Page 128 of Hostile Saint

I had crawled through Lace’s window to find bloody vegetables on her nightstand. Oh my God. The brothers probably lacked the instruments this Sail person had, so they got inventive.

Lynx grabbed my shoulder. “And that’s where his notes end.”

My father couldn’t write more notes because… the brothers had murdered him, something else they had witnessed.

I thought of Lacey’s dad and how shocked he must have been when he found the boys in the garage, torturing his daughter. I wonder if he recognized her being held to that table, experimented on, something he probably saw—or participated in at the facility. I wonder if he finally saw the error of his ways as he became part of the experiment himself, as the brothers connected, killed him.

Lynx shook me. “You’re human. You’re full of heart.” Amused, he grinned. “You’re just a tad modified.”

Only a fucking biker could find my ‘modifications’ entertaining.

Bruised and scarred knuckles… Lynx was still fighting for me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Burning Deaths

After barely two hours of sleep, Lynx was already out of the shower, dressed, and putting on his cut. He was preparing for a meeting I couldn’t attend due to my low ranking in the club, so I stayed in bed, staring at my phone, watching Lacey slowly wake up.

“Pup, I know she’s a needed sight for your tired eyes, but make sure you get some rest. I’m positive the vote will favor making a move on these assholes tonight.”

A life full of abuse was coming down to this night. It was beyond mind-blowing. It was soul-shaking. It felt like all the different parts of me—the abused, the angry, the scared, the sad… were finally going to have the chance to unite—were becoming one so that my new life could begin. I was blessedly going to be given the opportunity to move forward, leaving so many tragic memories behind.

And I was scared shitless.

Not wanting Lynx to know how nervous I was, I teased, “From what you told me last night, it sounds like you’re the one who needs rest. I’m ‘modified’.” Lying in my bed, I continued to pet a sleeping Charlie while smiling, giving Lynx a challenging look. “Maybe I could even take the Head Cheese down?”

That only won me a laugh and… “I’ll be earning my thousand bucks back if you ever try. I can promise you that, Spoon Bandit. You might recover from my beatdown faster, but there ain’t no way you can physically out-best me.”

I kept smiling because I was positive that, even on my best day, taking Lynx down was never going to be an option. “Maybe when you’re wheelchair-bound, I’ll give it a go.”

He chuckled. “Better make it a good one ‘cause I’ll still be packin’.”

I needed that laugh. We both did.

“Lynx?”

He loaded guns into a holster that was strapped to him. “Yeah, kid?”

“With all that we are learning, knowing what my fake-brothers have gone through… is it weak of me to feel bad that they will be dead soon?”

He faced me, not looking surprised at all with my question. “Nah, Pup. That’s why your name suits you. Revenge doesn’t drive you. As I’ve said, your heart is true. Fortunately, so is your mind.” With an unexpected kindness, he said, “No matter what transpired to make those four boys sadistic, it is what they are now. You know as well as I do, they’ve gotta go to ground.” Distracted by his vibrating cellphone, he read it, typed, then added, “Let me ask you this: Do you really believe you and Lace have been their only victims?”

My eyes widened. I had totally assumed Lace and I were the only ones.

Even though it was a horrible topic, Lynx shrugged as if accepting it for what it was. “Think about it.” He lifted the damaged door and propped it against a wall, causing Charlie to sit up. “There’s a much bigger picture here, kid.” He left the room.

I was shocked Lynx was actually leaving me unattended, letting me fend for myself… until Diesel walked in, “Mornin’, Spoon Bandit.”

Nope. Still their pup. “Hey, Prez.”

Charlie stood and did a whole-body stretch, then hopped off the bed. After he got some attention from Diesel, he happily trotted out the door.

Diesel plopped down into a chair near the window and door. “Ready for tonight?”

“You think it will get voted in?”

His expression showed my doubt to be ludicrous. “No question. They have to. A Stallion went down. It’s a respect thing. The herd will now demand it. Plus,” he snickered, “the only one who has the power to sway the vote wants these fuckers dead more than any of us.”