Page 130 of Hostile Saint

Once I stood next to him, I drank my juice while trying to understand the female’s infatuation with Lynx.

He chuckled while tying his hair back. “Are you checking me out?”

I wiped spilled juice from my mouth. “I’m starting to think you’re considered ‘hot’.”

Now all the deadly bikers were quiet, staring at me. Wishing I had magic powers to vanish into thin air, I quietly added, “Not that I agree.”

Laughter boomed.

Justice was smirking but rolled her eyes and got back to work. “Okay, it looks heavily wooded, and we’ll be on foot…”

After the logistics of infiltration were agreed upon and people were moving on, Lynx tapped my shoulder. “Kid, have you met your Sargent at Arms yet?”

“Oh! Torque! Not officially.” I held out my hand, which he quickly accepted. “Hello, sir, I’m Ta—”

My hand suddenly experienced an impressive squeeze as the man shook his head no. “What is your name, Prospect?”

“Saint, sir.”

The firm grip eased. “Nice to officially meet you, Saint.”

It was weird to finally see the bronze eyes that had been watching me from afar for weeks.

Lynx told me, “You’ll meet your other two officers, Meatball and Crow, when we get home. They’re watching the home front.”

My stomach sunk. “Crow?”

Sorrowfully, he nodded. “Yep, that one will be a challenge, since it’s one of those asshole’s names, but he’s a hell of a man.”

I sighed. “It might take Lace some time.”

There was a pause, then Lynx quietly said, “I’m gonna need you to stop saying her real name in public, son.”

One fucking challenge after another. Jesus. H. Christ. “Yes, sir.”

Torque was kind, too. “It’s to keep her safe.”

“I understand. It’s just…” that’s my wife’s name. “I guess I happen to think that her name is perfect for her. She is as gentle and beautiful as lace itself.”

Torque stared at me, unreadable, then plainly stated, “It is much easier listening to your words than feeling them in person.”

Lynx agreed, “Fucking punches you in a soft spot ya didn’t even know ya had, right?”

Torque pointed at me. “Don’t you turn me into a pussy like you did Vice.” And he walked away.

Cringing, I asked Lynx, “Why do I keep hearing this?”

Laughing, he put his arm around my shoulders and walked with me. “Come on. You need to shoot a round and stab some shit before we get on the road.”

“You know that isn’t a normal thing to say, right?”

He laughed some more. “It is in my world, kid. Which is your world, too, now.”

After eating an early dinner, I was outside under a big tree with Texas Stallions and Ryders. They were having a smoke break when Lynx suddenly had second thoughts. “The kid shouldn’t go.” He wasn’t backing out; he was stating his worries out loud. Maybe he was hoping someone would agree and not load me into the SUV so that Lynx could fight my battles for me.

Because it was true, I said, “Tate wants you to not make him go… Saint wants you to set him free.”

The men and Justice, who weren’t used to the dynamics between me and Lynx, stayed quiet.