if you had issued the punishment, it would not have been of that nature.” She sucked in a breath and boldly asked, “Am I correct?”
I fought to breathe at the thought of what Phebe had so graphically described. But she was wrong. Surely she had to be wrong?
I rallied, then asked, “You were tied up to a tree, were you not? Judah reported that his consort was found tied to a tree, dehydrated and distressed.”
What looked like hope quickly disappeared from Phebe’s eyes. “Yes, my Lord.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I probed, “So you may not have seen what you think you did?”
“I—” Her mouth opened then quickly closed.
“The devil’s men tied you up, Sister. Your body was injured when you were found, was it not?”
She nodded. “Because of the many hours I was there, not because those men hurt me.” She blinked. Then blinked again. “In fact, the man with the long brown hair who tied me up was gentle. And he… and he stared at me the entire time. There was something in his eyes. He—” she stopped speaking when her cheeks filled with redness.
My jaw ached with how hard I was gritting my teeth. I believed in Judah. I believed my brother would not have sanctioned such acts against the Cursed Delilah. I looked to Phebe again. Her big eyes were staring up at me, rather too intently.
My stomach rolled when I realized this could be a ruse. Containing my anger, I asked, “Are you sure you are not simply bitter over Judah taking a second? One, by his own confession, who is a perfect consort? And all of this, this imagining, is merely to regain his attention?”
Phebe’s face paled to a deathly white. “No, my Lord.”
“But can you see how you could have imagined it all due to your dehydration and many hours tied up, unable to move?”
Phebe paused then, eventually, her shoulders sagged. “Yes, my Lord.”
Relief filled my veins and I stepped back. “Do you have duties to perform tonight, Sister?”
“Yes,” she replied, “I am the head Sacred Sister. We are to leave the commune tonight to spread the Lord’s love.”
“No,” I snapped. Phebe flinched. “You are to go into seclusion until you rid yourself of your sinful thoughts. I will inform Judah.”
Phebe’s eyes became eerily wide. “But, my Lord. Judah, he will—”
“Do not question me, Sister,” I bellowed coldly. Phebe immediately dropped to the ground, prostrating herself at my feet.
“I am sorry, my Lord.”
Turning, I left Phebe on the ground. I swiftly climbed the steps, rushing toward the solitude of my mansion. With every step I thought of what Phebe had said about Judah, Delilah, the fallen brothers.
And with every step, I told myself that what she had just divulged could, in no way, be true. That Judah was simply not capable of such cruelty, of such depravity. And he would never ever break the edicts of scripture, to defy what we held to be true.
He was my brother.
He would never betray me in such a way.
Chapter Six
Flame
I followed behind AK, Vike to my right, Hush and Cowboy bringing up the rear in the truck. It was a real quick drop off, Georgetown, which I was fucking good with. My skin was jumping so damn much I could barely fucking ride.
We pulled into the busy main street. People were all around, but I kept my head forward, tightening my jaw, trying to keep my shit together. Styx hadn’t wanted me on this run today. In fact, he fucking banned it. Said I hadn’t been right since I came back from hospital. Said he thought I was a fucking curse on this cash drop.
I’d almost fucking snapped. I went everywhere with AK and Vike. I was with them on every drop. This was AK’s deal, and that meant I was fucking going.
AK had told Styx he’d needed me, that he’d watch me. I’d had to bite my fucking tongue at that, but Vike had whispered to me to keep my mouth shut. Styx allowed it, but warned me to calm the fuck down.
Shaking my head to focus, I saw AK hold up his hand and signal to the left. It led us to a side street. A street much quieter than the main road. Less witnesses.
Seeing the Chechen town car up ahead, we came to a stop. AK got off his bike. Vike and I pulled to a stop a few yards back. Hush and Cowboy pulled to a stop right behind. I heard