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I launch my spit straight into my mother’s face, and I don’t even care how undignified it is. I’m long past pretending to be a lady.

It was one thing to believe Officer Allen was after me for his idiot nephew and Daniel… but realising my own mother had a hand in sending men to Ringo’s home to attack, makes me sick.

They killed people.

They would’ve killed Ringo’s helpless mum if I hadn’t tried to bargain with them.

And Jols…

I can’t even let my mind go there.

Every time I picture her sliding down that wall… All the blood… I feel like I’m going to puke. I can’t bear to think she’s dead.

I just can’t.

My mum gasps as my spit slaps against her cheek, her eyes disbelieving for a beat before her palm slices across my face.

Even though I knew it was coming, it doesn’t make it sting any less.

“You ungrateful bitch! I stopped them from fucking you!”

I scoff. “Don’t you mean raping me?”

She actually has the audacity to roll her eyes as she reaches for me, but I slap her hands away.

I don’t want that bitch touching me.

“Don’t act so entitled, Abigail.” She curls her lip, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust as she takes me in. “You brought this on yourself.”

I’m about to retaliate with a comeback when she lunges forward, grabbing for the t-shirt I’m wearing. The only thing they let me keep when they drugged me and kidnapped me.

It’s also the only piece of Ringo I have left, besides the black band on my finger.

“Now you have what they want,” she sneers, voice full of venom, “and all because you couldn’t keep your legs closed in the first place. If you hadn’t been such a whore , you could’ve married a decent man. Had children without the sin you’ve smeared on our family name… without the shame you’ve brought to our church.”

I hate her! I hate her so much.

Not only is she blaming me for everything that’s happened, but she won’t even acknowledge that what Officer Allen did to me was rape when I first woke up in this hell hole. That what Donny spent the next day doing to me was rape. That the last four days I spent locked away with Daniel… well, for all she knew, was rape.

Daniel’s behaviour was a surprise. He’s been off his normal vile game.

He hasn’t been interested in raping me or having any form of sex with me at all.

He just keeps asking if the baby is his. Telling me I don’t understand, and that he needs to know… yet he won’t tell me why.

“I can’t help you if that kid isn’t mine.”

I don’t know what the hell he meant by that, but since Daniel had such a massive hand at putting me in this nightmare, I spat in his face too. Because fuck him!

Of course, he retaliated by punching my thigh so hard I feared he broke bones.

Then, he told me I deserve everything I get.

“Put the dress on.”

My mother’s voice is jarring, snapping me out of my spiral of memories of the last few days since being stolen away from the only place that ever felt like home to me, even when Ringo wasn’t there.

I glare at the white fabric draped over her arm, my stomach twisting.

“No.”

“Yes!” She stomps her foot like a toddler throwing a tantrum, which is when Maggie, my traitor of a sister who’s been watching silently in the corner, finally decides to speak.

“Mum, just drug her. She’s never going to cooperate.”

“How many times do I have to tell everyone? We can’t drug her now . It’s not good for the baby.”

“Not good for the baby?” I laugh maniacally. “That didn’t stop you when you first found out! And it didn’t stop those fuckers when they kidnapped me the other day!” I scream and she has the nerve to shush me.

“Honestly, Abigail. You spent a few months in the company of ruffians and now you’re speaking like them?”

I scoff. “You don’t like my language, mother?” I lean closer, just to make sure she hears me properly. “The men you prefer I spend time with are rapist fuckers! Fuckers! Fuckers! Fuckers!” I’m shaking now, chest heaving, my voice full of manic rage. “I FUCKING HATE YOUR FUCKING GUTS, YOU FUCKING COW!”

The slap is loud, a sharp crack that rattles my brain as my head whips to the side. The second I taste blood, I start laughing.

It’s ugly and unhinged, mustered from somewhere deep, and I embrace it as a flash of fear flickers over my mum’s expression.

That’s right, mother. Your daughter has fucking lost it.

Gathering the blood pooled in my mouth, I spit it on the beige carpet at my mother’s feet.

“Don’t be so vile.” She curls her lip in disgust, stepping back from the bloody splat, like it might infect her.

