“Already on it, boss. I’ve ordered a motion-activated camera. Plannin’ on hiding it underneath the overhang in front of the door, but I’m hoping I stalled that project.”
“Come again?” comically asked Dagger.
Vice beamed proudly as he pulled a beautiful knife from his leather pouch that hung on his belt. “This doc is a fanatic about the impressive lawn. It just so happens their lawn sprinkler system is having some technical difficulties. It should take a couple weeks to find all the leaks.” He housed his knife again.
Lynx rumbled, “Let me get this straight. As Romeo has to ‘woo’ his girl, and we are hiding on the skirts of this property, there will be lawn men wandering about?”
Vice tapped his temple. “Front yard. This place is massive. I gotchu, Boo.”
Lynx snarled, “Boo?” He shook his head to clear his thoughts. “My VP,” he leaned back to stretch, “how’s our schedule? How long can I hang here?”
From the floor, I peered up at Lynx. “I’ll be fine. If you need to go, I’ll figure something out.”
My mind raced for solutions. “Uh, uh… A tent! I could stay in a tent in the woods to be near her.”
Observing me flat on my ass, obviously in rough shape, Lynx chuckled. “Oh yeah? And, how do you plan on making her remember ya? Going to invite her to your tent for chicken nuggets and honey or something?”
My eyes raced back to the picture. “Fuck. Third floor. Bars on the windows.”
Vice pfft. “It’s only one more floor than you’re used to climbing for her. Besides, I gotchu, too, Pup.” Vice pointed his beer bottle to the phone. “See that lattice and gutter spout? It just so happens they are right next to her window. Right there.” The bottle tapped the phone. “Some careful climbing and it can be done.” From his back pocket, he pulled out a screwdriver. “For the bars.”
I smiled, until Dagger said, “Those old bars must be rusted on by now—”
Out of his other back pocket, Vice pulled out a can of some sort of spray. “For the rust.”
Laughing, Lynx muttered, “Jesus H. Christ, Vice.” He peaked around him. “You got Elle back there by chance?”
Vice rolled his eyes. “Like you would allow Elle anywhere near my perfect ass—” He stumbled to the side after Lynx punched his shoulder. Laughing, he said, “I’m not getting you another beer for that.”
Dagger lifted a hand. “Can I have one?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Needing Sugar
A knock rapped on my open bedroom door. From my bed, I peered up to see Vice. “What up, big man?”
He stood in the doorway. “Get ya a good ol’ nap?”
I had woken only minutes before. “Sure did. Everything okay?”
“No, but it will be. Do you believe that?”
I didn’t even have to instruct my body to sit up. It just did. My healed feet touched the carpet as I sat there, worried. “I believe I can get through anything as long as she is okay.”
He dipped his chin as his dark brown eyes softened. “Then you will survive what we need to talk about, because your girl is safe. Prez has a set of Stallion eyes on her at all times. She is literally hidden away in a perfect spot.”
My lungs filled with air… “Then let’s do this.”
I followed Vice through the living room to the dining room. At the end of the table sat Lynx, his broad back with his Stallion symbol staring at me. To his left sat Dagger, who was watching me. No smile present.
I walked around Lynx to sit with my back to the window, where I usually sat. Those two chairs were always available. These men didn’t seem to appreciate their backs being vulnerable.
Vice slid into the chair next to Dagger.
Sitting between us all was the burner phone. I stared at it, wondering what had been said that would have these men so solemn.
“Hey, Nine Lives,” quietly echoed from the burner phone.
Elle.
As soon as I heard her voice, I knew I was about to get kicked in the gut. She didn’t sound any better off than the men staring at me. I quickly looked to Vice who had just promised Lacey was safe.
He nodded. “I swear it.”
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I took a deep breath. “Hey, Elle.” I tried to joke, “The big babies making you be the one to tell me bad news?”
She exhaled, “Yeah, baby. You okay with that?”
