Buchanan grinned. “That I can’t promise, even if they are wearing more clothes than a nun at Sunday services.”
More low chuckles. Logan put his arm around Barbie’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “And you, doll baby, when we get Dani out, throw her in the van and don’t look back. Turner,” he said, “your only job is to sit outside the gate, engine running. When our girls scramble inside, you don’t stop until you get to Asheville. Anyone suspicious comes near you, you shoot to kill. Got that?”
Turner nodded.
“Anything else?” When they all remained silent, he spoke the first words of the SEAL pledge.
“To find us—”
“You must be good,” the rest chimed in.
“To catch us,
“You must be quick . . .
“To defeat us,
“You must be . . .
“JOKING!”
Curled fists piled one on top of the other. “God be with us,” he said.
“God be with us,” the others echoed.
Dani looked for a lock on the bathroom door, but there wasn’t one. The room was small, the shower, sink, and toilet crowded so close, she could barely turn around. She turned the shower on, hoping that Eli thought she was doing as told. There was no way on God’s earth she was taking her clothes off if she couldn’t lock herself in. Who in their right mind would get all smelly-good for BS, anyway?
She stared at the white dress hanging on the back of the door. It seemed ominous, like if she put it on, bad things would start happening. Did Eli really think she would willingly marry him? If so, he was as cracked as BS.
They’d taken her purse and cell phone, so there wasn’t any way to contact Logan. The only window in the cabin was barred, giving her no means of escape unless she could barrel past Eli, the two men standing guard outside, and who knew how many others. The odds of success were probably on level with winning the lottery.
She turned on the sink faucet and splashed cool water on her face. Think, Dani. You have to think your way out of this. Buy time, stay calm.
The first place Logan would look for her would be the cult’s compound. Until he arrived, she would somehow have to manage on her own. She turned the faucet and shower off and left the dress hanging on the door. Eli stood at the window, staring out. He turned, his gaze sliding over her.
“You have to get ready, Danielle.”
“What did he mean by ‘wedding dress’?”
“Papa Herbert will explain everything at dinner. Please, you don’t want to anger him; you have to wear the dress.”
Dani sensed he spoke from experience, but she didn’t feel particularly obedient at the moment. “I’ll take my chances.”
Fear flashed in his eyes. “He’ll blame me.”
Why Eli didn’t scare her the way BS did, she wasn’t sure. He seemed more like an oversized boy eager to please the adults in his life. And he looked like Evan. Her husband might have been lethal in battle, but where she was concerned, there hadn’t been a mean bone in his body. It was impossible to look at his twin and believe he was evil. Misguided and ill used, yes. A bad man, no.
“Eli, you can’t just go and steal someone out of their life. Please, take me home.”
“Don’t you want to be with me and Evan? I thought you would be happy here with us.”
The door opened and Smirk Face entered, saving her from having to respond. He handed Eli a brown bag and a bottle of water.
“Blessed Son said seven sharp.” He walked out whistling the wedding march.
Dani didn’t much like the sound of that, and how they could call the man Blessed Son and keep a straight face was beyond her.
Eli thrust the bag and water into her hand. “I thought you might be hungry since you missed lunch.”
She looked in the bag. She was hungry, but it was entirely possible they’d drugged the sandwich. “Thanks, but I’m not, actually.” It would be best not to eat anything they gave her. She could last until Logan came. Holding the bottle up to see it was unopened, she twisted the cap off and drank.
“I’m going to leave you alone so you’ll have privacy to dress.”
Suddenly she didn’t want him to leave. What if one or both of the guards decided to have a little fun with her? “No, please stay.”
This seemed to please him and he sat down in the chair. “I’ll wait here. You can change in the bathroom.”
They were going to have to hold her down and put that dress on her if they were that determined she wear it. “I have a better idea,” she said, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Suppose I tell you about Evan?”
He glanced away, his desire to learn about his brother obviously at war with his orders from BS. Dani remained quiet, letting him battle it out. Evan would win out, she was certain. If she played this right, maybe, just maybe, she could turn Eli against BS.