Only the Devout

by Amanda M. Lee

  Cormack stirred. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’ve been talking to Paris. I can’t help but feel she has unique insight into this given her past. She agrees that cult leaders like Titus prey on the weak of mind because they’re easier to control. I guess that ninety percent of the folks we’re dealing with are just sad souls who need someone to guide them.”

  “You mean derelicts,” Emmet said, causing me to frown.

  “I don’t know that I would use that word,” I responded.

  “You didn’t. I did.” He was blasé as he sipped his drink. He was at least three deep now, and his cheeks were starting to turn ruddy. “Weak-minded people are worse than liberals. They should all be drawn and quartered in the town square and the public should be allowed to watch.”

  I pressed my lips together and looked to Cormack. He had a glass pressed to his lips and appeared to be drinking. He didn’t respond otherwise.

  “Did you talk to the girls?” Griffin asked. It was obvious he’d had plenty of Emmet and Mary. “Did you warn them?”

  “I told them to get off the island by dark. I told them what happened to Caitlin and they seemed to understand, at least the one I talked to. They’re a unit and don’t do anything individually, so I hope they actually heed my warning and don’t put themselves at risk.”

  “So, that’s how you spent your day?” Emmet asked. “You talked to homeless people the entire time. How ... lovely.” He took another drink. In response, Mary downed half her glass of wine and stared at her plate.

  “That was just the start of my day,” I fired back, my temper finally taking root. Nothing could ruin my good mood, but Emmet and Mary were willing to give it a shot. “After that, I tracked down Luna at a park downtown. She was distributing water and food to the at-risk individuals there.”

  “You mean derelicts,” Emmet grumbled.

  “No, I mean people. They’re human beings.”

  Cormack’s eyes widened at my tone, but he said nothing. Rather, he looked resigned, as if he always knew it was inevitable this meal would devolve into sniping and snapping.

  “You went down to that area alone?” Braden didn’t look happy at the news. “You should’ve waited for me.”

  “I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but I’m fully capable of taking care of myself,” I reminded him. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Yeah, but ... I love you. It’s my job to worry.”

  The answer made me go warm all over as Aisling rolled her eyes and mimed gagging.

  “Oh, gross,” she whined, pretending to throw up on her salad. “That’s so disgustingly sweet that it makes my skin crawl.” Her eyes moved to my mine. “Just for the record, I’m saying that for my brother’s benefit because I heard that nonstop when Griffin and I started dating. That’s not directed at you.”

  I smirked in response. “I figured.”

  “Hey, we didn’t make those sounds because you two were being sweet,” Braden argued. “We made those sounds because we knew you were being filthy with your handsy cop. Heck, you guys were handsy with each other right in front of us, for crying out loud. He once groped you on the couch in Dad’s office while we were all sitting right there.”

  “That didn’t happen,” Griffin protested. “You guys always claim things like that happened, but you were imagining things. I was always respectful in front of you, especially at the beginning.”

  “Um ... that’s not how I remember it,” Redmond argued.

  “Me either,” Braden added. “I remember hands ... and tongues ... and a lot of lusty looks.”

  “This conversation has taken an unfortunate turn,” Cormack said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Let’s return to the cult.”

  I was all for that. “I have a few ideas for helping Luna with her effort once this is finished. I will be enlisting all of you, so you’ve been warned.”

  “Oh, so you want my grandchildren to congregate with derelicts,” Emmet intoned. “Cormack, what are you letting happen to this family? How can you sit idly by and let them do this?”

  Cormack looked caught. “I—”

  “Oh, stuff it,” Aisling snapped. She was clearly over playing nice, not that she put much effort into the endeavor. “We’ll do what we want. I think it’s a nice idea to help people. I’ll totally be there with Izzy when she does it.”

  “Of course you will,” Emmet fired back as his wife guzzled another glass of wine. “You’ve decided to marry below your station.”

  If looks could kill, Emmet would be dead. “What did you say?” Aisling hissed.

  “Baby, don’t let him get to you,” Griffin chided. “He’s trying to get under your skin. He’ll win if you go down this road.”

  I had to hand it to Griffin. He understood the way his wife thought better than anybody else. She was beyond reason at this point, so he had to appeal to her competitive nature. Sadly, it was too late.

  “Oh, he’s under my skin,” Aisling gritted out.

  Sensing an opening, Braden decided to insert himself in the conversation. I should’ve seen it coming and headed him off. Ah, well, hindsight.

  “Hey, Aisling, Grandfather seems confused about public fornication,” Braden offered. “I’m uncomfortable explaining it to him, but I thought it would be right up your alley.”

  The evil grin that spread across Aisling’s face caused me to cringe, even as Lily’s eyes popped open in her sleeper and she let out a delighted laugh.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Aisling said.

  Cormack gulped down the rest of his drink. “Are we still on the first course? That can’t be right.”

  I felt sorry for him, but also amused. I leaned back in my chair and settled in for the show. It promised to be one for the ages, and, hey, it’s not as if Emmet didn’t have it coming.

  Twenty-Five

  Lily was crying.

  No, Lily was shrieking, beside herself.

