Barbara is good at eating large amounts and turning it into gas, but I doubt that’s what the girls mean. Vex opens the clubhouse door, holding it open as we file in. I wave to Nell, River and Greer, and Jason and Izzy who are already here. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jason asks to prospect at some stage. He seems to like the brotherhood shown here, but I know he’s hesitant after his experience. From his files I know that brotherhood and belonging is what drove him to move his daughter out of school into the same sect that Nell, Greer and River were part of.
“Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up, shit is about to get real,” Damian announces.
Prez’s brows rise and we all stare as Damian taps on his phone screen and music blasts over the bluetooth speakers. He does some elaborate hand actions and Barbara lifts up to her back feet, swaying back and forth as she and Damian do what I think might be ballroom dancing. Or maybe swing. I’m not actually sure but it’s mesmerizing in a sort of car crash type of way.
“Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?” Vex murmurs.
“Do you mean are you seeing an almost seven foot tall cajun motherfucker dancing with a fat dog in a tutu?” Chef asks.
“OK, just double checking.”
I shuffle the girls closer to the couch and we plop down next to Joe, never once taking our eyes off what’s happening in front of us.
“You know, when he said this is what he was planning, I didn’t think he would pull it off. But girl, he’s killing it with that big doggy,” Joe says, eyes also glued to the entertainment.
There is some type of running on the spot before Damian leans back, bangs on his chest twice and Barbara climbs up his body to stand on him, balanced perfectly on his huge pecs.
“Holy shit that’s kinda impressive,” one of the brothers whispers.
All of sudden Barbara’s head snaps toward the kitchen and she growls low before launching herself off Damian and racing straight for me and the kids on the couch. She spins in place, gets low and lets out a rumbling growl.
“What is it girl? Is there trouble?” Damian asks, head tilted to the side as someone cuts off the music.
That’s when I hear it, the voice. “This is a disgrace and you will all pay for your sins!” Goodson screams from the doorway of the kitchen.
He has his thick forearm across the throat of a girl that I recognize from the Keep Community. Her eyes are huge and fat tears are rolling down her cheeks.
“Please, just let the girl go, it’s us you want,” Dex says calmly, palms out as if trying to calm a rabid dog.
“Do not mistake patience for mercy. Wrath comes for those who refuse correction! Wewillfind you and wewillcorrect you. I am a messenger from the Prophet!” he screams, spittle flying from his mouth as he heaves breaths in and out.
“We need him alive,” Vex murmurs to his brothers as they slowly move to shield me, Joe and the kids. “We need answers.”
His brothers nod, hands relaxed by their sides even though there is a crazy man screaming Bible verses at us. My eyes scan down his body and I realize that he’s looking a little worse for the wear. I snort when I realize he must have tried the tunnels, coming face to face with Gretchen before finding another way into the Keep.
The girl bursts into sobs and he releases his arm across her throat, only to replace it with his fat hand, squeezing her throat until her mouth opens on a silent scream.
“Hey! Hey, look at me, just let the girl go,” Omen growls, mirroring Dex’s posture.
Goodson’s gaze swings wildly around the room, over the large men wearing leather cuts until they land on Justice. Red in the face and fists balled.
My brother turns to me, slowly, calculated, even though I can see he’s struggling with coming face to face with one of his abusers.
“Get the kids out of here,” he says gently before giving them a tight smile.
Joe drags Addy into her side, shielding her face from Goodson as I do the same with Bree. Sniper pulls Greer and Nell into his arms, moving them swiftly toward Church. Joe andI follow behind, with River bringing Izzy with him. I wait until everyone is inside, making sure the kids are comfortable.
“Take care of the kids for me, I need to make sure Justice doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Joe nods, pulling Bree into her other side. My gaze meets Sniper’s as I close the door, he gives me a tight nod. He may be quiet but he can read people. He knows as well as I do that Goodson is one of Justice’s triggers.
Pulling the door closed behind me I freeze in place. Justice has his hands hanging loose by his side, but I can see the gun he’s holding in his hand. I need to get him to stand down, to let the DRMC handle things. I open my mouth to call out but Goodson’s voice interrupts mine.
He leers at Justice, eyes half lidded. “Ah, Justice my good boy, come with me. I will save you beautiful boy, I willfuckthe devil out of you.” He spits the word fuck, making Justice jump at the savageness of it. “I will do all the things you begged your own father not to do.” He licks up the side of the poor girl’s face. “I will succeed where he failed and my brothers will burn down this place of sin and in its place build a new Eden’s Keep in its ashes!” Goodson has totally lost it, his face red as he preaches. “We will fuck the sin out of each and every one of the weak souls you think you have saved, you have condemned them all to a life of servitude just like you were born for Justice Blessing!”
The gun going off shocks me almost as much as Goodson’s silence in the aftermath and the screams of the poor girl as TumTum lunges to catch her before she crumples to the floor.
“Justice-” Dex starts in a low rumble.
