Page 110 of Hostile Saint

Lynx looked confused for a moment, but then said, “You’ve never had a gift before?”

I head-gestured to the dog, who was now partially sleeping in my lap.

Lynx shook his head. “No.” He pointed to my hands. “Like that.”

I slightly shrugged. “Maybe I unwrapped one with my dad, but I have no memories of it.”

Without a word, Dagger handed Lynx his phone.

Lynx swallowed then held up Dagger’s phone to film me. “Well, here’s to filling your new memory bank.”

Heart bursting with so many emotions, I quickly ripped through the paper. When I didn’t recognize the box, or what would be inside, I lifted the lid. Inside was a brand-new iPhone. “Holy shit! I get to take my own pictures now?” I wanted to make my first call. “Lynx, can I have your number so I can call you?”

Lynx kept filming me. “Show him, Enforcer.”

Tapping on my phone, Vice showed me how all their numbers were already stored.

Laughing, Lynx answered his phone, “Who the fuck is calling me?” when I called him, even though he was sitting in the front seat.

Then Vice showed me where to type, so the internet could show me anything I wanted to see. It was a whole new freedom. I didn’t think this gift could get any better, but that wasn’t true. Vice then tapped on my phone, on some sort of ‘app’, and showed me a precious miracle. It was a live feed of Lacey, sitting in her bed, writing in her journal.

I burst into fucking tears. I mean burst-ed.

There she was.

Safe.

And for me to see, any time she was in her room.

Wiping under his eyes, Vice yelled at me, “Can you please stop turning me into a pussy?”

Dagger howled laughter. “I swear I’m learning to appreciate the little things. Pup, you have reminded me there are little miracles everywhere. You just have to open your eyes and take ‘em in.”

Charlie licked my tears as I bawled, “She—She is a miracle, too.”

Lynx nodded his head. “And she’s all yours, kid.”

I peered out the window, suddenly feeling more confident about having to face a past that demanding to be deal with. That confidence was needed because everything was about to change.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Demanding Faith

It was somewhat wild to sleep in a rundown hotel with Redemption Ryders in the surrounding rooms since I didn’t know them well yet. So many actions were being taken to not affiliate Steel Stallions. No Stallion cuts were permitted. Had I not already lived with Lynx, Dagger, and Vice, I would have sworn they were missing a limb, seeing them without their worn patched vests. Those cuts were a part of their essence. Although they were packed away, in spirit, they were on worthy shoulders.

I had never slept in a hotel room before. This particular dump was a rough one to start with, because of all the drug deals and late-night hooker calls. Since rough nights were something I was sorely accustomed to, my skin crawled with fear. That is until a heated Charlie burrowed closer to me. Sleep easily found me again after that.

After a shower that first night, I had asked Lynx, “Why did you guys pick this place?”

He smirked. “Did Eagle’s palace spoil you?”

I put food in Charlie’s bowl. “Can’t lie. That place was out of a magazine.”

“You and your magazine examples.”

Carrying Charlie’s empty water bowl to the bathroom sink—that was not in the bathroom but a part of our room, I said, “My mom—uh, that woman—would throw hers away. I stole them out of the trash and practiced reading.”

Lynx was digging through his duffle bag on his bed. Instead of pity, he complimented, “Smart little fucker. Life Warrior to the max.”