"He's not—not here," Ash said. "I swear it."
"Mebbe we'll see 'bout that." He jammed the pistol harder against her temple. "MacQuade!" he yelled. "You see this? We got your boy. Got your woman! Got her just like we had yer ma an' yer sister! I'm gonna kill her, MacQuade, less'n you come out! Give ye a count o' three."
"He ain't here!" Liam cried desperately.
"He's not! We promise!" Shevonne cried.
"One," Garvey bellowed in Ashleen's ear. "Two. Three."
Something jerked her hair, almost breaking her neck as Garvey yanked her head back. The pistol barrel tore away from her skin, the weapon discharging.
Ash's knees buckled, and she waited for the sharp burn of pain as she tumbled into the void of death, but Garvey held the weapon in one outstretched arm, only powder smoke singing her eyes and her nostrils, the pistol having been yanked away from her at the last moment.
Hysterical sobs rose from the children, Ashleen's fury racing wild. She fought to wrench free, managed to elude Garvey's arm. His fist, savage, brutal, cracked into the side of her head, sending her crashing to the ground. She slammed into the dirt, the breath driven from her lungs.
"That was smart, woman," Garvey said. "Real smart. Tellin' us the truth."
"Mr. God's comin' back!" Meggie screamed, her tiny face flushed with terror. "He's comin' back an' shootin' you!"
"No, he ain't, girl," Eli slurred.
A shudder of relief worked through Ashleen as she saw the huge man put Meggie down, but those unsettling dull eyes still studied her as if she were an intriguing doll.
"You don't have to worry 'bout him hurtin' ye no more now." The man swiped his hand across his damp mouth. "I'm gonna kill 'im for you."
"No! Can't kill Mr. God!" Meggie stormed. "Magic! He gots magic!"
"Well, it's gonna take more than magic to keep him alive once we get hold of him." Cain cast a contemptuous glare at the tiny child, then turned his attention to Ashleen. "But for now, woman, you know you been keepin' my brother here up nights with wantin' you."
Bile rose in Ashleen's throat, and she shoved herself to a sitting position, terror all but paralyzing her as she stared into the lust-filled face of Eli Garvey.
"Yes, ma'am, my brother, he been doin' some wicked things to himself under his blankets at night—that pretty face o' yours just dancin' in his mind. I promised him once we found you, well, you an' Eli could do a little entertainin' of your own."
The huge man had turned his attention from Meggie, his face suffusing with ugly color. "Cain promised me," he said licking wet lips. "Some entertainin'."
Ashleen closed her eyes against the horror of it, her fists clenching at the memory of Garret's tender caresses, her stomach pitching at the thought of Shevonne and Meggie and Liam being subjected to witnessing the atrocities the Garveys had planned for her.
She blinked back tears, not too proud to beg. "Please," she whispered. "Do—do whatever you want to me, but please, for God's sake, don't... don't let the children... see it."
Cain sneered, one hand groping at her breast. "Be an education for 'em, lady."
"No! Sister Ash! No!" Liam shrilled, hysterical, scrambling over to cling to her arm. Cain cursed, backhanding the boy, sending him flying. Ashleen flung herself to protect the child as Cain drew his hand back again, but something stopped it in midswing. Garvey cursed, and Ashleen looked up to see Eli towering over his brother, one meaty hand locked about Cain's wrist.
"No hurtin' kids. You promised." Fury simmered in Eli Garvey's eyes.
"Let go of me, you ass! I—" Cain started to swear, looking into Eli's face. Ashleen saw a subtle shift, as if even this scar-faced monster of a man feared his brother.
"Please." She turned her gaze on Eli. "If you don't—don't want to hurt the children, don't let them see—lock them away where they won't have to..."
For a moment Ashleen thought her plea had been futile. Then Shevonne's whimper made Eli wince. "Where? Where can I put 'em where they ain't gonna get hurt?"
Desperate, Ashleen tried to think of somewhere without windows where they wouldn't have to endure her suffering. Somewhere there was a chance they might be able to get away, run. The root cellar rose in her mind—one of the projects there had been no time for, the wood door half rotted, the hinges loose. Rickety enough so Renny might be able to burst free once he regained consciousness, free after this horror was over.
Ash swallowed hard, fearing it might also become the children's grave. "The—the root cellar. Shevonne! Take Meggie and Liam into the root cellar."
"No! Not—not leaving you!" Liam wailed, clinging to her, his tears dampening her sleeve.
"Go, Liam! Now!" Ash gave him a fierce shake, afraid that Cain Garvey would grow impatient, change his mind. She hated herself as his eyes widened with stark betrayal. The child scrambled back, stunned. "Liam, go!"
