21. The Sinner
Chapter twenty-one
The Sinner
Dinah
I stare across the small, metal, confined space at Abe’s scowling face, as he adamantly refuses to meet my glance, in the van transporting us to meet with the rebel forces that believe they have found where Noah Rothesay is hiding. I know Abe’s upset, and thinks we are being led into another trap. ‘Lambs to a slaughter’ is what he called it. He wanted me to remain at the Holy Father’s compound, safe from harm, but doesn’t he realize that nowhere is safe for us? After a vicious screaming match between the two of us, one that almost led to blows being exchanged, Abe thought it wise to attempt to use his larger body to intimidate me, and that had me seething, and ready to rip his face off. Zeke tried his best to mediate and calm us both down, but Abe stalked off, destroying anything in his path, like a child not getting his way.
Zeke squeezes my knee, offering comfort and reassurance that at least he’s not furious with me. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not any happier with what amounts to a fool’s errand that we are on, but so far, he’s standing by my decision. How long that lasts, before he also tries to exert his will, I don’t know, but I have my suspicions it won’t be much longer, based on how tense he is next to me. “So, I saw Sammy early this morning, while you both were sleeping.” My head turns sharply in his direction, with a harsh inhale of breath at the bomb he drops so casually. Zeke’s jaw tightens, his lips meeting in a straight, stern line. He’s keeping his expressions guarded, giving nothing away, and I hate that he feels he has to hide his feelings from me. My heart pumps viciously in my chest, hope, that sneaky bitch, tries to rise within me, and I force her back down. I know Sammy was still alive when we left, since one of the rebels had brought him food, and reported back to Sarah that he threw it against the wall like a savage. I couldn’t bring myself to face him before we left, knowing I needed my head in the game, and not on how lost he is.
“He wasn’t in great shape, but he seemed more lucid, so whatever my father has given him seems to be wearing off.” He turns his head in my direction, blazing emerald eyes, filled with sorrow, meeting mine. He doesn’t hide his own misery at the situation, allowing me to see how this is also affecting him. He got out, and left him behind to be terrorized by his father, and he feels every inch of that guilty weight on his broad shoulders. “He’s been brainwashed, Dinah. He truly believes that you abandoned him to my father. I don’t know what he did to him, but whatever it was, I’m not sure he can come back from it. We are going to have to seriously consider what to do with him. He’s a danger to you.”
My immediate inclination is to respond that he’s wrong. That it was whatever poison Noah had doused Sammy with that caused that unstable, violent reaction. That Sammy, in his right mind, would never hurt me, but a niggle of doubt is worming its way inside my mind. I saw the fury, and blatant hate, in his eyes. My Sammy was there, trapped inside of the man who would have killed me with his bare hands, but so was a monster who desired to hurt me. My mouth opens and closes, no words denying Zeke’s accusation exiting my lips. I can’t even fathom the amount of torture Sammy had to endure, at the hands of that demon. How long and hard he must have tried to fight, before his mind splintered, and Noah’s evil words and deeds managed to slip in, and turn my protector away from me. “I will never give up on him. Never. Don’t bother wasting your breath attempting to change my mind. Sammy is mine, as are the both of you. Would you so readily give up on Abe, if the tables were turned?“ I stare at the sadness in his eyes, and I see the moment he confirms my thoughts. He would never give up on Abe, no matter what condition he was in. Regardless, if Abe tried to murder him a hundred times, he would hold tight to the love and bond he has with him.
“He’s going to be the death of you, Atasi. You can’t ask us to stand by, and watch him end your life. You are ours too.” Abe’s gruff words have me pulling my gaze away from Zeke’s and meeting his amber gaze, the golden flecks deep in his eyes entrancing me. “You’re a willful bitch, and most of the time, I disagree with your reckless endeavors to get yourself fucking killed, but I love you . I have loved you since we were children. You’re my pretty blue flower, Atasi. Please don’t ask me to stand by and watch you die. I can’t... I won’t.“ His words have me spiraling inside my mind. Their sweetness, but also their promise of violence. Those words should thrill my soul; they’re a declaration of love and passion, of all that he feels deeply for me. He will stop at nothing to save me. He won’t let me go to my grave at the hands of my lover, or anyone else.
I push off my seat and jostle across to his, landing ungracefully in his welcoming lap as his thick, tattooed arms close tightly around me, with the promise that he will never let me go, and he nuzzles my neck. “I love you, Abe. You’re my berserker, my home . I don’t want to argue, and be cross with you, and risk not spending our last moments in your arms, or hurt because we can’t agree.“ I take a deep inhale, pulling back and pecking his soft, pouty lips but refusing to deepen the kiss, despite his sexy groan endeavoring to tempt me. “I can’t let him go, not now, not ever. If you love me, if you both love me,” I turn and stare at Zeke, who’s watching us, with need across his expression. “You will help me save him. I refuse to live in a world where the four of us are not together.”
