Page 21 of Bones

I’d always worried I’d accidentally slip up and say the wrong thing to the wrong person. It was why I never spoke. Silence was easier than measuring every carefully phrased word I said. But in all my stressing, I’d never once worried that Ryan might inadvertently spill my secret. I certainly never dreamed he would do it onpurpose.

“This is just temporary. Leader Jones wants to make sure you’re ready and dedicated enough to God to help fulfill my destiny.”

Run.

Run through the woods.

Run!

“Stop the car.”

Ryan tilted his head to give me a patronizing smile. “He said you’d fight this. He speaks to God himself. It’s how he knows things.” His voice lowered, and something dark crossed his face. “So many things.” His expression smoothed out just as fast. “Like that the sinner in you would try to take control. But think of everything I’ve been able to do. To accomplish. Just imagine how I could serve the Lord with more reach.”

For a moment, his enthusiasm nearly got to me. It was the same magnetic charm and palpable faith that had an arena’s worth of people hanging on his every word each Sunday.

A month before… Heck, even a week before, I might’ve fallen for it. Actually, there was nomight. I would’ve trudged along and done as he said because I believed in him.

And because it was easier than fighting.

But that little hint of rebellion in me had only grown stronger. I wasn’t numb enough to ignore the warning bells that sounded in my head. “You might as well stop?—”

Stop.

Stop.

Stop!

Run.

Run.

Run!

“—the car because I’m not going,” I said, my volume steadily increasing so I could hear myself over my literal running thoughts.

“You have no choice,” he shouted right back.

“Fine, but I’m not talking to him.Ever. I’ll sit in silence?—”

For the second time in just a few days, Ryan hit me. Only instead of a backhand, it was his full fist that connected with my jaw.

“I didn’t want to have to do that,” he said like he hadn’t sucker-punched me, “but Leader Jones is right. I’m too soft with you. I coddle you and protect you when I need to be protecting the world. They’re depending on me. God put me here to save them, and I can’t let you stand in the way.”

Shit.

Fucking shit.

I never swore, not even in my own head, but if that wasn’t a good time to start, I wasn’t sure when was.

“Ryan…” I began, but my words trailed off when nothing came to me. I had no plan.

Stop now.

Stopstopstop.

With a frantic impulsiveness, I reached for the steering wheel and wrenched it to the side. Ryan yanked it from my hold whileadding another punch for good measure. For a moment, the car rocked so violently, I thought it would roll. Or slam into a tree.

Or worse, he’d get control of the car easily and punish me worse than he already had.

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