Page 100 of Sinful

We demand a comprehensive list of all assets owned by the Covenant. We are aware of the wealth you are concealing from your followers.

We demand your complete banking details, including account numbers, passcodes, and financial statements, along with tax records for the past ten years. Your tax evasion and illicit wealth accumulation will be exposed.

We demand answers, with irrefutable proof, regarding the missing persons cases involving the following children: Emily Harper (1984), Jacob Wang (1995), Sophia Bennett (1996), Noah Mitchell (1998), Olivia Carter (2004) and Ethan Brooks (2011). These children disappeared within a thirty-mile radius of Alderwood, and we know you must be responsible for their abduction.

We demand answers, with conclusive evidence, regarding the murder of Miranda Thorne in 2004. It is common knowledge that your cult was involved in her death, and you will be held accountable.

Failure to meet these demands within the given timeframe will result in Rosamund’s death. Tick tock, Mr. Trudeau.

Augustus’s response was almost instantaneous.These accusations are insane. How dare you? Send me proof of life right away. I want to see my daughter!

I sent one last message.

Proof of life coming soon. Fear not, though. Rosamund is perfectly safe… for now.

27

Rose

Sebastian returnedto my cell around an hour later, holding a square, almost-flat cardboard box, a bottle of orange liquid, and a large black bag.

“Sorry I took so long,” he said. “After I made those calls, I decided to go and get us a pizza. I figured you might be sick of sandwiches.”

He handed the box to me, and I opened it to see a round flatbread topped with vegetables, meat, cheese, and herbs. The crust was crispy, and the cheese was melted and bubbly, making my stomach growl from the delicious scent wafting up my nostrils.

“Wow. A real pizza,” I murmured. “Thank you.”

Sebastian unscrewed the lid from the bottle with a faint popping sound. “You’ve heard of it before?” he asked, brows lifting.

“Yes. My father loved it when he was in college. He told me all about it, and I’ve tried to make my own version over the years with flatbreads, cheese, and sliced vegetables. But it’s never looked like this.”

“I’m sure it was still great.” Sebastian grinned. “It’s not hard for me to believe that pizza is so universally liked that it even made it all the way to Alderwood.”

I smiled back at him and picked up a slice. I loved it when we were like this—just chatting and eating together, as if we were simply old friends or lovers. As if we weren’t prisoner and captor.

“This is orange soda,” he said, motioning to the bottle. “I loved it with pizza when I was a kid. Figured you might want to try it.”

“Thank you.” I dipped my head in the direction of the bag. “What’s in there?”

“That’s what I was going to tell you next.” He sat next to me and grabbed a slice of pizza. “My father called me while I was out. Apparently, the surgeon who operated on me wants to see me for a follow-up, but she’s too busy to fly out here again, so my father has organized a ride for us on his friend’s plane. Tonight.”

“Outsiders have their ownplanes?” I asked, eyes widening. I’d seen the enormous flying vehicles passing over Alderwood before, but I always assumed they were rare due to their size and the immense power they must need to operate.

“Some of them. It’s not common.” Sebastian took a bite and chewed. “Anyway,” he went on after swallowing. “We’ll fly down to the city tonight, and I’ll see the surgeon in the morning. After that, there’s a work-related thing I need to check out while I’m at the hospital. When that’s done, I’ll hitch another plane-ride back up here. Should be there and back in twenty-four hours at the most.”

---