by Sydney Addae
CHAPTER 26
THE PRIEST SAT ON HIS brother’s patio drinking a sweet tea, half-listening to his niece, Pamela, drone on and on about her upcoming nuptials.
“Uncle Aaron thank you for agreeing to officiate,” Pamela said.
Hearing his name he turned toward her with a smile. “I’m honored you want your old uncle around.”
She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I can’t imagine anyone else taking me through my vows. Love you.” She left him and her father alone with a quick wave.
“How are things going, Aaron,” his brother asked taking a sip from his glass.
“Good. Good. The organization is growing. We’ve our annual conference next week in Denver. You and Jill should come.” Stuffy Senator Mosely wouldn’t be seen dead or alive at a Leviticus Club function. He’d call the group a cult and made his disdainful thoughts quite clear.
“No thanks. You will show up for Pamela’s wedding, she’s been quite insistent that you handle it for her and Jonathan.”
Aaron waved his hand and frowned at his brother. “I’ve already agreed to do the blasted thing, why are you questioning me about it?”
“Because you’ve been jet-setting all over the country and missed the last three family get-togethers you promised to attend. I don’t want her big day ruined because you get a sudden itch to see Niagara Falls or some bullshit like that. Am I making myself clear?”
Aaron glared at his brother. “Crystal. Now I’ll make myself clear. Back the hell up and stay off my case. I’m not a child, certainly not your child, who runs at your beck and call. If I have other pressing matters to attend, that’s what I’ll do, just as you’ve canceled on us when your job demanded it, I’ll do the same. To me, what I do is just as important as what you do.”
“Bullshit,” his brother snapped and scooted closer. “You created this cult to assuage your guilt over killing your own child. It’ll never bring back the babe or change what you did or get you back in the Priesthood.”
Aaron held up his finger with an arched brow. “That’s where you’re wrong, I’m God’s priest, not the Church. Even you have to agree serving God is a higher calling.”
“I still say this whole thing is BS. Just don’t get in trouble again. I won’t help you a second time.”
Fury raced through Aaron at the reminder of his brother stepping in, paying off Amelia to remain quiet about the abortion, making a large donation to the church to release him of his duties gradually rather than a big media stink. “I didn’t ask for your help then and wouldn’t ask if I ever needed it. Plus, we both know you didn’t help me for me, you did it because it was an election year and you’d be hammered—”
“That’s right, and you didn’t give a damn about that,” his brother yelled.
“So my personal, intimate life should be put on a schedule around your career? Is that what you’re saying? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound? I fell in love with someone. That went against my vows. I assure you I wasn’t thinking of you or anyone else when I accompanied her to that doctor. She wanted an abortion, I refused to allow her to go alone. Get the fuck over yourself, it was never about you,” Aaron said in a hard voice.
Silence fell in the room.
Neither spoke for several minutes. Aaron pushed up from his seat and brushed imaginary lint from his pressed trousers. Still irritated and ready to be amongst people who understood his mission and passion he headed toward the door.
“I’m sorry, Aaron. I know you didn’t do it to get back at me. You’d called and tried to talk to me several times but I’d been too busy with the campaign. I’ve always wondered if I could’ve helped if we’d talked when you needed me before things went too far. Guilt rides me hard that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”
Surprised and yes, pleased. Aaron looked over his shoulder into his brother’s gaze and turned fully to face him. “I wanted you to tell me to step away from her. Needed you to remind me of my calling because things were so twisted in my head. The first time we had sex, I felt dirty, guilty and exhilarated. When I called you that night, I had questions, sexual questions. By then I knew I wouldn’t give her up, wouldn’t stop.”
His brother frowned as he stared back at him. “She was crippled?”
Aaron nodded. How to explain the euphoric joy that filled him when he had sex with someone completely dependent on him? There were no words. Quite simply he preferred sex with imperfects. Their deformity made him feel like a giant or a god. Amelia wasn’t necessarily beautiful, but she was good, untainted, pure. He had been her first and her virginal offering had been exquisite.
“Yes, a car accident when she was in elementary school.” He smiled in remembrance of their long conversations where she shared her life and history.
“The sex wasn’t... difficult?” his closed-minded brother asked.
“Not at all.” He waved off the comment and heaved a sigh. “She’s gone, back to her family I think. Haven’t heard from her since she took your check.” When Aaron saw the check in Amelia’s purse he snapped. After all, he’d given up to be with her, she sold herself to the devil. She had been the first person he stoned to death.
“Are you seeing someone now? Will you bring her to the wedding with you?”
“Her?” Aaron said teasing and fighting back a grin at his brother’s scowl.
“If it’s a he, leave him at home. He’s not invited to the wedding.”
“I’m heading to Denver for our annual conference. I’ll be there a week.” Several stonings would be done before the event and he would oversee the cleansings as Yahweh demanded. All 12 disciples were in Denver waiting.
“Enjoy,” his brother said.
“Believe me, I will.” Aaron smiled as he left his brother’s home.
