30. Millie
Sometimes being short had its advantages. Like now. No one even noticed me as I moved around the crowd surrounding Pastor Paul on my way to Karigan. She stood off to the side, from her soon-to-be husband, who was well within hearing distance, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to really evaluate Karigan.
And possibly, depending on how the conversation went, reveal that I was the crazy person who stopped her outside the school last fall. That was my proof that I was someone who could help and was not integrated into the cult, like the others she was surrounded by. I just hoped it didn’t all backfire and she would tell Pastor Paul everything.
We assumed, based on her dazed-out expression, that she was drugged or slightly sedated. Now was my chance to see if our suspicions were true about her being a captive, not knowing that freedom awaited just outside the compound. One thing all the leaders like Gary Paul did was alienate you from your family and make you put all your hope and support system on the leader. Once trust was gained, it was easy for them to convince you that outsiders were bad, hurting you, or even stunting your enlightened growth.
Two girls about Karigan’s age hung around her but seemed relieved when they all caught my approach. After a quick wave, they merged with the group around Pastor Paul.
“Hi.” I paused beside her, purposefully putting Pastor Paul at my back and using a tall man as cover on the chance he looked this way. “Kari, right?”
A glassy gaze slowly slid from the dispersing crowd to meet mine. My heart sank like lead at the emptiness behind them as she nodded.
“Or is it Karigan?” Her lids opened a fraction, giving away the shock or recognition of her real name. I waved a hand like it didn’t matter when it absolutely did. Every reaction I could pull from her, big or small, mattered. “I’m Marla. It’s nice to meet you.” I held a breath, waiting to see if she recognized me.
“Nice to meet you, too,” she whispered.
I loosed that burning breath in a heavy sigh. Guess the pink hair and makeup made me look just different enough for her not to remember. Or her memories were altered by the drugs they clearly had her on.
“It sounds like congratulations are in order on the engagement.” If possible, the girl curled in on herself even more. “Are you excited?”
A pause. One very long pause that spoke volumes despite her quiet answer that followed.
“Yes.”
“You’re so young. How old are you?” Fuck, this was more difficult than I expected.
“Seventeen.”
“And your parents are excited?” Was that a low blow to mention her dead parents? Maybe. But I needed a reaction from her. Something that would help me understand how deep Gary Paul’s manipulation went.
“I don’t have any parents.” Somehow, her voice took on an even more bland, almost dead tone.
“Where are they? What happened?”
Her gaze lifted to mine again, eyes searching. “They gave me to him.” My stomach dropped as her lower lip wobbled. “This is what they wanted for me before…” With zero emotion on her face, a lone tear dribbled out of the corner of her eye, followed by several more. It was unnerving to see someone crying without showing any emotion. “They are gone, but they believed in Pastor Paul and his visions. This is what they wanted for me before they died.”
My hand lifted, the tips of my fingers barely brushing down her bare arm in a comforting stroke I hoped no one else witnessed.
“What happened that night?” I glanced around quickly and released a relieved breath at finding Killian now talking to Pastor Paul, the two deep in conversation. “What happened the night your parents were killed?”
Her dark brows pulled in tight, but that dead gaze didn’t leave my face. “They planned it. All of it. That is what I remember. They left me to him.” The bite in her tone at those last words made me want to jump with joy.
I stepped even closer so she could hear my whispered words. “But what if they didn’t?” I wrapped my pinky finger around hers. “What if it’s all a lie?”
Long, dark lashes fluttered up and down. “A lie?”
“Are you happy here, Karigan?”
“Happy?”
“Are you taken care of, looked after… hurt?” I rasped that last word.
“I’m loved. Everything I need is here with Pastor Paul. He is my only family left.”
I bit my lip to keep from turning and screaming at the bastard behind me. That motherfucker. I hoped I got the chance to punch him in the nuts after all this was over.
“That’s not true, Karigan. You have family out there looking for you. Your aunt?—”
“Looks like our women get along well.” I tensed, spine snapping ramrod straight at the menacing presence at my back and fake-ass jovial tone. My hair stood on the back of my neck when a heavy hand dropped to my shoulder. “What are you two ladies deep in conversation about?”
“Wedding plans,” I blurted. My pleading gaze locked on Karigan, hoping she understood our conversation was not to be shared with him. Damnit. Sweat beaded along my forehead and palms from the building nervousness. “I asked if she wanted help with the wedding plans.” Swallowing hard, I carefully removed myself from Pastor Paul’s hold and stepped to Killian’s side. “I enjoyed planning ours.”
That was a lie, even if our marriage was fake. Planning any event was not on my list of things I enjoyed. Hell, my wedding with the ex was tiny, with only about fifty people attending, and even that felt too large.
