Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
I blink, my pulse racing. “What?”
“Ask him why they ran him out of town on a fucking rail, Delilah,” he snaps. “Maybe it’s because he bled them dry? Or because he fucked the minister’s wife, or the mayor’s daughter.”
My face falls, and he just shakes his head.
“You think Gabriel is just trying to make a buck? Just selling some pseudo-religious bullshit to hillbilly and podunk towns like Canaan?” His eyes narrow. “He’s a parasite, Delilah. And if you’re smart, you’ll stay away. But do what you want, I really don’t care anymore.”
I start to tear up, and I look away. Paul sighs.
“I’m not trying to hurt you, Delilah,” he says quietly. “But if you’re gonna cast me as a sinner, go look at the devil sitting under that tent.”
Chapter Fifteen
Delilah
I push the tears away as I step out of the truck. It’s been hours since Paul ran off, but I can’t stand it any longer. I can’t stand pacing my room, or helping my father calm my mother down. I’ve told myself a thousand times that Paul was just spouting nonsense, and that Gabriel really isn’t involved with any of this. I’ve told myself that the stories Paul eluded to are all made up hearsay and rumors, or just something Paul’s made up himself to be cruel. But hours later, I can’t stand the not knowing anymore, so it’s here I’ve fled to.
My heart is ripping in two as it beats like a drum, and tears streak my cheeks as I race across the field to him. But this time, I’m running to him for a very different reason. This time, I want answers.
“Gabriel!” I yell as I storm into the tent. It’s empty, and I scowl as I march back to his little office area. I whip around the corner, but it too is empty. My eyes land on the tub, and in spite of everything, heat teases through me as I remember what we did here last night.
The scene of the sin, so to speak.
I shiver, raking my teeth over my lip as I run out of the tent and over to the Winnebago. I don’t know, I just yank the door open. But it too is empty.
“Where the hell are you?” I hiss to myself as I storm back out. I frown and walk around the side of the Winnebago, until suddenly, I spot him. Gabriel’s out a ways into the back field behind his little set-up, standing in jeans and a t-shirt with his back to me, looking up at the setting sun.
“Gabriel!” I yell as I start to run towards him. He turns, and he grins before he sees the stormy, cold look on my face, and his smile fades into a frown.
“Delilah—”
“Are you working with my brother?!” I snap, jabbing him in the chest before he wraps his arms around me.
He frowns. “What?”
“Are you or aren’t you?!” I yell. “Do you know what his plans are?!”
His frown deepens. “Delilah…”
“Do you or don’t you, Gabriel?!” I half-sob in anguish.
He swallows, and his jaw clenches. “Yes,” he growls. “I do.”
The tears flow, and I turn, shaking my head. I feel him move towards me, but I whirl around and shake my head at him, backing away.
“No,” I gasp. “Gabriel, I can’t—”
“I just found out, Delilah,” he growls. “This afternoon. I’m not ‘working with’ him, if you’re implying what I think you are.” He glares at me. “Yeah, your darling brother is trying to rip off your whole damn town.”
“And when exactly where you planning on sharing this?”
He growls. “When I was done standing out here, like I’ve been for fucking hours, trying to figure out how to tell you that your own brother is a scamming piece of shit trying to bleed your hometown dry with a shell game con! When I figured out how to tell you in a way that would break your heart the least,” he snaps. “That’s when!”
I simmer, my chest heaving as we stare at each other, three feet apart.
“Are you in on it?”
“What?” he grunts. “No, Jesus Christ—”
“Tell me what happened in Lockton,” I spit.
He frowns. “What?”
“Or Worthington?” I sneer. “Or how about Jessup, hmm?” I hiss.
Clarity spreads horribly over his face, and he leans back on his heels, nodding slowly with a grim look on his face. “So, I guess Paul went ahead and planted those seeds in your head, huh?”
“Well?!” I bellow.
“What do you want me to say, Delilah?!” he roars back. “That I was a fucking monk? A saint, before I met you? Well, I wasn’t, sorry. I’m six years older than you, and I’ve been scrounging my way through the world with no parents, no fucking parachute, no loving, wholesome town, and no blind faith my entire fucking life! But those places? You want to know about Lockton?”