Chapter Fifteen
Shiloh found herself on a pulpit. Before her lay the congregation, except the believers were those who died through the years.
They hummed Amazing Grace, over and over until she wanted to scream.
Black silk draped through the small church.
Stained-glass windows, the dais, the pews, even the congregation.
She looked down at herself, realizing she wore an elaborate prom-like dress of dark gray and ebony lace.
Reaching up, she pulled a tiara off her head.
Diamonds glittered in the overhead light.
What the ever-loving fuck?
It was clear that she was dead, but the afterlife was nothing like what she expected.
A princess? Really? Where was heaven? Wasn’t that at least what she deserved after all the shit she’d endured?
Before her was nothing but ... Hell. The song started over, grating on her nerves so much she banged her head on the wooden lectern.
Slowly, the church melted, starting with the walls.
The floors. The pews and people. The humming ended, bringing relief, but where was she? Standing alone in an empty room.
Now she was scared. Was she standing in purgatory? Was this where people ended up who did the Penance? Had her stepfather condemned her to live in this nothingness? Was something worse waiting for her if she surrendered to death?
She’s always been alone, but she didn’t want to be.
She wanted Jade, and a life with him. Love slowly filled her body, from the tips of her toes, spreading upward with charming little tingles.
Her name whispered in her ear. Jade’s voice, as he begged her to come back to him.
The panic in his tone had her turning away from the pulpit of nothingness.
Love brought her silent heart back to life.
One beat slowly drifting into another, until all it chanted was Jade. Jade. Jade.
Shiloh realized she was not the sum of her past hurt. If she clung to those memories, she would end up here. Trapped in eternity with regret and hate. Behind her was darkness. Ahead of her was light. All she had to do was accept it. Accept that she was worthy of love.
“Come back to me.”
Jade held out his hand, and she placed hers in his tight grip. He yanked her from her past, and she happily fell.
****
“What are we going to do with all these people?” War asked, hands on his hips as he looked at the remaining cult members. Women and children cried as they clung to each other. Scared faces. Trembling bodies. The air practically vibrated with their fear.
“They think we’re going to hurt them,” Saint replied. “They need deprogramming. Sinn would have a field day with this if I let him.”
The Sect hadn’t been that big. Almost all the men had been killed, which amounted to about fifteen bodies in various parts of the compound.
“Why don’t you and Jackson move the bodies into a semblance of order?” Saint said. He turned back to study the survivors. “Make sure they aren’t visible from the windows. Now we need to figure out what to do with the women and children.”
“I know the president of an MC in Stevens,” Jackson said. “Wick brought a mental health, drug and alcohol center to his town to help the locals and the veterans struggling with addiction. I can reach out to him.”
“That’s a great idea,” Saint said. “And if they can’t help, they probably would know who could.”
Jackson pulled out his phone. “I’ll call him right now.”
Sinn came up to him. “They need deprogramming,” he said, unknowingly mimicking his brother. “I could—”
“Absolutely not,” Saint interrupted, immediately cutting off that train of thought. “There are professionals who are trained to do that. People with degrees and certificates.”
“I’m sure they started out reading books,” Sinn huffed.
Saint refrained from smiling at his brother’s annoyance. “Jackson is calling an MC he knows who might help. Get War and move those bodies. We’ll take care of this mess and then head home.”
“I admit, I am anxious to get home to Kira,” Sinn admitted, heading toward War. “Feels weird without her.”
Saint made some sort of non-committal murmur as Jackson walked back over to them.
“Talked with Wick,” he said. “He’s gathering his men. Should be here within the hour.”
“What club?”
“Forgotten Rebels. Members are required to serve in the military.”
Saint nodded, and he glanced at Nero’s van. “I really hope she’s alive.”
****
The world slowly came into focus as Shiloh blinked her eyes open despite her lids feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds.
Her sluggish mind wondered where she was.
Heaven? Hell? Somewhere in between? Wasn’t she just in a church?
It was hard to think. Harder to focus. Movement next to her brought her attention around, and Jade’s worried gaze met hers.
Dark and assessing, he slipped her hand into hers, holding tight as if he could tie her to his side.
Worry, fear, desperation, anger. They all swirled in the emerald depths of his eyes.
“You scared the hell out of me, lady,” he said in a low tone. “Don’t ever do that again. You’re not allowed to die before me.”
“Jade,” she said, her voice scratchy. “You came for me?”
“Silly girl, I’ll always come for you.” He ran a finger tenderly down her cheek. “I’m mad at you for putting yourself in danger.”
“You are?”
He nodded.
A thought made her eyes widen. “Wait. Your wound.”
“I’m fine,” he assured her. “Nero patched me up. He also saved your life. This is his mobile hospital. You know, if we were one minute later, you wouldn’t be here. I’d be burying you.”
She stared at his lips, hearing him but could only process every other word.
“I know you’re mad at me.” Shiloh squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”
A tear slid down from the corner of her eye. Shocked, she wiped it away. She hadn’t even known she was crying.
“I love you more than I’m mad at you,” he whispered. “If you had died ... I swear, Shi, I would’ve laid down with you. Promise you won’t ever do something like that again.”
“I promise,” she vowed. “I love you, Jade.”
“When you heal and get back on your feet, you’re gonna marry me.”
Her eyes widened. “I am?”
“Damn straight, you are. We’re partners, together for forever. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
She smiled dreamily. “Ditto.”