God, I wish it would.

“You’re so tough, aren’t you, Mum?” I laugh again, the sound hollow and manic.

I’m pretty sure I’m losing my mind, so really, the laugh is fitting.

“You’re nothing but their pawn. Don’t you see what they are doing?” I hiss, flashing my blood coated teeth. “They’ve brainwashed you into playing along with their fucked up cult shit.”

“Put the dress on!” she barks, completely ignoring the truth I just threw at her.

“ No .”

I say it slowly. Clearly .

“If you won’t put it on, then I’ll get some of the men in the congregation to help you put it on, Abigail.”

“I’m not wearing your shitty church clothes. You can go fuck yourself.”

My mouth has never sounded more like a sailor’s… and I’ve never felt more like me. I don’t even know when that version of me disappeared. But she’s back now, and she’s done playing nice.

I know my situation is bad, but I’ll be stuffed if I let them walk all over me any more. That version of me is dead.

In a huff, my mum storms out of the room, her brown skirt flaring around her as she goes.

With her now gone, I shift my glare to my sister.

“Where’s Tahli?”

“Don’t worry.” Maggie waves me off. “They aren’t interested in her, yet . Not until she becomes a lady. ” She air quotes the last part, and my heart sinks.

“Where is she, Mags?”

“She’s with one of the church families. Probably doing crafts while learning about the Script of Symme.” Maggie shrugs like it’s no big deal, but it is. It’s huge .

“Maggie, this church is a cult. It’s not a real church.” I take a few steps towards her, but she stands, balling her fists like she’s ready to throw down.

“You’ll say anything to get out of the mess you created,” she snaps. “Be an adult, Abbey. Take responsibility for your actions. ”

“But Mags... this isn’t normal. What they are doing to me…” I stare wide eyed at my sister, needing her to understand. “They’ve been raping me.”

She scoffs. “It’s just like you to spread your legs and moan like a whore but then cry rape when you get caught out. I hope you and that bastard child get exactly what’s coming to you.”

A sob lodges in my throat at her words. My little sister is totally lost to the brainwashing my mum and the church have done.

“No, Maggie. You, Mum, this church, and those rapists are the ones who’ll get what’s coming to you . Because it doesn’t matter what happens to me or my baby .” I let my grin slip free, watching her eyes flare with concern as I morph into someone she’s never seen before. “We found a man. A real man. And he will burn this entire place to the ground and watch until every last fragment of your twisted little world turns to ash. And he’ll do it all in my honour.”

Maggie parts her lips to speak, but I shake my head, taking another step closer, and finally her fear shows as she tries to press herself back into the wall with nowhere to go.

“It won’t matter if I’m alive or dead. He’s coming. For all of you. And he won’t stop until the evil inside you is wiped from this Earth.”

My sister starts to tremble, but I don’t falter.

She’s done nothing to help me.

She’s done everything to make sure I’ve suffered in the worst possible way.

I feel no sympathy for her. For them. For what’s coming.

When the door creaks open again, the stare off with my sister severs, and my mum walks in. She’s flanked by two men with eyes so familiar that my blood runs cold.

These men… th ey were the ones who stormed Ringo’s home. Who shot Jols.

My gaze tracks to the one with a dressing peeking from under the collar of his shirt, and a slow, smug grin pulls at my lips.

“Oh shit. Are you the guy I stabbed?” I laugh, wanting them to think I’m unhinged, even though I’m freaking out inside.

“Unfortunately,” he grunts, glaring daggers at me, while the other bites back his own smirk.

“Wanna know which one I was?”

My eyes narrow, because his smugness is nothing but cruel.

“Oh wait. Let me think…” I tap my finger to my chin in fake thought, before holding it up. “Oh, I know! You’re the one who takes it up the arse from everyone else.”

“Abigail!” My mum scolds in shock, and this time, the man I stabbed lets out a burst of laughter.

The one I’m taunting doesn’t look impressed, his jaw so tight it looks like it might crack.

“I’m really looking forward to today,” he snarls before lunging for me.

