Page 73 of Skid
Dalton said, “I’ll send them straight to hell.”
“Then it’s time. Tell them,” Rhys instructed, and I cleared my throat before starting.
“They call themselves The Community, and their sole purpose is to train young girls to follow ‘their God-given path’.” Devlin looked confused, so I backed up. “It is a group of men and their brainwashed wives. They prey on vulnerable young girls, promising them a ‘daddy’s love’ and twisting them into pliant, subservient . . . sex slaves. When the girl turns sixteen, the process of finding them a husband starts. I went to one wedding between a sixteen-year-old girl and a forty-three-year-old man.”
“So, the wives are aware of what the men are doing with young girls?” Devlin asked, and I looked at Dalton before responding.
My eyes cast down, and he lifted my face, whispering, “Don’t be ashamed, Grace. After today, you’ll never have to think about any of this ever again. Please tell him. I promise nothing will change how I feel about you.” Leaning closer, he pecked me softly on the cheek and spoke. “Nothing.”
I met his soft blue eyes and turned to Devlin. “There was one time when Connie walked in, and I panicked, worried she would be angry and send me away. I was terrified of not having that love he showed me and tried to get him to stop. She walked up to the bed, and he leaned over to kiss her as he was . . . she said, and I quote, ‘Is she doing a good job, Daddy? Does she make you happy?’ He said yes, and she petted my head, whispering, ‘Good, girl,’ before she left with the other foster kids for the weekend.”
“Fucking bitch,” James snarled, and Devlin leaned forward.
“Tell me about The Community. Do you remember any of their names? Where they lived?”
“They lived all over central Missouri, and when I ran away, there were eleven that I knew of. I have no idea now.”
“Would you recognize any of them if you saw a picture?” James asked, and I nodded.
“I can tell you one of their names, but that’s only because the girl he was . . . teaching . . . let it slip one night while we were changing. It was one of the few times there was more than one . . . daughter at a gathering. Usually, our daddies liked to show us off one at a time, so he could get all the praise. In reality, he wanted everyone to watch him as he . . . taught her. They’re sick and need to be stopped, but I don’t know if I’ll be any help.” I lowered my voice, guilt filling me. “I should have tried harder to get the other girls’ help. How many more were hurt because I didn’t speak up? I could have saved them, saved your sister,” I said, turning to James.
He looked at me and expressed, “You were a child who didn’t deserve what you lived through. You don’t get to carry guilt over what someone else did. You tried to speak up, and the system failed you. I promise, I’ll find every member of The Community and when I do, that will be their last day alive.”
I could hear the sincerity in his threat, and I smiled sadly before releasing Dalton’s hand and standing from the chair. Looking at the men sitting around the table, I asked, “Do you have any other questions because I’m going to find a quiet corner and try to forget about all of this.”
Rhys spoke, and I looked at the man who gave me hope when I thought there was none. “I think you need to call Eddie and let him know you’re okay. He called and made me promise to have contact with him.”
I walked around the table, and Rhys stood pulling me into a deep hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist and heard Dalton grumble behind me. Looking up, I commented, “I’m sorry I brought all this to your doorstep again.”
“I’m glad you came, Grace. You brought my family back to me, and it makes me laugh at how small the world is.”
Shaking my head, I let him go and was met halfway around the table by Dalton. He wrapped his arms around me, and I rested my face against his chest, feeling his strong heart beating against my cheek. Sighing, I realized how much weight was off my shoulders after telling him. I was always worried about him leaving or judging me, but knowing he wasn’t going anywhere, I finally felt his words pierce through the concrete surrounding my heart.
“Why don’t you find Regan and tell her to come see the family before you run back to Tennessee,” Rhys suggested, and I looked up at Dalton.
“Would you come with me?” I didn’t want to be alone, even though I knew there were things he needed to discuss with his bosses.
“I’ve got no place else to be but by your side.” He took my hand into his, and as we walked away from the table, he muttered, “I officially resigned from Callahan Cyber. I’m all yours, Grace.”
