37. Ophelia
OPHELIA
In the end, we stay overnight at the hospital.
It gets too late to make the drive back to Verona Falls, and it’s better that we give Roman a little longer to rest and ensure he’s not concussed and doesn’t have a bleed somewhere the doctors haven’t picked up on.
The staff at the hospital seems fine with us all staying, though I’m not sure there would be much they could do if they weren’t.
By the morning, the swelling around Roman’s eye has gone down a little, though the skin surrounding it is close to black. He looks like he’s done several rounds in a boxing ring, which I suppose isn’t far off.
I still feel guilty every time I look at him.
How could my dad do this? I understand he was frightened for me, but having Roman beaten was nothing to do with that, and everything to do with him throwing his weight around and making a point.
It’s yet another time recently that he’s shown me a darker side.
I hated seeing that side of him. I spent so many years thinking of him as being kind and loving, but ever since Daisy wrote to me, he’s changed into someone I don’t recognize.
I guess I missed out on those formative teenage years where he might have come down harder on me, and he babied me when I returned from the cult.
I knew what he did for a living, so I was aware he must have a capacity for violence—I’d just never seen it firsthand like that before, and it’s left me shaken.
By mid-morning, we’re back in the car. Cain drives, and Malachi takes the passenger seat. He fiddles with the radio, switching stations until he finds something he likes—an 80s rock station.
I sit in the back with Roman, my head against his shoulder and his hand on the inside of my thigh.
I hope the other two aren’t getting jealous of the amount of attention I’m giving Rome, but, if they are, neither of them is showing any signs.
I think they understand how much more Roman needs me right now, and that I’d do exactly the same for either of them if they got hurt—and especially if it was because of me.
Not that I’d ever want that to happen, of course, but a part of me is enjoying being needed. I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced it before. I’ve always been the one who’s had to lean on other people. Roman needs me now, and that alone makes me feel stronger.
We stop to refuel after a couple of hours, both the car and ourselves. Malachi returns with so many snacks, he can barely carry them all. I feel sorry for Rome, who is stuck with the protein shakes the hospital gave him.
Cain eyes him with amusement. “You shop like an eight-year-old who’s been given access to his parents’ credit card.”
Malachi tosses all the snacks into the car and takes a bite of a Snickers. “I know, it’s great, right?”
Cain rolls his eyes. “Get in.”
I’m happy to consume a whole heap of sugar for the rest of the drive. Roman dozes for the majority of it, which is good for him. It means his body is resting, and when he’s resting, he’ll heal.
“Have you had word that your father’s men have arrived, Cain?” I ask, sitting forward a little to decrease the space between me and the back of his head.
“Yeah, they’re at Verona Falls already. They’ve brought an RV with them, so we’ll all have our own space.”
“I bet Nataniele loves that.” Malachi gives a half laugh. “A huge RV parked in his precious college grounds.”
Cain shrugs. “It can’t be too big, or they’d never get it near the water tower. Besides, Nataniele won’t even be able to see it unless he comes over that way, which he never does. Hopefully, it’ll be like they’re not even there.”
I hope it’ll be the same for us. While I understand the necessity of Cain’s men watching out for us, I’d also like to be alone with my Preachers.
With the immediate danger out of the way, I want us to settle into some kind of routine.
I also want to think about our future. It’s clear whatever this thing is between us isn’t just going to be a flash in the pan.
We love each other.
We’ve all said it now, and it’s momentous for me.
I hold it to me, tight, and it warms me through.
Every time I think about it, it’s like the sun hitting my skin on a summer’s day.
I get a fizzy, excited feeling, and I think it’s happiness.
I’ve known so little of it in my life, it’s not easy for me to recognize.
It won’t be easy to navigate, but we can do it.
I know this kind of relationship can work.
I’d seen an example of it on the night I first met the Preachers at that party.
The first night I ran. The son of the dean is also involved in a relationship where there’s more than one man, and they even have a child.
So I know it can be done; it just won’t be easy, especially with how protective my dad is.
I can’t imagine any of the guys’ families will be too happy about the setup, either.
I think about what Roman said regarding not wanting to take over his family’s business.
How will Roman’s family take the news that he wants out?
Will they take it as an insult, a slight to the family?
Would it be enough for them to want to see him dead?
The thought chills me, taking away the warmth of the sun I was feeling from their love and replacing it with ice cold shards of terror.
Ultimately, it would be my fault, because I was the catalyst for him thinking this way, and I cannot be the cause of that. Roman’s love for me can’t be something that gets him killed by his family. I’d never recover from the loss and guilt.
Cain’s also made no secret of how much he hates his father, and Malachi isn’t exactly close to his remaining family either.
In our world, however, it’s expected the eldest sons take over the business when the fathers are no longer strong enough to rule.
And if they do eventually decide to take over, will that mean we’ll need to separate? I couldn’t stand that.
While we might be heading back to safety, there is still so much to worry about.
