Most fathers would react one of two ways. They would fight tooth and nail against it like Derek Adams, or they looked at it as a business deal like Nikolai. The Bratva weren’t new to the concept of trading their daughters.
The occasional few thought we were kidding because marriage contracts were slightly outdated. But eventually, their eyes would round when they realized there was no joke to be had. And then there was Pastor Jacques Dupire, a supposed holy man.
What did he do when the monster haunting his town came to claim his daughter? He crossed his arms and said, “You can’t have Trina.”
Trina.
Not stay away from my daughters, or I’d never let someone like you near my children, but you can’t have Trina. Who, in my opinion, was the inferior version of her sister.
“I would say I find your extra special bond to one daughter interesting, but we both know why that is.” I pushed off the desk and took a few steps closer. “Don’t we, Jacques?”
The only hint that I’d struck a nerve was a slight arch in his brow. “Trina is a good girl who’s evaded corruption.”
“Some would define what you do to her as corruption.”
“It wasn’t long ago when it was considered the father's right to break in his daughter.”
“Or the pastor’s duty for the daughters of his flock?” I tipped my head. “That’s what you tell the parents of the girls you defile in here. Isn’t it? That only a holy man can bless their journey into womanhood?”
“The priest is to present it before the Lord and make atonement on her behalf.”
“Leviticus 12:7.”
His brow rose. “You know your bible.”
“I do. And you’re not the first person I’ve seen corrupt it for their own purposes.”
That was the thing about the bible. It was open to interpretation.
Apparently, the good pastor didn’t like being called out on his bullshit.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” He let out a heavy breath and marched past me to sit behind his desk. “Now get out of my office.”
I didn’t want to understand, nor did I care what he did so long as he kept his hands off Marnie.
“Sign the contract I left on your desk, and I will.”
He looked briefly at me before opening a drawer and pulling out a pen. That got my interest piqued.
“Tell me, Pastor.” I spun around and strutted back to the desk. “Why aren’t you arguing for your other daughter?”
“Marnie has the devil inside her.” He paused his writing to roll his eyes up at me. “Perhaps the devil can cleanse her.”
Cleansing was the last thing on my mind. However, I was tempted to cleanse this church.
Jacques returned to signing the pages in front of him. He didn’t bother to read any of the print, but he had no problem talking.
“I tried to help and show her the righteous path, but she was tainted.”
My fists balled. If he touched her…
“The good Lord saw fit to give me two beautiful girls to love. Children should remain innocent, and Marnie couldn’t even do that.” He held up the signed contract and looked me in the eyes. “I washed my hands of her a long time ago.”
My hand twitched to grab my knife, but then I got to thinking. Why should I waste my time ending him now? When I could really make the prick suffer.
Tucking the contract in my inside front pocket, I nodded at him. “Have a good evening.”
Let’s see how much he’d washed his hands of his daughter when I turned her against him…