“She just loves spending my money.” Killian snaked a hand around my waist, gripped my hip, and tugged, sealing me against his side. “Tell me more about tonight. I hope I’m able to witness all the benefits of being on the leadership team that the others have mentioned.” He leveled Pastor Paul a bored look. “It will need to be compelling to warrant the sizable donation you suggested.”
Pastor Paul’s eyes brightened, smile wide. “Of course, Kurt. Of course. It’s why I invited you and the wife to attend tonight. The engagement celebration will be one to remember, I have no doubt.” He shot a look to Karigan that I couldn’t read, but she did. The next second, she was at his side, smiling up at him like he was her world.
But when he turned his attention back to Killian, I saw a flicker of something that made my heart race. Ever so slightly, her fake smile slipped, the corners of her lips curling into a frown as she stared at her soon-to-be husband.
Maybe, just maybe, the brief conversation was enough to worm through the lies and drugs. If she began to question the lies now, it would make convincing her to leave easier.
And with the unexpected invitation to the engagement party, our chance to tell Karigan the truth about her parents’ murders and break her free of this place could be tonight.
“This outfit actually makes mefeel more like me rather than the long, flowy skirts and tops do.” I adjusted the soft silk top, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles. It didn’t fit me as well as it would Georgiana, but my goal wasn’t to draw attention but to blend in. I studied my reflection and gave a soft pink lock a tug. “Well, I feel like Dr. Anderson, minus the pink hair.”
Killian’s strong arms wrapped around me from behind, sealing my back to his chest. Nose in my hair, he inhaled deep. “I love it.”
“Me, too, but I’m not sure the university will.” His forearm twitched beneath my fingers as I caressed his soft, golden skin. “What are we doing, Kill? What will we do?” I turned in his hold. Chin pressed to his bare sternum where the dress shirt hung open, I stared up into his handsome face.
“We will be together, that’s what.” Calloused hands cupped my face. “If you want me with you, I’ll figure it out. Or if you’re ready for a career change, then we can look into that, too.”
“A change?” I wrinkled my nose. “What do you mean? I love my job.”
Didn’t I?
“How close are you to becoming a licensed criminal psychologist?”
“A few observation hours short. Why?”
Those aqua eyes scanned my face. “You threw yourself into this case, forced Rhyan to bend the rules for you. Those are not the actions of a professor who is content with sitting behind a desk and teaching. You seem to want more. Tell me I’m wrong and I won’t say another word, but I think you’re bored.”
I shifted my stare to his chest, fingers absentmindedly tracing the defined muscles along his shoulders and arms. My mind wandered to the last year, how bored I had become in my role and increasingly annoyed with the students’ lazy attitudes. Maybe what I felt wasn’t just missing Killian in my life, but maybe I was meant for a bigger purpose. Something more.
“It wouldn’t be much of a leap for you to consult with the BSU team on a more consistent basis. Just think about it. But remember what I said. We’re in this together, you and me.”
“Okay,” I whispered. A sudden swell of emotions and a heady mix of gratitude and pride had my voice cracking.
“Now. Let’s finish getting ready.” His palm came down hard on my skirt-covered ass. I squealed, pushing my chest against his in a half attempt to avoid the next spank and the next. “Fuck, okay, I need to stop or all those clothes are going to come right off, and I’m going to fuck you from behind, watching your face in the mirror as you come around my cock.”
Lip between my teeth, I nodded, totally down with that plan.
A genuine, full-face smile pulled at Killian’s lips before he bopped me on the nose. “Don’t give me that look.”
“Then don’t tease me with a good time.”
His groan rumbled through the small bathroom. “Fuck, you were made for me, babycakes. So fucking perfect.” His hands slid down my arms to weave our fingers together. “Now, come on, we have some baddies to hoodwink while we steal their virginal bride.”
My eyes rolled to the ceiling. “You’re so dramatic.”
“But you love me.”
Bare toes pressed to the cold tile, I lifted to kiss his soft lips. “I do love you.”
“What if we get married sooner rather than later?” My lips brushed against his as my grin grew. “What are your feelings toward saying fuck it to a big party and eloping off into the sunset?”
My contented sigh brushed along his skin. “That sounds absolutely perfect.”
Fingers gripping my chin, he held me in place while he devoured my mouth. “Something to look forward to. Which is good. I have a feeling tonight will suck the worst out of all the nights we’ve been here.”
Lead dropped into my stomach at the reminder of what we had to do, but I held the smile so he wouldn’t see my rising worry.
What if tonight didn’t go as planned and our future together never even had a chance to start?