I don’t even get the chance to run before both men are on me, wrangling me in place as my mother approaches with a pair of scissors.

“What are you doing?” I cry out, eyes trained on the huge shears.

“I have to get you out of that horrid t-shirt and into this dress,” she answers calmly, like cutting my clothes off me is an everyday occurrence.

Desperate to stop this, I try to kick out, but then Maggie is on me, latching onto my legs, helping the men hold me still as my mum starts cutting through the fabric .

Ringo’s t-shirt…

Even when I spit in her face, she doesn’t stop. She doesn’t even flinch when I snap my teeth at her like a rabid dog.

By the time she wrestles the ugly white dress in place, all the fight has drained from me, my eyes glued on the shredded remains of Ringo’s shirt.

I’m in a daze as the men start leading me from the room, so it takes a moment for my brain to catch up with what my eyes see as we pass the mirror.

I choke on thin air, coughing hard as my lungs scramble for breath.

“What did you dress me in?” I twist, trying to find my mother over my shoulder, but the two thugs keep a firm grip on me, making it impossible.

“Don’t be naive, Abigail.” My mother sneers at my back. “You know this day has been coming. Running away won’t change that.”

This day?

This day!

A laugh bubbles up, breathless and deranged.

Because I finally realise what she’s done.

She’s dressed me in a wedding dress and still expects me to marry Daniel.

Today.

A manic laugh bursts from my lips.

“Ohhhh, this is going to be so good.”

My unhinged behaviour has the men escorting me, turning their confused expressions my way.

They’re probably trying to figure out if I’m right in the head.

If I’ve truly lost it .

Maybe I have.

Or maybe… I’ve just stopped giving a fuck.

Every moment they force me to do something is another moment my sanity slips away.

When I see a little country chapel up ahead on the path, I know I’m right, but I’m not prepared for how many men are inside when I’m dragged through the doors. Or the sight of my dad, waiting at the end of the aisle, tears streaking down his face.

“Please stop this,” he begs, his voice cracking. “It has gone too far.”

No one listens. Not a single one of them is here for me.

They are here for the show. Eager to see this twisted ceremony finally unfold.

Daniel stands just behind my dad at the altar, his face red with anger, probably wishing he never went along with his parents’ madness in the first place.

As we get closer, my dad falls to his knees, hands clutched in front of him like he’s praying. “Please. Put a stop to this. Please .”

I frown at my dad, wondering why he doesn’t start swinging fists? Why doesn’t he fight for me with more than words? Why isn’t he the one that would burn the world down to protect me?

His voice. His words. Make me nothing but furious.

“Jesus, Dad, where are your balls?” I sneer as we pass him, curling my lip in disgust.

Instead of showing me he does have the balls I need him to have, he leaps up and runs from the chapel like a coward.

My mum settles in the front pew, smug and composed, Maggie sliding in beside her like the loyal little traitor she is .

The two idiots escorting me, drag me to the altar, placing me in front of Daniel. But they don’t let go.

Daniel’s gaze flicks to their hands, still clamped tight on my arms, before his eyes shift to meet mine.

“Is this everything you imagined?” I sneer, but he doesn’t say anything.

The only reaction I get from him is the hard tick of his jaw.

“Thank you for joining us here today for the union of Abigail Eloise Delany,” Minister Banes announces, and a laugh bubbles from my throat.

Frowning, Minister Banes glares at me, clearly rattled by my behaviour, but he clears his throat like it’s going to reset the mood.

So, naturally, I laugh louder.

I throw my head back dramatically, giving them a good show, the anxious shifting on the pews from the men in attendance, fuelling my rebellion.

“Uhhh… is she right in the head?” someone in the congregation mutters, while thug one and thug two both shrug.

Stepping down off his righteous pedestal, Minister Banes stands before me, his eyes looking into mine like he’s checking to see if I’m all there.

The thugs holding me in place, release their hold, stepping aside, and I continue to laugh, letting this cult leader see my crazy.

“What do you find so funny?” Banes asks stiffly, and I clutch my middle, drawing out the drama as I blow out a breath like I’m struggling to compose myself .

