Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Oh, you don’t need to worry, angel. I know I fucked things up this morning. I need to work through some stuff, get my head on straight again. But I love you, and everything is going to be fine.”
Beck didn’t know whether to believe him or call bullshit. All he could do was take a wait-and-see attitude.
He wanted to be more optimistic than he was.
“Promise?” she whispered.
Seth nodded and kissed Heavenly’s cheek, then eased away from her soft body to begin retrieving their suitcases with a plastic smile. The fact he didn’t verbalize his vow unsettled Beck.
After he handed Heavenly her tote full of toiletries, she flashed him a smile, as if comforted by the brief connection the three of them had just shared, then hurried into the house.
How long would the peace last?
Seth watched the door close behind her before turning to Beck. “Look, I know you’re both worried, but like I told Heavenly, I just need to work some stuff out in my head. In a day or two, I’ll—”
“Don’t blow smoke up my ass or hers.” Beck snapped. “You’ve kept those secrets wrapped tight for eight long years. Will a day or two really change a thing? Until you open up and purge, you’ll never get your head on straight, man.”
Before Seth could respond, Beck’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the caller ID.
“Hey, Jericho,” he greeted the FBI agent, tensing.
Seth stood beside him, watching and listening, as if he, too, was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“How are things going at the lodge?” the agent asked.
“Fine, I think. Seth, Heavenly, and I left. We just got back to LA. Everything all right there in Messiah City?”
“For the most part, yeah. Raid starts soon. The recovery groups you asked us to contact are waiting in the wings with representatives and transportation.”
“Good. How’s Zach holding up?”
“That’s why I called.” Jericho hesitated.
Beck’s gut twisted. “Not good?”
“He’s doing his best, but he’s struggling. He knows that he’s doing the right thing, but once it’s over, it can’t be undone. His life will be forever changed. So will all of The Chosen’s. It’s a lot for him to process.”
Beck scrubbed a hand through his hair and held in a curse. Even as a kid, Zach had been the quiet one, the nonconfrontational one. He’d always tried to blend into the background so he could escape Mother’s scrutiny. More often than not, it had worked.
Now, he had to put himself out, front and center, for the judgment of the entire congregation as he ended their way of life.
Fuck, going with Zach to take down Messiah City hadn’t been an option, but Beck wished he could be there to help his brother.
“What can I do?”
“Nothing right now, but he’s going to need you when this is over.”
Exactly why he’d given Zach his card. “Don’t let him go with any of the recovery groups, okay? When he’s done identifying those child-raping elders, send him back to LA. We’ve got plenty of room. He can stay with us. We’ll help him acclimate to the real world.”
From the corner of his eye, Beck saw Seth stiffen, jaw clenched, then grip the suitcases in his hands tighter before striding into the house, the door slamming behind him.
What the hell was that about?
“Will do,” Jericho replied. “He needs family, someone he can trust. Since I’m heading back that way, I’ll bring him back myself.”
“Thanks. Tell Zach to stay strong and that we’ll be waiting for him.”
“Will do. What the—” Jericho huffed. “Son of a bitch.”
Beck tensed. “What’s wrong?”
“Shut that shit down now!” the agent bellowed. “Motherfucker. I hate the press.”
“They’re already there?”
“Yep. I’ve got a damn news van pulling up. Clearly, someone tipped off the press about the raid, so I’ve got to put out this dumpster fire. I’ll text you when Zach and I get back to LA.” Without waiting for a reply, Jericho ended the call.
Beck stared at his phone, worry circling his brain. Zach was still reeling from the death of his wife and daughter, and now he had to end Messiah City? Yeah, and if he was losing his shit before the raid even started, what shape would he be in when Jericho brought him here?
“Beck?” Heavenly called, looking concerned. “Seth said you were on the phone with Jericho. Is Zach okay? Is the raid over?”
He strode across the garage, then brought her warm, soft body to his chest. “Not yet. It should be starting soon.”
As he led her inside, Beck relayed his conversation with the agent. That prompted Heavenly to rush downstairs and prep the guest room for Zach. And as Beck snagged a drink from the fridge, the sound of footsteps upstairs told him Seth had retreated up there.
They’d been home for two minutes, and they’d already gone their separate ways. How well did that bode for their future?