Page 105 of Shadow Redemption

“She’s done nothing wrong,” Maren protested. “Surely the prophet wouldn’t punish her.”

“Shut up, old woman. These are the prophet’s orders.”

“Mom.” When she looked at him, Ben shook his head. “Don’t.”

Thug One activated the mechanism to lower the chain and manacles. When they were in position, Thug Two shoved Ben forward and secured the metal around his wrists. Seconds later, his arms were stretched over his head. The stitches in his back tugged but he ignored the bite of pain. Chances were good that Sam would have to redo some of her work before the night was over, provided he survived his encounter with the prophet and his eager cronies.

Buckner walked to one of the equipment tables and picked up a whip. He snapped it experimentally. “Should we soften him up for the prophet?”

The muscles in Ben’s back spasmed as memories of previous encounters with a whip such as this one crowded into his mind. He could handle what might come, but the violence would traumatize Ruth.

“No!” Ruth struggled against Adonis’s hold.

“Stop, Ruth,” Ben said, voice sharp. If she continued to struggle, Adonis could cut her carotid artery without meaning to.

“Ben.” Distress filled her voice.

“Trust me.”

With equal parts fear for him and fury at Adonis in her eyes, she went still, her gaze locked on Ben. Her hands fisted in silent rebellion.

Adonis moved the knife away from her throat. He addressed Buckner. “The prophet wants to punish Barrett himself. He deserves to draw the first and last drops of blood.”

Buckner looked disappointed but dropped the whip on the table. “What about the woman?”

“She gets a front-row seat to her lover’s punishment and death.” Adonis held the tip of the knife against Ruth’s throat. “If you try to escape, Barrett and his mother will suffer and so will you. If you want to spare your lover an extra day’s worth of excruciating pain, you’ll cooperate.”

Ruth looked at Ben as she responded to Adonis’s threats. “I won’t run.”

Fear for her safety and pride in her strength filled Ben. He got the message. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t leave him even to save her own life. He wanted to kiss her senseless for her loyalty and shake her for her stubbornness. Based on how he felt at the moment, Ben figured kissing her senseless would be the first order of business when he had Ruth back in his arms.

Adonis sliced through the zip ties holding Ruth to the chair. “Stand up.”

When she looked at Ben, he gave a slight nod. If the Fortress operatives failed to free Ruth, the blond thug would report any disobedience to the prophet who would take great pleasure in administering corrective measures.

Adonis yanked Ruth to her feet and forced her to the wall restraints in front of Ben. He shoved her back against the wall and secured her wrists above her head. “Gorman, get back outside and keep watch. Even though Barrett claims his friends won’t help, I don’t trust anything he says. Stay alert.”

“Yes, sir.” Gorman followed him out the door, leaving Ben, Ruth, and Maren under the watch of Buckner.

The remaining guard glared at Maren. “Sit in that chair and don’t move.”

“Didn’t the prophet say that I was to attend to the woman?”

“She don’t need a thing so sit down and shut up before I make you obey.”

Ben tore his gaze away from Ruth’s for a moment. “Mom,” he murmured. “Do as he says.”

Maren ceased protesting and sat. Her breath caught when she noticed Ben’s back. “What happened to your back, Cameron?”

“Silas and military service. Take your pick.”

“But you have stitches.”

“Got too close to a knife this morning. I’m fine.” For the moment.

Through the comm system, Nico said, “A white-haired man with a beard is making his way toward the Den.”

“Copy,” he whispered. Ben shifted his attention to Ruth. “Be ready,” he murmured. With Buckner listening to every word, he couldn’t give her a more pointed warning that his team was preparing to launch their attack.

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