Page 54 of Be My Sinner

“Dinah, my beautiful little goddaughter! Look at you, my dear; you are injured and terrified. It’s alright now; you can come out from under there. No one here will hurt you,” Noah murmurs softly, crouching before me and helping me crawl from under the table as if I were a small child that he had to handle with kid gloves. His words make me want to snort loudly.No one here will hurt me? That remains to be fucking seen.

“You are bleeding, my dear; your face is bruised and cut. You have been through a great ordeal, but by the grace of our Lord, you will survive. You will be rewarded for your faith and your duty, Dinah.” He uses his fingers to wipe away the blood on my lips, a grimace on his face as I stare pointedly at Ezekiel over his shoulder, and allow tears to slide continuously down my cheeks. Fuck, if I bite any harder on my tongue, I am likely to bite it right off.

“It is right to give thanks to the Lord, my God, and to the Brotherhood which keeps its order.” I bow my head slightly and reverently but still manage to keep Zeke in my sightline. Blood trickles from my lips and down the side of my face, where it drips off my chin and causes a gasp to leave Noah’s mouth. He holds me steady, gently bracing his arms on my shoulders as if I could break like a priceless crystal at any moment.Yes, look at me, a pitiful, weak Sacred Daughter. Too weak to even hold herself up.

The only reward I seek is to kill all of them, and make them bleed all over my previously clean kitchen floor. Unfortunately, right now, that doesn’t seem like it will be a possibility. It’s as if Zeke can read my thoughts, and that bastard winks at me. He shoves his father aside and grips my arm, pulling me closer to his body. His father doesn’t miss this move, judging by the surprised expression that briefly flashes across his features before vanishing.Possessive fucker, I’m going to break all of his fingers the first chance I get.

Just then, a man in a medical uniform rushes into the room, swiftly assessing Abraham’s condition. Tension hangs heavy in the air, and for a few heart-pounding moments, it feels as if everyone is holding their breath. Finally, the medic raises his head and locks eyes with Noah.

“He’s alive, Sir,” the medic reports. “Someone did an exceptional job triaging him and stabilizing his condition. We can transport him back to the city for further treatment. I believe he will fully recover once we address the wound and perform the necessary procedures.”

At Noah’s nod, the man signals for two additional individuals to join us, one of them carrying a portable stretcher. With painstaking care, they lift Abraham onto the stretcher. A soft whimper escapes my lips as his head lolls slightly, mirrored by an angry gasp from Zeke. “Handle him with the utmost care,” he bellows, eyes ablaze with a fiery threat. “If you injure him further, I’ll personally make sure your hearts are torn from your chests!”

“Did you triage him, young man?” Noah turns his curious green eyes back on Sammy, and a sliver of unease skates up my back at the way he seems to be assessing him.

“He did, Father,” Zeke asserts. “Once we’re back, I’m going to demand you bestow him with a medal or some damn recognition. He not only kept Abraham alive, but he also aided me in fending off theUnholy Ghost, ensuring Dinah’s safety from his clutches.”

He did what now?I can barely contain my astonishment at Zeke’s words. What the hell did this reckless idiot just say? I quickly conceal my alarm behind the veil of my thick, dark hair, hoping no one in the room notices my reaction.

“TheUnholy Ghost? Is that who attacked you, Ezekiel?“ Noah steps closer to his son, his eyes probing, undoubtedly assessing the truth behind Zeke’s words. I can only hope this reckless fool can somehow make this work, or we are all going to die.

“Yes. He attacked me back at the house near the cliffs. Taunting me with what he was going to do to Dinah. He managed to stab me and then knock me out. When I came to, Abe had found me and dragged me back to the house. The minute I was awake, we had to rush here to try to get to Dinah,” Zeke explains, running his hands through his thick, dark hair. His jaw clenches, and his eyes are brimming with emotion. I have to admit, the fucker is convincing.

“The Ghost said he would take her from me, torture her, and assure that she was no longer pure. He stated he would do unspeakable things to her, and then leave pieces of her for me to find. All because she is destined to be my Sacred Wife, a Rothesay,” Zeke reveals, his voice quivering with a mixture of fear and determination.

“You didn’t think it wise to raise the alarm, Ezekiel? To gather men before you came after this lunatic?” His father questions with disbelief.

