Page 85 of The Preacher's Pet

Instead of being sad, my father seems angry. “How did she know where you live, Ophelia? How could you have given someone in that place our address?”

A wave of heat washes over me. “I-I didn’t think.”

“How do you know that girl hasn’t given your address to the man who took you?”

My face burns. “She wouldn’t. I trust her.”

“You can’t trust anyone there!” he roars. “They’re crazy! Brainwashed! They’ll do whatever they’re told.”

I feel sick at his words, because I know he’s not wrong. “I’m sorry.”

“You need to pack up your belongings, Ophelia,” my mother says. “You need to come with us.”

My jaw drops. “What?”

“We have to move. Move states, if we must. We need to protect you.”

“I’m safer here.” They are being irrational. No one knows I’m here. Taking me home is more dangerous. “If she betrayed me, and she hasn’t, but hypothetically, they know where you guys live, but they don’t know about the college.”

“I have my own security,” Father says. “I have hired extra, and I need you under my roof at all times, with a guard on you.”

My heart starts to crack, and panic overwhelms me. “No.” I shake my head. “Here is where I’m safe.”

Mom folds her lips into a thin line. “Not anymore, you’re not.”

“No, please.” My mind reels. “You can’t take me away.”Not from them,I think but don’t say.You can’t take me away from the Preachers.

My father shakes his head. “We don’t have any choice. You should never have given someone at that place your home address.”

He’s right, I shouldn’t have, but I hadn’t done it with malicious intent. I’d just wanted to give Daisy some way of getting in touch with me. I hadn’t wanted to vanish from her life completely in case she needed me. And she does need me. Her letter makes that much clear.

I bark out a sob and clamp my hand to my mouth. “No, I don’t want to leave. You can’t make me.”

My father’s face furrows. “Yes, we can. We pay your tuition fees here. If we refuse to pay them, you’ll no longer be welcome here.”

I shoot a desperate glance in the dean’s direction, hoping he’ll stand up for me, but he turns his face and doesn’t meet my eye.

“Go and pack your stuff,” Father says. “We have the car waiting outside.”

I look desperately to my mother for support, but she shakes her head. “Do as your father says, Ophelia. No arguments. You’re coming with us.”

What will they do if I refuse? Will they physically haul me out of here, kicking and protesting? Yes, I’m sure they will. I want to find the Preachers, to tell them what is happening, but I doubt my parents knowing about our relationship will help my case. Even so, I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

“Go straight to your room, Ophelia.” My father seems to have read my thoughts. “No dawdling.” He holds his hand out. “And give me your phone. I will get you a new one. One your mother and I have access to check.”

What? My face burns at the way they’re treating me, but I can see the fear under their anger. I’m their only child, and they lost me once. They must be terrified of the same thing happening.

I pass my phone over, hands shaking.

This is my own fault. I should never have written my address on that goodbye note I left for Daisy. But at the same time, I’m torn. Because Daisy is asking for my help, and if I hadn’t left my address, I never would have known.

With tears streaming down my face, I run from the office, heading back to my room.

“Ophelia?” a female voice calls, breaking me from my thoughts.

It’s Camile.

“What’s wrong?” she asks me in alarm.

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