Biting the side of my bottom lip, I nervously looked around the table. All three men were with grave stares. Fuck, this is going to hurt. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.”
“Thank you, honey.” She took a deep breath, “I’m sitting here with Justice, who did a little background checking with your social security number.”
I swallowed. “Okay.”
“She even found your birth certificate. Honey, have you ever seen it before?”
I thought for a minute. “Uh, actually, no. My mom handled all my records for school.”
“Well, Justice found you some real good news. Your dad is indeed your dad.”
That didn’t shock me. I knew that man was of my blood. I just knew we were connected on more than one level.
My legs began to shake under the table. “That is good news.”
“Do you think you’re ready for more of what was found on your birth certificate?”
My ears began to heat up with a rush of adrenaline. “I think waiting will make it worse.”
“Yeah, baby, I agree. So, here we go. Your mom is not.”
I could barely hear with all the ringing in my head. “She’s not what?”
Elle, being so kind, like only a woman can be, explained, “Tate, baby… the woman who raised you is not your mama.”
As her words sunk past my ears and into my brain, I could feel twitches in my face. My mind was trying so hard to understand what Elle meant. There had been a woman, whom I shared a home and my whole life with, but I wasn’t her son?
“I…” My face twitched some more. “But…” My right eye almost quaked shut.
“You’re an idiot. We would never hurt our mom…”
My heart spasmed. I believe it literally shuddered as pain sunk in.
All at once, every scar on my body came to life, as if the injuries were happening for the first time. I stared at the wicked and distortedly shaped S on the inner part of my right forearm. Once the brothers were old enough and had done some research on the internet, they learned what they were.
Most human beings, discovering they are sadists, would be terrified. At least, that is what I assumed in my rational untwisted mind. But that wasn’t the case for my brothers and their two, just as perverse, friends. They actually celebrated. It was as if finally understanding what they were, they felt they belonged to some elite club.
That is when and why I received the S scar. Just like cattle, I had been branded.
At the table, no one spoke. They just gave me the needed silence to adjust to my new reality; my mom wasn’t filing any police report because I wasn’t hers.
“Wait,” I blinked. “My brothers?”
Elle sighed. “There is no record of your father having any other children.”
Again, I heard ringing in my ears.
My mom wasn’t real. My brothers weren’t real. I felt like a lost rocket floating in outer space with nowhere to land. No place to call home.
Didn’t someone have to birth me? If so, where was that person?
With such kindness, Elle said, “Her name was Melony.”
My mouth fell open… What a beautiful name—
Terrified to ask, I barely voiced, “Was?”
“Honey,” Elle’s voice cracked before she sniffled, “I’m so sorry. She passed away when you were just a baby.”
Just like that, I lost two mothers in one short conversation.
It was simply too much to take. My mind fizzled into a nothing state. No true thought stuck long enough to make any sense. Words and objects faded in and out of my mind, but there was no rhyme or reason. Only confusion.
“… Lacey…” a female voice entered my head with the only word that I would always comprehend. “… will someday get to hold you again…” I blinked as I tried to focus on those words. “…Pretty Girl will smile…” Blink. “…I’m just going to keep talking until you can hear my voice again…”
“M-My L-Lace?”
“Yeah,” Elle softly said, “she’s beautiful. I saw the picture.”
A picture of Lace was now laying in front of me. On the table, on Vice’s cell.
I nodded as my eyes welled and feelings rushed into my worn-out body. “Beautiful.”
Elle sounded as if smiling through tears. “You are a lucky man.”
I nodded, grabbing my chest that hurt so bad. “So lucky.”
“What’s this I hear about ‘sugar’ kisses? I’m so intrigued.”
As I smiled, tears fell. “Vanilla shake. She was sad.” I wasn’t making full sentences, but at least I was managing to talk again. “I told her sugar fixes everything. Vanilla shake. First kiss.” My shoulders shook as I cried. “Said I tasted sweet.” So sad for my life that was one regret after another, I sobbed. “Sugar fixes everything.”
