Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
THE HEATHEN
Iwas prepared for so many things when coming into this room, but not this.
Grave is fucking my sister, but that’s not what catches my attention.
It’s the baby in a bassinet. As much as I want to grab the baby and make sure him or her is safe, I don’t.
I keep my eyes on the prize. Grave, naked as the day he was born.
His back is to us and he’s far too preoccupied to know that there’s a room full of people watching him.
I step forward but keep some distance so my men don’t lose their minds.
“Grave is such an interesting name if you think about it. You call yourself that because you have ended so many lives. And now, I’ll end yours, Gabriel.”
Spinning around, he narrows his gaze at me, cracks his knuckles as I smile at him with my gun pointed at his chest.
The cracking of his knuckles has always been his silent threat. For years it caused me to cower to him, but much to my surprise—I’m not afraid anymore.
“Get on your knees, Gabriel. Show Abigail what a good boy you are.”
I have my finger on the trigger ready to pull it if I need to when Abigail jumps off the bed and in front of him.
“Abigail, I am warning you. I will kill you if you choose this. Now, move.”
She tilts her head to the side, places her hands on her hips, and stares at me with pure venom in her eyes.
“I will protect him, I will protect the Prophet. The wicked and ungodly shall never win, for the Almighty Father reigns over evil. Obedience is the key to the gates of heaven. I will obey. If I die in my pursuit of obedience to my men, I am granted salvation in the afterlife.”
No. She drank the fucking kool aid.
Obedience.
This is the Prophet's teachings. As women, we are born and taught that for us, obedience is of utmost importance. Because that’s how they control us.
Grave reaches behind him, hands her his gun and speaks in a loving tone to her that we both know is fake. But Abigail doesn’t. She is lost to indoctrination.
“This is a holy war, Abby. Make the choice to not allow evil to win. You were born for this. You will lead our righteous women into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
She takes the weapon and raises it. It’s a split second impossible decision. It’s either her or me. We can’t both survive.
“I loved you, Abigail. You were my one light, but you dimmed it yourself.”
I pull the trigger, shooting my sister in the heart, while breaking my own in the process.
Carter moves in quickly as my sister's body slumps to the floor and presses his gun to Grave’s head.
Killian and Knox surround me, shielding me from looking at the evidence of what I just did.
I take a deep breath to stabilize myself and carry on.
“Knox, zip tie Gabriel please. It’s time to move him to his final resting place.”
Grave stares at me as if he has never seen me before.
“That’s right, Gabriel. The weak girl you knew is gone.
And in her place is a stronger version that’s pissed off.
This is what men like you don’t get. You made me a victim.
But then something happened. I found myself.
The woman I was supposed to be before you destroyed everything that I was.
Payback is a bitch, but you’ll find that out. ”
Knox zip ties him and yanks him to his feet.
“Hey, Gabriel, guess what today is?”
Looking up at me he shrugs his shoulders not having a clue.
“Ten years ago today, you killed my daughter, but also—it’s retribution day.
A day of pain.
Suffering.
Reckoning.
But not your death.
That’s something I’ll savor.
What is it you used to say to me?”
I pause for dramatic effect as I stare at him and he doesn’t respond.
“I can’t wait to make you cry, Wicked Little Bitch.”
I giggle, probably sounding as unhinged as I feel right now.
“I can’t wait to make you cry, Wicked Little Bitch.” I repeat the words he once said, back to him.
Walking over to the newborn baby, I look at the little pink onesie and assume it’s a girl.
I swallow hard with a pang in my chest knowing what girls in this family endure.
Not this one. I won’t allow any more suffering.
The emotion wells up inside me as I realize this isn’t the end.
She’s the beginning. The first in a family to not be abused. This is fucking monumental.
I pick the little girl up and hold her in my arms. Holding her close to my chest, I kiss her on the forehead.
“I don’t know what your future holds for you, but I promise it’s already better than it was.”
I glance at Bones and shake my head.
“What am I supposed to do with her? We have so much to do.”
He takes her from my arms with understanding.
“I will call Bella and Athena. They can watch over her for as long as you need. We’ll figure out a permanent situation after everything is done.”
Knox and Raven drag Grave out of the bedroom as he screams.
“I’m fucking naked.”
I laugh again when I hear Knox state the truth.
“It’s okay. You won’t need clothes where you’re going.”
Bones comes up and nods to Carter and Killian.
“Give us a minute.”
They step away but their gazes don’t leave me.
“You okay, Pipsqueak?”
I roll my eyes at him and say, “Fine. Never better. My sister made her choice, and I made mine.”
The man who rarely smiles, does for me.
“I’m proud of you. Everything Knox and Carter gathered at your request is in the field waiting for you. I threw the prod in the bag for you too.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for family,” he says, and I shove all the feelings that brings down deep. Now is not the time for any emotion other than fury.