Page 97 of Malachi
Always love.
CHAPTER24
MALACHI
I felt like a new man, walking into the church the next morning. Eden loved me. I loved her. And the plan my brothers and I had begun all those months ago, over a year now, was about to come to fruition. I was getting the hell out of Dodge with the woman I loved by my side.
I had received a call early this morning, letting me know there was another day of meetings at the church to be had, rather than work at the construction site. After what the girls had discovered at their luncheon about the pressing need to finish the build, the call had surprised me. I sprinted up the stairs to the upper offices, a smile on my face.
Gideon and Ollie were both in attendance, a fact that also surprised me. Yesterday, they had both been told that they would be working on the job site today. Interesting.
I looked around, knowing I wouldn’t find Zeke there. He was likely already tucked away in his hole of an office. Out of sight and out of mind, just the way the Elders liked it.
“Morning, Ollie,” I greeted my brother with a smile.
“Not now,” he hissed out, his brows furrowed in concentration and worry.
“What’s going on?” Levi asked, walking up to the three of us. Ollie, Gideon, and I stood just outside of the main conference room, near the coffeepot. “Weren’t you two supposed to be at the job site today?”
“Not now, Leviticus,” Ollie hissed again, turning an angry scowl on our eldest brother.
“What’s going on?” Levi asked again in a hushed whisper.
“Ollie tried to stay home today, claiming that Delilah was feeling under the weather. Father went out himself to gauge the situation and brought him here,” Gideon explained in a whisper, looking around for any possible listening ears.
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah, oh shit is right. Act natural,” Gideon seethed. I turned to see a few of the Elders making their way up the stairs and into the hallway.
“A gathered bunch of Temple sons. That looks like trouble,” Elder Taylor teased. “I’m just teasing. We’re glad to have you lot among the fold of Elders,” he praised, clapping both me and Ollie on the back in a congratulatory way.
“Good, you’re all here,” Father’s voice boomed into the small hallway as he and the Reverend walked in from the back offices.
“Yes, Father,” Levi answered dutifully. I didn’t think even Father’s snarky attitude could make me feel bad today. Today was too good a day, and in two days, the world would be even better.
“Follow me,” the Reverend announced, gesturing into the main upstairs room. It was a large space across from the conference room that held several seating areas, as well as a secretary’s desk. Martha, the Reverend’s secretary, was not here this morning, which seemed odd.
“What’s going on, Father,” Levi asked. I could have smacked him upside the head.
Don’t invite trouble,I mentally scolded him. Fucking idiot.
I glanced around the room, a habit I had developed over the years, particularly after learning about the shady business of this place. More Elders had gathered this morning, more than normal.
A sense of foreboding came over me. Something wasn’t right. Combine that with the fact that Father had physically dragged Ollie here this morning, and something was most definitely wrong.
My hand brushed over my waist, a gesture common when I was out hunting and would reach for my knife. Even my subconscious was telling me something was wrong.
I could feel the stares of many of the Elders on us, too many of them. Whispers had begun ever since we stepped foot into this portion of the church, their eyes following our every move.
No, this was bad. Very bad.
But Zeke wasn’t with us. That small fact was the one thing allowing me to hold on to my sanity and sense of reality. If things were truly bad, if they had found us out, surely they would have Zeke with us.
“Leviticus, it’s time we had a talk,” the Reverend began, but not in his usual, calm tone. No, this was much more akin to the tone he had used in his office with me all those years ago. Sweat was gathering at my temples and along my back. I felt trapped, like an animal in a cage. I wanted to run, to grab my brothers and get the hell out of here. Something waswrong.
“Of course, Reverend. What can we do for you today?” Levi answered with a smug smile.
“For starters, you can explain yourself,” the Reverend bit out tersely.
