Clearing my throat, I tell him, “I think we’re wasting time sitting here going round in fuckin’ circles.”
Cas snorts and I swing my eyes toward him. “You think I'm wrong?”
“If Hopper was gonna kill him, he would’ve done it already and sent us his body. We’ve got some time.”
“Every second that passes is a second closer to him putting a bullet in Leo’s head, we all know it. We should...”
Slamming his hand on the table, Cas grunts, “You should do as I say, we have no idea where the fuck they are. We start ridin’ and learn they’re in the opposite fuckin’ direction, that could cost Leo his life and I’m not gonna let that happen.”
“You’re not wrong, but you ain’t all right either,” I argue.
Dad slams his bottle on the table and grunts, “Leo will become your generation’s Oak, and you sons will meet pain like we did.”
I’ve heard on countless occasions about the time Dad was captured and Oak was killed. I never met the guy but it’s like I know him as well as I do everyone alive today.
“Fuck’s sake, Dad, that shit ain’t helping.”
“My son ain’t dyin’!” Cas yells taking us all by surprise.
He's somewhat a quiet guy. The quieter, the deadlier. I realise that it’s only now I see fear in the old man’s eyes.
Having enough of the back and forth, I sit forward and rest my elbows on the table.
“We’ll split ourselves in two, I'll call Zach in and him, Mason and myself will ride out, not too far but far enough to see if anyone has seen them pass through...”
Cas is already shaking his head. “No, Hopper will reach out, the fucker is toying with us, he’s enjoying it. He'll make his move soon enough and we’ll be ready when he does.”
The twins both look to me, and I remember what patch I wear.
“Cas, you know I have nothing but respect for you, have done my whole life, but I'm the Vice President and when Leo ain’t around, it’s on me to call the shots.”
His laughter runs through me, icing the blood in my veins. “Until my son walks through that door, I call the fuckin’ shots.”
It doesn’t bear thinking about it, but I still ask, “What if he doesn’t?”
“Then shit around here is gonna change.”
“Have you even called the other chapters in yet?” Mason cuts in.
“Until we know where Leo is, there’s no need. It could turn out they’re closer than we are. I was your president for years, I don’t know why you’re fuckin’ doubting me now.”
He slams the gavel down and I'm the last to leave the backroom. Mason and Myles eyes follow my every step as I storm out of the bar. I should have seen this coming, especially with Leo out of the picture. Cas was never going to sit back, I doubt it’s in his blood not to.
I light a cigarette and tip my head back as I exhale the smoke sky high.
“Cas is losing his mind. You need to step on it before long.”
Mason comes up beside me and Myles hangs back in the bar. “I’m well aware.”
“He’s calling shots like this is back in the day. Leo said himself that Hopper is irrational, personally, I think we need to act it ourselves. Grumps said once that in order for the club to keep moving forward, it had to move with the times. You and Leo are the times. With Leo not around, you’re the one.”
“Mase, what the fuck do you want me to do? The way Cas is running shit ain’t what I would do but it does make sense.”
“Either way, if we don’t do something soon, Hopper will kill Leo and I don’t think this club can take another death.”
He heads back into the bar and I drop the cigarette butt, having forgotten to smoke it.
It’s quiet as I walk over to the house and let myself in. Holly doesn’t notice me as she cleans and scrubs the inside of thekitchen cupboards. The babies are sleeping in their bassinet, and Rayna is nowhere in sight.