CHAPTER 27
IT TOOK MIA TWO DAYS to leave her suite and face the team after seeing the death of her daughter. They’d been kind and understood her heart had taken a beating. Seeing the child lying so still, brought back memories of her pregnancy. The nights rubbing her belly and singing to her baby. Bittersweet memories of the baby moving, stretching and wanting ridiculous foods at crazy times of the day. Today she packed away that important time in her life, pleased that it no longer controlled her thoughts or actions.
Walking through a dream to see the past was one thing but there was no going back to relive the past, no do-overs in life. She received closure on the fate of her child and would move forward. There were things that needed to be done. Preparations to be made.
When she strode into the main room, Lizzy and Max sat on the sofa talking softly. Mia looked around for Thomas as she approached them.
“How’re you feeling?” Lizzy asked stretching a hand toward Mia, who took it.
“Better. Much better. I wanted closure and got it.” She looked at Max and back at Lizzy. “We’ve got to get moving, where’s Thomas?”
Lizzy’s gaze sharpened. “With Noah and Damali in the training area. What’s going on?”
Mia stood. “Come on, I prefer to tell everyone at once.” She strode down the hall toward the rear of their complex. Noah, I need you, she thought.
“I heard that,” he said.
Mia stopped looked around at Max and Lizzy, who stared at her curiously. She continued. “We mind-spoke?”
“This is great, I hear you plainly. How’re you feeling?” he asked.
The past couple days he brought all her meals to her, wiped her tears, rocked her gently and was constantly by her side.
“Better. I’ve been picking up something this morning. We’re on our way to the training are to talk to the rest of you. Is Tip there?”
“Yeah, he just walked in.”
“See you in a bit.”
Mia and the others entered the large training area. Thomas stood watching the others in separate training rooms. Not wanting to interrupt, Mia stood behind him and watched Noah work with the mist. He had mentioned it to her, but she’d never seen him handle it before.
&nb
sp; “Are you spinning that like a lasso?” she asked him moving closer.
“Yeah, watch this.” The spinning stopped and it settled like a cube in his hand. “Now this.” The room darkened to the point she couldn’t see anything. Then it went gray and finally clear.
Impressed, she moved closer to the room where he worked. “What else can you do with it?”
“It’s a weapon.” He glanced at her over his shoulder, opening his hands wide. The mist stretched between it. “This can harden to any density I need. Come inside.”
She opened the door and stepped in.
“Touch it,” he instructed.
She placed her fingertip on it and jerked back. “That hurt.”
He nodded and flicked the mist outward.
“Ouch.” She rubbed her butt where the mist landed. “That was hard. You sure that’s mist?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know what it is anymore, just that it’s a part of me and I’m still learning how to control it.” He wrapped it around her and stepped back. “Try to get out of it.”
She moved. The mist tightened. The more she struggled to get out, the tighter it became. Mia looked at him, smiling. “This is great. I can’t get out.”
“Imagine putting that around someone’s neck and tightening it with a thought,” he said releasing her. “It will torture as well, play on your darkest fears, amplify them.” He looked at the mist wrapped around his wrist and then at her. “Hawke really liked this enhancement, and I’m beginning to see why.”
She walked toward him and placed a kiss on his lips. “Hearing you in my head feels funny.” She giggled.
“I like it.” He pulled her closer.
“Not now, we’ve got unfinished business.”
His brow arched. “You’ve got something?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell everyone at the same time.” She took his hand and they left the room. The others stood around Thomas talking and watched her approach.
“Leviticus Club?” Thomas said.
For Mia and the others who lived through unimaginable cruelty as lab specimens and slaves, Aaron Mosely, the Priest, reminded her of the Liege. Men who did nothing but take as if it was their right simply because they believed it was a good idea. If they didn’t stop him, hundreds would die, because he was killing more than before. Her vision had been drenched in blood, something she hadn’t seen since her days in the Liege compound.
Mia nodded. “We’ve got to finish it. Plus the military is ramping up their search for Noah. He’s got to respond to Liam otherwise his cousin will get hurt.”
“We’re in sync on this Mia,” Thomas said. “I picked up on both of those this morning. Once Noah goes home, which I agree he needs to do to close out everything, he’s up on their radar. It’s possible they’ll track him back here. Then we’ll be on their radar.” He looked at each of them.
“Here’s another option. Noah goes home, tells them no thanks, set things in place with his attorney to give his cousin the house and then leave with Alpha Theron’s help. All they’d know was Noah went on pack land and didn’t leave,” Thomas said watching Noah.
“I’m going with him,” Mia said quietly.
They all looked at her as if waiting for an explanation. She had none. It was the way things were going to happen.
Noah’s gaze flitted from her to Thomas and back to her. She knew he wanted to object, would try to protect her. He needed to understand she wasn’t ever going to remain behind while he went out to face danger and fight. They’d go together or not at all.
“Mia, I can go, get it done and be back in a day,” Noah said.
“Yes we can,” she faced him with a stubborn tilt.
“If something goes wrong –”
“We deal with it together,” she said resolute.
He ran his fingers through his hair while staring at her. “If anything happens to you—”
“You’ll go batshit crazy like I would if something happens to you. We’re still learning how all of this works. So this is how we do it, together or not at all. I’m serious, Noah. We do this and everything together. That’s what being a pair means to me.”
