Page 23 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

Oh, but she would. “I need you to be of service. To do what you’re so good at.”

Confusion swept across her face. She lowered to her knees and reached for his robe.

“No, not that.” Sighing, he snatched her up by the arms. “The reason I had to teach you a lesson to begin with.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Sit and I’ll explain.”

Chapter Seven

Finished with her updates to the lesson plans for the children who were homeschooled on the compound, Mercy was pleased with all she had accomplished in a couple of days. She’d integrated weekly art, music and movement/dance classes after weeks of coordinating with the creatives, as well as finding someone to start a soccer program. Her father had opposed organized sports for years, claiming it led to unhealthy competition and division. She’d been advocating for it to no avail until now.

Of course, she couldn’t help but wonder if her speech about focusing on development, working together and exercise rather than winning, as well as her detailed plan to ensure the children rotated on teams had finally persuaded him.

Or if it had been Rocco’s presence on the compound that had pushed him to give her what she wanted. Another tether tying her to the Shining Light.

She closed her eyes and fantasized what it would be like to be free of her autocratic father and obligations to her community. To her family.

Guilt seeped to the surface. Then she saw Rocco. His sexy smile. His kind eyes. And a warmth, a sense of serenity, washed away her shame.

Urgent pounding rattled the office door, startling Mercy. Before she could get a word out, Sophia burst inside the room.

“Thank the Light I found you.” Sophia shut the door and hurried over to the desk.

“What’s wrong?” Mercy jumped to her feet. “Is it my father? Is he okay?” Ever since she was a little girl when someone had taken a shot at him, she’d always worried about his safety and well-being. After that day, they built a wall around the compound. But it didn’t stop her from fretting that a novice would infiltrate under false pretenses and hurt him. Or as their numbers skyrocketed that the responsibility of caring for so many would give him a heart attack.

“No, it’s not about your dad,” Sophia said, and relief seeped through Mercy. “It’s Rocco. He’s been locked up in one of the unburdening rooms.”

Mercy’s thoughts stalled along with her breath for a moment. “Why? What happened?”

Shaking her head, Sophia shrugged. “I don’t exactly know. I think Alex caught him nosing around where he didn’t belong. But I overheard your father saying that they’re going to dose him later, then find out what he’s up to.”

Dose him?

The movement’s use of ayahuasca, a powerful drug, was only for their religious ritual during the rebirth of a novice. The person would willingly consume it before unburdening to Empyrean in private. Then in a ceremony in front of the entire community that person would claim their new first name and become a Starlight.

Mercy had never been under the influence of the drug, but her father had explained that there was no way for a person to hide anything while on it.

But sacred tonic was never forced on someone. That violated what they believed in.

“Maybe you misheard my father,” Mercy said, not wanting it to be true.

“I’m certain of what I heard. After they force Rocco to unburden, your dad plans to punish him for whatever he did wrong. Flagellation.”

Bile rose in the back of Mercy’s throat.

Their practices might seem antiquated, even harsh, to those on the outside, but as a result, they had a peaceful commune. A collective that loved and helped each other. This was a utopia to so many. No murder. No rape. No theft. No community beyond their gates could say the same, and for that reason their numbers grew each year.

But Rocco was a guest. Not a member of their community bound by their rules and subject to their punishments. This was wrong. “I’ve got to speak with my father.”

“And once you do, what do you think will happen?” Sophia asked.

Her father would patronize and stonewall her. Might even lock her inside her room until he was finished with Rocco. Which would be too late to help him.

“You need to get him out of there and off the compound,” Sophia said as though reading her mind. “Right now.”

Mercy turned to the top drawer of her desk and entered her code in the digital lock. The drawer opened. She grabbed her set of keys that gave her access to most areas and doors, except for any that belonged to her father.

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