  Even from Braden’s room, a full wing away, I could hear her in my head.

  I was on my feet and moving toward the door before Braden could finish what he thought was a sexy dance. He was shirtless after dinner turned to multiple drinks to stomach the Grimlock grandparents — and seemed annoyed when I bolted.

  “Hey, the dance wasn’t that bad,” he complained.

  “It’s not the dance. It’s Lily.”

  Further argument ceased as he chased me toward Aisling’s wing of the house. The second I crossed to the other side, the baby’s wailing grew louder.

  “She doesn’t sound happy.” Braden, still shirtless, had seemingly forgotten his romantic plans. He was entirely focused on the baby when we rounded the corner into her nursery. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “We don’t know,” Cormack replied, watching helplessly as Aisling rocked the baby.

  For her part, the new mother seemed frazzled. Lily had never screamed like this before, at least as far as I knew. “Maybe we should take her to the hospital,” Aisling insisted.

  “She’s not warm,” Cormack argued, pressing his hand to Lily’s head. “She doesn’t have a fever ... and she’s not sniffling. I don’t think she’s sick.”

  “This is not normal.” Aisling looked desperate. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

  Cormack stared at her a moment and then nodded. “Right, we’ll take her to the hospital.”

  “I’m already one step ahead of you,” Griffin announced, jangling his keys as he strode into the room. He appeared calm, but it was obvious his emotions were all over the place. The baby was the center of the Grimlock world and the noise she emitted was distressing. “I’m ready.”

  “Let me hold her a second,” Braden instructed, stepping forward and extending his hands. “Maybe she just wants me.”

  Aisling shot him a withering look. “We’ve all held her. She’s been passed around like a hot potato. That’s not what’s wrong with her.”

  “Then there’s no harm in letting me try,” Braden argued.
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  Aisling rolled her eyes but handed over the baby, dragging a hand through her hair as she stared helplessly at the crib. “I think we have to take her to the hospital to be safe. I don’t know what else to do.”

  “It’s okay, baby,” Griffin reassured her, leaning closer and pressing a kiss to his wife’s creased brow. “She’ll be fine.”

  Lily picked that moment to let loose another ear-splitting wail, causing Aisling to cringe.

  “Does that sound fine to you?” Aisling screeched, retrieving the infant from Braden and rocking her. “Oh, Lily, it’s okay. I’m here. Daddy’s here, too.”

  “Daddy is here,” Griffin agreed, a muscle in his jaw working as he focused on Cormack. “I don’t think we should wait. I agree with Aisling. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  “We need the insurance card,” Aisling insisted. “I don’t know where I put it.” I was convinced she was one step away from a meltdown of epic proportions.

  “Don’t worry about the card,” Cormack argued. “I have money. It doesn’t matter. I—” He broke off when there was movement at the door, frowning when he caught sight of his parents. “What are you doing here?”

  “Wondering about that noise,” Emmet replied darkly. “Is there a reason that infant is squalling like that?”

  “Yes,” Aisling shot back. “She’s allergic to uppity people!”

  “Baby, come here,” Griffin instructed, pulling her to him. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “You keep saying that,” Aisling said on an exhale, as if forcing herself to calm down. “It doesn’t feel okay. In fact, it feels awful. I want her at the hospital and I want her there now!”

  It was a dangerous time to interrupt, but I did it all the same. “I know this is the last thing you want to hear, but can I hold her?”

  The look Aisling shot me was incredulous. “Are you serious?”

  I nodded, refusing to shrink in the face of her fury. “I can get a look inside her head, see what’s bothering her. It will only take a few minutes and it will give us something to focus on.”

  Aisling faltered. “I forgot you can do that.” She willingly handed over the baby. “See what’s wrong with her. Tell me so we can fix it.”

  I offered what I hoped was a reassuring smile and gathered the baby to my chest. Lily fought the effort, continuing to cry and thrash. In an effort to soothe her, I began humming a song I remembered from my childhood. It was a tune the voodoo women sang, and I always found it comforting.

  I swayed back and forth, closing my eyes, and pushed myself into Lily’s mind. I found a jumble of thoughts and images, even more so than the last time I’d visited. She was aware of so much more now, and the things she showed me were fantastical — especially because they came from a baby’s wondering eyes.

  I saw her parents. Lily loved watching them together and found comfort in their closeness. She also enjoyed when they teased one another. The energy crackling between them gave her a little thrill.

  I saw Redmond telling her inappropriate dating stories. She didn’t understand the words. She merely loved the sound of his voice.

  I saw Aidan and Jerry singing to her. Jerry was a ham, over the top, but Lily loved it.

  I saw Cillian reading to her as Maya looked on. Lily associated Maya with getting poked at the doctor’s office and held a grudge. She adored the sound of Cillian’s voice, though, and was interested in the picture books he held up even though she couldn’t make out the drawings.

  I saw Cormack sitting in a chair with her. He spoke in words Lily couldn’t understand, but she was enthralled with the way her grandfather looked at her. He made her feel safe and loved, and she knew darned well that if she cried he’d be the first to reach for her.

  I saw Braden making funny faces that Lily found hysterical. The baby was also a fan of watching Braden and her mother go at it. She thought their sparring sessions were the funniest thing ever.