“There was no time. I was knocked out for too long, and I knew he was coming here to hurt her. I had to get to her, father. Abe and I got here as fast as we could to save Dinah. We were immediately attacked; the bastard blew up the vehicle we traveled in, and we barely made it out,” Zeke explains urgently.

“Abraham has been shot, Ezekiel,” Noah points out with a raised brow. “How did that happen, son?”

“TheGhosttried to shoot me, and Abe put himself in the way of the bullet,“ Zeke explains with conviction. “He took a bullet meant to end my life, father. If he hadn’t, you would be burying your son today.” Damn, this guy spins stories like nobody’s business. I almost want to clap for the performance he’s putting on.

“Blessed be the saints, son,” Noah exclaims, his eyes scanning over Sammy and me. I can see Zeke’s body tensing in response. “This maniac could have killed you. He almost killed Abraham.”

“He managed to infiltrate the house despite Abe and me putting up a fight,” Zeke explains urgently. “Father, it’s not just one man; we were wrong in our intel. There are two of them, maybe more. We saw at least two. It’s like we’re dealing with two ghosts.”

Noah takes a step back, his gaze shifting from Zeke’s intense eyes to mine and then Sammy’s, searching for confirmation. Does he believe this incredible story that Zeke is weaving? If he doesn’t, we’re all as good as dead.

To intensify the already blazing tension, I begin to whimper and tug at my hair, making my body convulse as I stand before this group of useless men.“Be weak,”Zeke had instructed. Well, how about I show them I’m on the brink of a damn nervous breakdown? Because right now, that’s not too far from the truth. Zeke’s strong arms envelop my shoulders, drawing me into his warm, rugged frame, and I feign weakness, pretending that my legs are about to give out beneath me.

“Dinah, everything’s going to be alright now. You’re safe. I’ll protect you, Snow,” Zeke murmurs into my hair, his voice carrying into the room. Someone clears their throat uncomfortably, clearly unnerved by the emotional display in the room. Nothing but a bunch of weaklings, I think to myself.

“Sir, there was an intruder in the house, a massive man armed to the teeth. I did my utmost to shield my charge. I had her hide while I engaged the assailant. He momentarily overpowered me and got hold of the Sacred Daughter, injuring her before I managed to fend him off. The man is injured now. He escaped just before your arrival,” Sammy’s words roll smoothly off his tongue, his face devoid of any deception.Bravo, Sammy, bravo.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever,” Noah utters, lowering his head in praise. The rest of the men do the same, except Ezekiel and I. We stand pressed against each other, and I can feel his heart racing inside his chest. So, he’s nowhere near as confident as he’s portraying.Good to know.

“It is right to give thanks to the Lord, my God, and to the Brotherhood which keeps its order.” All the voices combine, including Zeke’s and Sammy’s, causing my stomach to sour further.

“Matias, Francis, have every inch of the grounds searched for these heathens. Order roadblocks to be set immediately all around the perimeter. Bring in more men if needed. Flush them out. I want them captured and brought before the Brotherhood for their crimes, where we will crucify them,” Noah orders with a growl.

His attention pivots back to Zeke and me, having dismissed his obedient toy soldiers, who are now going to blindly pursue fictional adversaries through the forest. The absurdity of it all threatens to overwhelm me, the urge to break down in hysterical laughter or tears, perhaps both, surging within.

“You are all safe now. The Brotherhood will ensure your safety,” Noah asserts. He glances at Zeke and me before continuing, “Zeke, we must take Dinah back to the capital for her care. I’ll arrange for her to stay with a family with a Sacred Wife and daughter, providing her with the support of other women during this difficult period.” As he begins to walk away, his words leave me with a mix of anger and anxiety.

He’s determined to send me back to the capital, to some stranger’s home where I’ll be under constant surveillance, and Sammy won’t be there to protect me. The urge to refuse, to unleash my fury and act as unruly as possible, is on the tip of my tongue. And believe me, I’m both violent and unruly. But before I can voice my defiance, Zeke opens his traitorous mouth.

“NO! You will do no such thing. She is mine. My Sacred fucking Wife, or she will be within the next twenty-four hours. No one will be taking her from me. You want to keep her safe? She has to become a Rothesay immediately.” Zeke’s voice is seething with fury, his words laced with defiance and determination.

---