Leaving The Way: Book Two (The Way Trilogy)

by Ellie Aiden

  Seeking out Brian and making my way to where he stands, I lean into issue an order. “Find Elder Berry. Take him into custody discreetly, and then return him to the compound. No one can know he’s in your custody. I want to talk to him first. Do you understand?”

  He nods his understanding and then turns, grabbing the attention of three of my men and ushering them back down the street.

  Now to deal with the Vater.

  ***

  ANNA

  It’s only been moments since the Vater and elders left the hotel, and I have yet to move. Everyone else seems to be in nearly the same state, with the exception of Luke and the General. They have both been barking orders since the moment they left. I appreciate that. That Luke is able to keep it together when I’m not.

  I notice he stops speaking to one of his men, catching my eye and then making his way to where I sit slumped over in my chair.

  Squatting down in between my knees, he runs his finger down my cheek before clasping my hand in his. “Little Minx, are you okay? Can I get you anything?”

  It hurts to breathe right now, but I suck in a breath anyway, leaning down pressing my forehead to his before whispering, “He believed me, Luke. He believed what I said about David and Ash, and he still just walked away.”

  He squeezes my hand gently before pulling back and agreeing. “I think your right, Little Minx. I think he did believe it. But I think he couldn’t admit that in front of us. I actually believe out of all the things, that’s the only one he will do anything about. At least you can take comfort in that. And if they do cast David out, well, Little Minx, then he’s fair game.”

  He smiles a genuine smile, and I think I see a twinkle in his eyes.

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “He’ll be out here. He’ll no longer be protected by the church, by those walls. And the second that happens he’s ours. We’ll take him back and let Ash decide what happens to him.”

  That’s the first thing that’s been said all day that’s made me happy. In fact, that thought actually makes me giddy as I let out an evil villain laugh, “Mua-ha-ha!”

  Every head in the room turns to look at me, but I just shrug my shoulders and go back to being giddy.

  Luke leans forward kissing me on the cheek, and then stands to bark more orders. I hear him tell Tommy to head to the alley across the street and keep an eye on everything, make sure they all leave. I see him make his way over to where Daniel, Mateo, and Lord Paul are now, huddled in a circle, but I can’t hear what they are discussing.

  I know we need to talk about what happens next, but I just don’t have it in me.

  I don’t have anything left to give.

  ***

  DAVID

  After I ordered Brian to find Elder Berry and take him into custody, I followed along behind the Vater, headed to our horses and wagon. The whole walk I was on high alert, head on a swivel, considering it was very clear not only were we being watched, but at least one man was following us. Not that it mattered. They wouldn’t make a move, and if they did we had enough men to defend ourselves.

  As we round the corner, our horses in a line next to the wagon coming in to view, I try to work out how to handle this. Elder Berry is one thing. I don’t really know where he stands on all this. Maybe I’m wrong about him. Maybe he came separately from us, and so he left separately from us. Perhaps we’ll get back to the compound and he’ll be there, and maybe he has no plans to share what he heard today, but I can’t leave it to chance. I need to know for sure.

  Now, the Vater on the other hand, not only did he say the theft wouldn’t be tolerated, I saw the look on his face when Anna told him about Ash Booker. He was disgusted, and he believed her. He believed every word she said, and he planned to do something about it. That something would be casting me and Tara out, and that would mean we’d be out here alone, leaving no doubt in my mind the little bitch would sic her bodyguard and everyone else on us. The Vater had to be dealt with, but how?

  Do I deal with him permanently, or do I frame him for something, leaking it to everyone in the church, leaving him no choice but to stepdown?

  The only thing I know for certain, the Vater’s reign is about to end.

  That’s the only conclusion I manage to come to by the time our group begins mounting the horses with the Vater and Elder Thompson climbing into the wagon. I’d ridden to town on my own horse, but something stops me from mounting her. No, I think I’ll ride back in the wagon. That’ll give me a chance to talk to the Vater, and possibly follow through with whatever I decide.

  Giving the reigns to one of my men already mounted on his salt and pepper horse closest to me, I turn and make my way to the wagon. Terry, another in my inner circle, sits on the front bench seat, reigns in hand, ready to direct the horse drawn wagon back to the compound. Behind him on a second bench seat is Elder Thompson closest to me, and Vater Henry on the far side. There’s only enough room for two people to ride comfortably on each bench, so I nod my head to Elder Thompson, directing him to move up next to Terry. He doesn’t question me, instead he rises and makes the move.

  Pulling myself up, I take my place on the wooden slat next to the Vater, eyes forward. I can see the Vater eyeing me out of the corner of my eye so I decide to reassure him, for now at least.

  “My horse was favoring her left side on the way here. I don’t want her to have my extra weight on the way home. Hopefully it’s nothing, but just in case I’ll ride with you. That is, if it’s okay?” Turning my head in his direction, he nods, although he does look a bit suspicious.

  He should be. This ride back could end very badly for him.

  “So, Vater,” I begin, “what happens now? The theft I mean. Who do you think is involved?” I decide to play it cool at first. The wagon hasn’t even started moving yet, so I have plenty of time.