He stared at her a few moments and nodded.
“What the hell was that?” Max asked his gaze going between them. “Were you talking to each other? You’re linked to mind-speak?”
Mia’s gaze slid to Thomas. She assumed they all could. “Yeah.”
“When did it kick in?” Max asked.
“Today when I got up, first time I used it,” she explained.
“How did you activate it?” Max asked but they all watched in anticipation.
“I thought about him and said words in my mind, he answered.” It had been as simple as that.
“Do you hear me?” Thomas asked her.
Her gaze widened as she looked up at him. “Yes. Yes, I do. It’s a different channel or link or path, whatever you call it than what Noah and I share.”
“How?”
“There’s a more intimate feeling in Noah’s link,” she said not knowing the exact words to use to explain it better.
“I see,” Thomas said, his gaze flicked to the others. “I’ve linked with everyone. I don’t know when you guys will link with each other.” He paused. “Can’t talk you out of going with Noah?”
“No. I’m going,” she said leaving no room for doubt.
“Okay. I’ll contact Tyrone, see if he’s still in Texas and explain the situation. Contact Noah’s attorney so the papers will be ready for signing.”
“He doesn’t have an attorney, we’ve got to find one,” she said.
“In that case, I’ll take care of it. Makes things easier. He can sign them here or anywhere.”
“We still need to deal with Liam,” Mia said.
“Can’t you just talk to him on the phone since you don’t need to meet with an attorney? Tell him you and your lady are going to be traveling for months at a time and will contact him when you can. In the meantime, the house and truck are his to use. It’s a clean break, you take nothing, and he thinks you’re following your heart,” Lizzy suggested.
Mia looked at Noah who was following the conversation. “That might work,” she said.
“Liam’s just worried that’s all. They’ve contacted him again, plus he can’t reach me when he calls. He thinks I’m in trouble and covering things up,” Noah said.
Mia sensed his deep discomfort over discussing his cousin like this.
“Can he meet you guys someplace? Take a trip to New Orleans or the Blue Ridge mountains, something like that, so we have room to maneuver?” Thomas asked.
“We can do that,” Noah said’ slowly. “Take them away from my backyard. If he really wants to see me, I’ll suggest he meets us someplace.”
“The moment you call it’ll be traced. If it can’t be traced, that’s a red flag that you’re hiding something. If it can be traced and turns out to be fake, it’s another flag that’ll buy some time,” Thomas said.
“Even if you drive into your garage at midnight, they’re going to trace and try to track him,” Tip said. “Just like they’re tracking you financially through your credit card and bank account. If you contact your cousin for any reason, the tracking starts. That’s a given. We’ve got to decide how to minimize it so they can’t find you after the contact.”
“Is there a way to do that without my cousin getting hurt or involved?” Noah asked.
No one said anything for a few moments. “The only way your cousin isn’t used as a trigger or pawn is for them to think he’s not important to you,” Thomas said. “You’ve got to understand that. They will use him to get to you.”
Noah’s face tightened and he looked down. Mia knew to face that particular reality hurt.
“I don’t like them fucking with his life like this, none of this is his fault.”
“I know,” she said.
“Do I tell him? Warn him the shit might hit the fan?” He looked at her.
“Ask the group, ask Thom
as. It’s not just your secret, all of us could be at risk if you warn him.”
Noah asked Thomas.
“What could you say to him that would not require a full explanation of what happened to you and your new reality?” Thomas asked.
Noah opened his mouth and snapped it shut. Mia tried to think of something but came up with nothing.
“I can’t think of anything right now,” Noah finally said. “But the idea of his death because of me, for something he’s got nothing to do with is messing with me.”
Thomas nodded and clasped him on the shoulder. “We understand and will try to help as much as possible.”
Mia took his hand and held tight. “We’ll think of something, maybe ask Ryan and Ryder to keep an eye out for him. Call us if they see something.”
After a few seconds, he nodded.
“There have been two more reported deaths since we dropped the Leviticus Club case,” Thomas said. “The FBI has covered considerable ground but because we couldn’t turn over all of our information they haven’t connected the dots to the Leviticus Club yet. In fact, they’ve made no progress in that direction.”
Mia’s gaze narrowed. “What? All they have to do is go arrest the Priest,—”
“Senator Mosely’s brother? That Priest?” Thomas asked with a cocked brow.
“We have to finish it, there are a lot more deaths than two,” she said quietly.
“I know. And we will,” Thomas said watching her. “The need to finish that case is intense, isn’t it?” he asked her.
Realizing he understood, she nodded. “Yes. Very intense and it won’t go away. It’s getting stronger, I hope that doesn’t mean he’s preparing another sacrifice.”
Thomas looked at the others, most had been silently following the conversation. “We have to stop the Priest from killing more disabled humans and put Liam’s mind at ease.”
“Where is the Priest?” Max asked.
“I’ll get that information,” Thomas said. “This is a live FBI case. We have no authority to work on it and can be arrested. We have to be really careful.”