“I’m sorry,” I say between fake gasps, waving my left hand in front of my face, wanting him to see the black wedding band on my finger. “I can’t wear Daniel’s ring.”

Daniel mutters something under his breath, while Banes crosses his arms over his chest.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man of God do that before. It’s such a closed off gesture.

“Of course you can wear his ring,” Banes says, voice clipped. “You will wear his ring.”

Sighing dramatically, I roll my eyes and slap my hands lazily against my sides.

“Oh, my bad. I just thought since I’m already wearing a ring…”

I don’t finish the sentence. Instead, I raise my hand and flash my black band in front of his face.

“That’s easily fixed, Abigail.” His eyes darken, sparing the ring a single glance. “Either you take it off, or we will.”

I gasp, slapping a hand to my chest in mock horror.

“You would never .” I feign terror before I start laughing again, the sound wicked and deranged.

Banes scoffs, before pointing to the thugs.

“Get it off her.”

I keep laughing, even as one of the thugs wraps his arms around me from behind, pinning me in place, and the other starts trying to pry the ring from my finger.

“Hold still,” he grits, his breath hot and angry as I squirm, trying to drag this out for as long as possible.

I don’t know what they think the ring is for, given their reaction. Are they really that dumb?

Sure, the ring isn’t traditional gold or white gold, so maybe they think it’s something insignificant. I’ve got no clue how they’ll react when they find out I’m already married, but I know in my gut it won’t end well for me.

It takes the thug a few tries to drag the black band off my finger, and when he does, a stupid smile spreads across his face like he’s just struck gold.

Idiot.

The thug behind me lets go, and I stumble forward on purpose, right into Minister Banes.

He reaches to steady me, which is when his eyes fall to my hand, pressed flat against his chest, I realise… this just worked in my favour.

“What’s that?” Banes snatches my wrist, yanking my hand up to get a better look.

“What’s what?” I blink at him, all innocent, fluttering my lashes.

His harsh eyes burning with rage meet mine, and my laugh returns.

“Is that a tattoo ?” He curls his lip in disgust.

“What?!” my mum screeches, storming to my side, snatching my wrist from the minister to see for herself.

“Abigail! How could you get a tattoo? Now you look like trash !”

Yanking my hand back, I lean in close and hiss in her face like a snake.

She flinches back at the sound, before waving a dismissive hand, her eyes turning to the minister.

“It’s fine. Laser will get it off.”

Again, I laugh, louder this time, turning to face the sea of men watching this mess unfold .

“Whoops.” I lift my hand, point to the ink on my finger. “I have another man’s name on my body.”

“Can we get on with this?” Daniel finally snaps, his tone clipped and full of barely concealed irritation.

Clearly he’s not a fan of my little performance.

My mum nods like she’s suddenly the one running this whole circus.

“Yes. Let’s continue. Let’s make this marriage official.”

As she steps back towards the pew again, I sigh loudly, and shrug at Daniel.

“Sorry Danny.” I use the name I know he hates. “This won’t be legal.”

“What?” He frowns, eyes narrowing as Banes steps back onto his precious altar.

“The marriage.” I shrug casually. “It’ll never be official.”

“Stop talking nonsense, Abigail.” My mum scoffs from her seat, rolling her eyes.

“Not nonsense.” I shrug again, turning my eyes to the minister. “Just facts.”

“What are you talking about?” Banes snaps, his patience now long gone. “We will do the service. Whether you agree or not, your signature will be on the papers, and we’ll lodge it with the registry.”

I smirk, because this is the best part.

“Really?” I tilt my head, giving a dramatic little pout. “Is it legal for a woman to be married to two men?”

The chapel falls deadly silent.

It’s like every breath got sucked straight out of the room. I swear, you could hear a pin drop.

“You know damn well that’s not legal,” Banes growls through clenched teeth, his face turning red.

“You see. That’s what I thought.” I turn on my heel, casually strolling away. “I guess I can’t marry Daniel, or anyone else for that matter.”

