Page 24 of Entangled With The Hellhound

“Are you sure? I mean, what can be so important that you have to reschedule with Alec?” Marie’s tone is exasperated, and I cut my eyes at her.

I’ve never heard that tone out of my sweet assistant, and she knows better than to question anything I do. Marie knows all about my membership with the Hounds, and she knows how important the organization is to me. She also knows that when they call, there’s no rescheduling. I go when they need me.

“Hey! Do what the hell I said.” I tried to keep my voice level, but by the way, Marie’s eyes widened, and the small whimper that slipped out of her mouth, I didn’t do a very good job.

“Yes, sir.” Marie scampers away, and I shake my head.

I’ve been on edge lately with all the shit that’s been going on but hearing that Roxy is in some type of trouble and I wasn’t there has me pissed.

I headed out the door, and standing by my car was the last person I wanted to see.

“Chris, what do you want?” I hit the key fob and started my truck while staring down my ex-wife with a deadpan expression.

“I thought you’d be over your little tantrum by now.” Christine smiles at me, and there’s a twinkle in her hazel eyes.

I know she’s still on her bullshit, and I know the reason she keeps poppin’ up is cause she’s jealous. But I also know that she doesn’t stick around after rejection, so this is new behavior for her. I suspect that she must’ve got into some shit she needs me to get her out of, but I can’t get involved with her shit right now. I’m not a fuckin’ knight, and the reason I know that for a fact is because of Christine.

“Got shit to do, move so I can get goin’.”

“You always have shit to do, Stone. You can’t make time for your wife?”

I chuckle at her absurdity, “The only woman with my last name is my bitch of a mama. Now, move. Or you can answer to Rock.” I threw the Prez’s name out cause Christine may act stupid, but she’s not.

She definitely knows Rock would put her ass to ground if she fucked up. The Hellhounds don’t play around about our loyalty. And if Christine wanted to cause any unnecessary trouble, she would be banned from the clubhouse, which meant staying away from anything Hounds related. Including me.

“It’s like that now? Wow!” Christine has tears in her eyes as she walks away, but I just get in my truck.

Those crocodile tears don’t faze me, not anymore. I pull off, thinking about all of the craziness that’s going on around me. In the past three weeks, shit has been ramping up. I can feel it in my gut that something is about to go down.

My Bluetooth connects in my truck when my phone rings. I hit the steering wheel to answer the call, “This is Stone.”

“It’s Marie. Alec said he doesn’t want to reschedule the meeting. He’s pissed and demanding that you see him today.”

I can feel the scowl cover my face in an instant. Nobody in their right mind would demand shit from me. But these fucking artistic types with overinflated egos never know when to just create and shut the fuck up.

“I already told you I couldn’t see him today. Cancel the entire thing. Alec is fired! I’ll find somebody else to shoot the spread.”

“Bu-but that will put us behind schedule. Can’t you just take a few minutes to meet with him?”

I get that Marie is trying to do her job, but she is stepping way out of line. I have to take a deep breath, so I don’t completely explode. There’s some serious shit happening, and a photographer throwing a hissy fit over a meeting is low on my priority list.

“Marie… I don’t like repeating myself. Do as I said. I’m on my way to the clubhouse, so don’t call me again today. I don’t care if the fucking shop is on fire. Send me a text.” I hate that I have to explain this shit to Marie. She’s been my assistant for years; she knows better.

I click the steering wheel to disconnect the call before she can even respond. I drive entirely too fast to the clubhouse. The entire time wishing I was on my motorcycle. I need the wind in my face and the open road to clear my head. Instead, I’m trapped in this fuckin’ cage.

By the time I make it to the clubhouse, it’s pitch black outside and well after eight o’clock. However, when I pull up, the regular crowd is hanging out. Loud music is playing, and the front is packed with motorcycles, cars, and pickups.

“What the fuck?” I say out loud.

The way Bishop sounded on the phone, I thought we were damn near close to lockdown. But I guess I was wrong.

I park my truck, grab my cut and throw it on, and make my way toward the front of the building. A few brothers nod in my direction, and I return the gesture. As I get closer, I notice a lot of our prospects are outside. That means they’re on guard duty, and they better not fuck up.

When I walk into the building, the usual bunnies are hanging around, but I don’t see any new faces. Rock didn’t call church, but I head for the stairs to the conference room because I know that’s where the voting members will be.

“Death.” I cock my eyebrow at the greeting from Bishop because that means I’m going to have a job to do tonight.

I take my seat, but there are only four of us here, so whatever is going on is important but not urgent.