I’m still standing here, staring at her. Shaking myself I greet her back. “Visiting your mom?”
“Something like that,” she sighs. “I’m waiting for my ride.”
A momentary lapse of sanity almost has me offering to take her where she needs to go, but Cassie doesn’t ride on the back of anyone’s bike and it is a huge statement for her to climb on mine. Unless you claim a woman, she shouldn’t be at your back.
“Well, have a good day, Cassie.”
Her lips part at the sound of her name on my tongue and I don’t miss the little intake of breath.
“Thanks,” she says quietly, her eyes flicking back and forth on mine, like she is trying to read me.
We’re both broken out of the spell when Mace comes out of the clubhouse and gets on his bike. He doesn’t look happy. As if my brain wants to punish me, I turn back to Cassie to see her reaction as Mace catches us standing together.
Without conscious thought, I take a small step nearer to her. Cassie looks at me, her eyes shrewder as she studies me. Whatever she sees has her lips tightening. She knows. No one could ever accuse Cassie of not being smart, seeing things how they are. Now the three of us are like points of a triangle, all staring at each other.
“Cassie!”
“Oh God, I thought I escaped.” She closes her eyes and blows out a heavy breath.
“You’re gonna leave without saying anything?”
Really, I should walk away but part of me wants to know why Cassie is here, and Rosa is going to give me that opportunity.
“You said we would talk about this before you left, that’s why I let it go last night even when I really needed to talk to you. Are you going to tell them you want off the case?”
“Mother,” Cassie turns to face her. “Don’t try to tell me what to do about my job.”
“The man is a monster, Cassie.”
What the hell does that mean?
“Most of my clients are criminals, you of all people should know that.”
Even Rosa is taken aback by that comment, considering the club is her biggest client. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard Cassie say anything disparaging about the club.
“Mom, I’m not doing this here, not now. This is something I need to work out for myself.”
Whatever is going on here is really none of my business, but my feet don’t move. I’m not sure I like what I’m hearing, even if it makes no sense to me.
“Honey,” Rosa tries to calm her temper, no mean feat for the feisty wife of our enforcer. “I know you want to do this on your own, but you have us. All of us.” Rosa turns, and it’s like she finally sees me standing there. “Eli,” she says my name like she’s had the best idea ever.
Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to like the next words that come out of her mouth.
“We can have someone watch out for you.”
Cassie scoffs. “Mom, stop it.”
“It makes sense. You came here last night because-”
Cassie puts her hand over her mom’s mouth, effectively cutting her off.
“What’s going on?” I finally find my voice.
“Nothing,” Cassie says, as Rosa’s muffled voice argues back. “Mom is being her usual insufferable self.” She turns her glare back on Rosa who is turning her head left and right, but Cassie’s hand is clamped over her mouth.
“What the hell are you two doing?”
Everyone turns to look at Ballistic. I didn’t see him coming, too confused about whateverthisis.
