Page 55 of Candy & Her Saints

I have a feeling that Dad is going to regret that he made Lincoln his enemy and then sent him away to turn him into a weapon.

Dad held a gun to Lincoln’s head.

Lincoln is that gun now, however, and one day, I hope that he has the chance to take his revenge on the Snakes.

I don’t owe the Snakes my loyalty, not after what they did to Mom, Vito, and Lincoln.

Not after how they hurt Omegas and Betas within the pack and through their criminal and business dealings.

“Okay, okay.” Vito’s blue nailed fingers rap on his coffee mug. “You’re taller than me. You always were. Should we whip out our cocks and measure those too?”

Lincoln arches his brow. “If you insist…”

Hasn’t Vito learned that Lincoln is shameless by now?

I chuckle.

“Woah, joke.” Vito reddens, batting Lincoln’s hands away from the front of his pants. Then he glances down at the counter. “Is that an ass flour angel?”

I glance behind me with a sharp intake of breath.

Well, it is a great impression of my ass.

“That’s not sanitary.” Vito rubs at his head. “Let’s hope that we don’t have any health officials dropping by.”

Lincoln looks guilty. “Will it help if I personally eat those muffins?”

Vito’s expression softens. “Go for it. Oh, I can’t stay mad at you, man. I’m just so happy to see you. I missed you. I’ve been fucking worried.”

He grabs Lincoln in a manly side hug, before shoving a raspberry and blueberry muffin at him.

Lincoln looks more than happy to be holding a treat in each of his hands. He takes a savory bite and then a sweet one.

I’ve always loved watching Lincoln eat because he does it with such relish.

Vito picks up his coffee and takes a long drink like he needs it. “I found a buyer for my Harley, Grace.” Vito named his bike Grace after his favorite album by Jeff Buckley. I know how much both the music and the motorcycle mean to him. They’re an escape. “It’s going to kill me to give her up, but I’ve bargained a good price, considering how fast I need to sell her. The one good thing about growing up in the Snakes is that it taught me how to negotiate.”

“I’m sorry about Grace.” Lincoln’s face falls.

My chest is tight. “When are they coming to take her?”

Vito looks like he’s struggling to force out the words. “Tomorrow. But that’s good news. You’ll be able to buy in the supplies to keep us going for the rest of the month. I’ll redo the budget and adjust things. Then there’s the cake contest. There’s hope, right?”

I understand how big a sacrifice this is.

“We’re the Snake siblings,” I say, firmly. “We get knocked down but we always get up again.”

I hold up my hand, weaving it from side to side and hissing.

Vito holds his own hand out, snaking it over mine.

He smiles, and I smile back.

“We get back up and apparently risk our lives rescuing a male Omega. It’d be boring to only be under threat of having our throats torn out by our own family, I guess.” Vito bounces up and down, blowing on his coffee. “Normally, I’m merely passing on gossip overheard while selling cupcakes and croissants to customers. Now, we’re going to be planning a real resistance mission. Did you buy the two burner phones for me yesterday like I asked?”

Lincoln nods, patting his pocket. “I got three, one for each of us. I have mine on me. Yours are on each of your beds. The numbers are untraceable. So, we can be in contact, while I work for the Saints. I’ll pass on info but heavily coded.”

“Viper talk!” Vito looks far too enthusiastic.

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