was as grungy as ever.
She had never thought about exposing the group, because it was her word against theirs and he was so adept at gaslighting, projecting, and denial, she would come off looking like the crazy one. Plus, he knew all her dirty secrets from the confession sessions he imposed on acolytes. He could expose her just as much as she could expose him.
Fear kept her quiet.
Plus, this was all new to her. The notion that Cobalt Soul was rotten underneath the surface talk of peace, love, and acceptance. She’d only started to realize how much he controlled the group once she was out of it. He had a way of making you think that his ideas came from your own mind. He was a true puppet master. People who had never been in a cult didn’t understand the psychological power such manipulators wielded.
And how sticky were the emotional webs they wove.
Shelley shivered, realizing just how much of her life she’d given away to this man.
“We have a van waiting,” Guru Meyer said, keeping his tone even, his face smiling. His piercing, uncanny ice-blue eyes could stare straight through her as if he could see through all the muck and masks straight clean to the center of her soul.
At one time, his ability to truly “see” her intoxicated Shelley. In this moment, it was downright creepy.
“I can’t go with you,” she said.
“Why not?” he asked in that lullaby voice that had once lured her to sleep, but now rubbed every nerve ending raw.
His hug was tender and nonsexual. The loving way a father hugged a daughter. Not once had she ever gotten any sinister sexual vibes from him.
Guru Meyer wasn’t a pervert taking advantage of the women in his group, at least as far as she knew. She hesitated. Maybe she was wrong after all. Maybe she’d just gotten confused. It had been so easy at Cobalt Soul. Nothing to think about. No angry sisters challenging her.
When he wrapped his arm around her waist again, she buried her face against Guru Meyer’s shoulder and, to her horrified surprise, started to sob.
“Yes, yes, my beloved,” he murmured. “You’ve had your little adventure, but now it is time to come home.”
Where was Maddie? What was taking her so long with that broom? Her big sister would chase him off.
The others bowed and bobbed their heads, pressing their palms together in prayer pose. Sumran fingered her mala, twisting the beads. Japji smiled a moony smile of ecstasy and whispered, “Our sister is coming home.”
Shelley suddenly shook her head, stepping back from the guru and wiping her eyes. She would stand her ground. She didn’t need Maddie. She could save herself. “I can’t go with you. My family needs me. My grandmother—”
“We’re your family,” Guru Meyer said, his voice changing, growing firmer. The way a loving father might guide his daughter.
“I’m talking about my blood family.”
“How has it been for you since coming home?” He’d always had the power to see through her and get right to the heart of what was bothering her. He had amazing instincts.
She’d watched him use those same skills on other group members. Assuring them they were loved, convincing them he cared about them in a way no one else did.
“I—”
“Please.” His hand was at her shoulders and his eyes, those piercing blue eyes, drilled into her as if he were trying to hypnotize her. “Come with us.”
Go with him, whispered the part of her that had found salvation in Costa Rica. Surrender. Give in. Let go. Go back to sleep.
The thought was so appealing. Despite the rules and regulations, Cobalt Soul had been such a serene place. Yes, she’d surrendered her power. Yes, it had been rather surreal, but wasn’t that part of the appeal?
“I—”
“Beat it, buster. Leave Shelley alone.” Madison’s voice from behind her was strong and commanding.
“There’s no Shelley here,” Guru Meyer murmured, never taking his gaze off Shelley’s face. “Only our beloved Sanpreet.”
Madison, bless her assertive heart, dropped the broom and dustpan she carried and got between Shelley and Guru Meyer, breaking his grip on her elbow.
Fists drawn, body cocked and ready for a fight, Maddie said, “She’s my sister and I say step off, big guy, if you don’t want me to call law enforcement and have you arrested for attempted kidnapping.”
The acolyte bodyguards surged forward, linking arms around Guru Meyer.
“I’ve already called the cops, Madison,” the checkout clerk hollered.
Guru Meyer’s mask slipped then and for a split second Shelley saw fierce hatred