Page 153 of Hostile Saint

He also informed me that, once at Serenity, Vice and Charlie would watch over his fiancé, while he, Dagger, and I went to go retrieve Lacey.

In the woods near the institute, Lynx parked our SUV and trailer in a way to hide it, taking no chances, even though the dirt road was isolated and obviously rarely used.

Bikes followed and parked next to us.

Vice got off his dragon and stood next to Elle’s door. With a gun in her lap, she rolled down her window, but no words were spoken. Everyone was on high alert and feeling the pressure of how one mistake could get us unwanted attention. As soon as someone noticed that Doctor Landon was missing, we knew the coincidence of a missing patient would be impossible to ignore. There would be a hunt for both.

“Fuck,” whispered Vice while reading his phone. “Waitress. Orderly never came in.”

He’s not drugged. Does this mean Lynx will abort?

Elle glared out the open window, telling Lynx, “No one knows I’m here—”

“No.” He was already shaking his head.

She sneered, “If that orderly is awake, you may need extra eyes.”

Lynx sneered back, “Vice stays with you—”

Elle bit out, “No, he doesn’t. I want my family whole.” From the dashboard, she threw a stack of packages of gloves out the window. “Make it happen.”

Her window rolled up.

Lynx’s chest rumbled. “Fucking stubborn woman.” Nostrils flaring, he told me, “I want the dog out and on guard.”

Lacking the guts to question Lynx or a pissed-off Elle, I opened the door and took off his collar. “Charlie, stay.”

He planted his butt on the ground next to Elle’s door.

Handing us gloves, Lynx growled, “Let’s go.”

Running through the woods, my heart was pounding. Was I charging toward our salvation? Lacey? Or was I getting my new family thrown in prison?

Lynx gave out commands, “Dag, get them Stallions to head toward Elle.”

I had forgotten about the ones watching over Lace. It was an out-of-body experience to cross paths with them as they followed their orders. Never slowing down, guns were all pointed at each other until we confirmed who it was running toward the other.

Guns down, a Stallion told us, “They were busy today.”

Parting ways without missing a step, Lynx told us, “Hopefully, we still only have the one orderly to deal with. Vice, if our plan goes to shit, I need him unconscious.”

“Done.”

The night was silent, but this time, we had a moon to light the way. The institute was quiet, all patients asleep for the night, as I was to run to Lacey’s window. I appreciated that Dagger and Lynx were going to be crossing the lush green lawn with me for what would be the last time. Them with me? It suited the situation.

As soon as I went to break the line of trees and pick up speed, Lynx’s gloved hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Shocked, I looked as he pointed up. “Kid, bars are back on.”

My stomach sank. “No.” But, there it was, Lacey’s window, no longer an option.

Vice quietly said, “I got money on them bars being more than superglued on.”

Dagger grumbled, “That fucking doctor knew we’d be coming for her.”

Not able to get enough air into my lungs, my mouth hung open as I panted. Lacey.

“Breathe, Pup,” said Lynx. Then he gazed at Vice. “Plan B a go?”

He nodded. “Yep, the new security system doesn’t get installed until tomorrow.”