  The Vater lets out a deep sigh, still facing forward, and then in a low voice he says, “I think that’s the least of our worries. Don’t you?”

  And with that, he makes the decision for me.

  Terry gets the horses hitched to the front of the wagon moving before directing them to turn around heading back to the compound. Discreetly, I pull the knife from my belt on the side furthest away from the Vater. Once the horses are moving in the right direction, I casually scoot over another two inches and wait for the right moment.

  This could go very badly. I only brought men with me that I knew I could trust. Brian and I were very careful about that, but until you find yourself in a situation like this, you don’t know if you can truly trust them. All it would take is for just one of these men to return to the compound and run their mouth. I have nothing to worry about in that regard as far as Elder Thompson is concerned. Of course, part of that is because the man assumes he will take control should Vater Henry die, but little does he know I have no intention of letting that happen.

  Turning and looking over my shoulder, I see the buildings of Bonham getting smaller and smaller. This is it, this is where I make my play.

  Lifting the knife from its hiding place beside my thigh, I don’t think, I just lunge. Looking down, the knife is embedded in between two of Vater Henry’s ribs. Not exactly where I wanted it, I needed it slightly higher, but it doesn’t really matter. This will do the trick. The old man will still die, he’ll just suffer a little beforehand.

  A gurgling sound comes from his throat as I look up into his eyes. I feel zero remorse for my actions. This had to be done.

  The Vater raises his hand, grabbing my shirt and clenching it tightly in his fist, although I can tell his strength is fading.

  “Why?” He sputters, my shirt slipping through his fingers as I remove the knife and lay it carefully between us.

  “You know why. You are no longer fit to run the church. You aren’t willing to do what must be done.” I shake my head, grabbing the man around his ribs and digging my finger into the wound. His shirt is soaked with blood, the dirty cream color turning a deep crimson. Leaning into his
ear I add once last thing, “This would be the time to ask God for forgiveness, old man.” And with that, I thrust him over the side of the wooden walls of the wagon.

  He hits the ground with a hard thud and rolls several feet, grunting out his pain. One of my men makes to jump down from his horse, but I stop him.

  “Leave him, unless of course you want to join him.” Squinting at the potentially dead man walking, I wait for him to make his choice.

  It only takes him a moment to choose, and then he turns face front, nudging his horse forward.

  I did what needed to be done. I killed Vater Henry.

  ***

  DAVID

  Halfway back to the compound I had called a halt to the men around me. Up to that point no one had said a word after seeing the Vater lying on the dirty ground covered in blood, a pool of it quickly forming around him. But just because they hadn’t spoken out thus far, didn’t mean they wouldn’t once they thought they were safe from me inside the walls of the compound. I’d needed to make sure they knew they were never safe from me.

  I had called everyone close around the wagon, and after they were all gathered, I’d told them the only way for them to live. I had told them the Vater was no longer fit to lead, and I’d said the Vater had done and said things inside that meeting that would constitute as treason, as heresy. I had made it clear that he was a danger to every member of the church, and it was our duty to protect everyone from him. That I had protected them from a psychotic old man who was no longer fit. Each man had nodded their head, although a few had unsure looks on their features. Those I would need to keep an eye on.

  Once I was sure they understood that part, I went on, explaining only we could know how the Vater died. That people wouldn’t understand why we didn’t bring him back for a trial. I made sure each of them knew that we knew what was best for the people, and that we could use this situation to our advantage.

  The gangs had already attacked the compound directly once, and they would do it again. We needed to rally the troops, and the best way to do that was to let the people, the council, think the Vater had been killed by the Diablo and Titan gangs as he was trying to leave the meeting. We would tell everyone we had no choice but to leave his body as we were under attack and had to flee for our lives.

  Again, every head had nodded, and when I was certain we were all on the same page, we had set off again. But that wasn’t all I had to deal with. Brian hadn’t caught up with our group yet, so I still didn’t know the status on Elder Berry, but it was the elder sitting in front of me I needed to deal with first.

  We were only about five minutes from the compound when I directed the elder to join me in the second seat, and he did.

  “Elder, I know I don’t have to worry about you revealing anything that’s happened today, but there is another matter we need to discuss.” Turning to the elder and seeing his nod, I continue. “We need to discuss the issue of leadership within the church. What do you see happening?”

  The man runs a hand down his face, letting out a sigh before giving his opinion. “Well, I think it’s clear I will be voted in as the new Vater. However, I would want you in my inner circle, as well as Elder McGee. The issue of Mutter Vater will have to be addressed as well, she won’t go down without a fight, as you well know.”

  His hands hang loosely between his legs as I shake my head in his direction. “Wrong.”

  “Wrong? What do you mean wrong? You don’t think the Mutter will be a problem?” Disbelief laces his tone as he studies me closely.

  Scooting another inch closer as I reach for the knife that rests on the bench between us still covered in the Vater’s blood, I pause to let him worry. This knife is an obvious threat, and from the look on his face, he doesn’t miss the implication.