  Then I saw the source of her distress and straightened.

  “What is it?” Cormack demanded as he read the change in my demeanor.

  “Someone look out the window,” I instructed.

  “What?” Griffin’s eyebrows knit together. “Why?”

  “Just do it.”

  Cormack obediently walked to the window and looked out. His back was to me so I couldn’t see his expression, but the way his shoulders stiffened told me all I needed to know.

  “How many are out there?” I asked. “Is it five?”

  Cormack nodded, the set of his jaw grim as he turned back. “It’s members of the cult again,” he explained for those who hadn’t seen. “They’re on the corner, chanting.”

  “Well, that’s just rude,” Braden snapped. “Do they not understand we have a baby?”

  “They’re about to.” Aisling headed toward the door, but Griffin snagged her by the back of her shirt.

  “Hold it,” he admonished, somber. “You’re not going out there.”

  “Um, yes I am.” Aisling’s eyes flooded with indignation. “They’re torturing our baby.”

  “I know that, but you aren’t going out there to confront them. I will. You’re staying up here and holding Lily until she calms down.”

  “But ... no.” Aisling shook her head. “I want to beat the crap out of them. At the very least I want to call their manhood into question and say terrible things about their sexual prowess.”

  That warranted weak smiles from those gathered in the room. It wasn’t enough to soften Griffin’s stance, however. “Baby, you’re staying here. I’ll handle the jerks on the sidewalk.”

  Now it was my turn to step in. “You’re not going down there either,” I argued, holding up a hand when he started to move past.

  “Excuse me?” He hiked an eyebrow. “I don’t want to start a fight, but this is my family. I’m going to protect my family.”

  “No, this is our family,” I countered. “We’re going to protect them. We have to go about it the smart way.”

  “And we have to catch one of them before he kills himself,” Cormack added. “We need answers and this might be the best way to get them.”

  I liked where his head was at. “We need to focus on only one of them.” I moved to the window and glanced down. I couldn’t make out any faces, but one of them was taller than the rest. “Let’s go after the tall one. He’ll be the easiest to identify in the crowd. You need to get the rest of your brothers.” I turned to Braden. “We have to turn this into a tactical mission.”

  He nodded, although there was trouble in his eyes. “You can’t get separated this time. I want us to stick together.”

  “I didn’t mean to get separated last time.”

  “And yet you did.” He refused to back down. “I’m not trying to be a pain, but we’re sticking together. I know you’re a magical badass, but it’s going to take all of us working together to capture one of these guys.”

  “And get rid of the others,” Aisling insisted. “I want them gone for Lily’s sake.”

  “We’ll get rid of them,” I promised her. “If we do capture one of them, where can we keep him so he’s nowhere near the baby?”

  “That’s easy,” Braden replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “We have a dungeon.”

  “And it works,” Cormack said, lightly pushing his father to the side so we could head to the hallway. “Let’s do this.”

  “Wait a second,” Emmet sputtered as he watched us start out. “What do you think you’re doing, Cormack? This is ridiculous. You need to call the police. This isn’t part of your job description.”

  Cormack’s eyes flashed dark. “This has nothing to do with my job. This has to do with my granddaughter. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, and that includes taking down a crazy cult. You don’t have to help. In fact, you’ll be more of a hindrance than a help, so I suggest you take your cocktails up in the game room this evening. As for the rest of us, we have work to do.”

  THE PLAN WAS SIMPLE.

&nb
sp; Cormack and Cillian would exit through the front door and aggressively approach the chanting men, but only after the other two teams were in place.

  Braden, Redmond, and I were together on the east side of the house, dressed in black and crouched low. Aidan, Griffin, and Jerry were on the west side. Our team would be the one to secure our target. My magic was the only thing that could truly ensure that nobody would slit his own throat this evening.

  Braden texted his father and Aidan to tell them we were in position. It took only seconds for the others to text back.

  “We’re going,” Braden announced on a whisper, leaning in quickly to give me a kiss as Redmond made a face. “Don’t run off on your own this time. Promise me.”

  I hesitated, unsure I could make that promise.

  “Promise me,” he repeated, firm.

  “I’ll do my best.” That was all I could offer. “If I have a chance to get my hands on one of these guys, I’m going to take it. You know I have no choice.”

  Braden looked as if he didn’t know anything of the sort but ultimately nodded. “Just don’t get hurt. I can only take so much for one night.”

  “I think we all agree on that,” Redmond said, his eyes trained to the daunting face of the house as Cillian and Cormack strolled through the front door. They looked determined, as if they were really going to bat for Lily, and it made me smile to see they boasted the same swagger.

  “All of you guys walk the same,” I murmured. “It’s as if your father’s genes just took you all over. Your poor mother must’ve been heartbroken when none of you looked like her.”

  “We all have something from her inside,” Braden countered, his gaze momentarily clouding.

  “I’m sorry.” I felt like a dolt. “That was a stupid thing to say.”

  “It’s fine. We need to focus on this, though.” His eyes were back on me. “Here we go. They just noticed that Dad and Cillian are heading toward them. They’re going to run.”