East Nine #3
Backing away, not able to rip my eyes from the glorious creature I needed like air, I passed through the front door Styx was holding open for me. He whispered, “Nothing is impossible.”
My fangs throbbed but didn’t grow enough to be seen. I was doing the right thing. I had to get to the West Coast to save ‘her’. Harmony? Sarah? Kristen? Talullah?
The growl rumbling in my chest had Styx saying, “I’ll take first shift,” as he got behind the steering wheel of a large black SUV he’d rented.
It was loaded with weapons and ammunition.
There was more going on than Styx had time to share with me, but we had a long drive ahead of us. Plenty of hours to talk.
As I got in the passenger seat, slamming the door, he started the engine, telling me, “The gate is set. She knows the drill and where to stare for entry. If she needs to hide, she will be safe in the lagoon.”
Styx was also nervous about leaving her, but he had taught me the reasonableness of a gun. The Misfits were setting a fire that might burn away the last innocence in their damaged hearts. I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to be the one to send the pastor to Hell.
Driving the SUV onto the road to begin our journey, Styx threw me the envelope I had seen on the Church table. “Learn your traveling name in case we get pulled over. I’m now Tom Le Cruise.”
I lifted a brow.
He laughed. “You don’t think it has a nice ring to it?”
I didn’t open the envelope in my lap. I didn’t care who I was to pretend to be. Nothing was going to change who I was at that very moment. Maddox Gentry, a hybrid madly in love with the creature swimming along the shore. Couldn’t see her, but I felt her.
Pressing a palm to the passenger window, I growled, “Pull over.”
“And defy our queen? No can do.”
Our queen. My hand slid down the glass, really liking the sound of that.
This trip to California was so different than the first. I wasn’t hiding in the backseat, terrified of the future. Now, I was making sure others’ futures were safe. It was… liberating.
Plus, passing over Cali’s state line, I knew I was hours away from seeing two uncles whom I had believed had perished on my tenth Life Date.
Uncle Heron passed that day, and so did River Phlegethon—Uncle Pledge.
Uncle Letti and Uncle Cocky, also known as River Lethe and River Cocytus, survived.
They had been watching over the Misfits after learning of the blood oath, due to their oath.
Truly amazing. Full circle.
The closer we got to Noma’s little pink house, the more my throat choked me.
Pulling up the driveway, it was nighttime, but there were lights on inside. Outside were four men in black leather vests, all watching us park.
Suddenly, I was a kid again, opening the passenger door, walking to them with my head down. I was wrapped in big arms. His voice, instantly recognizable. “Don’t you make me cry, little fucker.”
I gripped the back of Uncle Letti’s vest and cried like a baby in his arms. So many lost feelings had resurfaced. Their deaths. Noma’s. Bullets ringing through the air. All the fear of not living another day.
A set of hands landed on my shoulders, so I let go of Letti and turned into Uncle Cocky, burying my wet face in his shoulder. He squeezed me and didn’t let go. “You’re so fucking big now!”
Finally, once I was able to collect myself, they pointed to the men waiting for me. I didn’t know them as well, but recognized their faces. One of them, Peacemaker, was who I woke up to while he did chest compressions on me. The other was Avenger. He had been there, too, that day.
I hugged them both, expressing all my gratitude for them helping save my life and for watching over my fellow fosters. “Forever in your debt. They mean the world to me.”
Avenger said, “We know. Did you think you were out here all those years, unprotected at the Weathers’?” He pointed to one of his cut’s patches. “That’s how we are now the Saltbone Sinners.”
My ears began to ring. Noma was always calling me a Sinner.
Then, Peacemaker chimed in to really blow my mind. He repeated past words spoken by me. “Those bones someone had told you are cursed, the bones in your body, were not only built—grown from food, but also resilience. Heart. Soul. Surroundings, good and bad, have made you who you are, Blue.”
My mouth hung open so I could breathe through more tender memories in this life I now see I was so lucky to have.
Peacemaker added, “How much I long for her. Like the saltwater she swims in is part of my bones.”
River-fucking-Styx, with so much damn love in his huge heart, told me, “After Lennox died, that club name… well, we all agreed it was to stay with its Prez. So—” He grinned at me, then pulled something out from behind his back.
Well, fuck me.
It was my very own cut. My rank patch read: Someday President
There were collective cheers as Styx put it on me.
It fit perfectly over my new holster. I nodded to them all, so grateful for another moment I’d never forget.
I wanted to hear all the stories, every detail, but we had pressing matters at hand.
So, we all loaded into the SUV and drove to the Weathers’.
It had been just over a month since I’d been there. However, after we parked down the street and jogged through some trees to spy, I stood there, hidden, feeling as though it had been decades since I lived here.
That didn’t stop me when, at around one AM, I took a step forward as my friends came sneaking around the side of the house in the dark.
Styx caught my elbow. “We made a deal. They’re not to know you’re here.”
In the black clothing I had bought them before Caleb passed, the Misfits were being stealthy, avoiding triggering any security lights. My spirit yearned to be near them. I love you, fuckers.
Styx told Avenger, “Damn, you called it. Tonight’s the night.”
It was so hard to hold still. If all I’d been told was correct, Finn had a gun and murder was happening today. I asked, “Interfere yet?”
“Nope. Need to know if Seb’s gonna spill the beans or get his friends killed.”
These mature Saltbone Sinners weren’t just protecting. They were testing future MC members.
I asked, “What did he do?”
Watching the Misfits, Peacemaker said, “A few things. He’s gone behind his brothers’ backs. And,” he grumbled in disappointment, “took Sarah with him. The two of them went to the pastor’s. I’ve never seen such irresponsible fuckery in my whole life.”
Knowing the man had seen his share of serious shit, I now understood why he was concerned about Seb “going off the rails.” My boy was making stupid decisions.
Come on, Sebastian! Show them your smarts. Do right.
With Seb carrying a black duffle bag, they made their way to a red Jeep I’d never seen before.
Observing the bag, Styx asked, “I think I know, but what’s in the bag?”