Page 76 of Hostile Saint

Prez and VP nodded, totally having my back. Their support felt liberating. I had an opinion and confirmation it was justified.

Vice stared at the dark Serenity establishment. “Unless you prefer to bust her out tonight, I got an idea.”

In the dining room, I paced anxiously, wanting my Lace away from Serenity Institute.

Over the speaker phone in the middle of the dining room table, Justice tried again to convince us. “Top. Notch. I swear it. This doctor has written many papers—has immense respect from peers. Saint, I hear your protective side in high gear, but from everything I’ve read—and research is my thing—this doc is digging deeper because he feels it’s necessary. He’s trying to help her. In fact, he has a published article about unnecessary treatments. His job is his life. After he lost his daughter—Vera—to…”

Her voice faded as my ears rang. “Vera?”

Justice’s talking stopped. “Yeah. Mean somethin’ to ya?”

“Ah, shit.” Dagger shook his head in dismay. “It’s what he has named Lacey.”

Vice cringed. “And we made fun of it. That makes us assholes, right?”

“A little, yeah.” Justice sighed. “See what I mean? He clearly cares for Lacey. My vote is to let him do his job. Your call, Speedy Gonzalez.”

All eyes fell to me. I guess they told her about our training.

I stopped and stared at them while grasping the hair on the top of my head. Frustrated, I yanked, hard. “Ugh… Justice, I don’t know you, but if these guys trust you… Fuck, I will, too.” I looked to Vice. “Hook me up?”

Vice looked to Prez, who nodded. “Make it happen.”

Our Enforcer got up from the table and retrieved a duffle bag from the couch. With a clunk, he set it on the table, then started rifling through it. Items were set on the table that included so many gadgets I didn’t even know existed. Plus, there were wires and crazy small cameras... From out of a little box, he held up a tiny item that looked like a watch battery. “There’s what I’m looking for.” He stuck it in his pocket and then went into the kitchen and grabbed keys. “I’ll be back.”

As his dragon roared to life in the garage, probably waking the neighborhood, Justice chuckled. “That man loves his toys.”

Later that night, it took me a long time to fall asleep. I was thankful no one slept in a chair next to me anymore. That way I didn’t have to hear any comments as I tossed and turned, worried for Lace. She was already so broken. What if the doc made a crack in her mind that I couldn’t pull her back from?

Giving up on sleep, I got out of bed and walked to the window. I placed my worried palms on the glass and stared up at the night sky. Quietly, so as not to wake anyone, I said, “I asked your angels to help me some weeks back.” I nodded. “I think they did.” I nibbled on the inside of my cheek. “They brought me the Stallions.” I swallowed, “So, thanks for that—letting them help me.” I blew out a stressed breath that was choking me. “I’m trying to be strong.” My fingers gripped the glass. “I swear it. But…” my head hung forward, “I sense tomorrow will be really bad.” A dark chuckle escaped me. “You know that means for a real shitshow—” My eyes snapped back up to the sky. “Oh, sorry for cursing.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “God, do you think you could,” my voice cracked as I begged, “help keep her safe? I know you’re really busy and all, but…” I wiped a tear before it fell, “but… I need her real bad.” I wiped under my nose. “Like, real bad.” Another tear dropped. “I guess you probably know that.” I licked my drying lips. “Maybe someday you can explain why Lace and I had to go through all this. Not that I’m judging your plans or anything, but… it’s kind of sucked so far.”

I backed away from the window.

“But it’s cool. I’ll get through.”

My tired legs bent so I could sit on my bed.

“If I have her, I can get through anything.”

I laid down.

“If I have her.”

My eyes closed.

If I have her…

“Eat,” demanded Dagger as I sat at the kitchen bar, not able to pick up my fork. “Lynx ain’t no chump when it comes to his biscuits and gravy.”

Lynx was no longer cooking. He was studying me as if I were a puzzle that needed solving.

My stomach turned as I picked up my utensil. “Thank you for cooking.”

Ignoring my plate, he snarled, “Why the fuck you so pale?”

I took a deep breath, hoping to gain color and not worry him. “Am I?”

Sitting in his normal seat at the dining table, Vice was in front of a laptop. Headphones on, he was listening to the eavesdropping device he’d stuck in the doc’s office after breaking in.