Page 68 of Angel

“Many times.” Anger had replaced the sadness in his voice. “I pleaded with her not to make me go. One time, my grandpa even strong-armed me into the car and then dragged me into the church.”

“This is your mom’s father?” Carlos asked, taking notes. “Name, please.”

“Lucas Milton, but he goes by Luke to his friends.”

Cage racked his memory to try to remember if he’d ever met Veronica’s father in person. He didn’t think so—but the fucker was dead. The man had strong-armed his son!

“What did your mother say to your protests?”

“That my soul was damned. She called me a sodomite even though I’m a virgin and don’t even know if I like or want to have anal sex. Each day after school, I had to read Bible verses she chose out loud to her for hours. I know that Leviticus 18:22 states that you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. I know that Leviticus 20:13 also states that if a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. Genesis 13:13 claims that the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. Corinthians 6:9 ends with neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Cage believed in God. He hoped that God was loving and forgiving as the Bible said. But listening to his son quote scripture about how he was unwelcome in Heaven because of who he loved… It tore Cage up inside. How could a God, any God, claim to be the maker of all and yet damn those He made?

Carlos had to clear his throat. He looked like he was as ready as Cage to punch something…or someone. “Were you ever physically harmed?”

Aaron looked at Cage. He wasn’t sure what his son was looking for, but he nodded his encouragement. “Just tell the truth.”

Looking like he’d rather be doing anything else than what he was about to do, Aaron stood up. He turned around so his back was to Carlos and the camera. When Aaron started to undo his pants, Cage and Carlos exchanged a confused look. Aaron lowered his jeans down just enough where part of his butt cheek showed.

Cage. Saw. Red. “Turn off the camera.”

“Cage, we?—”

Cage stood to block his son’s body from the camera. “Turn off the fucking camera!”

Carlos pressed Pause again.

Cage knelt down so he was facing Aaron’s bottom. “Show me,” he demanded.

He heard Aaron swallow and then he lowered his pants down to his knees. Cage gently lifted the back of his son’s shirt. Angry red markings crisscrossed his lower back, butt, and back of his upper thighs.

“Who did this to you?” Cage tried very hard to keep the anger out of his voice. He didn’t want to scare his son, who was being so brave.

“Pastor Robins,” Aaron told them. His voice shook, which was understandable. “He said if prayer didn’t work then he’d ‘beat the gay’ out of me.”

Cage squeezed his eyes closed, trying to collect himself. The pastor was beyond dead. Cage would put him in the cellar right next to Nathan Moore. “Your mother knew?”

Aaron only nodded.

Goddamn it, Veronica, Cage cursed the woman he hadn’t seen or talked to in seventeen years. He had never harmed a woman, but Veronica Banks had just made his list. He might give her to Angel, though. Cage wasn’t sure he had it in him to actually hit a woman.

“Call Bear or Tessa,” Cage ordered Carlos behind him. Cage wasn’t sure he’d be able to articulate what had happened to the couple without making it sound like a dire emergency. Upon closer inspection, Cage saw that none of the marks were open wounds. There was light bruising, but most of them looked irritated.

“Anywhere else?” Cage didn’t even recognize his own voice when he asked.

Aaron shook his head.

Cage turned to Carlos. “Do you need pictures?”

Carlos didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded. “Aaron, are you okay with that?”

Aaron certainly didn’t look happy. He kept his hands in front of his groin as he nodded. “Do what you need to do.”

Carlos came over. He made Cage step back so he could get a clear shot of the markings. When he was done, he put a gentle hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “Thank you, son. You’re being very brave. You can pull up your pants now.”

Aaron did so quickly. Without looking at either adult, he asked, “Can I have a minute?”

“Take all the time you need,” Carlos said before Cage could. Cage was grateful for Carlos’s answer.

---