Page 22 of Hostile Saint

Changed into fresh clothes, I wandered into the private bathroom. My reflection in the mirror jolted me to a stop. I just stood there, dumbfounded. After everything my brothers had ever done to me, I had never looked like this. My face was incredibly swollen, discolored with bruises, and my eyes were puffy and looked exhausted. No wonder Lacey touched this face and cried…

Finding a brand-new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste on the counter, my eyes bugged out. Is this for me? Until now, I’d only had leftover toothbrushes and mostly empty tubes of toothpaste I’d have to squeeze clean to get anything out. As I opened the packages, I appreciated the smell and feel. And I thought about Lynx, knowing he had something to do with this.

With the most sparkly teeth I had ever had, I walked down a hallway then into the living room. Lynx wasn’t in sight, but I saw his vest hanging on the back of a chair in the dining room to my right, by the front part of the house. On the chairs on each side of his, two more leather vests hung. Seeing the Steel Stallion design and the word Texas on the backs had me hoping for a vest of my own someday. I quickly hushed away the thought, feeling I wasn’t good enough for such an honor.

Standing in the kitchen, making a cup of coffee, Dagger’s eyes lit up when he noticed me. “Nine Lives! My man!”

I wasn’t used to anyone but Lace being excited when I entered a room. Her eyes would beam like glowing stars when I would crawl through her bedroom window. Even if she was in pain… “Hey,” I quietly replied. “Umm, do you know if my mom has filed a report yet?”

He grimaced before catching himself. “No file yet, Pup. I’m really sorry about that. But we’ll keep checking.”

With his back to me, Vice was at the stove. I could smell the bacon he was tending to. I had always wondered what it tasted like. My brothers would cook it often, but I had never been given any. The wonderful smell would seep under my closed bedroom door and make my stomach growl, and I had wished that they liked me enough to share.

Dagger brought the steaming cup of coffee to his mouth while begging, “Java. Heal me.” He made a slurpy sound as he took a sip. Even though the hot liquid was clearly burning his mouth, “Yes,” he hissed in pleasure. “Just like that.”

Vice peered over his broad shoulder and teased him. “You know that ain’t no woman you’re talkin’ to, right?”

“Vice,” he sneered, “damn, son, don’t take away my morning joy by reminding me what I could be waking up next to if I were at the Barn.”

It was hard to understand the fuss over coffee. Not ever having had any, I realized I wasn’t sure how to fit in with these men. Not only had I never had a cup of coffee, but I’d also never had a drop of alcohol. I didn’t crave other women. I had only one purpose. And she was too far from my reach. “Sorry about last night.”

Dagger tilted his head. “What the fuck for?”

Blink. Blink. “Uh, saying what I said, throwing a chair, and ripping a couple stitches?”

His coffee sloshed in its cup as he and Vice burst out laughing as if my tantrum the night prior was nothing to brag about. That they’d seen far worse.

Dagger set his cup of ‘Java’ down and braced himself up against the counter between him and the living room I was standing in. “Kid, that was you just releasing some steam.”

“Rightfully so,” added Vice as he flipped a strip of bacon. “Hungry, kid?”

My stomach growled in reply, but I answered, “I could eat a little, sure.”

From over his shoulder, he said, “I chopped some potatoes and am fryin’ them up. You like potatoes?”

“Yeah, I used to bake them then sneak some stuff from the refrigerator. If you only take a little, they never notice. Makes the dry potato taste better.”

The silence that lingered after I would say something like that took me a bit to get used to, but the men always tried to recover quickly. I appreciated that. It took the sting out of the awkward moment that I didn’t fully understand. Up until this time, I believed the way I was raised was normal for the youngest sibling. I believed a lot of what I had been told while growing up.

“Well,” Vice coughed to clear something in his throat, “these potatoes won’t be dry.”

Dagger smiled, his eye a bit glossy. “These particular Morning Potatoes are Vice’s specialty. He won’t tell us his seasoning.” He grumbled the next part, “Selfish bastard.”

That piqued my interest. I went to a barstool and sat down, facing Dagger. “Seasonings? Like from the cupboard?” I got excited. “I snuck some of that, too. Garlic was my favorite, besides salt.”

Dagger did his best not to stutter. “Garlic? Shit… you’re in for a treat, kid. Our man Vice here cut up fresh garlic for these potatoes.”

It took all I had to not let my mouth fall open in amazement. If it did, I was positive drool would have dripped. I was so pumped to try this breakfast specialty.

With wet hair dripping on a fresh t-shirt, Lynx came walking up behind me. His bedroom was in the same hallway as mine. “Vice, my brother, smells fucking incredible up in here.” A hand ruffled my shaggy hair before he walked into the kitchen. “Kid, that stomach of yours growling yet? Mine sure the fuck is.”

Resting my elbows on the counter, I nodded, thinking how my dad used to tussle my hair.

Lynx told Dagger, “He needs a pill after he eats.”

Dagger lifted an orange bottle and shook it. “One step ahead of ya.” He lifted and rattled another one. “And his antibiotics.”

Lynx tried but couldn’t fit between the two men stuffed in the small kitchen. “Shit. Fine.” He gave up and teased, “I’ll suck the dick of the first bastard who gets me a coffee.”