Page 95 of Axton

He glanced at the wedding band on my finger, but didn’t answer me at first.

“Your silence makes me believe you might be as guilty as John Henry.”

His spiteful eyes met mine. “I would never betray my father or my church and beliefs that way!” He snapped at me. “John Henry will burn in hell if he doesn’t seek forgiveness.”

“I have a feeling your brother is a non-believer and that’s the last of his concern. I am asking because my legal marriage to Belle is enough for me to claim that inheritance, and I also have a feeling your father knew she would choose a husband wisely. He didn’t know which ones of you to trust with his followers, so he made a gamble. He chose to trust Belle to find a man to collect everything your father has set aside. That means I am responsible for every woman and child that lives on those compounds. Do they trust you?” I asked.

“You won’t see that money, it’ll be tied in probate if you dare try to claim that inheritance without making a Vow to god and my sister doesn’t submit to God’s will for the marriage.” He practically snarled.

“I was hoping to gain your trust. You won’t be behind bars for long, and if I am to share a portion of this inheritance with yourfellow cult members to get them on their feet, I’ll need to gain their trust.” At least for the women and children. If I had it my way they would lock up every man that took a child bride.

“Why are you afraid to face God with your intentions? You’re avoiding your responsibility to make that marriage a spiritual one. You will not gain anyone’s trust until you do so, in front of us, her family.”

“What exactly is your problem with me? I’ve saved all of you from what Jeremiah had planned by marrying her. Before I met Belle, I never had a desire to become a husband or a father. I’ve taken her as my wife and she will always be cared for, no matter what happens.”

“Have you taken her innocence and purity without the Lord’s blessing?” He asked.

Belle was far from innocent. “Belle is a virgin still.”

His eyes landed on mine. “You’ve respected her virtue?”

I sat back and crossed my arms. “I already answered your question.” I wasn’t about to say too much and lie about the fact that his sister wasn’t as innocent as he thought. I knew what it felt like to have an innocent young sister, and I did do things of a naughty nature with his.

“If you want my trust, you will wed her the way she deserves and respect my father’s wishes for her to be in a marriage that was blessed by God.”

“Will that also gain the trust of the other followers?” I asked.

“It’s a start.” He said. “I realize you fit my father’s prophecy, but a man of God wouldn’t have married her without the Lord’s blessing. If you want to save Belle and our religious communities, you will marry her and respect our practices.”

“I will not be a follower, or a leader. I will though, help the innocent members start new lives and use your father’s estate to do it. Jeremiah is involved with human trafficking, there are missing women and girls from Indigenous families that are missing and presumed dead. I will use the rest to help them.”

He tilted his head. “You’re not blaming Jeremey for that?” He wasn’t convinced.

“His brother is one of our suspects and Jeremiah, or Jeremy as you all seem to call him, seemed to visit him often.”

Paul swallowed hard. “Jacob?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Wait...” He looked puzzled and troubled. “No, that can’t be right. Jacob was shunned and went to prison. We haven’t seen him in years.”

“How do you think Jeremiah got involved with those bikers?”

He looked very concerned.

“When did you last see Jeremiah?” I asked.

“Two days ago, when we left them in New Albany. We were in motel rooms, but he said he was taking my father’s two wives somewhere safer.” He answered.

“Are these the mothers of Belle and Koty?” I was assuming they were.

“Yes, but he’s not alone. He has others with him. People that tried to help us rescue Belle. It’s not going to end for Belle as far as Jeremy is concerned anytime soon, married or not. He is obsessed with her and has warned us over and over again that he will stop at nothing to marry her. This goes beyond my father’s prophecy, he has loved her since they were children.”

“You mean he has more of the type of men that also wanted to collect the bounty on Koty?” I wanted that to sink in.

Belle

Koty was sleeping on the floor next to the sofa. I told Kayla and Pammy to take the bed while I sat up and waited for my husband. I knew he said everyone was safe, but I didn’t feel safe without him. Koty seemed scared of Kayla, and he was uncomfortable around Pammy. I was sure he was scared of Kayla because she wasn’t exactly as well behaved as Michael believed, although she did nothing to him, but Pammy kept trying to sit a little too close for his comfort.

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