There wasn’t enough sugar in the world to fix me that day.
Waking on my side, facing my bedroom window, I felt as tired as I did when I had lain down. I had been in bed all day and night. I simply ran out of steam. My heartbreak had sucked me dry.
Lacey, I need you.
My toes poked out from under the blanket and soaked up the sun.
An exhale had me realizing Lynx was awake. In the chair next to me, Lynx leaned his elbows to his knees while staring at me. Instantly, I felt panicked. My heart beginning to race was becoming a knee-jerk reaction with all that was happening in my life.
Lynx said, “If you could chill, that would be awesome. I just wanna talk.”
Not wanting to hear any more bad news, I shook my head, similar to what the reaction a Coke has if opened after being shaken. That trick used to be a fun pastime for my brothers. The only positive for me was when they did it, my tongue would taste the wonderful flavor as the Coke dripped down my face. “Sorry, I—”
“Pup, you’re apologizing again.”
“But you said to chill.”
“Yeah. Your point?”
“Aren’t you mad at me?”
His brows bunched. “Huh? About what?”
Now I was confused. “For being upset.”
“Are you apologizing for how you feel?”
Lynx often saying, Ya feel me? Was suddenly making more sense. It was like he wasn’t just asking if I understood him; it was more as if he was asking if I could feel—connect—with his meaning. If I could, then his meaning would be undeniable. It would resonate on a deep level. And, if that was the case, apologizing for a ‘feeling’ did seem quite absurd.
The mind reader tapped the tip of his nose. “Ah, there it is. I think you got it now.”
His casual, yet sincere attitude had my whole body releasing a sigh.
Lynx added, “Whether or not your feelings are warranted, they’re still yours, Nine Lives. Learn to own them.”
“Okay… I feel like more ‘talk’ about my non-family may kill me.”
“But Justice has found out more about your brothers.”
I raised a hand, pleading. “Is Lace still safe?”
With resolve, he answered, “Yeah, kid, she’s safe.”
“Please don’t be mad at me for waving the white flag. I’m just owning my feelings.”
“Fair enough.” He stared for another few minutes before saying, “My real name is Duke.”
Him revealing such information caught me off guard.
Duke nodded. “Yeah, and I carry my dad’s last name. I am proud to be Duke Bryant.” Sitting upright, he pointed at me. “And you carry your dad’s last name: Tate Young. But most importantly, you carry his blood. He’s inside you, kid. Just like my daddy is.” Lynx tapped his chest. “Even though he no longer walks this earth.”
My eyes widened.
Lynx quietly admitted, “Neither does my mama.”
Ah, shit. Neither of us had parents anymore.
He tapped his chest again. “But they’re here. In my heart that pumps their blood.”
From my pillow, I nodded. “I feel you.”
Duke smirked. “There’s my little Life Warrior.” He got up from the chair. “Now, get the fuck out of bed.”
A smile finally formed. “Yes, sir.”
Entering the living room, I saw Dagger, Vice, and Lynx in the kitchen. Lynx was digging through the fridge when Vice bumped into him. “Vice, off my ass, bro.”
Vice was trying to move past Dagger now. “This kitchen is simply too small.”
Again, Dagger lit up when he saw me. “My man! Got you a surprise.” He held up a box that read Eggos. “Let go my Eggo!” As if a gleeful child, he now held up a bottle of syrup. When I didn’t react with the same enthusiasm, he waved both items in the air. “Dude! Fucking waffles!”
That piqued my interest. “Those are waffles?”
His full hands dropped to the counter with a thud. “Do not tease me by saying Daddy Dagger is about to be the very first to introduce you to waffles.”
I couldn’t stop my forming grin as I rushed forward. “Not one bite.”
Lynx placed a tub of butter on the counter in between us and pulled out his cell. “I’m videoing his first bite.”
On the opposite side of the two-foot kitchen, Vice also pulled out his phone. “I’ll get this angle.”
