Page 101 of Hostile Saint

“I’ll leave the door cracked so he can go do whatever dogs do.”

On each side of the bedroom, there was a twin bed tucked in the corner. Lynx took the one to the right. He rapped on the wall next to his bed. Within seconds, a rap answered.

When I lifted a brow, Lynx explained, “During stressful times, Enforcers tend to get a little restless. If he knows where I am, he’ll sleep better.”

“Would you rather I go sleep in Dagger’s room, so he can be in here?”

“No, because then I’ll be restless.”

It didn’t get old. Hearing him care just didn’t get old.

Not bothering to fold down the covers, Lynx let his body fall into the bed. “Fuck, I’m tired.”

Charlie clearly had the same idea. “Hey!” I stood there, shocked when he jumped in my bed, laying down, then stared at me as if it were my turn.

Before Lynx’s eyes slid shut, he laughed. “Good luck with that.” His breathing went heavy in a second flat.

After kicking off my shoes, I was removing my shirt when I heard a gasp. It was Georgia, staring at my stomach I was now trying to cover.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “The door being open usually means not to knock and wake them.” She gestured to an already sleeping Lynx.

I whispered, “No problem.” I shooed at the dog so I would have room when ready, but only succeeded to move him to the foot of the bed.

She giggled. “Charlie, behave.”

I admitted, “I’ve never had a dog in my bed before.”

She placed water bottles and Advil on our nightstands. “Need me to kick him out?”

“Nah. I have a feeling I might like it.”

I did.

Saying goodnight, Georgia left the room, so I removed my jeans and slipped under the blanket, sure to leave room for Charlie. My eyes drifted shut as soon as my head hit the pillow. The warmth at my feet took away any loneliness I may have felt by being in another new place, unsure of what was to come.

What was to come was a road trip… back to where it all began.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Offering Dreams

The screams were chilling. Even as a young child, I knew a female was in grave pain. Since her screams were so desperate, I couldn’t determine her age. All I could do was listen to the calls of agony as they bounced down all the hallways in this facility.

Standing at a bedroom door, my heart thundered. I wasn’t alone. Many of us—all different ages—were outside our rooms, all staring at each other, trying to figure out who wasn’t accounted for. It was Missy. The pregnant teenage girl.

It was nighttime, the best time to try to escape, but the ones who had tried before were only brought back by the police. No one believed them when they tried to tell them what was happening here—

Tiny breaths beat against my back. She was now awake and terrified, hiding against my dirty t-shirt.

Reaching behind me, I grabbed Lucey’s hand and whispered, “It’s okay. It’s okay.” Then I backed us both up into her room and shut her door.

Returning her to her bed, I ended up laying down with her because she wouldn’t release my hand. “Tate, I’m scared.”

We held on to each other. “Me, too.”

Grrrrrr… growled Charlie, still at my feet in the bed, waking me from the nightmare.

“Watch it furry fucker,” grumbled Vice. “I lead this protection duty.”