Page 41 of Stolen Faith

Barry turned to Brennon. “Lies.”

“It’s not! It’s information silos.” Brennon was talking fast, his voice earnest. “They do it so that…so that no one can be tortured into revealing the full membership list.”

Brennon was going to have to dumb down his vocabulary because Barry clearly didn’t understand the term information silos. “The sinners she calls parents have powerful friends. We know who they are, and I want to know which ones of them are willing heathens, and which are being led astray.”

Barry took a piece of paper from his pocket.

“Is Rose Hancock a member?”

“No,” Izabel said, shaking her head. Brennon made a face, and she amended her statement. “I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know who is.”

Barry smiled. “What about Damon Corso?”

“I don’t know,” she said, but her voice trembled.

“You do know,” Barry insisted. “And you’ll tell me.” He grabbed her hair with his left hand and pushed her head down, forcing her to look at the water.

She wanted to be strong. Wanted to be stoic and brave.

She stared at the water, and tears slid down her cheeks. “I’ll tell you,” she whispered.

Barry released her, then looked at the men behind her. “One more time, just to make sure she doesn’t lie.”

Izabel screamed as they lowered her down, shoving her head under the water.

Chapter Nine

Rowan stared at the door to the cabin.

“Iza,” Brennon breathed.

“Wait,” Rowan commanded, listening.

Brennon looked at him but said nothing.

Rowan listened; eyes closed to the sound of retreating footsteps. He waited another minute, then opened his eyes and looked at Izabel.

Her head was bowed. Her shoulders shuddered slightly, her wet hair hiding too much of her face from him. Her dress was damp all the way to her waist.

Seven times. They’d forced her head under seven times. He’d counted every second she was under, and somehow, he’d make them pay, tenfold, for every moment of pain.

Rowan had failed her. He was no stranger to failure. It was what had led him to leave the military. If he couldn’t assure the safety of his brothers-in-arms, then he had no place in the service.

Now, here he was a year later, failing his spouses in the same way. All his training for naught.

He closed his eyes, fighting hard to pull himself together. To find a way to be the man they needed rather than the one they were stuck with.

That task felt hopeless until…

“Iza,” Brennon whispered. “Look at me, angel. Just hang in there. Don’t give up.”

Rowan was struck by Brennon’s nickname for her, the term of endearment, by the other man’s easy way of connecting with them, acting as if they’d been together months rather than just a few short days.

Somehow, Brennon was able to fast-forward them to the place they needed to be, one where they weren’t strangers, where they could pretend they knew each other well enough to offer comfort or share fears without holding back.

Which was good, but it was also terrifying. Because if there was ever a time to put all their cards on the table, it was now.

Perhaps he should talk to them, tell them he wasn’t who they thought he was.

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