through the tears pouring from my eyes, and it isn't until my shoulder blades hit the wall that I realize how truly vulnerable they've made me in their home.

Heat scorches my knee, drawing a scream from my throat at the same time my leg extends and connects with something solid. More swearing and disheveled grunts surround me, but there's only one thing I can focus on—escaping.

Four sets of legs block my exit, but when one faceless man kneels and reaches for me, there's no other option. It's now or never.

I can't believe they were able to convince me I meant something to them when it's clear there are far more sinister thoughts going through their minds. Part of me wonders if I’m overreacting, but if I’m not, then I have no time to waste. I must get out of here.

Diving for the opening between the legs closest to me, a whimper escapes me. I'm never one to cry easily or feel much fear. I also never thought I'd fear them, but I have no idea what they are capable of anymore.

And that might just hurt more than whatever torture they have in store for me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Koa (Koa)

Ihate everything about the shit situation we're in. So many years have been spent trying to send Victor and his fuckwhits to prison for good. It hasn't only been about getting us out from beneath his thumb and keeping the peace for the safety of our club. I'm getting really tired of it, even if we're doing good work.

Maybe it's my old age. Though it's most likely Cassie who's giving me a change of heart. Being thirty-three doesn't make me automatically want to settle down and stop chasing the bad guys. It's her. Our woman who completes our family.

Cassie calms us and gives us something tangibly good to orbit around. Without her, we're angry, fucked up, vengeful men whose only purpose is to defend the defenseless and our family.

Too many innocent people have been affected by whatever drug Victor is pumping out onto the streets. My job is to intercept it as much as possible before it reaches the general population.

Having an FBI agent as my contact is incredibly helpful. I don't want those drugs in my pocket, and he's always willing to take it all.

"I gave seven fucking zip bags to Connor this afternoon and twelve last week. I doubt what Victor gave us was only cocaine but Connor knows what to do."

We need all the evidence we can get to take Victor down once and for all. Now that the dumbass has moved into drugs and trafficking, well, it shouldn't be long until he's out of our lives for good.

The conversation moves as it always does when the four of us discuss how to pin Victor—frustratingly nowhere. Honestly, I have no idea why the feds haven't figured it out yet. Every time a raid goes down, the warehouses are squeaky clean. The cops definitely have a rat, but there's nothing our club or I can do about that. There are too many variables that don't concern us yet keep us in danger for longer.

Now Cassie's here and the stakes are higher. I'm starting to understand Maddox's motivations for keeping her away from us for so long. Doesn't mean I like it.

One thing is for certain: we won't allow Cassie to so much as hear the word drugs. I've never agreed more with the guys when we decide she stays out of this.

"What's our plan with our Pet?" Ripley wonders aloud.

Yeah, when can we seal the deal and make her ours for good? I know Rip and I are on the same page, but Mads and Parker are hard to read.

Maddox growls and stands to pace, needing an outlet for his pent up feelings for the beautiful redhead we're all head over heels for. "I, for one, want to lock her in a fucking room and tie her up. Maybe gag her so she can't⁠—"