Before either of them can answer, I feel the vehicle slowing down. My eyes turn away from the men I love, and I meet various pairs of rebels’ eyes with curious glances. Shit, I had forgotten how much of an audience we had. This could have been even more embarrassing, if I had allowed what usually happens when I’m in Abe’s arms to proceed. One woman winks at me, before turning away and looking straight ahead. “Um, we are approaching the targeted area, ma’am,” a voice calls from between the front seats, and I get a glimpse of a dark head, with a balaclava wrapped around his face, and intense brown eyes meeting, and holding, my gaze. Movement around me has me breaking my glance, and surveying those in the back of the large van with us, as they ready their weapons, and commence last-minute checks of their protective attire. We are a motley crew, in pilfered Brotherhood combat gear, each person having a thick blue ribbon on their arms, identifying them as rebels from the enemy, and pulling down their masks in place.
“Do we have eyes on the enemy?” Zeke questions, as he checks the two guns strapped to his broad chest. I force myself up from Abe’s lap with a mischievous smile, only to get a leering glare from him in return, as I begin to inspect my own weapons. Like Zeke and Abe, I have two guns strapped to my chest, with additional clips at the ready. My hands slide down to ensure my thigh sheath is on tight with my small blades, and my hair hides the large sword I have tucked in a strap on my back. “Heat signatures are showing movement from within the residence, but we cannot positively determine if your father is in there. We’re going based on the last intel from hours ago, that showed him entering, and not leaving.”
“He better be in there. I plan to commit patricide,” Zeke mumbles under his breath, as he yanks out one of his guns to check the chamber, but I hear him, and it brings on a chuckle. “You’ll have to get to him first then, ’cause I mean to slit his throat, and feed him his shriveled cock.” A gruff cackle has me turning around, and admiring Abe once more. “You two will have to beat me to him. I’m hunting giant Noah turd prey. Don’t worry, baby, I’ll make sure to rip off his head and gift it to you.”
My mouth opens and closes with shock at Abe’s statement. Never mind that I don’t know which one of us it was actually directed to. I’m positive that if Abe encounters Noah Rothesay before Zeke or I do, he will do exactly what he’s claiming he will. Fuck, the unhinged bastard might even mount it like a monstrous trophy on one of our walls. “Just save his cock, so that Dinah can shove it down his throat,” Zeke replies, to the groans of the various males in the van with us. Great, it’s a competition to see who finds him first now. I love a good game of hide and seek, except ours will be a little different, since Noah is not making it out of this one.
The vehicle comes to a stop, almost knocking me off my feet as I raise my hands to the ceiling to brace myself, and my injured shoulder immediately protests the movement with a sharp, shooting pain. Strong hands brace my legs, holding me firm, and ensuring I don’t fall. I glance down and meet Zeke’s intense eyes, and he mouths, “I love you” to me. I don’t say it back, refusing to acknowledge that this might be the end for us. No, I’ll say it when we are done with this grim task, and have returned to some semblance of safety, and I can lie in his and Abe’s arms, as we all remind each other that we are still alive.
The back doors of the van slide open, revealing the darkening sky to our glances. The clouds overhead look ominous, as if they too know that blood is about to be shed. The first couple of rebels slide out, ready to attack, followed by Abe, who has to duck down not to hit his head in the cramped space, and stops before exiting the van. “Happy hunting, Atasi.” He yanks me towards him, and his lips slam down on mine for a brief, hungry kiss, before he’s gone without a backward glance. “Motherfucker, he’ll pay for that,” Zeke growls, as he too climbs out and reaches back for me. “What?” I question with amusement as my boots hit the dirt. “He didn’t fucking kiss me goodbye. When we get back, I’m going to tan his ass with my belt.” Oh my God, these two are insane.
Rapid gunfire erupts all around us as the remaining rebels take position, and engage the enemy. I pull out my gun and search for my first target. Here we fucking go. Let’s hope we are all alive at the end of this.
“Hey, Atasi,” Abe shouts from forty feet away, and motions with his fingers that he’s already taken out two of the enemy. I roll my eyes, but can’t stop the satisfaction and blood lust from rising within me. I love a fucking challenge. “Game on, Abe!” I yell back, and run into the chaos with Zeke on my heels.