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“Both,” he replied. “There were men who tried to defend their daughters from being…taken. They paid the price with their lives.”
“You’re fucking kidding, right?” I said in disbelief. How could this have been happening in this day and age?
Shaun raised his hand, telling me to keep my voice down. I hadn’t meant to be so loud, but what he was telling me, blew my mind. Holding my temper wasn’t easy.
“I wish I was joking.”
My gut told me that even though this was horrendous, it wasn’t the end. What he had to say was about to get worse. But I need to know. “Why were the women taken?”
“Tabiq prided itself on family and purity. The women were encouraged to keep their…innocence until they were wed. There are people who had no issue paying for…such innocence.”
“Are you telling me that they sold women for money? Their own people?” I asked.
“Yes. It took a revolution, so to speak, to overthrow the criminals in charge. And it has taken the good people years of effort trying to rebuild the glorious ways. They have come a long way, but the healing, that continues. I’ve told you more than I probably should’ve. And I hope you don’t ask Kyleigh about it. The wounds are still raw, and she needs to be able to move forward, not live in the past. Do you understand what I’m saying?” he asked.
Yeah. That I fucking took her virginity. Her innocence.
“I won’t say a word. Thanks for telling me, but fuck, this is not what I expected to hear. I can’t believe the world hasn’t found out.”
“My family has worked very hard to keep that quiet,” Shaun stated.
“Your family is the reason the world doesn’t know any of this?”
“We have assisted them in ensuring they didn’t become victims once again. Part of that is by not publicizing what has happened to them. It would show a weakness, and others might try to step in without the best of intentions.”
“That makes sense. But that isn’t easy to pull off,” I said. I knew the Hendersons’ reputation. They were a powerful family that few people wanted to cross. Even though I wasn’t intimidated by them, I also wouldn’t want them as enemies either.
“If you’re asking exactly how that is done, it is not something I’m willing to discuss. Just know that anything we have done is to protect the people. And we’d appreciate it if you did the same,” he warned.
I nodded. “I’d never do anything to hurt Kyleigh, or anyone else in Tabiq.”
“That’s good to know,” he replied.
“What are you guys talking about? You both look so serious,” Kyleigh said as she and Morgan entered the room.
Damn it. That was close.
“Business,” Shaun said.
I knew neither Shaun or me wanted them to know what was really being discussed but his response seemed to have worked.
Morgan shook her head. “I thought I said no business talk after dinner.”
“You ladies were busy getting ready, so I figured we might as well sneak in a quick meeting,” Shaun replied.
“Well, that’s going to cost you,” Morgan said.
Shaun asked, “And what’s the price?”
“A trip out for ice cream,” she smiled.
I chuckled. “Oh, we’d better get going before things get ugly over here.”
“True. If I don’t take her soon, she’ll make it an entire sundae,” Shaun laughed.
I got up and looked at Kyleigh and asked, “Are you ready to go?”
“You guys could always join us for ice cream,” Morgan offered.
