Page 9 of Gentle Love

“The police can’t investigate him for the cult stuff."

“What do you mean, Emily?” Pike asked.

“It’s a religious organization, so it can’t be investigated. It doesn't have to operate by outsider laws. I guess since I'm not a member anymore though, he can get prosecuted for stalking me and stuff."

“No, baby. Religious organizations are still required to follow the law. Having child brides is definitely illegal. Physically and sexually abusing children is illegal too. I’m sure there were a lot of things they did that broke the law.”

“No… they said that…” Emily covered her mouth as she began to sob again. “I-I thought…”

“Somebody lied to you, babe. They probably lied to all of you to keep you quiet,” Dallas explained, stroking Emily’s hair.

“I’m so stupid.”

“No, no, you’re not. You were a scared child who was conditioned to believe something. There is nothing wrong with that. You’re such a smart girl. You escaped. You knew life had to be better than what this ‘Movement’ was offering you. You survived as a teen on your own. Now you’re a very talented editor. You’re living on your own. You’re providing for yourself. You’re so smart,” I encouraged.

“Yeah, do you really think Kate Oliver, The Kate Oliver, would let someone “stupid” edit for her? No way, silly,” Dallas added.

I used my sweatshirt to wipe Emily’s tears again.

A sharp knock startled us all. Emily gasped and twisted, dropping Dallas’ hand and throwing her arms around my neck. She was shaking as she buried her face deeper in my chest.

Pike stood and marched to the door, calling, “Who’s there?”

“Hey, the police are ready to talk to Emily if she’s ready,” Axel called back. Pike nodded, and unlocked the door, pulling it open for Axel and two officers.

Emily gasped into my neck and I wrapped my arms around her. “You’re okay, I’m going to stand right here,” I soothed.

“I wet my pants,” she whispered in my ear.

I knew she had. I’d seen as much downstairs and my own pants were wet from her sitting in my lap. I reached up and grabbed the jacket I kept on the back of my office chair, and quickly wrapped it around her. “They can’t see it now, princess.”

I adjusted her in my arms. “I’m gonna stand with you, then sit in my desk chair. You can talk to them without ever leaving my lap, okay? The tattooed one is my brother and he will understand.”

***

Emily

“I’m gonna stand with you, then sit in my desk chair. You can talk to them without ever leaving my lap, okay? The tattooed one is my brother and he will understand.”

Onyx stood and sat in his chair. I still had both arms around his neck, but I turned to face the officers. I didn’t know that Onyx had a brother, but now that I was looking at the two officers, it was easy to see which one it was. There was definitely a family resemblance.

“Hey, Emily. My name is Officer Ravenscroft and this is my partner, Officer Everhart. We’re just going to get a quick statement and then we’ll let you get some rest, okay?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“That man, Malachi, he’s been stalking me for a few months. He sent me letters and lately, he’s been calling and texting me. He takes pictures of me doing things and then texts or mails them to me. I knew him from before, though. He was a part of a cult I grew up in called The Movement. I was supposed to be his wife when I was fifteen, but I ran away. He found me. Tonight, he came into the club and told me to come with him. I said no and then I tried to go behind the bar. He got angry and punched me in the head. I fell and he grabbed my arm and tried to drag me out. When I wouldn’t walk with him, he picked me up.” I felt like I was rambling, but Officer Ravenscroft kept taking notes.

"Oh, Emily. I'm so sorry that's happened to you. We're going to help you, okay? He's not going to bother you anymore," he said.

“Are you going to have Elliot check her over?” he asked Onyx.

“I am.”

“Okay, make sure he documents her injuries. We’ll need that too.”

“I will.”

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