Page 94 of Royal Pain

“It was very interesting that about six months later, my father sat me down in his office. He was very kind, his voice soft but he explained that some things within the community were best left in the dark. He tried to scare me with mention of boogeymen and bad spirits, but I knew it was about the horrors of man even at that age. However, the incident was never mentioned again. I just thought of it. The real point isn’t just killing people who get in their way but the number of weapons they likely have. Be mindful of that.”

“Good to know, Evangeline,” Jeff said. “Everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. We are coordinating with the FBI, who is already on the move.”

Valerio had coordinated with an old buddy of his, handing over the controlled reins to Jeff and his men. My two brothers were in the SUV behind us. We were all dressed in dark clothing. We were all tense. The plan was in order. There was no reason to think otherwise yet we remained apprehensive. There was still a chance Damien had been or would be removed from the community. The areas in the forest mentioned by Evangeline early on had been locked down, or so we hoped.

Given what she’d just mentioned about the basements, I wouldn’t put it past these bozos to have a secret chamber under the damn community leading them miles away. It truly did remind me of a commune.

“Stay right with me,” I told her.

“I will. Just so you know. So you all know. I hate my father. My mother is just a pawn. However, I don’t want him to die if at all possible.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear her say that. Blood was thicker than water at the end of every day.

“Don’t worry, Evangeline,” Ron told her. “Your parents aren’t the target.”

We left the vehicles three or four to a group, heading for the community from different angles. Almost immediately, we were bombarded by a group of picketers screaming about cults and zombies of all fucking things. Some held shovels, other heavy axes. What the hell did they think they were going to do?

When some of them shoved signs into our hands, I encouraged everyone to accept them. What the hell? It was additional coverage as we approached.

I felt Evangeline tense next to me when something caught her eye. She placed her hand on my forearm, her breathing ragged. Being here for her was like being taken back to a torture chamber of those imprisoned overseas. I’d heard all about the horrors from Jeff and Ron. PTSD was horrible for a reason.

Doors were burst in, screaming occurring. Within seconds, the place sounded like a war zone.

“Several are missing!” we heard someone scream.

“Check basements,” Jeff called back.

They knew he was being serious. If tunnels had been built, they would have been done through passages in two or more basements. Where no one was supposed to ever see them.

What I hadn’t expected was for my sweet submissive to take off bolting back in the opposite direction, likely heading for her parents’ house.

I motioned for several of the others to follow, racing after her. Her determination was strong and I understood why she hadn’t obeyed me.

This might be the last chance of seeing her son ever again.

I lunged forward, flanking her side and together we closed the distance to her parents’ small house.

No one needed to tell me anything. I kicked in the door, the group of eight or so of us folding in through the front door like true soldiers.

Just then, I noticed she had her hands wrapped around the weapon I’d provided. The look on her face in the warmly lit space was terrifying.

She was prepared to kill if necessary.

Or worse.

Die.

She knew exactly where she was going and we followed her. When she found her father in a den in front of a roaring fire smoking a cigar and drinking cognac, I thought for certain she would go ballistic.

“Well, dear Daddy. How did I know I’d find you here, acting as if you don’t have a care in the world.” Evangeline remained behind him for now, her entire demeanor different than before. She was concentrating, not at all shaking. But she had her arms outstretched, the weapon fully armed.

She’d been right that she knew what she was doing. Jeff had put her through the paces, including firing off a couple of shots. However, when emotions got involved, anything could happen and not usually something good.

When he didn’t say anything, she moved around so he had to look at her, pointing the weapon within inches of his face.

I flanked her side but remained behind her. She needed to do this and I owed her that much. Jeff motioned to the others to search the house. Her mother had to be here somewhere.

“You’re crying,” she huffed. “You’re fucking crying, Daddy dearest? You were part of this horrible group for decades. What did the bastards do, subsidize your practice? Give you money tosock away? What did it take for you to sell your soul to them, allowing them to take my child? Huh? Huh, Dad?”