I’m expecting one of the thugs to come after me, so when my mum’s hand fists my hair, yanking me back, I’m helpless to hold back the high pitched squeal that launches from me.

“Stop talking garbage and trying to get out of this!” she hisses, her rage twisting into every syllable. “You will marry Daniel, and you will marry him today!”

She shoves me forward, right into Daniel’s chest, his hands steadying me for a moment before he shoves me off him like I’m a contagious disease.

“I can’t marry Daniel, Mother!” I yell, spinning back to face her and the rest of the stunned congregation. “I’m already married. I’m no longer Abbey Delany.” I smile, smug as hell, ready to spill the best part. “I’m Abbey Musgrove now. But you can call me Mrs Musgrove , thanks.” I blow her a kiss, slow and mocking.

Another deathly silence settles over the room.

“No,” she whispers, her face turning red. “ NOOOOO! ”

“Yes, actually.” I giggle, feeling rebellion surging through me like a drug.

“Someone check if this is true!” Banes bellows, before a couple of men hurry from the chapel.

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s just trying to delay the inevitable,” my mum snaps, pacing as everyone in the congregation shifts uncomfortably.

“ Jeez , Mum. You’re beginning to sound desperate.” I tilt my head, eyes narrowing at her. “Why does this marriage matter so much to you? Is it Daniel’s money you are after? His trust fund that his mummy and daddy have been holding over him to keep him in line?”

I wag my brows at Daniel’s dad, sitting stiffly in the front pew across the aisle from my sister, but it’s the first time I’ve realised that Daniel’s mum isn’t here.

That… doesn’t seem right.

Not that any of this is right, but if her son is getting married, shouldn’t she be here?

Daniel’s dad, Karl, looks away as his jaw twitches, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows thickly.

“Fucking hell, Abbey,” Daniel mutters quietly, gripping my arm and dragging me back in place.

He leans in, his breath hot on my ear so only I can hear.

“You really have no fucking clue what this is all about, do you?” Bitterness laces his tone. “I wish this was as simple as fucking money. If it was, I would’ve paid someone off to make this whole fucking arranged marriage go away.”

My stomach drops hard.

Yanking my arm from his grip, I stumble back, my heart beating out of control.

Once again, I feel unsteady. Out of the loop. Truly blind.

I always thought this was about money. That it started with a stupid bet. A competition with his mates.

He told me about the trust fund. That he wouldn’t get access to it unless he did exactly what his parents said.

My mum has been obsessed with making this wedding happen, so laser focused on me walking down the aisle to Daniel.

I assumed it was about money. It had to be. An easy road to a more grand life. Her twisted version of salvation .

But if it’s not for money… then what is it about?

Why have I been treated like this?

Why did my own mother sell me out?

Why did Maggie help them?

Why have I been raped, hunted, drugged, kidnapped, and stripped of everything by my own family?

Before the weight of the unknown can crush me, the doors fly open and one of the men that dashed out earlier strides in.

“It’s true!”

All heads snap in the man’s direction as he hurries down the aisle, holding up a piece of paper.

“I have a copy of the marriage certificate here.” He’s breathless as he glances at the sheet in his hand. “She married Cameron Musgrove on the twentieth of March.”

Maggie gasps. Daniel curses. And his dad explodes from his seat, pure rage contorting his expression.

I laugh.

It’s gleeful. Smug. And deliberate.

“Surprise fuckers.” I giggle, giving my best impersonation of jazz hands, before a shriek, loud and piercing has me cringing and shooting an annoyed glare my mum’s way.

The pure rage I witness on her face far outdoes any I’ve seen before, and for a moment, I feel victorious. Like I’ve won.

But then she charges for me like a bull, her wild eyes rabid, her fists balled at the ready.

“HOW COULD YOU!?”

Throwing up my hands, instinctively trying to protect my baby bump, I brace myself for the impact. But it never comes.

Instead, I’m quickly yanked behind Daniel, and I’m momentarily stunned as he wards off my mum’s fists .

“Protect the baby!”

His yelled words punch the air right out of me, and I’m reminded of his obsession over the last few days, wanting to know if the baby is his.

