Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Beck knew exactly how unwelcoming the sect had been to outsiders. “I assume it wore on her?”
“Yes. One day, she came to me in tears because some of the women had asked questions she didn’t understand. I knew if they figured out we hadn’t consummated our marriage, everyone would blame her.”
“Then she would be shunned.”
“Exactly. But I still hesitated. I was haunted by Blessing.”
That took Beck aback. “Why?”
“The night Father took her as his spiritual wife, he called Jed and me to their bedchamber. He told us that because we would soon be men, we needed to understand how we were to deflower our wives.” Grim apology filled Zach’s face. “Then he showed us.”
Beck went icy all over. That son of a bitch… He’d always known his father was bent, but this was a new low, even for him. “Holy shit. You couldn’t have been more than…what, ten?”
“Yes, and I was horrified. I knew you had feelings for her. I saw you kiss her between the clotheslines when you thought no one was looking. Before Father even took her to wife, I suspected he married her to hurt you. That night, I knew it. He was neither gentle nor considerate with her.” Zach grimaced. “Blessing had always been so sweet. I wondered why God was punishing her, why Father paid no heed to her screams of pain or her tears. Then he told her that he was teaching you a lesson. After that, I closed my eyes. I just couldn’t watch anymore.”
The ice in Beck’s veins turned to rage. “That bastard deserved exactly what I gave him when I slit his throat. I’m sorry he dragged you into his bullshit. No wonder you weren’t in a hurry to consummate your marriage to Faith.”
“But after she worried about her place among The Chosen, I did. She got pregnant almost immediately.” He swallowed like he had to shove down something painful. “Her pregnancy was normal. Her delivery wasn’t. The baby was breech. Faith almost didn’t make it. The blood…”
“At that age, the body isn’t fully ready to bear children. That’s one reason it’s illegal in the real world to have sex with anyone under eighteen.”
Zach nodded. “That’s about when Faith and I started sharing a bed again. After she gave birth, we didn’t… I couldn’t. I just kept hearing her screams. But after a few years, I developed genuine feelings for my wife. Unfortunately, God didn’t bless us with more children. I was okay with that because my Joanna was such a beautiful, warmhearted girl, like her mother. I can’t believe I’ll never see my baby smile again.”
When Zach broke down, Beck rubbed his brother’s heaving back.
Heavenly turned out the kitchen lights, then tiptoed into the room and set a cold bottle of water beside Zach.
“Thank you,” he croaked.
“You’re welcome.” She sent them a compassionate smile before disappearing upstairs.
Zach watched her go as he took a long pull from the bottle. “Heavenly is lovely, and she seems so kind.”
“She’s beautiful, but I fell for her because she’s got such a big heart.”
His brother frowned. “I know you and Seth both lie with her. Why? It’s so counter to the teachings you grew up with. Do you do it to rebel against The Chosen?”
“I can see where you’d think that, but no. The truth is, we both fell in love with her and it was tearing her up to choose between us. We tried to make her, but she was so torn that she let us both go. Since neither of us wanted to live without her…we compromised.”
Zach’s frown deepened. “Do you lie with Seth, too?”
“Never,” Beck insisted. “We’re friends and partners in Heavenly’s care. That’s it.”
Understanding dawned on his face. “So it’s like The Chosen, only in reverse. You each have scheduled nights with her?”
Beck shifted uncomfortably. He really didn’t want to answer, and he didn’t owe Zach explanations. But if his brother was going to live with them, he would acclimate better if he understood the dynamics in the house. “No. We’re with her together in all things.”
“At the same time?” Zach’s shocked expression made it clear he was trying to sort through the logistics of that.
“Yes. I’ll explain if you need me to, but let’s get back to the raid.” He wanted details. After all, if they were going to deal with potential threats, he needed to know what had happened.
“It went smoother than expected. Since we’d killed most of the God Squad at the lodge, there were only a handful left who tried to stop us, but when they saw the onslaught of FBI vehicles, they retreated and disappeared. Predictably, they went to warn the others, but it was too late. Everyone surrendered.”
“Without a shot being fired?”
“Thankfully, yes. The God Squad Jed left behind were mostly teenagers, and they were afraid. So Jericho and I waited in the church until the agents rounded up the rest of the Chosen. Finally, when everyone was inside, the FBI closed the doors. The flock stared up at me, and I could practically hear them wondering why I was preparing to address them and not Jed. Or even Esther. Most sat quietly, afraid of the agents and what their presence meant. Others, mostly elders, demanded to see Jed, their Messiah. I stood there, knowing I was about to destroy the only way of life I’d ever known. But I was destroying theirs, too. The realization made me so nervous I felt sick, but the sooner I said what I needed to, the sooner I could find Faith and Joanna.”