Chapter 27
Brooks
Hannah is quiet as I drive us home. I keep my hand on her thigh, just because I need to touch her. I know she said she was fine, but she’s clearly feeling things. I get it. I really do. Which is why I want her to know I’m here.
When we get to the house, she says, “I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
“Want some company?”
Her smile is tight, and fucking guts me.
“I think I want to be alone, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay, angel. That was a lot back there. Hell, I don’t know those people and I feel like I could use a drink.”
Her smile is a bit brighter this time, but not by much. She makes her way to the stairs, going to our room, and I go to the living room, my phone in hand.
Ace
Can you do me a favor?
Depends on what it is.
I’m hurt. There was a time when you would have said yes without a stipulation.
I have a wife now, and a child on the way in case you’ve forgotten.
As if you’d let anyone forget Isa and the heir she carries.
HA. HA.
Get to the fucking point before I turn off my phone.
Cranky. I heard it gets like that in the third trimester.
Brooks…
I need you to look into someone. Jeremiah Sullivan.
New recruit or personal?
Personal.
Got it. Give me an hour.
An hour? Shit, you’re slipping, old man.
Fuck off.
An hour later on the dot, my phone dings.
Ace
Got the info. Looking for anything in particular?
Any shady dealings or skeletons that can be used against him?
Tons of stuff.
Are you alone?
Kinky.
I swear to god…
I’m dialing him before he can send another message.
“I’m assuming you’ve found something good since you asked if I was alone.”
“Depends on what you consider good.” He pauses. “Pastor Jeremiah Sullivan is a piece of shit. How people like that manage to get by without getting caught is beyond me.”
“I need you to be more specific.”
“Large amounts of money mysteriously vanish from the church funds regularly. Meanwhile, he’s driving a vehicle that costs more than most people make in a year.” He continues, “He’s associated with like-minded men that are just as vile.”
I hum. “That’s good, but not what I’m looking for.”
“He’s abusing his wife.” There’s a long pause that has me sitting forward. “I can’t say for sure, but I think he’s gotten physical with Hannah in the past.”
“Explain.”
“She went to the ER a few months after her mother married him. Had some suspicious injuries. A nurse questioned it, but nothing ever came out of it because of his status. She was nine.”
I grip the phone so tight that I’m surprised it doesn’t crack.
“He hit her?”
The words are thick in my throat, and it physically pains me to say them. That mother fucker hurt my sweet Hannah when she was a child?
“It would appear so.” There’s a pause. “So, what are we going to do about it?”
“We?”
“Yes, we. You helped me with the people who hurt Isa. It’s only fitting that I help you.”
I think.
“Let me talk to Hannah. See what she wants me to do.”
He whistles. “Never thought I’d see the day Brooks Henderson would ask someone for their opinion before acting on something.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’ll let you know what she says.”
Ending the call, I lean back on the couch. If what Ace said is true, Pastor Sullivan hurt Hannah. I think back to the bits and pieces of info she told me about her family life. The Pastor was strict, she’d say. Had so many rules that she got out of their house as soon as she could. My chest aches. I don’t want to upset her by bringing up the past, but I need to know. I have to know.
I’m moving before I can think too much about my actions, going upstairs to our room. Hannah is on her side, looking out the window. I’m not sure she even notices me approaching.
I squat so we’re eye level.
“I need to ask you something and I want you to be honest.”
She blinks, as if coming out of a daze. “Is everything okay?”
“That depends on your answer.” Reaching for her hand, I say, “I had Ace look into your stepfather. He found some… questionable things.”
Her face pales, which, honestly, is answer enough, but I need to hear her say it.
“Angel, did that monster ever lay his hands on you?”
She makes a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “Why does it matter?”
“It matters because I’m going to kill him if he did.”
Her eyes widen and she sits. “Brooks, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious, Angel.”
“It was years ago. It doesn’t matter.”
“But he did lay his hands on you, right?”
She pauses for a moment. “Yes.”
“When was the last time?”
“Does it matter?”
“It sure the fuck does.”
She says, “The last time was after my accident, when I was staying with them.”
“What did he do?”
Maybe I’m selfish for making her tell me, but I need to know.
“We were arguing because they wanted me to come to church with them. There was no way I could sit there, knowing people were judging me, so I told him no.” Her throat works as she swallows. “He grabbed my arm, twisting. I pulled, trying to get away, and he let go at the same time. I fell back and hit the wall, and a picture fell from the wall, hitting me in the head.”
She pushes her hair aside, rubbing a small scar by her ear.
“I had to get stitches because of it.”
I have to take in a calming breath before I can speak.
“Will you hate me if I kill him?”
She does laugh this time, even though tears fill her beautiful eyes. “What good will it do, Brooks? What’s done is done. Killing him won’t change anything.”
“Oh, I disagree, Angel. I disagree a whole-fucking-lot.” I run my finger over the scar. “But I won’t kill him if you don’t want me to. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to ruin his life.”
“Can I think about it?”
“Only if you let me cuddle with you.”
She nods. Not needing to be told twice, I round the bed, kicking off my shoes before climbing in next to her. I love how my sweet wife melts into my embrace, exhaling. I kiss the top of her head, holding her close.
“I’m not sure my mom would know how to function without him,” she says in a low tone. “He’s told her what to do for years and was the only person who could get her to conquer her demons.”
Pride swells in my chest knowing Hannah is considering my offer. But I know my angel. She’s not going to want him dead, even if the world will be better off.
“Did your mom know what he was doing?”
“Know? Of course. She would help him sometimes.” My grip tightens, and she rubs my hand comfortingly. “Like I said, it was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t make it right, Angel.”
“No, it doesn’t.” She rolls so we’re facing. “Killing him will solve nothing. How will you ruin his life?”
“He’s been stealing from the church for years. When it comes to light, he’ll be ruined.”
“I think you take for granted the love his congregation has for him. They’re going to say he did it because of divine guidance or something.”
I smile. “His congregation might love and adore him, but they’re backing the wrong god.”
“Is this a Brotherhood reference?”
“It is, Angel. Want to know what they call me?”
“Yes.”
“They call me the Magnetic God. People might love Pastor Sullivan, but they worship me. When I break the news, people will listen and turn on him.”
“Is it weird that I find it hot when you refer to yourself as a god?”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “Not at all.”
She puts her hand on my chest. “Two things.”
“I’m all ears.”
“One, I want you to ruin him. Two, I want you to make love to me. Now.”
“Fuck,” I breathe out. “You know how to make a man’s day, Angel.”
“Because you get to ruin someone, or because I want to have sex with you?”
“Both.” I move over her, caging her in with my arms. “Let’s work on putting a baby in you, wife.”
Her eyes darken with my words.
For now, I’ll enjoy this moment with her. But very soon Jeremiah Sullivan will rue the day he ever laid hands on my sweet angel.