I don’t have time to analyse it right now. Not with my mum clawing to get to me, rage pouring off her in waves.

A wall of men I hate stand between her and me, now, keeping her from tearing me apart.

“You’ve ruined everything!” she screams. “You don’t realise what you’ve done!”

“Well, shit, Mum!” I scream back before I can stop myself. “Maybe that’s because you haven’t told me anything!”

Standing on my tiptoes, I try to see past the wall of men, barely able to catch a glimpse of her face. “Why don’t you tell me what I’ve done?”

“There has to be a ceremony.” Minister Banes pushes through Daniel, Donny, Craig and the goons from earlier, silencing my mum’s wails of protest as he grips her shoulders. “Priscilla, I’m sorry. Without a ceremony, you know what will happen.”

“What will happen?” I shout, sick of not understanding what this is all about.

No one pays me any attention, their eyes trained on the minister and my mum.

“I’ll marry him.”

I stiffen at Maggie’s voice, peering past the men to watch her step forward, her smile hopeful as she looks up at Daniel.

What the?

“I’ll sacrifice myself for our family, Mum. Not like Abbey.” Her last words come out as a snarl .

“No!” I shake my head, grabbing at Daniel, trying to pull him away from her. “You’re too young to get married, Maggie! You don’t want to marry him. He’s a vile monster!”

“There’s still the baby. I want to know if it’s mine!” Donny sneers, his words making the entire room tense.

Banes slowly turns his stare to Donny, a deep crease forming between his brows.

“What do you mean?” Banes barks. “Daniel is the father.”

Both Donny and Craig scoff, while behind them, Ian Allen rolls his eyes, and Karl Stone, Daniel’s father, levels a death glare at his son.

Wait… does the minister not know?

“Look, Daniel is my mate and all.” Donny steps forward, his eyes trained on the minister. “But that kid in her gut could be mine, Craig’s, or Daniel’s. Hell, there’s at least three more guys she’s been screwing too.” He shrugs, like casually branding me a tramp is no big deal, and shit… I think I’m going to be sick. “I’m surprised Priscilla didn’t fill you in on what her daughter has been up to.”

All eyes snap to my mum, her mouth opening and closing like a fish before she manages to mutter something that makes sense.

“I didn’t know any of this, Minister Banes. I swear.”

That lying bitch!

I take a step back, stunned.

I don’t understand what’s happening. Why is Donny bringing this up? What does this have to do with the wedding? With my baby ?

“Donny must be mistaken,” Karl Stone cuts in, shoving past Donny to stand beside Daniel. “My son has done everything that’s been asked of him. He deserves this.”

Deserves what?

“She’s pregnant out of wedlock,” Ian Allen snaps, taking his nephew’s side. “And there’s a one in six chance Daniel is the father. It won’t work unless you’ve got the right two bloodlines.”

Right bloodlines? What the…

My hands are shaking so badly I have to wring them together, trying to calm the tremors.

“Exactly,” Donny adds. “So even if you can use Maggie, since she’s from Abbey’s bloodline, she can’t marry Daniel unless the baby is actually his.”

Minister Banes narrows his eyes as he thinks.

“Well… since Abigail and Maggie are the same bloodline, it could still work. You’re right about that.” His voice is cold and calculating. “We just need to confirm who the baby’s father is. Then the ceremony can still be performed.”

What are they talking about? Why do they need bloodlines? What does this have to do with my baby?

My heart kicks into overdrive, pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to escape my chest.

I take a shaky step back, my arms wrapping protectively around my bump, my thoughts spinning with what his words could mean.

Then, as if everyone else there knows what’s happening, in unison, they all turn to look at me.

I freeze, tremors making me quiver, terror seeping into my veins like poison.

“No,” I whisper, still not understanding, but I don’t need to know anything more than they mean me and my baby harm.

“No…” I step backwards, and in unison they take a step towards me.

“NO!” I scream, the sound ripping from my throat, sharp and primal, and the moment they lunge for me, a deafening explosion shatters the air.

The walls tremble and the very ground we stand on lurches, and just like that, all hell breaks loose.