Page 160 of Hostile Saint

No one gave any judging looks when Lacey stayed tucked behind me, only occasionally waving to those saying hello and welcome. She barely even gave Dagger and Vice a second glance. She was absolutely overwhelmed. I knew my friends would understand.

The only ones to get more of a response were me and Charlie. He stayed firm by her side, her nervous hand on his head as if appreciating the connection.

So focused on how she was doing, I scarcely registered all the new names I was to learn. I just shook hands, telling them all I was thankful and happy to be there.

Walking through arches at the front of this large home, we passed older-looking concrete picnic benches in some sort of sitting area, then went through two large connecting wooden doors that had no glass in them.

As we were led down a set of stairs, loud music had Lacey squeezing my hand. She was struggling to stay close to my back the further we went down. We looked at the most expansive basement any biker could wish for, and I knew the warm colors would, someday, bring comfort to Lacey. For now, I had to pass the pool tables, arcade machines, TVs, jukebox, lounging couches… Oh, is that a stripper pole?

The bar stopped me in my tracks, causing Lacey to bump into me and quickly suck in air.

Offering to put my other arm around her, I lured her from hiding. Holding her to me, I pointed to what was on the wall behind the never-ending bar. It was a massive round silver circle, about six feet across and tall. In the center of it was a cutout of a Stallion, its wild mane flowing in the wind. Just like what was on my back, above the horse was the word STEEL, and under the horse read STALLIONS MC. As much as that spoke to my soul, telling me I had finally found my home, it was the smaller silver cutouts of wolves howling that stunned me.

I had spent so many hours with some of these men, before ever learning what their lives were truly about. It was mind-blowing. It was breathtaking.

It was an honor.

I peered down at Lace and smiled, even though she was yet to know how lucky we were. She had so much catching up to do that she was even whispering, “Why are all those people calling you Saint?”

If only there was a simple way to explain all that has happened while we’ve been apart.

Elle and Lynx led us down a hallway that had many closed doors. She stopped in front of one and unlocked it. After opening the door, she gleamed, “Welcome home.”

I accepted the keys she offered while slowly walking inside.

It was only one large bedroom but felt so right, I was dumbfounded. A little apartment made for me and Lace. There was a big walk-in closet—with clothes in it, both for me and Lacey. In the middle of a wall, there was a king-sized bed—with blankets and pillows! There were dressers and comfy-looking chairs with a little table in between them. There was a flatscreen TV on a different wall, even bigger than what my fake-brothers had.

From the doorway, Elle explained, “We’ve left all the true decorations for—”

We all went quiet when Lacey finally left my side. She was entranced, walking toward a wall I had yet to notice, but now I couldn’t tear my eyes from it.

There were picture frames, one after another.

In awe, Lace said, “It’s of you.” She carefully reached up and grazed her fingers along the first one. “You’re smiling, T—uh,” she looked to Lynx, “Noble.”

I think he was in as much shock as me, gawking at the wall.

She petted Charlie’s head. “Your friends took these pictures, Noble?”

Speechless that these wonderful people kept giving me reasons to be grateful, I nodded.

Studying the next framed picture, Lacey covered her mouth. “You had waffles?”

I couldn’t move. Every moment that had been captured by Dagger, Vice, Lynx, Elle… was now on the wall as if a map of my journey to get to this very moment. All I could manage was… “With syrup.”

Lacey smiled, touching another frame. “Your friends make you so happy.”

Barely able to talk, remembering all the times, I whispered, “Yes.

There were so many… So many special moments captured. Some that I didn’t even know they had realized were important to me. Like the one of me in bed, at the rental, sticking my toes out for the sun to touch.

Standing behind Lacey, I rested my hands on her shoulders. “Every time I did that, I thought of you.”

As if I had said the sweetest thing, she looked up to me and touched my face.

There was one picture of me smiling, next to Dagger, eating chicken nuggets. Lace gasped. “Honey!” She touched the frame. “That scary man, he was outside.”

“Yes,” I swallowed, “He is my dear friend, Dagger.”