But, to my surprise, I realize the one person I haven't given thought to for many hours is the Prophet.
I haven't heard his voice in my head, and I've given no thought as to how his presence might fit into our future.
In fact, for the first time in a long time, I haven't thought of him at all.
I remember what the guys said about me being strong enough to beat him on my own.
I'm not entirely sure that's true, but even after everything that's happened, I do feel stronger.
It’s with relief that we arrive back at Verona Falls.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed the place.
I might not have been here long, but it’s as though it’s already becoming a part of who I am—a home to return to.
It only feels that way because of my Preachers, and I love them for giving me that.
We’re shown through the gates, the security first checking we are who we say we are, then make our way to the water tower. No one even suggests going back to our dorm rooms. We all know where we need to be.
We find Cain’s father’s men waiting for us, all of them in suits and armed.
Off the main track, through the trees, a large black and silver RV is parked.
That’s where the men will be staying. Right now, though, they’re all lined up outside the water tower.
I assume they’d been alerted to our arrival by the guards on the gate.
One of the men barks an order at the others. He’s not the biggest of the group, but he has a kind of leanness and sharp eyes that make me think he’s probably lethal in a fight.
“Mr. Lockwood.” He steps forward and shakes Cain’s hand. “Good to be working with you, sir.”
It feels strange to see someone address Cain in such a way.
“Hello, Felix,” Cain replies.
“We’ve done a scope of the area already and positioned armed men in critical spots. We’ve also made use of the roof of the tower, which gives us a three-sixty view of the surrounding area.”
“Sounds like you’ve already thought of everything.”
He ducks his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“I trust you know what you’re doing,” Cain says.
His father wouldn’t send him men who were bad at their job.
The man—Felix—catches sight of Roman. “Do you need any help?”
“No, we’re fine,” Cain replies. “We just need some rest after our journey.”
“Understood, sir.”
We leave the men guarding the exterior of the water tower and head inside. For the first time in days, I finally relax, but then I realize everything is different.
At first, I can’t believe it, but the longer I stare around me, the more the reality sinks in. All the shelves with the jars and pots of random herbs and dried pieces of animals are gone.
I turn in a circle. “What did you do with all your stuff?”
Roman gives a half-smile. “It’s all been moved to our altar room. We didn’t think you’d want to use a kitchen that was filled with all that crap.”
“The rabbit feet did kind of put me off my food,” I only half-joke.
There’s been a fresh coat of paint on the walls, and a new, thick, gray rug covers the floor. The two couches now have scatter cushions, and there are even lamps on the corner tables.
I pick up one of the cushions and hug it to my chest. “This place looks great. I can’t believe you did all this.”
I swear Malachi blushes. “We wanted you to feel at home here.” He picks at his chipped back nail varnish and scuffs one foot across the floor.
“We’re not done yet,” Cain says. “There’s something else to show you.”
I wonder what it is. I follow the guys out of the living area, passing the bathroom and altar room—the doors both shut—to the bottom of the stairs. A new oak handrail has been put in on the spiral staircase.
Cain stops at the bottom and jerks his chin. “Go on, you can go up. It’s the first door you reach.”
I haven’t been upstairs—I wasn’t even sure it was safe—but I know the guys wouldn’t let me go somewhere that wasn’t.
I navigate the spiral stairs carefully. I reach the next floor and stop on a small landing in front of another closed door.
The stairs continue higher, as the building is tall, and I assume they lead to the roof, eventually.
But they said it was the first door, and this is it, so I pause, nervous but excited.
Cain’s voice comes from behind. “Open the door.”
I do and find myself in a bright room with deep windows and a huge bed, along with a dresser. A beautiful orchid stands on the dresser, and the windowsill has been turned into a cushioned seat. I recognize some of the items on the shelves—my little collection of vases.
“These are mine!” I exclaim, surprised and delighted.
Malachi steps into the room. “We had them brought over. I hope that’s all right? We didn’t step out of line?”
“No, never.”
I feel the tears gathering and blink them away. They are tears of joy, but I know my men will be perturbed by them. I own so little, and these vases represent home to me, and they brought them here and carefully displayed them for me.
It occurs to me that the guys always planned to bring me home. From the moment I left, they must have been working to get all this done. While I was fretting that they’d quickly move on, they were planning my return and making it perfect for me. How did I get so lucky?
I turn to face them, smiling. “Wow, this is gorgeous. I love it.”
Cain shrugs one massive shoulder. “We wanted you to have your own space.”
I hesitate and say, “What if I don’t want my own space? What if I want to share it with all of you?”
Mal chuckles. “Then we can do that, too.”
I throw my arms around him and kiss Malachi first. “Thank you.”
Then I release him and go to Cain. I grin up into my childhood best friend’s face. “And thank you.” I plant a kiss on his mouth.
And, finally, I do the same to Roman, only treating him a little more gently, my kiss brushing his lips. “And you.”
“Wait, I want more.” Malachi grabs me back and hauls me against him. I giggle and wind my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his.