Page 3 of Before the Storm
“How do you know that?” she asked.
“I didn’t live there, but I grew up in a place like it. My mom escaped with me when I was fourteen. Best decision she ever made and now I do this, helping girls, boys, and women like you.”
Anne Marie reached back and took her hand. “He saved me.” She gave Aura a weak smile. “I was in a church much like yours. I wanted out and I found Jason, but two days before I was to make my big escape, the entire compound moved in the middle of the night. It was another four weeks before Jason found me.”
“I was determined. I wasn’t going to let her suffer anymore. Her spiritual husband was far worse than yours,” Jason said. “Her group has been disbanded, but other religious sects always pop up and move around.”
Aura understood that. Her family had moved, all in the name of being closer to God. But it had more to do with the fact that the state of Utah didn’t agree with plural marriage.
“Not all of these polygamy compounds are like this one,” the man said. “Many of them simply want to practice plural marriage in peace. But when they start marrying off young children or hold women in marriages against their will, that’s when they need to be stopped and this one has been on our radar for a while. But we need people to talk.”
“No. No. No.” Aura shook her head. “I can’t do that. You don’t know what will?—”
“I’m not asking you to,” the man said.
Anne Marie handed her a packet. “However, if you ever do want to talk or speak up, inside that envelope is how you can reach us. But right now, our priority is to make sure you’re safe.”
“Thank you.” Tears filled her eyes.
The man met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “No need. This is my calling. Now settle in and get some sleep. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
Aura stared out the window, fiddling with her knee-length hair. Cutting it short would be the first thing she did in her new life.
1
Phoenix Snow snagged his coffee and made his way to the deck of the Blue Moon. He sucked in a deep breath, letting the cool spring air fill his lungs. The bite of winter had finally given way to warmer temperatures. A few boats lined the docks, ready for the promise of summer.
“Hey, boss.” Veronica, the hostess, scurried across the wood floor.
Two weeks ago, it was covered with three inches of snow. Today, the sun shone bright and the weatherman predicted it could reach a high of sixty.
Not bad for early April.
However, anything could happen in Lake George, New York.
“What’s up?” Phoenix kept his gaze on the glass-like waters. He loved mornings like this. Cool, crisp, and peaceful. It’s why he and his brothers had gravitated to this very spot. It gave them everything they had ever wanted in their second career.
A bar and restaurant to call their own.
A place to put down roots.
And for Nelson and Maverick—well, they had found love and family.
Phoenix certainly didn’t begrudge his brothers, their wives, or children. He adored his nieces and nephew. They were the most incredible gifts. He spent as much time with them as he could.
He also worked more lately than his brothers so they could spend quality time with their children.
Having a family hadn’t been on Phoenix’s radar. Becoming a husband or father hadn’t been something he aspired to achieve. He’d never given it much thought, except to tell the women he dated he wasn’t interested or looking for love. It wasn’t for him. Not because he didn’t believe in the concept but because he didn’t want to be tied down. He liked the freedom to come and go as he pleased. He didn’t want to ask permission to go have a beer with his brothers.
Not that they had to ask their wives, but not everyone was Hensley or Brandi.
“The ad for the new waitress-hostess starts running today, and I hung a sign up in the window.” Veronica leaned against the railing. “I also put up your flyer for your rental on the board by the door.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” He raised his mug and sipped the bitter brew.
“Are you sure you want to rent your garage apartment?”
He laughed. “You’ve been talking with my brothers, haven’t you?”
