Page 72 of Southpaw Slots
I was right not to trust Wyatt.
And I need to save my husband.
How? He seems to be more under Wyatt’s thrall than I ever was. Swallowing roughly, I call the one person I’ve been able to trust for the last few weeks. Well, the one who has the same goals as I do.
“Cass?”
His warm bass rings through the speaker. “’Sup, sweetheart?”
“Can you pick me up?”
“For sure.”
Sending him my location, it doesn’t take long before his icon shows near the end of the alley. When I jump in his vehicle, his familiar cedar scent floods the cabin. “Hey, sweetheart. Same place?”
“Yeah, thank you.”
He pauses for a moment, then grabs my hand and kisses the knuckles. “Are you okay?”
A deep sigh leaves my chest. I’m not sure who I can tell, so I’ll keep it to myself. “Yeah. Just trying to shake Leo again.”
Nodding, he smiles and heads toward the next location. Stopping outside one of the older buildings that was a Bingo Hall, Cass puts the truck in park and waits.
“I’ll just be a minute.”
“I’ll be right here,” he says, then adjusts the radio.
This used to be one of the Donovans’ old casinos and still has a vault in the basement. And opens with the codes I found in his parents’ old bedroom.
That’s where I hide the money, bonds, land deeds, burner phones, extra clothes, food, and water. Today, I stash more cash and some baby food jars. I figure if we don’t use this, it’ll be good for someone else that doesn’t have anything.
I saw Cass one day at the casino while the boys were out riding. He was searching for Asa and looked so forlorn. We sat down and had a long conversation and came to a mutual understanding. We both love Asa and want what’s best for him. He doesn’t trust Wyatt, though, and we bonded over both of those things. I promised to try to get Asa to forgive him if he and the rest of the wolf pack would grow up and stop using my husband for his money.
And he agreed. They all did. And respect for our connection turned into a loose partnership and is slowly becoming a friendship.
“Done?” Cass asks when I jump back inside.
“Yep.”
He turns off the radio. “Dave and I were talking. If there’re jobs at the casino for any of us, we’ll gladly help. Even Jinx, though he’d probably be best away from the other guests.”
My sympathetic eyes meet his deep brown ones. I know he misses my husband. “Okay, I’ll mention it to him.” But I’m not sure how to do so now that Wyatt’s running the staff. And my anxiety skyrockets thinking of how to tell Asa what I need to without letting Wyatt know.
Gazing out the windshield, Cass asks, “Um, want me to drop you back at the store, or…” He’s been stealthy up until now. Hiding because he wants his best friend back, but both men are too proud to get over their disagreement. I’m here to help with that.
“No, actually. I wantyouto take me home. And I think it’s time you and Asa made up.”
His tongue escapes to lick his thick lips. “Sweetheart…”
“Please, Cass. He needs you. He just doesn’t know he does.” I bat my lashes at him and smile as sweetly as I can until I see his chocolate eyes soften. If I can’t get my husband to loosen up about his wolf pack, maybe Cass will make the first move. Plus, it would be good to have him there in case things turn scary… I don’t know what to expect.
“Fuck, I bet you get everything you want, don’t you?”
Turning to stare out my window, I murmur, “I hope so.” Then I tell him exactly what just happened.
TWENTY
ASA