Page 29 of Sacrificing Zoriah

“What?” I ask simply.

“What’s on your mind?” he asks.

“Getting dressed,” I say simply before turning and going to the bathroom.

When I have the door locked, I stand and look at myself for the first time since before I was sacrificed. It looks like me, but it doesn’t feel like me. I pull the shirt off, and it still smells like Roman. The smell of him is a reminder that I will never be free. Good things are only temporary, and Richard has done a good job of reminding me, that without allowing me to connect it all. I swipe away what I am vowing will be my last tear before getting dressed in black leggings and a dress that comes to my mid-thigh. I toss all of my makeup into a bag and grab all of my shower items before walking out.

“Got everything?” Dad asks.

“Yep,” I say as I walk to the door and put my makeup down inside another bag. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” he says, studying me.

“Well, let’s go then.”

We pull up to the office, and I get out before anyone can get to my door. The parking lot is full of people, and they all turn and look at me. “You sure you are ready for this?” Roman asks me.

“Yes. Do you want people to know we are dating?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. Instead of saying anything, I just offer him my hand. He smiles and interlaces his fingers with mine before we walk toward the door. When we get to the building, we stop and turn to the crowd. The flash from the cameras makes me flinch and almost shy away, but Roman gently wraps his arm around my waist and gently turns my face to look at him.

“I’ll stab you on national television if you are doing this just for the press,” I mutter, and he smiles sweetly. I break out of my numb state and match his smile.

“You’ve got this, mi amor,” he says softly.

“Thank you, Roman.”

“You’re welcome, Zoriah,” he says. He cups my cheek for a second before turning to the crowd.

“Good morning, everyone. I am Roman Tolson with Tolson Capital Group. This is Zoriah Kingston, Ben Lawson with Lawson Tech, Corbin Kingston, Zoriah’s brother, and their father, Jim Kingston… It has come to our attention that there are some rumors being spread about my involvement in Zoriah’s kidnapping late Friday night… Zoriah is not only my girlfriend, but she is also my executive assistant. I feel that it is important to tell the entire story if we are going to tell it at all… Zoriah was taken from her home with the help of someone she trusted deeply to keep her safe, but instead they handed her off like anobject… I will not tell Zoriah’s story, and I also do not think it is anyone’s business what happened. Authorities are aware of the situation, and proper measures are being taken. She is trying to find normalcy in life right now, so we ask that you give her space and respect her efforts to heal from this horrific situation.”

“If you are innocent, why are you talking for her?” A man shouts.

“Seriously?” I snap before Roman can say anything.

“You don’t have to say anything, love,” Roman says softly.

“What he is telling you is that someone I thought was my friend set me up to be kidnapped and raped for three days by a group of disgusting people who are hiding behind religion to do awful things to people. People I care about. Do not stand there and demonize Roman without reason. He has been nothing but amazing, and it’s disgusting that the moment you all get a chance, you jump to accusations… If you want someone to blame, blame the cult that had me raped in the name of God,” I say harshly.

“Was it a cult? Who are they? Who assaulted you?” The questions are hurled at me, and I don’t know what to say. I look at Roman, and he smirks.

“Whatever you want to answer, just say it,” he says.

“Is this bad? Did I…”

“It was bad the moment you escaped,” Corbin says. “Tell your story, even if no one wants to hear it.”

I nod and turn back to the crowd. “I was taken by a cult, and my friend of almost twenty years helped set it up,” I say. “Roman is not the villain here. They are. I ask that you leave us alone. If there are updates to give, we will give them. Until then, just leave us alone.”

When I stop talking, I turn and hug Roman. “Let’s go grab some food, hmm?”

“Yeah,” I say with a smile.

Chapter Eight

Huxley

Walker goes upstairs, andI turn and walk down the hall to where Richard and Doug are. I would be whipped if he knew that I hate referring to him as my father, but he’s not. He has hurt me far too many times to ever be a father to me. After what he did to Zoriah… I have every intention of killing him as soon as I have the chance. I don’t care if it’s the last thing I ever do.

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