Page 71 of Tusk's Fury

“Yes. He wanted them to abduct us both. Fortunately, I left my baby with her father to go to the restroom. So, she wasn’t around when they took me.”

She looks down and to the side, as if she’s thinking really hard about something. When her head comes back up, she whispers, “Brittany, some things have changed since you were here. You need to get away if you can and disappear with your daughter.”

I reach out to grasp her hands. “What’s changed, Cassandra? You’re scaring me.”

Her hands tighten on mine. “Bishop Harper thought it best that all the children in the congregation be gathered up and kept in a place of safety. If I didn’t work in childcare, I wouldn’t be able to see my kids except once a week on Sundays for church services.”

The absolute ignorance of that idea swirls around in my head for a while before I tell her, “Let me guess. He said it was to insulate them from sin, right?”

When she nods, I reassure her, “We’re both getting out of this place. When I leave, you and your family are coming with me. I have enough money and a safe place for you and your husband to make a fresh start. And we’re never looking back. Mark my words, Cassandra.”

She glances over her shoulder at the door and responds by saying, “Whatever the Lord wills, I will embrace.”

My friend is terrified of Silas Harper. That much is clear. That’s okay. I can be strong for both of us. No matter what happens, I’m not leaving her behind.

When I’m all cleaned up and remade into the image of what a woman should be in our sect, there’s a knock on the door. I’m surprised when none other than Marcus Kincade enters. Cassandra’s hand comes up to brush across his chest and then drops back down to her side. Marcus’ reaction is nothing short of electricity. His eyes light up, and his expression brightens. His hand comes up to barely touch hers on the way back down. The love flowing back and forth between them borders on adoration. It’s cute to see.

I tease her as we walk away, “You’re Cassandra Kincade. It has a nice ring to it.”

“There are worse things in life than a rhyming name.”

We walk right into Silas’ evening prayer service. It’s being held in a big room with a dozen long folding banquet tables and chairs. Silas stops speaking, and everyone watches me walk into the room and take a seat. Marcus follows us, like some kind of bodyguard, and hands us both Bibles. There is a chalkboard beside Silas with the chapter and verse he’s teaching from on it.

I start feeling the same kind of discomfort that I once did as a kid. Then I remember that I don’t care at all about what these religious zealots think of me. I flip through the Bible and easily find the spot he’s referencing. It only takes a few seconds before Silas picks back up with what he was saying. People continue to steal glances at me, but I don’t care. I’m busy looking at the layout of the room, wondering if the windows open and how many of his followers walk the perimeter of the grounds.

My breasts are aching. My baby needs me. I’ve got to figure out a way to escape. And that’s going to be hard to do when everyone seems to think I’m worth staring at.

Chapter 25

Tusk

We show up at Gnarly John’s just in time to see him about to close up shop to go fishing. Everyone knows this older man just closes up shop when he wants or needs to. He’s got no one to answer to but himself. I walk in as he’s counting his drawer for the night. He smiles when he sees me.

“What’s up, Wade? You need gas?”

I don’t correct him about my club name being Tusk, ‘cause he’s not gonna remember anyway. “I believe my ex-wife was in here earlier. Do you remember seeing her?”

“Yeah, Gina’s the rudest woman I’ve ever met in my life. How did you stand to stay married to her for so long?”

“Well, she’s definitely an acquired taste. You’d be surprised how many men chase her.”

He snorts a laugh. “I guess some men like their women with a side of spice.”

“Can you tell me about her visit?”

The older man shrugs. “She got gas on her card at the pump for that new car of hers. And then she came in and got a couple of coffees. She paid cash for those, though.”

“Did you happen to see what direction she went?”

He tosses me a mischievous grin. “Why do you wanna know? You planning to start chasing her again?”

I grin back at him. “I might do. She’s pregnant with my kid, after all.”

He snorts another laugh. “No, she ain’t. She’s as skinny around the middle as she ever was.” He holds up two hands and makes a gesture like he’s holding a woman around the waist. “I could’ve fit both my hands around her tiny waist tonight.”

“Direction?” I ask for the second time.

“Due north, straight up the highway.”

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