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He chuckled. “I’ll expect your smiles to appear genuine tonight, and the reports I get from your husband had better be stellar. Don’t think for a second that once you’ve wed, I’ll forget about you. You’ll remain under my control for the rest of your days. You’d do well to remember that.”
“Just leave Victoria Mae alone.”
“She’ll be safe for now, as long you continue to do your part.” He handed her the marriage contract, and she signed with a shaky hand. “Sign on the dotted line, my dear.”
Samanthasatcross-leggedinthe closet and stared into the open gun safe. In addition to the expected rifles, the safe was filled with journals. More than twenty of them. Names, dates, and locations. The names in the most recent one, matched up with the intials she’d found in little black notebook. He must’ve written the initials when he was out and filled in the rest when he returned home. But what could they mean?
She rose to her feet. Maybe googling the names would give her a clue as to what she was looking at. As she passed the mountain of clothing on her uncle’s bed, her stomach clenched. Getting sidetracked with this rabbit trail was not going to do any good. It could wait until she completed what she’d set out to do. An hour later, she hauled bags and boxes out to her car. The thrift store in town had a sign outside saying they were in need of donations, and they were about to hit the jackpot. A multi-millionaire’s wardrobe.
If her parents hadn’t died, Uncle Richard would’ve remained at his fancy home in Corpus Christi, but he’d chosen to give up his own life in Texas to raise his niece in her own home, a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse, rather than disrupt her whole life by uprooting her. For that, she hadn’t shown enough gratitude, but now that she was grown, she understood the enormity of the sacrifice he’d made.
With a click of finality, she closed the back of her Subaru. Before she could head back inside to grab her purse, a Jaguar made the turn into her drive. Not a common sight in Benton. Her stomach lurched as realization dawned on her. Mason had come for his answer.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Masonblockedthedriveto keep Samantha from leaving. He nodded to Warden, who stepped from the vehicle and stood nearby with his arms crossed.
The dark-haired beauty raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason you’re blocking me in?”
He grinned at her through the car window. “Have you thought about my offer?”
“I have, and I decline.”
“That’s too bad. I thought you were smarter than that.”
“Well, I guess I’m not. You can go now.”
He shook his head. “It’s cute how you actually thought I was leaving you a choice in the matter. You are our newest legacy. Turning us down isn’t an option.”
“I just did.”
Mason gave Warden a tiny nod, and the big man grabbed Samantha and secured her wrists behind her back. She kicked and fussed, but in the end, she was trundled up in the car like all the rest had been. He grinned at her in the rearview mirror. “Glad to have you on board, Ms. Rollins. We hope you’ll enjoy the benefits of membership in our exclusive society.”
When they arrived at the estate house, he followed Warden as he carried the squirming bundle down to the bunker. It was safer than having her in the main house. He’d leave her locked up with Vanessa for a few days before integrating her into the dormitory with the rest of the women. She needed to have her spirit broken before she would be compliant enough for the next steps of her integration into society. According to his father, her mother had been compliant. Took no time at all to prepare her for a new life. But this one had fire in her veins. It might take weeks or even months to get her into a good, godly, obedient state of mind, but he was up for the challenge.
He opened the heavy steel door allowing them entry. “You see, Ms. Rollins, this used to be a bomb shelter, but we converted it to a real bunker. It’s got protective layers to prevent anyone from detecting the heat signatures down here, so your buddy’s friends with the helicopters won’t find you. Warden here will get you changed into proper attire. When you’re ready, I’ll return, and we’ll begin your training.” He looked her up in down. “You’re far older than our usual brides, but you’ll have to do. You were far too curious for your own good, and I’m sure one of our members will willingly marry you to take you off our hands. Why on earth are you still single? Such a shame.” He pushed the hair out of her face, and she tried to spit in his face, but he took a step back avoiding her spittle. He shook his head. “Uh, uh, uh. You don’t want to anger me, my dear. I can make your life a living nightmare.” He grabbed her by her ponytail and pushed her onto the cot in the small cell like room. “You should’ve been popping out babies years ago. Now your child bearing years are severely dwindling, but have no fear, there is time for a few children at least. You’ll need to get started right away, of course, but you’ll make someone a fine wife once we smooth out those rough edges of yours.”
Gavinsatbesidehisbrother at the long conference table.
Once everyone was seated, Mason took his seat at the head of the table. A hush fell over the room as he scanned the faces present. “Where is Wilhelm Adams?”
Someone Gavin didn’t recognize cleared his throat. “I’m afraid he is no longer with us. The Lord called him home.”
“Is that so?” Mason cocked his head to the side. “Was he ill?”
“He had that triple bypass a few years ago, but he’s seemed fine since. After our last meeting, he returned home, but didn’t make it as far as his sofa. They think it was a massive heart attack. Maybe he got too worked up at the meeting banging his cane like he was.”
“They think it was a heart attack? Didn’t they perform an autopsy?”
“With his advanced age and his history of heart trouble, I doubt they would do one.”
“Why wasn’t I informed of his death?”
“Thought you knew.”
“All right then. Let’s get down to business. We have two new members to induct and a legacy to vote on. Any discussion before we continue?”
When Mason announced Samantha’s name as the newest board member, Gavin’s gut clenched. He’d been afraid that she would defy his request, but he’d hoped that she would do what was best for her. What was safest for her. Yet, he wondered where she was. Why was she being voted in in absentia?