When the toaster popped, I could have sworn Daddy Dagger was now wearing an apron and had been retitled Mama Maggy by the way he happily exclaimed, “I’ll butter them!”
Sitting on the barstool, I observed the scene resembling the movie Three Men and a Baby. Two men were practically cooing how epic this was going to be while Dagger cut up my breakfast into bite-sized pieces.
When the plate and a glass of milk were finally set in front of me, two men zoomed in on their cameras, and Dagger gleamed as if witnessing his baby make his first smile.
Feeling as if I was lost in a different dimension, with deadly bikers doting on me as if I were a toddler, I slowly brought a loaded fork to my mouth.
As soon as that sweetness touched my tongue, I forgot about being a spectacle and moaned deliriously. “Jesus. H. Christ.”
Howling laughter boomed…
“I totally got that on video.”
“Me too! Look.”
“Aw, look at his smile—”
With my mouth full, I stared at them.
Three sets of shoulders shrugged. “What?”
Since Lynx wasn’t permitting ‘the baby’ out of the house, except for the back porch, the treadmill ended up being an excellent idea. Elle understood that my body needed to have my blood pumping to promote more healing. Lynx had argued that my ‘blood’ could pump indoors until he was convinced I was safe elsewhere.
Dagger said it was imperative I trust Lynx, that he had a snout that was a bullshit detector. Dagger also said Lynx was picking up a shitty trail that he feared led straight back to my fake family.
The exercise equipment was a tad intimidating at first, due to discomfort with my wounds and a fear of having another set-back, but every day I got a little stronger. With almost every step I took, I thought about Lace and how gaining strength would soon benefit her. Lynx told me he would take me to Serenity as soon as he thought it wise to move me about. Until then, he had others watching over her. We received regular reports that she was still doing well.
Believing in Elle’s recommendations, I swallowed every herb pill I was offered. I even went so far as to drink her horrid hot tea that tasted like freshly cut grass mixed with urine. I lacked the education to understand her methods but was willing to do anything that had a chance of hurrying up this whole healing process. Elle even had me swallowing a tablespoon of some special honey that was from some forest in another country. No problem. Bottoms up!
Doc was fascinated. “I don’t know what miracle drug they’re feeding you, but your body is responding in record time.”
I hadn’t, nor would I ever, forget Elle’s kindness. How she was the one who told me about my mom, then from afar, practically nursed me back to health. I couldn’t wait to meet her in person and hug her with all the gratitude I was feeling toward her.
Now with no stitches, back to the treadmill I went. I knew Lynx would stand by his word and let me see Lacey as soon as I could prove I had the strength. As days passed, my brisk walk turned into a light jog. In that garage, I may have been jogging in place, but in my mind, I was running straight to my girl. I chased that beautiful smile…
Days passed…
Before I knew it, Lynx was hitting the stop button and tossing me a hand-towel. “Enough for tonight.”
Wiping my sweaty face, I smirked while taking the last steps before the machine came to a complete stop. “I’m running now.”
Over his broad shoulder that had been carrying my weight, he sneered, “I have eyes, smart ass.” As he walked into the kitchen, I caught the smile he was trying to hide while he grumbled, “Shower, then dinner.”
The door shut.
“Yes, sir,” I replied, even though he couldn’t hear me.
I lifted my arms above my head in celebration. “Yes, sir!” So fucking proud of myself.
In the rental car, I was being driven to the Serenity Institute. My heart thundered with excitement. I didn’t even care that we had a bit of an escort of a couple bikes tagging along a few cars back. Today was the day I might possibly get my first glance at Lacey. Even though it had been only a couple of weeks, it felt like decades had passed since I’d seen her.
The car was traveling at about forty-five miles an hour, but felt as though it would have lost a race to a snail. My knee bounced with anticipation.
“Easy, kid. No one will take this day from you.”
Lynx was in the backseat with me, while Vice drove, and Dagger sat in the passenger seat.
Hostile Saint (Steel Stallions MC Book 1) Page 9