Page 51 of Hostile Saint

As Elle giggled over the phone, Lynx leaned his head back and let loose a long laugh. Trying to catch his breath, he sighed. “Damn, kid. You kill me. Old Lady is a term. A status. Like Lace will be for you.”

Sheepishly, I winced. “Oh.”

Elle was still chuckling. “Nine Lives, you are the cutest thing. I can’t wait to give you a big ol’ hug, sweet baby.”

Beaming, Lynx tossed his thick arm over my shoulders, “I’ll give ‘im one for ya,” and yanked me in while lifting his bottle. “Babe, got your beer yet? I’m thirsty, and the kid didn’t know to wait.”

“Oh shit.” I looked at my half-empty bottle. “I messed up my first beer?”

“Nah,” he used his bottle to gesture in front of us, “you just sprayed it all over the living room.”

Elle showed us her Sol. “I’m ready!”

I ain’t gonna lie. My eyes welled up again as I held up my first beer and listened to Lynx wanting us to cheer to their ‘kid’ being alive.

Then Elle compounded my emotions when adding, “Yes, to a very special person entering our lives just when we needed him most.”

They didn’t judge me as I held my beer higher in the air to respond while struggling to talk. Nor did they judge when I decided to not say anything at all because I was simply too overcome to do so. They didn’t make fun of me for drinking my first beer with silent unshed tears. They understood that I was overwhelmed by the simple fact I was being loved. They understood it was hard for me. Because my family… had just tried to kill me.

In this family fashion, we moved along… “Oh, my boys. This is great news!” celebrated Elle, after Lynx and I told her about me finally getting to see Lacey.

Insecurely, my head wobbled. “I mean, she didn’t know who I was, but that’s okay.”

“Well,” Elle kindly said, “it’s not okay because it hurts you so much, but my heart says Pretty Girl will remember you again someday.”

I played with the empty bottle in my hand while I coughed to clear my suddenly dry throat. “Yeah, I’m going to take her a vanilla shake tomorrow night.”

“Aww!” After a moment, Elle said, “Did Lynx tell you about our blender here?”

That got my attention. “No. What kind is it?”

“The, uh, big kind?” She giggled. “You can make your girl any kind of milkshake you want when you two get here.”

My mouth fell open. “Come to your house?”

Up to that point in my life, I’d only been invited to Lacey’s. And that invitation was really just her giving me permission to climb through her window so that no one actually knew I was there. I’d never been allowed friends or any kind of sleepover like I’d heard about in school.

“No.” Elle giggled some more. “Your home.” She twisted so I could see her surroundings—more of the huge kitchen. “Our home. The clubhouse.” Excitedly, she told me, “We are setting up Lacey and your own room as we speak.”

Now, my mouth positively gawked. I looked to Lynx. “That’s what you meant. ‘A place where you can keep her safe’.”

As if realizing this was all finally sinking in, he patiently nodded. “Yeah, kid. My clubhouse. We call it the Barn.” He stated proudly, “Men who will fight to the death. Lots of protection for your girl.”

In my chest bloomed a warm, heavy feeling. “And these men are like you guys? No one to scare Lace?”

Elle chuckled. “They may look scary, but they are suckers for their own. Lacey will most likely be spoiled.” She gestured again to the big ol’ kitchen that now made sense. “Like the milkshakes.”

I explained, “She’s only had vanilla, but wow.”

Elle beamed. “Life can be like a milkshake; you can make it any flavor you want.”

That concept really resonated with me, taking a very special place in my heart and staying there. I knew, someday, I’d say those same words to my Lacey.

Elle added, “My favorite flavor just happens to be of burley men and leather.”

Lynx said, “Babe, have I told you how much I fucking love you?”

Before she could reply, over the phone, I heard a door swing open and saw a young woman dash behind Elle until she saw she was also seen on the phone. The young woman immediately stopped, her turquoise eyes wide as could be. Blue nail-polished fingers covered her mouth as she stared at Lynx. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!”