“Sounds more like a cult.”
He grabs my arm. “Listen, Mav. Shit’s about to go down, and I’d rather my best friend be on the right side of history.”
I step away, pulling my arm out of his grasp. “Trust me, I will be.”
My dad appears at my side, offering his hand and interrupting the tense moment. “Good to see you again, Gabriel.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Stetson.” Gabe’s response sounds more rehearsed than sincere. Then again, he’s always been good at schmoozing people.
Dad asks him a few questions about his plans post-graduation, but I’m barely listening.Shit’s about to go down.What the hell does that mean? If the Brotherhood’s about to make some serious political moves, I don’t want my dad—a man who is decidedlyunlike those men—anywhere near here.
Gabriel
13 Years Ago
“The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.”—ARISTOTLE
“You sure you’ll be okay while I’m gone?”
“Yes, Mom,” I snap, not bothering to look up from my phone. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
“There’s frozen pizza if you get hungry.” Mom comes over and kisses me on the top of my head.
I don’t respond. We used to be close, but lately she’s been getting on my nerves. Always hovering and nagging, like she knows what’s best for me. But I’m eighteen now.A man. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
Mom finally leaves, out on another date with some loser. I never knew my dad, and Mom’s treated herself like a revolving door for men for as long as I can remember. Growing up, it would bother me—being the kid with the single mom who worked all the time. Sherarely made it to my sporting events, and if she did, she spent the entire game flirting with my teammate’s dads in the stands.
But it wasn’t until recently that I realized it’s not her fault. The Brotherhood helped me understand that she’s a victim of the system that raised her—a system that told her she can do everything instead of doing only the thing she was made for.
Instead of choosing a strong, capable man to be the father of her child, she got knocked up by some deadbeat and was forced to work in order to care for me. The Brotherhood wants to change that, to give women the opportunity to fulfill their true purpose as wives and mothers while raising a new generation of men. Men who will lead this country to a future of prosperity. I want to be a part of that movement, to be known as someone influential and important. To have my legacy be more than the son of a whore.
I’ve been following them since the beginning, been a part of their online communities since they first popped up on my feed. As soon as they started meeting in person, I joined the local chapter and have been attending their sessions for the last several months. I’ve found a real community there—a group of like-minded men who understand me, encourage me, and inspire me. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to be a part of their organization, to help their mission come to fruition.
Tonight is the night I finally get to prove myself.
I get in my car and head toward the meeting, driving past my best friend’s house on the way. There’s aFor Salesign in the frontyard, and my knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. I run my hand through my hair and take a deep breath, forcing away my irritation. Maverick and I have been like brothers since we were five years old, but we’ve been drifting apart for a while now. I’ve tried talking to him about the Brotherhood, tried to convince him to join, but he’s rejected our tenets.
He doesn’t understand how important this is for me, but how could he? He grew up with two loving parents, a stable home, afather—even if Mr. Stetson is too soft for my tastes. Mav will never know how important it is for me to make a name for myself, to prove that I can becomesomeonedespite my subpar upbringing.
I arrive and park outside of the building we use for meetings—a decommissioned Catholic Church on the outskirts of town—and head inside, eager to hear what task I’ll be given for my initiation. My heart is beating a little faster than normal, but I’m more excited than anything.
I’m greeted with welcoming handshakes and claps on the back. The leader of our city’s chapter approaches me, offering his hand. “Are you ready?”
I nod. “Yes, sir.”
Gentry smiles. He’s been like a father to me over these past few months, the father I never had. “Good man.”
I take my seat among the other initiates as we await direction from Gentry. He stands at the podium, addressing the group. “Welcome, gentlemen. Tonight is a very special night. Our newestmembers will complete their initiation and become official members of our brotherhood.”
The room erupts in cheers, but I refuse to participate. This isn’t some frat party. This is myfuture.
“We all know how women are these days. Provocative, entitled, impudent. These women are dangerous. They threaten the very fabric of society. Aristotle—one of the greatest philosophers of all time and a man whose principals have guided us from the beginning—knew the truth: women were made to be ruled over by men. And so, your task is simple. To prove you are ready to be one of us, you must first prove you have what it takes to put a woman in her proper place.”
The room is so silent I can hear the uneven breathing of the man next to me, hear the creaking of the folding chairs as the men adjust in their seats.
Gentry continues. “You will remind a woman that she is inferior. You will show her how powerless she is against you. Only then will you be welcomed into the fold.”
He didn’t say it outright, but we all know what’s being asked—no,required—of us. Fortunately, I have just the woman in mind.
