Page 29 of Hostile Saint

Dagger approached, eyeing his President self-inflicting pain. “I miss somethin’?”

Vice chimed in with one simple word. “Elle.”

Dagger yelled into the phone I was still stuck holding. “Hey, beautiful!”

“Daddy Dagger!” she cheerfully called out.

There are certain things one can live without. And that was one of them. I cringed. “Daddy Dagger? Please tell me that is not a sexual thing and you are, in fact, her dad.”

The kitchen boomed with laughter.

Once Elle caught her breath, she told me, “The gossip vine says that old man has got some serious skills in the sack. Tell Lynx to take some notes.”

My eyes popped wide again. Now I was to tell Lynx he needed to learn a thing or two? “Nope. Not happening.”

“What did she say now?” yelled the dangerous biker.

Nope. Nope. No way in Hell. I handed back his cell.

He happily took it and asked her what she was up to. After hearing her reply, his jaw dropped. “Babe! First with this ‘bikers need to go all organic’ shit, and now you’re tellin’ my boys their Prez needs to up his fuckin’ dick skills?”

Once again, men’s shoulders collided in the small kitchen as they stumbled back and forth in booming laughter.

After more playful banter that had me totally forgetting my problems, Lynx told Elle, “Hey, don’t forget to tell Justice to give me a call on the burner, ‘kay?”

Just like that, laughter ended, and a serious vibe kicked in. I suppose you could say a Prez’s job is never done. And his VP had his back. Dagger gave Lynx a salute and left the kitchen.

As Lynx ended the call with Elle, her promising she would never again doubt his ‘dick’ skills after he finally got a hold of her, Dagger returned and placed another cellphone in front of him.

To give privacy to what was certainly meant to be a private conversation, I started to leave the kitchen, but Lynx stopped me. “Nah, need you to stay, Pup.” Not sure what to do, I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms over my insecure chest. Probably due to me looking as uncomfortable as I was feeling, Lynx chuckled. “You’re good, Nine Lives. Just need you to answer some questions for my Road Captain. She’s a wizard on the ol’ internet.”

“Justice? Is that a road name?”

Dagger’s smile was full of serious admiration. “Yes, a very deserved and honorable road name.”

Back at the stove, Vice praised, “If she were the marrying type, I’d make her my Old Lady in a snap. That is how great she is and how much she deserves her road name.”

There was no romance in his comment. Only top-notch respect.

At that moment, I wondered if I would ever have someone think so approvingly of me. I hoped to someday have such a name, one that men—such as the ones in that kitchen—would highly approve of.

The phone on the counter rang. Lynx answered, “Hey,” with an unexpected smile forming, hinting to Justice being more than a Road Captain to him. “How’s my club?” After listening for a few seconds, he chuckled, “Atta girl. Whip that Prospect into shape. Hey, I need you to do somethin’ for your big bro.”

Bro? Justice is the sister that Lynx got back? Holy shit!

“Yep, some background hunting on the new pup.” He looked at me while answering something. “Yeah, he’ll be a great wolf someday…” He nodded as if his caller could see him, even though she couldn’t. “Kid, what’s your social security number again?”

After I gave him all the information he requested, including my address and other specifics, he told her, “Nah. No rush. I just have a sneakin’ suspicion about his dad, wonderin’ if he’s the father of Tate’s brothers.”

Smirking, as if expecting to be amused, Lynx asked, “What do you mean, have I gone ‘old school’?” He set the phone on the counter and put it on speaker.

“Yeah,” said a woman’s voice that carried humor, yet authority. “Do the eyes fit?”

That being a rather odd question had us all going quiet and shrugging at each other.

She tried, “Eye color? Ya know? Family traits and shit?”

Dagger smacked his forehead. “Why can’t I be as smart as Captain?”