  “No, I agree she could be a problem, but that isn’t the problem at hand. You are.” Without a single pause, I lunge once again, placing the blade against his vulnerable throat. “You don’t have to die today, Elder. There is one way out of this for you.”

  “Anything,” he sputters with his eyes glistening and his breaths barely coming. He recognizes the smallest move on his part could end his life.

  “Good.” Removing the knife but not setting it down just yet, I sit back casually and explain, “We will return to the compound, explain the gangs murdered Vater Henry, and that his dying wish was that I be made Vater. You will support my claim, as will Elder Berry if he wants to live, and you will ensure Elder McGee, along with any other elders you have in your pocket, do the same.” Turning in my seat to face him and steeling my features, I give him only a moment to think this through. “That is the only way you get out of this wagon alive, Elder.”

  With a shaky nod, he confirms his allegiance, and I turn face forward, allowing myself to finally relax.

  chapter 17 - Hell Fire And Brimstone

  ANNA

  I haven’t been able to do or say much since the meeting ended. Brea and Camila came down not long ago, and once again suggested shots. It certainly wasn’t as enthusiastic as last night, but she did manage to drag me out of my seat and over to the bar. Emily had come out of the kitchen, pulling bottles from the back shelf before pouring about twenty shots and then lining them along the bar. Mateo and Daniel had thrown one back first, and even Luke had grabbed one for himself. Brea and Camila were on their second shot, and had Emily making them a Tequila Sunrise while I sat staring at the small shot glass on the bar in front of me. I just didn’t have the strength to pick it up, maybe if someone just held it to my lips. If I could get a few shots in me then maybe that would numb me to everything that just happened, everything that I knew would happen next.

  No doubt this meant war with the church. I guess I kind of knew it was coming, that it was the only way this could possibly end, but I had still been holding onto this tiny sliver of hope. The meeting had essentially taken that tiny sliver, ripped it into tiny pieces, thrown it on the ground, and then set it on fire. We had nothing left to do now but to rally the troops, to call in every able bodied man and woman and attack the church with everything we had.

  I mean I guess we could play the long game. A few of us could hide out in Bonham, and each time the church came to town we could try to make contact with each of them. We could be a bird in their ear, telling them everything the church has done, is doing, and then let them run back and tell it. We could simply wait for the people to be ready to rebel, and then we could step in to assist the removal of the elders involved.

  Yeah, not gonna happen. I’m about as patient as a kid on Christmas morning. I could sure use a visit from Santa right about now.

  Finally reaching for my shot glass, I bring it to my lips, downing it in one swig. Hell fire and brimstone, that burns.

  As I try to massage away the burn, I hear yelling out front, followed by the door bursting open. Everyone turns as one to see Tommy rushing toward the tables that had served as our meeting place, and he isn’t alone. Tommy carries a man covered in blood as he rushes to situate him on the table.

  Suddenly, everything begins happening very fast. Emily jumps the bar with a black medical bag in hand, rushing to the unmoving man. Mateo yells for everyone to give her space as the General rushes up with several towels. Rose, who had been quietly sitting alone in the corner, rushes through the kitchen door before returning with a pot of clean water.

  Up to this point, I have only managed to stand. I haven’t moved another inch. In fact, I’m not sure if I have even taken a breath since I saw the man’s face, saw the cream colored shirt barely recognizable through the blood stains.

  Vater Henry.

  ***

  ANNA

  It’s been two days since Tommy busted through the front door carrying a bloody and lifeless Vater Henry. Two days, as we waited for him to die. But he hasn’t, and none of us can seem to understand why.

  The Vater had a gaping stab wound in his side between two ribs. When he’d been brought in his skin was a sickly white color, making it clear
he had lost way too much blood. Emily and the General both had done everything they could, including closing the hole up with almost forty stitches. After that, Emily had sat back on her haunches shaking her head, letting out what I’m pretty sure was her first real breath in the hour it took her to finish.

  The General had helped her to stand, and looking around at each of the faces in the room, she’d said, “I’m pretty sure that was all for nothing.” Then she turned and made her way to her room off the back hall.

  We had no way to give him blood, which is what the General said he really needed. Without it, he would be relying on his own dying body to replenish what he had lost, and that was highly unlikely. If the blood loss didn’t kill him, infection most certainly would.

  He had been unconscious the entire time they worked on him, and then Luke and the General had carried him to the second floor, placing him in the bed located in the same room where I had first met Luke. The same room where I had nearly been raped.

  Gosh that seems like so long ago.

  After that, Luke had come back downstairs, telling each of us it was only a matter of time, and then he assigned shifts so that someone would always be at the Vater’s bedside.

  Everyone was still taking shifts two day later. Through that time, it had certainly been touch and go. In fact, last night I woke up to yelling from downstairs, one floor below me. Luke and I both had ran down the flight of stairs where Tommy had been taking his shift with the Vater. At least eight people were running in and out of the room where he lay on the bed as I heard someone yell, “he isn’t breathing.” Then I’d watched as the General did CPR. It seemed like hours had past, but in what I’m sure was only seconds, I heard the Vater take a ragged breath.