Page 73 of No Saint

“Lincoln go off okay?” I ask.

“Your mother is good with him,” is all she says in return.

The barriers were up in full force.

The gravel of the drive crunches under tires and the smooth drive into the shopping district is uneventful. It’s a busy weekday, tourists and citizens alike crowding the popular streets. Vendors line the sidewalk, selling street food and coffee while boutiques and designer outlets herd traffic through the door. It was a busy place in the city that made me question my decision to leave us both unguarded.

I was armed, of course, but I was one man and if we were attacked, I’d stand little chance at protecting her.

I park beneath the mall, heading round to Amelia’s side. She was out of the car before I could do anything.

“Stay close to me,” I order softly, “That’s not a request.”

“Okay.”

She lets me link her arm with mine and we walk to street level, joining the buzzing crowd above ground. The smells of the vendors and coffee assault my senses immediately and I watch as Amelia softens a touch at the familiarity. I knew the place she worked at before was in the district over, so I had no doubt she visited here often enough to know these streets.

“Amelia!” Someone shouts the moment we start passing the vendors set up like market stalls, “Amelia!”

She turns her head towards the feminine voice, “Julia.”

“Where have you been!?” The young girl stops breathlessly ahead of us, “They said you quit!”

She glances towards me and narrows her eyes, “That’s right.”

“Without a goodbye?” Julia frowns.

She shrugs, feigning that nonchalant mask, “It happened quickly, Julia.”

“Yeah,” she agrees, “Yeah.” And then her eyes slide to me as if only just noticing me on her arm, “Hey, you’re Gabriel Saint.”

I nod.

“His reputation precedes him,” Amelia says this with a smile that does not reach her eyes,

“Are you…?” She trails off, not voicing the last part of her question.

“N–” Amelia starts before I cut in.

“She is my wife.”

Julia’s eyes go saucer wide, “You got married!? Tohim!?”

“It’s a long story.” Amelia defends.

“It’s not really,” I smile at the girl, “I swept her off her feet, we fell in love, we got married.”

“I didn’t even know you were seeing someone.” Julia glances to me, that healthy dose of fear and curiosity mixing together. The infamous youngest Saint.

“It was nice seeing you,” Amelia dismisses the girl, “maybe we can catch up later.”

“Actually yeah, I’d like that. You have my number.”

“I do.”

“Was nice meeting you, Julia,” I smile at the girl who blushes and scurries off.

“Unbelievable.”

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