AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As I write this, my final entry, I know tonight I will have release. I will see my Solange again. I won’t blame her if she refuses me in the next life. But it is the one thing that I live for. A strange thing to live for, death.
I close the book and take a deep breath in. I’ve read this passage multiple times. Louis is the only Penitent before me who has fallen in love with the Sacrifice, who has struggled with what he is required to do. Although if I think about it, there must have been others. Others too afraid to write the truth on these pages.
Abacus killed himself rather than do what is required of the Penitent. I couldn’t bring myself to even take a lock of hair from Willow. There had to have been others who struggled. Not Isaiah, certainly, not most of the Penitents who wrote with zeal about the punishments the Sacrifice endured at their hands.
My phone buzzes with a text, distracting me. I check the time. It’s eight o’clock. The text is Ezra responding to my message from last night with an address and a name. The lab is about an hour’s ride from here, and while I’m sure the local hospital could test it, I want discretion.
I unlock my desk drawer, take out Bec’s shake, and put the book inside. Salomé may have a key, but I’m not going to put this book of murders in a place of reverence among the other antiquities of the Delacroix family.
Locking the drawer, I take my keys and that drink and slip out of the house. I make a few calls as I head toward the lab, arranging more security for Amos, more guards to be stationed at our gates and on our grounds, and, finally, guards at the Wildblood house.
My visit to the lab is a quick one. A technician greets me at the door, mentioning Ezra had already reached out to him. There’s a part of me that, as I hand the shake over, wonders what the hell I’m doing, but I do it anyway. He tells me he’ll have results for me within a week.
On my way out of the lot, my phone rings and I see it’s Willow’s father, Barrett. I answer.
“I told you I will hire my own guards to keep my family safe.” He still doesn’t want to accept my help.
“There’s a development. I’m on my way to your house. I’ll see you then.”
I disconnect the call, not waiting on him to tell me not to come, and drive on. Half an hour later, I pull up to the Wildblood house and find Barrett talking to two men on the porch. I also see two others are at the far end of the garden and another two in a car parked down the street.
“There you are,” Barrett says as I climb the stairs.
“Mr. Delacroix,” Jordan, the head of the security team says. “Good to see you, sir.” He then continues to tell me where they’ve stationed the men.
“Thank you, Jordan. Under no circumstances are they to leave unless I give the order. Only me. Understood?”
“This is not your house,” Barrett reminds me.
I see the heads of the sisters peering down from the top of the stairs. “Can we talk privately?” I don’t want to scare the girls, and I don’t want this getting back to Willow just yet.
His expression goes from annoyed to worried. “Is Willow all right?”
“She is. Perhaps Celeste can join us,” I say.
“Fine. This way,” Barrett says, gesturing for me to enter and leading the way to his office. He calls for Celeste, who appears in a few minutes. She doesn’t seem surprised to see me.
The sisters don’t pretend to hide, and I’m sure at least one of them is on the phone to Willow before that door is even closed. I can bring Willow by later if she wants. I didn’t want her to see that I’d taken the shake from Bec. I don’t know why.
No, I do. I want her to be wrong, but if she’s right—
“How is my granddaughter, Azrael?” Celeste asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I clear my throat, grateful. “She slept soundly last night for the first time since she’s been home.”
She considers me, smiles and nods. “I’m glad to hear that. Tell her Solana has been asking for more stock, will you?”
“Solana?”
“She makes some products for a shop in town. She’ll know.”
“Can we talk about the additional security? What’s going on?” Barrett asks.
“I met with a private investigator last night—”
“I told you we have our own.”
“Caleb Church has somehow convinced Alfred Noyes that I murdered his grandson.”
“Well, maybe you did,” Barrett says.
“Hush, Barrett,” Celeste tells him.
“Oh, no doubt I would have, but unfortunately, he was already dead when I got to the compound. The reason I’m here, though, is Caleb has somehow convinced Noyes that he is his loyal Disciple, and he’s got the old man’s backing. Which means more Disciples are on their way here if they’re not here already. The security is to keep your family safe. They should stay on the property until Caleb Church is no longer a threat. Do you understand?”
