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“Why? She didn’t need me when she ran away from me. What’s changed?”
“It’s not for me to say.” He looks worried. “I’m only telling you this because that little lady is in deep trouble, and I’m hoping you can help.”
“Trouble.” I lean forward, my eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
“What, danger?”
“You didn’t hear this from me, ok?”
“I promise, and you have my word on that.”
He nods, a worried frown appearing on his usually agreeable face.
“She is to be married.”
His words plunge that rusty knife in deeper and I hiss.
“Then I have nothing left to stay for.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t understand. She has beentoldshe is getting married.”
“I suppose that’s how it works around here. Why should I care? She didn’t want me.”
My words are empty, but my heart is not. I am burning up inside, my emotions out of control because just the mention of her has the ability to bring me to my knees.
“Keep on telling yourself that and you will lose her.”
I’m shocked at the venom in Mr. Gaston’s words, and he says in an urgent whisper,
“Listen hard, Jonny. This is my gift to you. In ten days’ time, Faith will be married off to Reverend Peters and he has told his congregation he will banish the devil from inside her. She is a project, a statement, and her life is about to get a whole lot worse. That man has just buried wife number four and you need to start asking questions about that. He hides behind the bible and preaches what the rest of them want to hear. He is corrupt, sadistic and the least holy person I’ve ever met, and someone needs to stop him. YOU need to stop him, Jonny. I have every faith in you.”
Just the mention of his name causes my blood to boil because I know only too well what methods Reverend Peters uses on the wicked. My own parents sent me to him for salvation and I still bear the scars today of that sadistic freaking horror show. Just the idea of Faith anywhere near that bastard has my wolf howling and my claws sharpening.
Mr. Gaston says quickly, “I will help you, but it must not come at any cost to me.”
I stare at him with acceptance because we’re not talking money here. Mr. Gaston enjoys a relatively quiet existence in Heaven, and I must protect that at all costs.
He nods as he sees the determination in my eyes.
“There is a cabin in the woods, off the beaten trail. It’s yours for the duration of your visit here. I will bring supplies up later, but nobody must discover I helped you.”
“You can rely on me.” I nod because he is speaking my language. Covert operations are what I excel at and I’m not a fool. I know his life would be over in this town if word got out, which is why, for everyone’s sake, this mission must be a successful one.
CHAPTER7
FAITH
Iwant to run so badly, but it’s as if my feet are set in cement. We are standing in front of the house that may end my life. I’m not a fool. I know the shelf life of one of the reverend’s wives isn’t a long one, but I’ve been duped by the people who should have had my best interests at heart above their own.
Mom and dad stand close as if anticipating my escape and as the doorbell rings, I swallow hard.
Footsteps click on what must be a hard surface behind the heavy wooden door and I’m guessing there’s not a lot of comfort to be had inside these four walls.
The door opens and my father growls, “Stand up straight, Faith. Do not let us down.”
If I could kill anyone right now, it would be him because any love I ever had died the moment he sold me to a tyrant.
A patrician looking woman regards us through narrow slits and her pursed lips indicate her disapproval as she casts a malevolent gaze up and down my entire body.
