have easily asked someone else to handle this, but she was my wife and my responsibility. Which meant getting vengeance for all she’d suffered was also mine.
“You ready?” I asked the men standing with me.
They all nodded and we fanned out. Grizzly went with me through the front while Dragon and Iron took the back. It was early morning but not quite light outside. Getting through the front door was almost too easy, and it didn’t make a sound as it swung open. With my gun in one hand and my knife in the other, I entered the house and scanned each room. Silence. Utter and complete silence.
Grizzly jerked his head toward the stairs, then motioned something to Dragon. I went up to the second floor and nudged open the first door. The room was empty, but I could tell immediately it had been Phoebe’s. Even after all this time, her scent still faintly lingered in the air. A picture set on the dresser of her and what I assumed to be her family.
The second room belonged to the sister. Wizard hadn’t said much about her. Grizzly entered the room and I stood guard, waiting to see if the parents made an appearance. He covered the girl’s mouth to stifle any screams as he woke her. Poor kid. Her eyes were wide, and I could practically hear her heart racing she was so damn scared.
“I’m married to your sister,” I whispered. “We’re going to take you somewhere safe.”
She seemed to calm a little and tugged at Grizzly’s hand. He released her, but I could tell he was braced to grab her and run if she screamed.
“Phoebe’s okay?” she asked.
“She’s fine. We have a daughter and another baby on the way.” I smiled. “Go with Grizzly. I’ll make sure you see your sister soon.”
The girl got out of bed. “I’m Meredith. Are you really married to Phoebe?”
I nodded. I’d show her the pictures on my phone, but I wasn’t about to relinquish my weapons. Not until her parents were at least restrained.
Her lip quivered. “They did something bad, didn’t they? I knew she’d never leave like that. She told me she was sneaking out for a party, but she never came back.”
“Your family isn’t all that nice,” I said. “We’ll talk later. Right now, you need to go.”
“Pack a few things,” Grizzly told her, “but be quick about it.”
She hurried to her closet, opened the door, and took out a small suitcase. While she threw things inside, I listened intently for any sounds in the house. I heard the soft tread of steps coming from behind and clocked Dragon coming up the stairs. He must have left Iron downstairs as a lookout. When Meredith finished packing, Grizzly took her suitcase and he ushered her downstairs.
“I’m with you until you say otherwise,” Dragon said. “Brought my bike so I have my own way home. Griz will take the girl in the club truck.”
We checked the next room, finding an office, then the jackpot with the fourth door. The preacher and his wife lay sleeping, each in their own twin-size bed. Made me wonder how they’d managed to have two daughters if they didn’t even sleep together. I jerked my chin toward the wife and Dragon crept to her side. I tossed him a length of rope and while he secured her, I pressed my gun to the preacher’s head. His eyes snapped open.
“We need to have a talk,” I said. “About Phoebe.”
He audibly swallowed but didn’t so much as blink. I yanked the covers to the foot of the bed and made him stand, then forced him to his knees.
“Whatever she’s done --” Before he could finish the sentence, I slammed my fist into his jaw.
“What she’s done? That girl is an angel, and you threw her away. Sold her to the Sadistic Saints. They raped her. Repeatedly. Made her their little whore. Was the money worth it?” I asked.
“You don’t understand,” the preacher said. “She was a willful child. The blood of monsters ran through her veins.”
“Well, at least you admit what you are,” I said.
He shook his head. “She wasn’t ours. Not really. Her daddy was some biker filth who blew through town, got a local girl pregnant. We took her in, decided to raise her as our own. But I could see the evil in her.”
“Evil? Evil!” I rammed my fist into his face twice. “My wife is not fucking evil. You are! Do you honestly think a seventeen-year-old