Page 25 of The Cult

“You better watch your mouth,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back toward him.

“Or else what?” His lips were inches from touching mine. Our panting intensified, our breaths fusing into one.

“Abel, I told you. This is serious.” Tobias let go of my hand and stepped back, keeping me at arm’s length.

I narrowed my eyes as I clenched my fists. “And you think I’m a joke?” I snapped. “You think I’m too dumb?”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, his harsh tone softening.

“What did you mean then? And don’t you dare tell me I’m too young to understand.”

He sighed in surrender. “I just need to get you and your family out of here safely.”

My irritation diminished slightly, but it didn’t change anything. “Are we in danger?” I asked. Did Tobias know something we didn’t? Was he actually on our side, or was he gathering info for Orcus?

“I don’t know, but your dad was never sold on all of this.” He gestured around us.

I knew that. “I can’t leave. Yet.” I had responsibilities.

“Why?” The lines on his forehead deepened.

“I just can’t.” I didn’t know if I could trust him. I didn’t know him. Life in these walls had taught me to never let my guard down.

“I don’t think that’s up to you, Abel. I’ll drag you out of here if I have to.”

“I’d like to see you try,” I said, calling his bluff.

“You want to be treated like an adult? Then act like one.”

“Don’t you have better things to do?” I asked. “What does your wife think about you being here?”

Tobias’s face darkened into such a profound sadness that I instantly regretted bringing her up. Maybe she left him. His eyes turned gloomy and distant before he slipped on the mask of indifference.

I couldn’t let his presence affect me anymore. My family needed me here. “I’ll keep your secrets,” I said. “You can stay or go, but I’m not leaving. Not until we’re ready.”

Thirteen: Tobias

Abel would be the cause of my demise. The death of me. My ultimate downfall. This kid was driving me insane and had no fucking clue. You’re doing this for Oliver, I reminded myself for the millionth time. This was the reason why I never allowed myself to care for anyone; it rendered you powerless, undermining your strength. The reminder of my late wife’s death stirred a tempest of emotions I’d suppressed for a very long time. Fury surged through my veins like a relentless storm, threatening to consume me. But years of practice had taught me the importance of control, so I fought to constrain my reaction.

I couldn’t allow others to witness the depth of my suffering. In my world, showing emotion was a vulnerability, a chink in my armor that I couldn’t afford. I had learned the hard way that revealing my pain could be exploited, and I had no intention of becoming an easy target, not even for someone as harmless as Abel.

Behind my unflinching facade, I forced my anger down, burying it deep in my chest. My blood boiling, my knuckles white, I wrestled with the turmoil raging within me. On the outside, I appeared composed, but I was tussling with the memories of my wife’s tragic death inside.

Uncle Tobias. My skin crawled at the way Abel called me that, especially after watching that intimate show he’d flaunted on his bed. It sounded wrong and unnatural; similar to how I felt after invading his privacy. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he called my name when he came. I was confused and aroused at the same time. I didn’t know why Abel had my circuits in haywire. I was out of my element when it came to him. Maybe because of his age or something else, but I needed to figure out a way to get into his hard head so I could consider this mission done and dusted and be on my merry way. We had bigger issues to face, and the longer I stayed here, the more advantage The Firm was gaining. They didn’t need an edge. We were already the David to their Goliath, and we’d made sure our story had the same ending. Fighting I knew how to do well, but dealing with a petulant teenager was way out of my fucking league.

“I gotta go. I’ve got an early day tomorrow,” Abel announced before walking away.

There was no sense arguing with him, so I let him go, watching him disappear behind the stands of trees. There was something he wasn’t telling me. He might be able to fool others, but not me. I’d get my answers one way or the other.

My nerves wound tight as a spring, I stood where Abel had left me. Sleep wasn’t going to happen after the night I’d had, so, without being noticed, I chose to spend the entire evening exploring the cult’s premises and its fringes until dawn.

Aside from a couple of modestly constructed buildings, including the facility housing the quarters, gym, and the arena, this commune was in dire need of restoration. Most of the structures were decaying and some of the houses were dilapidated, one spark away from burning to the ground. This cult—or The Creed, as they called themselves—must offer something to its people that was escaping my sharp sense of perception. Why else would they stay?

When the first ray of sun broke the sky, I rushed to get to my room. The nocturnal sounds were replaced by the clucking of chickens, dogs barking, and the roaring of an old truck engine. Eardrum-piercing sirens greeted me when I entered the warehouse. The guards were too busy intimidating the group of six young men to notice my presence. It’s too early for this shit. I caught a glimpse of Abel between the heads of the four guards and wondered how he’d spent the rest of his night. Probably sound asleep. I would have after coming hard twice like that. He stretched his arms over his head, yawning. It was hard to miss how young he looked, regardless of how tough he acted. I made a mental note to ask about his age; it was inconsequential for my obligation, but I was curious.

Four doors and three minutes later, I was in my bed.

“How was your first night?” Sterling asked, popping his head in.

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