In all honesty, Thomas thought he’d be executed on the spot. He’d prepared himself for that, as much as any man could. But instead, Landry had asked him if the entire thing had been part of Thomas's plan to infiltrate UnderHisWings.
When he’d answered yes, Landry had shouted, “I knew it! I knew I could trust you.” Which made Thomas feel all the more guilty and worthless. Still, Landry had ordered medical to examine his foot and then sent him home to rest. “We’ll discuss both your insubordinate actions”—he’d leveled a scrutinizing eye upon him—“and what you found out in the morning.” He’d patted Thomas on the back, gave him the chip device, and sent him on his way.
Of course, it didn’t surprise Thomas that the man still put a guard both in front and back of his house. Trust didn’t come easy for men in high positions.
And Landry had good reason not to trust him. The main one being, he’d lied. He’d not orchestrated any plan to infiltrate the Deviant hideout. What a genius plan that would be, and one that a man in his position should have thought of. But everything he’d done had been to protect Tori, to keep her safe, to watch over her.
Then what the heck was he doing here?
He leaned back, heart aching more than it should. All he had to do was play the game, lie through his teeth, and he could have everything back he’d worked so hard to achieve, his power, position, future, respect, plenty of good food, women, a mansion on the beach, and a Mercedes.
Then why, since he’d been back, were all his thoughts focused solely on Tori. Was she safe? Did she have enough to eat? A place to sleep? Who would watch over her now?
“You are a foolish man, Thomas Benton,” he said. “A very foolish man.”
???
Tori shivered. Darkness transformed the forest into spooky shadows—spindly branches reaching for them, clumps of thorny bushes, an obstacle course of fallen trees, dark ditches, and cascading ravines. With their arms around each other, she and Brianna brought the children close between them, trying to keep them warm.
Leaves crunched. Tori’s heart picked up a beat. She glanced through the foliage for any movement. After a few minutes, a person emerged from the shadows, but it was too dark to tell who it was. Thomas, maybe? She had no idea what had happened to him. The last time they spoke, he was told he couldn’t join them in UnderHisWings. He had looked so disappointed, even hurt. It had broken her heart.
“Tori, Brianna,” a female voice whispered.
“Nyla!” Rising, Tori ran to her and hugged her, careful not to harm the baby. “You’re wet! You must be freezing. What happened?”
“Long story.” Nyla greeted Brianna and the girls as they crawled out of their hiding place.
“Did you see Thomas?” Tori asked.
Nyla shook her head. “Calan?”
“No. It’s just been us here.”
Hanging her head, Nyla released a long sigh. “Let’s go then. The sooner we get to UnderHisWings, the safer we’ll be.”
“What?” Tori grabbed her arm. “We can’t just leave Thomas and Calan out here!”
Taking her hand, Nyla removed it from her arm and squeezed it. “If Calan is not here, it’s because he’s been captured.” Sorrow filled her tone, and she hesitated before continuing. “Thomas was probably caught too.”
Tori’s insides crumbled. “But he didn’t know where we were to meet.”
“No, but I saw Calan run after him. Either way, we can’t stay out here all night. If Calan found him and they are hiding, they’ll make it to UnderHisWings soon.”
“Or maybe he’s already there,” Brianna added with hope.
A hope that quickly dwindled after another hour of traipsing through the forest—thankfully with Nyla in the lead or they’d be hopelessly lost. How she knew where to go in the darkness when everything looked the same, Tori could not fathom. Yet, onward they went, climbing up and down steep hills, traversing treacherous creeks, and squeezing their way through patches of trees so close together, it was difficult to breathe. Finally, they scrunched their way between two boulders and a copse of trees and entered a cave, hidden from view.
Moonlight rained down through holes above, revealing a small empty cavern.
Nyla picked up a stick and rapped a sequence of taps on the wall, then said, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
People came running from every crevice, corner, and passageway, startling Tori. Gripping Brianna’s hand, she backed away, but after Nyla introduced them to everyone and they offered kind greetings and hugs, her heart settled.
The joy of the moment soon dwindled when Nyla told them Calan had most likely been captured.
“We will pray for him,” one older man said.
“Yes, we will, Mitch. But for now, let’s get these dear sisters in Christ some food and rest. They’ve been on a long journey.”
