Page 116 of Hostile Saint

A black leather glove held up a peace sign to Lynx as the bike rolled past us.

He held up a peace sign in return, even though the biker was no longer there, and quietly said, “Hey, sis.”

No way! I quickly moved to read the backs of the leather vests that were riding by on my side. There they were—bold letters around the Stallion logo; Steel Stallions. TEXAS.

“I wonder what she figured out. What made her think by your side was where she belonged?” Dagger watched them get in front of us.

Their presence was making a powerful statement: Do not approach. This SUV is under heavy guard.

Tightly gripping the steering wheel, Vice groaned, “Damn, they’ve never looked so good.”

With Texas Stallions in front of us and Redemption Ryders behind us, there was a camaraderie that was so thick I could feel it. It blanketed us, filling the whole SUV. Even Charlie settled behind me. Lynx’s own chapter being added to this assembly melted away any anxiousness that may have been lingering.

I had thought Lynx was intimidating.

Now, seeing him surrounded by all his closest, he was godly.

An eerie calm came over me as I stared at him, my head leaning back against the headrest.

Maybe he felt me staring because he looked at me. Then his brows bunched. “You good, kid?”

My eyes felt droopy. “Suddenly tired.”

A proud smirk appeared. “You felt that, too, huh?” He ruffled my hair. “Being able to let your guard down is a magical thing. Get some shut-eye. We got a little ride ahead of us. I’m sure that growing body of yours is probably still trying to fix that swiss cheese shit you had kickin’ and would appreciate a nap.”

He was right. Every single day, it felt like there was something major happening. The physical stress of it all had my body in constant overdrive. The mental stress? That was beyond exhausting. No wonder I hit walls every now and then when in desperate need of some rest. On top of it all, I was still a growing boy and trying to take full advantage of all the food I was fed every day, something my body had never been accustomed to until meeting these fine people.

My tired fingers tapped the urn I refused to let go. “Don’t let me drop him, ‘kay?”

“Never.”

Confident I was in the absolute best hands possible, I let the wonderful safety net of the baddest motherfuckers ever wash over me as my eyes slid shut.

My ears started taking in noises before my body began to wake. My brain was sluggish and my eyelids still heavy, but I slowly started computing voices around me. They were somewhat muted, as if not in the same room with me.

Where am I?

I opened my eyes to find myself still in the SUV. It was now dark outside, and my face was up against the window. Right next to my door was Lynx, wearing his cut, quietly talking to a woman. She was quite a bit smaller than him, but her messy ponytail, shaved sides, leather vest, gun on hip, and a knife strapped to her leathered thigh, screamed, Do not fuck with this because I skip the bark and go straight to the bite.

I was still tired as hell, but in an instant, I knew she was Justice.

About twenty feet from the SUV, Dagger and Vice were also in their cuts, talking with gathered Stallions, hugging and speaking of a fallen Stallion who would be missed.

Charlie was trotting around, sniffing everything and everyone—and hiking a leg here and there.

Still right next to me, Justice was quietly telling Lynx, “I know you hate it, but that doesn’t change facts. I smell Weasel Stench.”

Lynx closed his eyes and shook his head. “There’s got to be something else we’re missin’.”

She put a hand, no longer gloved, on her hip. “Thank God, I came. You’re too tired to see what’s right in front of your face. It’s called Rat-on-a-Platter.”

Lynx ran two palms down his face. “Maybe the prison visit phone was tapped.”

“Bro, this is me you’re talking to. I ain’t no fucking rookie.”

“They had face-to-face visits, huh?”

“Yep. Plus, that Stallion had no info to give us because he followed orders. Asked no questions.” She leaned in and poked his chest. “You need to listen the fuck up, Prez, because if you don’t, you’re putting our new pup in danger.”