He sobers up instantly when he realizes how upset I am.
Dirty little whore. Look what you did. Now Daisy has seen what a whore you are, too. Dirty bitch. You’ll pay for this once I have you back. I’ll make you into the commune’s whipping post.
“No!” I scream.
“What?” Mal grabs my hands as I squeeze my head between them, trying to force his voice out.
“Shut up,” I yell.
I can’t do this anymore. Now Daisy has seen me like this, what will she think? I hit the side of my head, and Roman grabs my fist.
He shakes his head. “Don’t do that, Ophelia.”
“We shouldn’t have done it. She’s seen now. She knows.”
“Knows what?” he asks gently.
“That I’m a whore,” I scream.
Cain spins me around to face him and takes my face in his big hands. “You’re not a whore, Ophelia. Don’t ever use that word about yourself again.”
“Is it any worse than the things you call me, huh? Or the way you all talk about me?”
“That’s because, in the moment, it turns us all on,” Cain says patiently. “We fucking love you, Ophelia. We worship you. If you want that talk to stop, it does. Right this minute.”
“Absolutely, baby.” Mal reaches for me and rubs my arm.
Roman isn’t there, and I look for him, but then he comes down the stairs carrying a new dress, panties, and sneakers. He pulls the fresh one over my head. I toe on the sneakers, and once the dress is in place, bend to fasten them, hurrying so I can go after Daisy.
“We’ll go find her,” he says.
“No. I have to. I need to tell her the truth.” I laugh darkly. “Well, she’s seen it now, anyway.”
“You can’t be alone out there,” Cain says. “I’m coming with you. You two stay here in case Daisy comes back. I’ll take some of my father’s men.”
“Roman can stay here because he’s hurt,” Mal says. “But there’s no reason for me not to come.”
“You stay with him, too. You freak Daisy out.” Cain’s face is set in a hard line.
That was cruel, but he’s not entirely wrong.
“Stay with Roman, Mal. Please,” I beg.
I run for the door, not even looking to see if Cain is with me. I feel so dirty and tawdry, and the sin clings to my skin like a stain.
I’ll never be free of that place.
CHAPTER 8
Cain
I swearI turn my head for one second and Ophelia is already gone.
“Ophelia, wait!”
I chase her out the door, and there’s only one thought on my mind. All hesitation is now gone. I’m going to find that piece of shit Prophet, and he’s going to die. He can’t be allowed to torment her any longer.
Any worries I had about us going back there, or even it being a trap, which I know the other two Preachers also share, aregonebecause we have to end that fucker. It’s the only way to set Ophelia free from his grasp.
