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“Jacob...” Otto murmurs, but Jacob shakes his head.
“I have to give her something, she’s fucking terrified of me,” my brother insists.
“I already know a secret,” I murmur softly. “Is that the secret I’m reciprocating for?”
The tips of Jacob’s ears get red when he’s angry. I’m fascinated by it as I watch them change color.
“No, Chastity. You had no choice in finding that out. We were careless and thought you were asleep,” he explains slowly. I’m not an idiot, but I know he’s speaking like that so that he doesn’t begin yelling.
My brother has always been a hot head.
“Fine, what’s the secret?” I lash out impetuously. I’m tired, hungry, and every bruise on my body has decided I need to notice it right this second.
“I work with The Locked Souls Society, and I know you’re the chosen Eve,” Jacob intones. My eyes widen because I wasn’t expecting that. I can see, though, why he is keeping his sexuality, and partner, a secret.
They all seem a bit judgmental.
“Huh. This explains a lot,” I say, surprised as I cock my head to the side.
Jacob chuckles, a small bit of mirth bleeding into his eyes. “You have the oddest way of stating things.”
Otto sits on the ground, his legs getting tired of the crouched position. Crossing his legs underneath him, he watches me. “So, what’s your secret, Chastity?” he asks, his lips twitching.
All of my secrets are horrifying, and I sigh as I think about it. “I was raped on my seventeenth birthday by someone I trusted, and my family attempted to pin it on an innocent man,” I divulge. I wait for the accusations, for Jacob to tell me my demons led me to believe this. Or that I’m lying.
Jacob struggles to lock down his emotions, but there’s a vein under his eye that twitches angrily.
“What did Father and Isabella say when you told them?” he asks, his voice clearly giving off how he’s feeling.
My lips twist as I stare at him. “You’re asking the wrong question. They gave me to him. My virginity was sold to this man. It was just my bad luck for getting pregnant, according to them. But they’re wrong,” I whisper. “Angel is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And now she’s gone.Hehas her now, living as a family with his wife. I have… nothing. I’m an empty shell of a person.”
Jacob’s throat works as he stares at me. “You’re not empty because you still love her, and Angel knows that. I’ve never seen a little girl look at her mommy the way I saw her look at you. I swear, I’ll get her back for you. This person will pay for every tear you’ve ever shed. Levi was right when he said he’d burn the damned world down for you. I’ll be right there with the match, Little Sister. I’m so fucking sorry you’ve been hurt for so long. I need you to fight to stay here, in the land of the living, so you can be with her again, okay?”
Shuddering, I know this promise means something. I’ll have to fight, even when it’s hard, and push through the pain. My baby is worth it though.
“I promise,” I whisper.
Jacob opens his arms, and I scramble into them. I may not forgive him now, but I might be able to someday.
Chapter10
Iwoke up early this morning to Mother Cross ordering me to clean the Chapel.
“Cleanliness is close to godliness, Tempest, and you need all the prayers you can get,” she reminds me, as Sister Teresa hands me all the supplies I’ll need before they leave me.
I try not to roll my eyes, but it’s ridiculous. Cleaning a chapel from top to bottom isn’t going to help me with my current situation. I am far from going to Heaven at this point. But I do love Chastity, and I want her to have an amazing wedding, so I will suck it up and start scrubbing.
It looks like someone recently had this place professionally cleaned, so it really shouldn’t take me long. I guess it makes sense since this was where Chas tried to end her life. I think it’s fucking morbid to have her return here.
She should have her wedding outside in the courtyard. I think that would be really pretty. But Levi said that her grandmother wouldn’t allow it. Every Cross woman has been married in this Chapel, and tradition will not change for her wayward granddaughter.
I don’t know if it’s my hormones or what, but I really want to shank the bitch. Even after seeing the proof of what Chastity has been through, she still thinks she needs to save her soul.
I’m spending some time with Chas tomorrow, and that is carrying me through this. I know the last few weeks have been crazy. She needs a break, and while I need to tell her soon about my secrets, I don’t want to do it so close to her wedding day. My drama can wait, for now.
I’m all in my head as I scrub the floors, my eyes studiously ignoring the pulpit. Roman and I had such an intense moment the last time I was in a church with him. He’s always so dominant, and I swear I saw stars when he fucked my mouth under the pulpit. I swallow thickly as my hand rubs my stomach. Thankfully, I haven’t had any morning sickness, but it makes me wonder who this baby will look like.
I’ll only be able to hide this for a short while longer, even in my loose clothing. I haven’t been to see a doctor yet, but I’m at least a few months along. Leaning forward, I feel a flutter under my ribs and freeze.
