Page 78 of Pride
Alice showed Prudence the pants to warn her about what was coming next—touch. Then she eased them on the woman and tried not to look at all the hand sized bruises on her thighs.
Alice should have killed the guards. She wanted to kill them now.
Parker turned back around and held Alice’s eyes. “I’ll carry her out.”
Alice nodded grimly, then faced Prudence. “We’re taking you home. You’re safe now.”
Prudence flinched upon recognizing Parker.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “My family has pledged an alliance with the Sisterhood.”
Together, Alice and Parker helped Prudence stand. Then he collected the fragile woman in his arms and carried her with an ease and gentleness that Alice had never seen in the man. She watched him leave, his head bent low and intimate as he whispered calming assurances to Prudence. His comms were still on.
You’re safe now.
We’ll protect you.
I won’t let go.
28
After arrivingat the Hildegard Sisterhood Abbey, a few hours by plane from Cardinal City, Parker Lazarus did his best to remain calm. Their journey from the Columbian Syndicate site included an hour-long walk across land and two consecutive plane transfers until they ended in the Lazarus Tech jet, flying back State-side. Each minute had been nerve racking, for both Parker and Alice, but especially for Prudence. Parker had tried to calm her and set her at ease, but the longer he’d held her, the worse her anxiety got. Men had done this to her. He’d never felt more helpless than he did then, and never more proud of Alice. So much that he touched her in small ways, just to balance his sin.
Alice stayed with Prudence during the jet ride while he’d busied himself with getting out of his Deadly suit and into civilian clothing. He’d wanted to take Prudence to Lazarus House, but could appreciate her need to be among her own people, her sisters, her home. And since Alice and he were the first team back from the coordinated reconnaissance mission, he had time to kill before he rendezvoused with family to discuss intel.
It was after midnight when they arrived, and from the moment they’d crossed through the giant wrought-iron gates of the abbey, Parker felt ill at ease. The picturesque grounds were a mask over the true, sinister nature of this place. The virtuous nuns with their vows of silence hid more than their voices. The vine-covered limestone monstrosity of a building may have looked like something from a child’s fairytale book, but these same fairytales had twisted origins. It didn’t sit right that the same people who had flogged Alice could also be a source of solace for her.
Prudence had recovered enough to walk herself along the long driveway, up the high steps leading to the building. She was proud, and walking in on her own two feet meant something.
The Reverend Mother waited on the steps, along with the other Sinners and a few nuns in habits. Like a host of deadly butterflies, the Sinners swarmed on their missing agent and swallowed her whole. They moved as a group, providing a guard of honor, until they disappeared into the building. The Reverend Mother somehow managed to look down her nose at Parker, despite being over a head smaller than him.
“We owe you a debt of gratitude, Mr. Lazarus.”
He blinked, surprised. He’d expected some snark, considering the way he’d treated her last time—at the very least a cold shoulder. But he could see the truth in her eyes. No longer did they hold thinly veiled resistance.
“Of course.” He inclined his head.
Alice touched his arm gently. “She means it. If you ever need anything from the Sisterhood, we will be there.”
“You meantheywill be there,” he pointed out. Alice would be with him, not part of this poor excuse for an organization.
An unnamed emotion passed over Alice’s features, and every instinct in his body woke up, alert. Her jaw hardened, and she turned to her superior. “There is much to talk about.”
The Reverend Mother’s eyes crinkled as she took in Alice’s dirty attire. “I’m sure you want to clean up first.” She assessed Parker. “And your companion might like a tour of the facilities.”
He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Well, you could always come and sit with us while we say our novenas for dear Sister Prudence in the chapel.”
God, no.He gave her a tight, polite smile. “I’ll stick with Alice.”
The older nun huffed as though she expected that and was pleased. “Sister Alice, I’m sure you’re exhausted. I will speak with you in the morning after first meal.”
Then, with a brisk nod, she went back inside, leaving Alice and Parker alone on the doorstep. He put his hands in his pockets and frowned at the front door before looking at his mate with a smile. “A tour with you sounds good, though.”
“Tour-schmour,” Alice groused. “The Rev’s offer wasn’t sincere. She has her own agenda. Don’t believe that sweet as pie old lady face.”
Her own agenda? Parker surveyed the grounds and narrowed his eyes, waiting for an army of Sinners to jump him. Perhaps they should have returned to Cardinal City after all.
