Maybe heisjust as scared of Ringo as he is of me.
“Then I realised the church… I mean cult…” he corrects, “was in on it too. Banes was offering a shit-ton of money for your capture. Like serious cash. So, when Dad started spilling everything, it began to make sense as to why Banes was trying so hard.”
Daniel coughs then, the sound a little too wet to be considered normal, like he suffered some real damage on the drive here.
Catching his breath, he swipes at the blood that bubbles at the corner of his mouth again, and continues, peering up at me.
“When I first started seeing you, it was because my dad told me you were considered a prime vessel in the church. As a mother and a wife.”
My jaw tightens at his words, and my stomach twists.
Don’t kill him yet, Abbey. You need to know everything.
“Securing you as mine would not only get my family to the top ranks in the church but would secure us some decent money.” Daniel shrugs like that’s totally a normal reason to start dating someone. “I didn’t really care at first, and kind of liked you. You were a nice girl. A good friend. Pretty. I figured it wouldn’t be so bad doing what my dad asked of me… even the part where he insisted I have sex with you.”
I nearly retch, my mind going back to when he first showed an interest in me. How he seemed so nice. So normal. And so into me.
What a fool I’d been.
“I mean, what guy doesn’t want to have sex, right?” Daniel keeps talking, his gaze dropping again, like it’s easier to get it all out if he doesn’t have to see my face. “I figured it was a win-win, even if my dad was going on about how claiming your virginity would secureour place in the church.” Daniel’s face contorts with pain then. It’s not physical pain but the kind of pain that comes from the weight of traumatic memories.
“When my dad filled in the blanks after Allen kidnapped you, I realised not only had I been lied to and used, but that I had made things worse for everyone. Especially you.”
“Get to the point, Daniel,” I snap, not wanting to hear an ounce of his so-called sorrow about his actions.
“Apparently, the real reason my dad told me to claim your virginity was to keep you as ours, because Banes wanted you for himself. Something about your purity as a vessel and bloodlines or some shit like that.” He shrugs again, like this is all so normal when it’s anything but. “My dad thought if I fucked you first, you wouldn’t be pure enough for Banes anymore, and my family would still benefit. We’d rise in the ranks, and Banes would back off. That was the plan.”
His voice breaks as a sob escapes him, and he slaps a shaky hand over his mouth as he struggles to hold himself together.
Once upon a time, I would have felt sorry for him. Now I just want to find the bottleneck Ringo took from me before and put it to good use.
Luckily for him, he starts talking again.
“When your mum sprung us… you know… having sex, and all the craziness that followed, I felt trapped and wasn’t strong enough to go against my old man or the church.” He shrugs again, his bloodshot eyes locking with mine. “So I took it out on you. Treating you like shit. Hurting you.” He gulps. “Raping you.”
Ringo growls again, shifting to push me aside, his eyes trained on Daniel, ready to pounce, but I spin and put myself between them, pressing my hand to Ringo’s chest.
“Cam. Not yet. I need to knoweverything.”
Nostrils flaring, Ringo grits his teeth, finally dragging his murderous glare from Daniel to me, his gaze instantly softening.
“He needs to die.”
“And he will.” I nod slowly. “When I’m through with him,I will kill him. Don’t forget he’s mine to kill.”
Ringo’s jaw ticks, but he nods regardless, his hand coming up to cup my cheek.
“I’m sorry, Angel. I…” He trails off, not able to finish, and I step into him, weaving my arms around his waist.
“I know,” I whisper, understanding this is hard for him to hear too.
We hold each other for a moment, and then I step back, linking my fingers with his as I turn to face Daniel.
“So you hurt me because you were angry? Been there, done that, Daniel. Now tell me something I don’t know.”
Daniel gulps and gives a shaky nod.
“At the chapel… before my old man told me the truth, I honestly thought I was being forced to marry you because I knocked you up. Fuck, I was so dumb,” Daniel huffs, raking a hand down his face.
