Steeling herself, calling up her courage, she walked to him and put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, but when he woke up, he could never remember what the other boy looked like. Maybe it was a safeguard kind of thing, maybe he couldn’t comprehend he had a twin brother and someone had been cruel enough to separate you.”
“But I always remembered him.”
“Are you sure? Was it more like you were told about him?”
“Papa Herbert used to tell me about the good little boy that got left behind. When I was bad, he would wish he’d picked Evan instead. I tried really hard not to be bad. Mother said I didn’t have it in me to be good, but Papa Herbert said she was wrong, that I only had to try harder.”
Man, she was so far out of her depth she might as well be having a conversation with a kangaroo. “Eli—”
The door opened and BS walked in, dressed in a flowing white robe, his only adornment a heavy gold chain with a cross hanging from it. She caught a glimpse of Mean Eyes and Smirk Face standing outside like sentries.
Had they been there all along, and more troubling, had they heard the conversation between her and Eli and guessed what she was up to? BS gave her a benevolent smile, one that said she was a misbehaving child and he the understanding parent.
“Danielle, it is my honor to welcome you to The Temple of God’s Divine Children,” he purred in his soft, musical voice. “I am Blessed Son of Supreme Lightness, but you don’t have to tangle your tongue with all that. Blessed Son will do, or just Blessed if you prefer. Are you comfortable, my dear? You are my guest, soon to be my . . . well, we’ll get to that later. Is there anything you need?”
Was he implying that he was the Son of God? Dani backed away, putting the bed between them. If he thought she was stupid enough to fall for his bullshit, he was in for a big surprise. But that didn’t mean he didn’t scare the daylights out of her. He was like a cobra, swaying prettily in front of her, trying to draw her in until she forgot he was a deadly son of a bitch.
“There’s only one thing I need and that’s for you to let me go home.”
The bastard tsked. “You are home, Danielle. I know you don’t understand anything yet, but very soon now, you’ll thank me.”
Seriously, he thought she would thank him? Why hadn’t anyone told her pigs had finally sprouted wings? “You can’t just jerk me out of my life. My daughter needs me.” She hated how desperate she sounded.
“Ah, sweet Regan. Such a delightful child. Put your fears to rest, Danielle. She’s being well cared for as long as you behave like the good girl I know you are.”
Dani’s knees gave out and she sank to the floor. Oh God, I beg you, please don’t let it be true. He was lying, he had to be. Logan would have gotten to Regan before anyone else could have, and he wouldn’t let anyone steal her away. He wouldn’t. Her daughter was safe, she knew it in her heart because she didn’t doubt she could depend on Logan. The knowledge calmed her.
As she knelt with her head near her legs, she forced her breathing to return to normal and considered how to go on. BS was counting on her cooperation by using Regan as leverage. Only, he was lying, lying, lying. What would Logan tell her to do? His voice, almost as if he were standing next to her, whispered into her ear. Buy time, Dani. I’m coming for you.
Pushing herself up, she squared her shoulders and looked at the creep. He had fish eyes, bulging and weirdly incandescent. Crazy eyes. She would not cower before this self-important blowfish.
“Well then, that relieves my mind. Now I’d like you to leave. I’m tired from all the excitement and would love a nap.”
BS gave himself away when his eyes widened in surprise.
Didn’t expect that, did you, you freaking asshole?
“Have her bathed and ready to join me for dinner,” BS said, his gaze hard on her. “Her wedding dress is in the closet.” He turned and strode out of the room.
Dani turned to Eli. Her wedding dress?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Logan stood on a hill under the branches of a giant pine tree and surveyed the perimeter of the compound through high-powered binoculars. Inside the fence, women garbed in old-fashioned dresses covering them from neck to shoes worked in a large vegetable garden. Men roamed around, seemingly not doing much of anything.
Off to the left was a grass landing strip, an older-model Cessna 182 sitting out in the open. It didn’t look well maintained. It would be best not to think about Dani flying in that piece of junk.
Where the hell was she? He swept the binoculars across the camp, stopping when he saw a man dressed in all white enter a small building. An introduction wasn’t needed to know he was looking at Herbert Ballard. Two men stood guard outside the door.