Be My Salvation (Brotherhood of the Sacrament #3)
1. The Forsaker
Chapter one
The Forsaker
Zeke
I can’t see shit in front of me with the smoke bomb that these assholes threw. My eyes burn as I try to grab hold of Abe, and pull him back in the direction I came from. So much for us getting the upper hand on these guys. This whole situation has been suspect. I’m not convinced that David isn’t playing for the other team, and leading the three of us into a trap. The more I think about it, the more I’m certain the cunt is working together with my father. How else would he have had access to those images of Sammy? Mole, my ass, David is the mole.
Sammy. Fuck, the only reason I went along with this shit, and didn’t grab Snow and run off with her and Abe, is Sammy. If those images are to be believed, he’s rapidly running out of time, and even if he does make it, I can’t see him ever being the same. I know the guy doesn’t trust me, and I don’t blame him, but I think while we were forced into captivity, and prisoners of my father, we managed to forge a bond. One that I don’t take lightly, considering I made it out, and he’s still there being tortured by my malignant father. My father needs to die painfully, and hopefully, I get the chance to make that happen.
Something hard strikes me from behind, and before I can turn around, I’m forced to my knees, a pained grunt leaving my lips. “Fuck,” Abe groans at my side, and I realize he must have been struck as well. “ Fuck, indeed , Abraham Mercier,“ the voice those words belong to has my blood instantly cooling. Motherfucking backstabbing bitch. David has betrayed us. Why didn’t I follow my instincts? There had to be another way to get to Sammy. This was a trap from the very beginning, and the likelihood of us ever reaching him is zero. Fuck, I hope Snow is okay. I should have never listened to her, and left her behind. Why the fuck didn’t I demand we all remain together? Panic races through me at the thought that she could be hurt, or lying dead on the other side of this house. I can’t lose her; she and Abe are my whole world. I won’t survive without either of them.
“Hey, double-crossing cunt. Feel like dying today?” Abe suddenly tries to rise to his feet to rush the asshole behind us, and gains another blow to the head that forces him back down to his knees. His cry of pain has further rage rising within me, at this asshole having the audacity to hit what belongs to me. I’m going to rip his heart out through his fucking nostrils. “I would knock off the bravery bit, psycho . You’re not getting out of here, unless I want you to, and I currently don’t,“ David utters sternly, his deep voice icy, and filled with malice.
“You’re a dead man , David. Everything you’ve done to betray her will be paid in blood. I’m going to make sure you suffer, before I send you to hell,“ I growl, and make a move to swing at the asshole as the smoke begins to dissipate, and I can see him more clearly. The fucker has a horde of armed men with him, all of them dressed like rebels, but my money is on them being Brotherhood men, and every one of them has a gun trained on me and Abe. “You betrayed her first, Ezekiel, or have you forgotten it was your blade that almost ended her life?”
The image of my hand thrusting a blade into Dinah’s abdomen tries to rise in my mind, but I shut it down behind impenetrable steel doors. That was the worst moment of my life, and I refuse to keep reliving it, and giving it power over me. There was no right choice for me to make. I loved both of them, and regardless, one of them would have died. She would have been raped and tortured before they killed her, and I had to save her from that pain. The image of her expression in that moment will haunt me until the day I die. I have no right to be forgiven, or be by her side in this fight, and yet, she has seen past the horror, violence, and betrayal that I committed against her, and allowed me back into her heart. I will never do anything to test the fragile bond we have; I would rather die first. It looks like we just might, my mind snarks.
“I made an impossible choice no one should ever have to make. You and your Brotherhood cronies are to blame for that. Are you working with my father, you lying cunt? Hmmm , is this a trap he set up to get back into the Holy Father’s good graces?“ My eyes meet Abe’s, and we exchange thoughts without saying anything. Neither one of us is willing to die here, or leave Dinah to die alone. We have to get out of here now.
“ Your father? Oh, Ezekiel, you live such a shallow, privileged life. You truly have no understanding of what is happening around you, or the world you live in. Your father is but a flea, annoying, yes, but he will be dealt with soon enough.“ He leans forward, and his dark, melted chocolate eyes meet mine. “There are so many more perils just waiting to destroy you, and your daddy issues are the least of them. Pay attention, boy , or you risk losing everything you value.“ That was cryptic and condescending as shit. What the hell does this asshole think he knows about me? I’m not an open book for him to read. Something, however, about the way he’s looking at me, causes further unease. Is that pity I see in the depths of his eyes, or remorse?
“Where is Dinah? What the fuck have you done? Why demand that she come here to kill a man you obviously don’t want dead?” Abe roars as he, once again, tries to get up, and gets a rifle to the side of his face for his troubles. As furious as I am, the wheels inside of my head are turning rapidly; if this asshole is not involved with my father, and he’s not actually a rebel, then who does he work for?
“This was a test. You had her come here to see if you could control her,” I inquire, and the more I think about it, the firmer my belief is that I’m correct. Nothing else makes sense.
“Very good, Ezekiel. I always thought you were the smartest of your group. Yes, she was brought here to confirm a theory. Her use was to be determined, and so were all of your fates.” He squats down until he’s level with me, and his tanned fingers grasp onto my chin, holding my face immobile. His touch repulses me, and I can’t entirely hide my reaction to him, and it causes a smirk to rise on his lips. He’s enjoying this cat-and-mouse game he’s playing with us. Is it just sadistic glee, or is there a purpose? One can never tell with members of the Brotherhood, since we seem to all have various psychopathic tendencies. Is it a wonder the world has become the way it is, with the leadership of men like David, my father, Abe, and myself?
Nothing can genuinely survive evil, and that is what we are, to varying degrees. I don’t harbor disillusionment that I’m not as damaged and destructive as the rest of them. After all, I am my father’s son, and so is Abe. Everything the Brotherhood touches becomes corrupted, in one capacity or another. Long ago, in a world long past, there must have been good men. Ones that cared for their brothers and sisters. Men who honored and treated women with respect, and stood by their sides in solidarity, rather than watching and enjoying their oppression. Men who fought for the good of all, not just for the top echelon of society. That world ended, and all that survived were monsters. I am a monster, just like the rest of them. The only woman I have ever truly cared for is Dinah. She is my exception, my world, and without her, I don’t care what the Brotherhood does.
“Don’t touch me. I’m not one of your pets, David,” I growl. Amusement fills his face as he releases a deep chuckle.
“Oh, but you could be if I truly wanted you to be, Ezekiel. In fact, I could have you on a leash and walk you about, or locked in a cage, regardless of your wishes. Be happy that, for now, I don’t.” He releases his grip and stands, motioning to the men with him. “Take both of them and confine them for now. Try not to damage them too much if they resist.”
“Fuck you, I’ll kill all of you!” Abe shouts, as he fights the rough hands that grab onto him, and from the side of my eye, I see a guy with a taser ready to shock him.
“Abe, fuck! Don’t fight back!” I yell, even though my arms are swinging at the assholes trying to cuff me.
Fuck, how the hell are we going to get to Snow?