Revenge for his parents was close, Monty could feel it, but first he would find his love.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
The church was down a rutted track. The block walls were covered in overgrown vines, and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, it would never be found. Monty and the Devilles knew exactly what they wanted because Buford had sung like a canary and told them everything.
They’d ridden hard from London. Zach had of course tried to leave Mary behind; she’d punched him in the belly, winding him, which had made everyone but Monty snort.
Buford had told them, with Monty’s gun pressed to his forehead, that Challoner had been their leader, known as Diablo. He’d taken over when Silverton had died. Picton was now in control.
There would be more to uncover, but after getting the church’s location out of him, they’d sent word to Geraint to have someone guard Buford and left.
Monty pulled them to a halt beside the old stone building that had once been a mill.
“We’ll walk in from here. Buford said it is up the next drive,” Monty said.
They dismounted and tethered their horses. Keeping to the shadows, they walked toward the church. The small stone building they found was almost hidden behind a wall of trees. It wasn’t large and was clearly no longer in use, which they knew was the case from Buford’s information.
“In through the front door and then down the aisle,” Forrest whispered. “There are stairs through a door behind the altar. I will wait out here and keep watch.”
Pistols raised, they climbed the church’s front steps and opened the door. When no one appeared, they entered. Pews sat on either side of the aisle, unused and dusty. Reaching the altar, Monty walked behind and found a door. Easing it open, he winced at the creaky hinge and hoped whoever was below had not heard.
The steps down were narrow, but lamplight lit the way. So far there was no noise to suggest anyone was here, just as they’d found no carriages or horses outside.
Had Buford tricked them? Had he sent them to another location? Would Iris not be here?
“She will be here,” Gabe whispered in his ear. “Keep moving.”
She will be here,he repeated silently.
Reaching the bottom, he found a narrow walkway with two doors. One had a sturdy lock outside and was empty save for a cot. Pushing open the next, he heard the hum of chanting coming from somewhere up ahead. Monty pressed his back to the wall, and the others did the same behind him.
They were in some kind of chamber that smelled of a musky scent. He crept forward slowly and slipped behind a screen, and the others slid in with him.
Monty looked around the edge at the scene playing out before him. Two large candles were raised on an altar, and before that stood a man wearing scarlet robes. His face was covered with a hideous mask. Buford had told them that Picton was now the head of the Brothers of Faith, so this was likely him. Others all dressed in black stood in a circle. He could see between two to the woman lying on the table.
Iris.
She was in her nightdress, her head turned away from him. A tap on his shoulder had him moving slightly, and he let the others look.
“The gods must be appeased!” the man who Monty guessed was Picton yelled. The others all cheered their agreement. “We can let no one challenge our brotherhood!” Again, more cheers.
“Take what you wish from her, and then she will be sacrificed.”
“She’s of noble birth,” someone said. “And not a virgin as the others were.”
“I’ll take her if you are too scared.” A man stepped forward who Monty knew was Renton. He opened his cloak and then reached for his trousers. Monty roared.
Charging out from behind the screen, he ran at the men closest, shoving them out of his way. He dove over Iris and hit Renton hard in the chest, sending him to the floor.
Behind him were shouts of outrage that turned to howls of pain as the Devilles did what they did best.
“No! I will not let you ruin everything!” Renton cried at him. “She is mine.”
Monty wrenched off his mask and followed that up with a fist to the face, snapping his head to the side. Leaping off him, Monty reached for Iris. She was struggling to get free.
“I have you, Iris. Let me cut you free.”
“Theo?”
