Page 86 of The Preachers' Promise
I kiss her damp back. “See, you’re strong. I knew you could do it.”
39
OPHELIA
We spendthe next few hours dozing in sexual satisfaction. I wish Roman had been in a better state to join in the fun, but as soon as he is, I’ll be sure to make up for it.
Cain’s phone buzzes with a repetitive tone that signals a call, and he pulls himself out of sleep to fumble for his cell. He swipes the screen to answer and places it to his ear. He doesn’t say anything at first, just listens. I assume it’s his father, making sure the men have turned up okay, and that we’re back at Verona Falls, safe and sound. But his eyes narrow, and he frowns as he turns to me.
“It’s a call from the main gate. Someone is here to see you.”
Instantly, all my senses are alert. “Me? Who?”
It seems as if he knows exactly who my thoughts have jumped to. “Don’t worry, it’s not the Prophet. It’s not a man. They know not to let any random male figure come asking for you.”
“Then who is it?”
“She won’t give her name. She just says she needs to see you.”
“She?” My heart rate picks up. Adrenaline makes me dizzy.Who the hell is it?
“The security team won’t let her in until you’ve verified she’s no threat.”
“Can’t someone else go?” Malachi says, his dark eyebrows drawing together.
Cain shakes his head. “She won’t speak to anyone else. Only Ophelia, and in person. We’re going to need to go to the gate.”
I draw in a shuddery breath. Realistically, if it was someone out to hurt me, they wouldn’t be standing at the gate, asking to speak to me. Unless it’s some kind of trick, but I still feel like someone would be pretty stupid to announce their arrival to multiple armed guards.
“I need a minute.”
Aware I’m still naked and stinking of sex, I hurry into the bathroom to wash up. I’m sore between my legs, and moving gingerly, but it’s a good soreness. It’s the quickest wash I’ve ever had, and I towel myself dry in a rush.
When I emerge, the guys are already dressed.
Roman spears his fingers into his hair. “I don’t like this.”
I bite the inside of my lip. “Me neither,” I admit.
“Don’t worry,” Malachi says. “You’re not going alone. We’ll come with you, and we’ll bring some of Cain’s men with us, too.”
I tell myself nothing can go wrong if I’m surrounded by all these armed men—plus the security guards at the gate—but still my pulse thunders in my ears like I’m underwater.
Roman steps forward. “Wait, can’t one of the security guards take a photograph of the person, or send us a link to the CCTV so we can see her?”
Cain smacks himself in the forehead. “Fuck, yes. Of course.”
“A photo will be quicker,” Mal suggests.
The three of them look in my direction for my approval.
My heart hammers, but I nod. I need to see who it is.
Cain calls back the security guard and tells him what he needs. Then he ends the call, and we wait. The seconds seeminterminable, and I struggle to regulate my breathing, taking gasping breaths every now and again, as my heart pounds. My past flashes through my mind. The people from the compound are dancing through my memories. It must be something to do with them, surely. It can’t be Mom because she’d simply be let in to see me. The dean knows her and would instruct the guards to wave her in. Other than the people here, and my parents, the only people I know arethem… the cult.
The phone buzzes, and Cain opens the message.
He frowns at the screen, then turns the phone toward me.
