3. Faith
three
Faith
Four Weeks Later
I ’m on the edge of my seat, listening to every word my coworker Prue says about her boyfriend and his MC club as we roll out the dough for the morning scones we make daily for the bakery where we work.
The night I ran away from home and Sin, I met a kind older lady in the gas station restroom. She noticed my distress and offered to help. She had me hide in a bathroom stall with my feet on the toilet seat so they wouldn’t be visible if someone looked into the restroom.
Mrs. Carlson distracted Sin and led him away from the bathroom by telling him I’d escaped through the bathroom window.
She then took me home, fed me, let me shower, and gave me a place to sleep for the night.
She was also kind enough to loan me some of her daughter’s clothes and to find a job the next day, with the added benefit of living rent-free above the bakery where I now work.
I never expected to learn on my first day of work that my new coworker, Prue, who had been hired the same day I was, was in love with Ghost, one of the Steel Souls.
At the time, she didn’t think he felt the same way.
It only took them two weeks to realize they both had feelings for each other.
Now she’s living with him in the Steel Souls compound, in a beautiful two-story house, living a life I can only dream of.
Every night, I have the same dream—I’m living in a beautiful white, two-story house with Sin and our four children. In my dreams, Sin tells me how much he loves and needs me. Then each morning, I wake up to find it was all in my imagination.
“Then Diesel’s grandmother created an online profile on one of those dating apps for Diesel and Viper.
” I laugh at her story, feeling like I’m part of that world, given how much she talks about Ghost and the rest of the Steel Souls.
She never mentions Sin, though, and I find myself saddened by the thought that he’s found someone else, since Mrs. Holt didn’t create an online dating profile for him.
“She even threatened to create a dating profile for Sin when he finally returns from his road trip.”
“Road trip?” I hate myself for asking, but I have to know even the smallest piece of information about Sin.
“It’s actually kind of romantic. I can’t believe I haven’t told you the story of Sin’s mystery woman.
I told you how Ghost and the guys saved my siblings and me that night at the trailer park.
What I didn’t tell you was that Sin was supposed to grab my sister Phoebe and bring her back to the clubhouse.
But the young woman who ended up on the back of Sin’s bike wasn’t my sister—no one knows who she is or where she came from.
I don’t remember seeing anyone who fit her description around the trailer park before.
” Of course, she hadn’t. I was never allowed outside.
“Anyway, Sin has been searching for her ever since. He even went back to the trailer park and banged on every door, asking if anyone knew her. Isn’t that romantic?
” Prue’s face takes on that glow of a woman in love.
“Yeah, romantic.” I almost choke on the words.
Sin will never forgive me if he finds out I’ve been under his nose this whole time while he’s been riding all over looking for his mystery woman.
That’s why I need to stay in the bakery kitchen and in my small apartment—I can’t let him find me.
Besides, I can’t let my father find me, either.
There’s no telling what he’ll do if he does.
I don’t need to drag Sin into my screwed-up family drama.
“Did he find out if anyone knew her at the trailer park?” I hold my breath, needing to know if my father said anything about me.
“That’s the really strange part of the story. One crazy old man kept preaching to Sin about women’s evil sins and how they would be the downfall of all mankind.” Prue shudders involuntarily. “Sounds like a real lunatic.” She has no idea how right she is about my father.
“That’s awful.” I refocus on cutting out the scones.
“I hope Sin finds the woman he’s looking for.
” I cross my fingers behind my back, praying he never finds me.
It’s better that he remembers me as his mystery woman than as the broken young woman with the crazy father.
“Do you think Sin will ever stop looking for her?” Part of me hopes she says yes, but the part that wants him to find me hopes she says no.
“I don’t know. I’ve only seen him a few times, once at the clubhouse and once at Piper and Phantom’s wedding.
I wish you had been at their wedding last weekend.
It was beautiful. You could have met my other sister, Phoebe.
” Phoebe, the woman Sin thought was on the back of his bike that night.
“She’s been so sad ever since Lord basically abandoned her—she needs a friend who isn’t related to her, especially since Piper and I found our soulmates.
All Phoebe does is stare out the window of the house Savage gave her, her eyes so sad. She actually reminds me of you.”
“Me?” I squeak. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s okay, Faith. Your eyes give you away. They always look like they’re about to fill with tears.” Prue pats my shoulder. “I’m always here if you need to talk.”
I’m on Team Phoebe for this one. How can I share my sadness with someone who is glowing with love? “Thanks, Prue. I appreciate the offer.”
“Hey, I’m so glad you’re both here.” Lila, our boss, walks into the kitchen. “The two teenage girls I hired to work the food truck tonight were at the pool all day yesterday and are too sunburned to work tonight. So I need both of you to cover for them instead.”
Tonight kicks off the weekend-long town carnival to raise money for the local children’s hospital. I’d sound like a jerk if I told Lila I couldn’t work. Maybe I can convince her to let me stay in the kitchen.
My heart races, and a slight ringing in my ears starts at the thought of being away from my safe space. “Don’t you think I should stay here and keep baking?”
“Actually, Mrs. Holt and a couple of her friends offered to bake. I’ll run whatever supplies we need to the dessert truck.”
“Oh, that will be so much fun.” Prue claps her hands. “Ghost and all the guys will be there to support the fundraiser. I’m sure they’ll stop by and say hi. I could even set you up with either Viper or Diesel if you want.”
My mouth goes dry just thinking about running into Sin. “All of them?”
“Well, not Sin. He’s still on his road trip. It sounds like he’ll be gone for a while.” Prue shrugs, oblivious to my dilemma.
“O-okay,” I stammer. “I’ll do it.”
All I can do is pray that Sin and my father stay away from the carnival.