Page 75 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

“To the Light?” Mercy barked a harsh laugh. “All you know is darkness. You knew what Cormac was planning all along. Didn’t you?”

“Not the specifics. That would make me culpable. My hands are clean regarding anything the Brotherhood does.”

Her stomach pulled into a tight, hard knot. “Naturally, you’d want plausible deniability, but you were aware that people were going to die today as a result of whatever he was going to do and you had no intention of stopping it.”

“I am not my brother’s keeper.” Sighing, he half sat, half leaned on the edge of his desk. “Besides, why would I stop it? Every time there is chaos and death in the streets our numbers increase. Your uncle has gotten far more active in the last five years and the number of my followers have grown tremendously as a result. I welcome his actions. He is doing me a service.”

Everything her father was saying made her furious and queasy at the same time. “I once believed in you and what you preached. Then you tried to kill my mother and forced her to leave me behind. That’s when it all changed for me.” She studied his face, looking for a drop of remorse. Waited for him to explain, even though it would only be more lies.

Clasping his hands, he nodded, slowly, soberly. “Alex let you out and told you. If he can’t have your love, I suppose he doesn’t want me to either.”

“Aren’t you even going to deny it?”

“Would you believe me if I tried?” He stood and moved toward her, but she backed away. “This reminds me of that part in theWizard of Ozwhen Dorothy sees behind the curtain.”

The Great Empyrean was smoke and mirrors. A fraud.

“How could you do that my mother?” she asked. “To me? Separate us like that.”

“I did what was necessary. Even though it was hard. To protect you.”

“You’ve never protected me. All you’ve ever done is manipulate and coerce me to follow your will. Now you want to kill Rocco. Why? Because you think he’s going to take me away? Because he loves me?” Saying the words, she felt them to be true.

Rocco did love her. He’d been nothing but compassionate, kind and caring. And she loved him, too. She’d sacrifice anything to keep him safe. Even her own happiness. In her heart, she believed he’d do the same for her.

Mercy stared at her father. A mix of anger and anguish filled her heaving chest. “You’reevil.”

“Evil? No, no, my dear.” The great Empyrean threw his arms out to his sides with flourish. He approached her with an air of dignity and grace as though he were more than a man walking on water, but she stayed out of his reach because she now saw the truth. “I am no more evil than a hurricane, an earthquake, fire or flood. All serve a purpose that is not easily understood. Underwriters classify those as acts of God.”

She reared back. “You are notvis major. To even insinuate such a thing only goes to show how polluted your soul has become. He was right about you,” she said, thinking of Alex. “You’re the real monster. I was just too naive to see it.”

“Mercy, everything I’ve done has been to keep you safe.”

“Stop saying that. Everything you’ve done has been to protect your power and your status. Not me.” She wrapped her fingers around the Shining Light necklace that she wore and yanked it off. “I’m done. With you. And this place.” She tossed the pendant at his feet.

“Rocco might not survive. If he doesn’t, you’ll need us.” His tone was gentle and coaxing, sickening her. “You’ll need me. Stay the night, my dear. Wait to see what happens before you decide.”

She steeled her spine. “My mother left this place with nothing but the clothes on her back and she made it without you. So will I.”

“I put you on a pedestal, ensured you were revered above all but me. And the thanks you give me is to throw it away because you want to roll around in the muck and mire with that pig.” He narrowed his eyes, his composure slipping away like a discarded mask. “If you leave like this, you will be considered one of the fallen. Banished from the Light. Shunned for the rest of your days.”

Her throat closed. She was leaving the only home she’d ever known. People she loved. Everything that was familiar. A movement she had once had complete faith in.

But she had to get far away from Alex. And from the suffocating hold of Marshall McCoy.

“Just like my mother,” she said and headed to the door. At the threshold, a whisper of warning made her look back at him. “If you do anything to prevent me from leaving, pull some stunt, I will tell any acolyte willing to listen who you really are. The devil. And they’ll believe every word from my mouth. Let me go and I wash my hands of you and the commune in every way.”

He was quiet for a moment, thinking, plotting, ever scheming. “You’ll say nothing of the things you’ve overheard?”

Disappointment seared through her. They were talking about her life, her safety, and he was bargaining for his reputation. “No. Not a word.”

Even if she did, her father had a remarkable knack for wiggling out of trouble. None of Cormac’s despicable deeds would stick to him.

“You may doubt me, but I love you and have only worked for your highest good. If you’re certain you wish to leave...so shall it be.” He picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Mercy is on her way down to the gate. She is not to be given a ride, but you are to let her out. Then we’re going on lockdown. No one else in or out of the compound. Security is to be tripled. A credible threat has been made against us.” He pressed down on the receiver and then dialed a number, three digits. After a moment, he said, “I’d like to report a potential attack on the office of a federal task force on Second Street.”

That was just like her father. Covering his bases. Protecting himself above everyone else.

Mercy rushed to the front door and put on her shoes. She ran down the steps and the hill. Her lungs opened and it was as if a massive weight had lifted from her, but Rocco and the task force were still in danger.

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