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“But he asked for Bexley’s hand in marriage, and it was granted.”
Ty’s eyes were still closed and he nodded. “Yeah. Felt out of the blue at first, but later I suspected it was retaliation. I went to Rand about his behavior specifically toward Ahnah, and just the accusation could have gotten me disfellowshipped. No one, including siblings, were to report negative behavior. It was considered verbal abuse against a man of God, and in our Family, the men of God were never wrong and were above reproach. Complaining against them—even if warranted—could cost a member everything. Rand talked with him, though. Garrick denied any wrongdoing. I was severely reprimanded instead of kicked out, and I think the proposal was Garrick’s retaliation.”
“So for some reason—that you don’t know—your father granted him permission.”
“Yes. By the time I heard, it was a done deal. Signed in a contract with her family. Arranged marriages are standard.”
“Women—girls—had to marry any old man?”
He opened his eyes and looked at Owen. “Young. Old. If the Prophet said it was ordained by God then it was.”
Owen shook his head, his jaw tight. “You set the plan to run in motion. But while you were gone, something happened. Somehow Garrick caught wind that Bexley and you had been intimate.”
“Yeah. The elder wives would examine her to see if she’d, and I quote, been ‘deflowered.’ Obviously, she had been.”
Owen winced. “What, is this biblical times? It’s archaic.”
“Yeah,” he said through a huff. “Upon my arrival, I was brought before my father and the elders to be questioned. I couldn’t deny it. And after feeling the wrath of my father’s words, I was escorted out of the community and disfellowshipped. Bex was taken into the wives’ circle—aka a harem—to await the wedding ceremony. Usually within two to three days. But Bexley said it happened that night.” It had been storming that night. Dark. Cold.
“Dude, I don’t even know what to say.”
What could anyone say? Depravity and hypocrisy abounded in that place. He pinched the bridge of his nose, working to stave off a headache, but it was no use.
Owen reached over and gripped his shoulder. “I can’t imagine, but I’m seeing red flags, Ty. Flags you should be seeing, but it’s personal to you. Your mind is fuzzy. The note implies that it’s the Fire & Ice Killer, but it’s public knowledge what he did to those women with the polish and lipstick. So while we assume it’s Fire & Ice, it could be a copycat who has a vendetta against you. Someone who knows the past. Next, did you hear the words you used about your sick cult?”
Ty shook his head. Owen was right, he was fuzzy, completely unfocused. His arrows weren’t shooting straight, but he couldn’t let Asa know. He had to stay and stick this out.
As long as they had to stick it out. Hurricane Jodie was picking up velocity as it barreled toward Elbow Cay, Bahamas. If she didn’t slow, she could head straight for them.
“Deflowered—we gonna come back to that nasty term later—but our guy is tattooing flowers on his victims. One possible victim is Ahnah, who was in the cult with you and who also has a flower for a middle name.”
The deck slanted and his blood froze. How had he not already connected the dots? “We had a signature logo of pretty flowering dogwood blooms on a cross...”
“You have any enemies that were in the Family of Glory with you or who left?” Owen asked, leaning his forearms on his knees.
“I was eighteen. I mean, I never got along with my oldest half-brother, Dalen, but I never did anything deserving of this, and he wasn’t cruel like Garrick. Just a jerk.”
“Was he already married?”
“No, but in our home it was the eldest son based on the wives. Garrick was firstborn of my mother. Dalen was firstborn of Mother Anne.”
“That is so messed up. How many half-siblings do you have?”
“I have no idea. Hundreds maybe by now.”
“Could it be him? He didn’t like you. He was jealous.”
Dalen? His jealousy was no secret, but once Ty was disfellowshipped and lost his favorite son status, Dalen would have no reason to give him another thought. “No.”
“What about Garrick?”
Ty shook his head and batted a mosquito away. “What would be the point? His motive? Once my dad dies, Garrick will be the new Prophet. He was vile, but he never hated me.” Or had he?
Owen gave him the get-real look. “He asked for your woman’s hand in marriage. Sounds like hatred.”
“He thinks Ahnah and Bex are dead.”
“If Bexley helps cult girls escape, what’s to say he doesn’t know she’s alive? What if this is still about you and Bexley and Ahnah?”
