Page 48 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
Both my mom and Katelyn make disapproving noises, but Papa gives me a big triumphant smile. “That’s my girl. You have a good head on your shoulders, Shortcake.” I shake my head and smile.
“Well, I have to get back to the salon. Walk me to my car?” Katelyn asks me. I nod and stand with her.
She gives Mom a hug then heads over to Papa and gives him a big smooch. “I love you, kiddo. Be good and come back soon.”
“I’m always good. And I will see you at Sunday supper.”
“Oh, make sure to bring Kolan when you come, honey,” my mom shouts as we walk out of the kitchen.
Katelyn waves noncommittally. Kolan has never been big on family gatherings. The only people he’s close to in this family, or shows any affection toward, is Katelyn and me.
I feel the heavy weight of Katelyn’s stare the whole time we walk to her car. “Wanna talk about it?” I shake my head, my throat immediately going tight at the thought of earlier today. She sighs sadly and reaches for my hand. “All right, I won’t push. I know you’ll talk to me when you’re ready. You can stay with me at my place if you don’t want to be alone. You know that, right?”
I smile and give her a hug. “Yes, I know that. Thank you. It’s still just a little too fresh to talk about right now.” She stares back at me with concern, but anger is more apparent. “It’s not what you’re thinking, Katelyn. He didn’t do anything wrong. It was all me,” I whisper thickly. Hating that she has such a bad view of him. She just doesn’t know him like I do.
“Mmmhhhmm,” she replies, not believing me. “Anyway. Wanna go out tomorrow night? A good friend of mine just opened a piano bar out in Charleston. A few of us are going and I thought we could celebrate your birthday a little early.”
“Sure. Sounds like fun.”
“Perfect! I’ll pick you up at seven.” Giving me one last hug and kiss on the cheek, she hops in her little Honda Civic and takes off.
I watch her car disappear around the corner, and suddenly feel emotionally exhausted. As I head back up my parents’ steps, I hear Papa griping again: “I’m serious, Linda. We shouldn’t make any hasty decisions until I get a second opinion!”
“Dad, you are not having bacon and that is final!”
I shake my head and smile. Lord, it’s going to be a long supper, but it beats sitting at home alone with a heavy heart.
CHAPTER 14
Faith
It has been almost a year since I had a nightmare. But after being slammed back into the haunting past earlier in the day, I should have known one would plague me. I know I’m dreaming, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t wake myself up. I’m swept up into a thick storm of emotions. Terror, despair, humiliation and sorrow…
“Faith, wake up. Please. We have to get you out of here.”
I stir at the sound of Aadil’s terrified voice, my battered and used body screaming in protest. I awaken and look down to see I’m dressed in a long, black, silk nightgown. It’s the first time I’ve been covered up since being here.
Turning my face to his, I trace my fingertips across his wet cheek that’s streaked with tears, and try to soothe him as best I can. The chains that are shackled to my wrists only allowing me so much access. “Shhh. It’s okay, Aadil. Everything will be okay.”
For the past week I have lied and told him this, not knowing what else to say. For the first few days I had hope that I would get out of here and that someone would come for me. But every passing day I realize that is less and less likely. No one even knows where I am. My once full heart has been almost completely shattered, at not only what I’ve had to suffer, but what Aadil has had to as well. He’s been forced to watch me be beaten and brutalized in the worst way, at the hands of his father and his men. Every night he sneaks back in, kneels by my bed and sobs beside me. Constantly apologizing for his father and begs for forgiveness. No matter how much I tell him that I love him, and that it isn’t his fault, he still seems to feel like it is. Some nights we pray and others we sing, which helps us get through our desolate nights together.
Aadil shakes his head frantically. “No, it’s not okay. It’s not going to be okay. I heard my father talking. They are going to take you to him and do something horrible. We have to get you out of here, Faith.”
I become a little more alert and confused at what he’s talking about. “What are you talking about? Take me to who?”
Guilt flashes in his eyes. “I’m so sorry I never told you. My father made me do it. He said he would kill you if I didn’t.”
My heart begins to pound with anxiety, wondering what could be so awful that he would keep it from me. “You didn’t tell me what? What happened?”
When he begins to cry, I run my fingers through his thick, black hair and try to soothe him. “Shhh, it’s okay. You can tell me, Aadil.”
“The soldier is here.”
I gasp. “Cade? Cade is here?” He nods and tells me what his father made him do, and how long the three of them have been here. Dread rushes through me when I realize they have been here as long as me. Oh God, please let them be all right.
“I heard my father say they are going to take you to him and do something really horrible. We have to get you out now. I will try to help the soldiers after, but you need to go first and find help.” He pulls a key from his pocket then looks up at me. “I stole it. It won’t be long before he knows it’s gone. We have to move fast.”
