Page 49 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

“Our father loved to discipline his kids, as he called it. It was pure physical abuse and an excuse to beat the hell out of us. Everything seemed to warrant a punishment. And he did more than beat us. He was creative. And he didn’t treat his ‘wives’ any better.

I always felt happy that my mom died when I was young, so she escaped him.

I had other siblings who remained in the cult, and only Cassia escaped, but she had to go through hell to do it.

I’ll tell you her story one day. Or better yet, when you meet her, she can tell you. She’s very open about it.”

Ben paused and intently stared at me for several heartbeats.

I began to worry, then he resumed. “You know what we did to Vadzim and his people. You know what I’ve done on other missions.

Cassia’s false husband, even though she’d been gone for three years, came after her, and our father was with him.

I couldn’t help her when I was young, but I could then.

“We killed them, Kensy. And my father was mainly left to me. I made him suffer first. It wasn’t quick.

We stretched it out over a week. They were men who loved to intimidate women and children.

They beat both and raped their ‘wives’ who weren’t legally their anything.

They used their kids as pawns to get a higher position in the Church.

It was beyond sick. They wouldn’t have gotten what they deserved in prison. ”

This time, when he paused, I noted his pale skin, and he was breathing heavily.

I leaned toward him, and right before I kissed him, I told him, “I love the man you are, Ben. And whether you’re serving justice legally or not, I know that you don’t do it indiscriminately.

And you gave your father and that man what they deserved. ”

Ben’s arms almost crushed me as he and I kissed. By the time we finished, both of us were breathing hard.

“Thank you, Kensy. I was so scared to tell you that.”

“Why?”

“Because that domineering attitude my father had, you might think it lurks in me. I can be dominant, and I like to be in charge, but I don’t think I’ve ever been like him.

I feel that I temper it with empathy and acts of kindness.

Something he never did. Seeing what those wives and other children went through shaped me.

I have to do this job. I have to eliminate monsters like my father and the rest. It’s the way I work out my inner demons, I guess. ”

“Think of the people you’ve helped and saved because of that.

You don’t have to right your father’s wrongs, but it’s wonderful that you help so many.

May I ask what happened to the Church of Converts after your father and false brother-in-law were gone?

Do they still exist? Are your other siblings still a part of it? ”

“The leader and his right-hand men had already been removed before Father and Reuben came looking for Cassia. They were trying to lead it and gain control. After they disappeared, the remaining men made halfhearted attempts to keep it going, but ultimately, it fell apart—those who remained scattered to other towns and states. As for our other siblings, they did the same. They know where Cassia and I are, but have never made contact. We’ve left them to live their lives. ”

“And I can hear it in your voice that you regret that—just something to think about. Maybe the reason they haven’t is that they’re ashamed and afraid to do it.

You and Cassia got out on your own. They stayed.

Who knows why? They could’ve been less brave than the two of you.

They might think that if they do reach out, you’ll rebuff them.

Maybe someday, you’ll want to try to be the one to make the first gesture.

If they don’t respond, then that’s on them, and they can stay the way they are. ”

“I guess they could. I didn’t think of it that way.

I’ll talk to my sister about it next time we talk.

Maybe we should do something together so they know it’s mutual.

You’ve given me something to think about, Hummingbird.

Thank you. That’s enough about me for tonight.

Do you want to talk about your dream? Go back to sleep?

Or maybe let me help you relax another way?

” His wickedly seductive grin set off my body instantly.

Not wanting to give in that easily, I pretended to be tired. I yawned and nodded. “I think you’re right. I do need more sleep. Goodnight, honey. Love you.”

I gave him a quick peck on the lips, then got off his lap and lay down on my side of the bed with my back to him. There was a long minute of silence. I was trying so hard not to move or make noise, but the giggles I was holding in made my body shake. And of course, Ben noticed.

“Kensy, babe, are you crying?”

His concern was evident in his tone. The next thing I knew, he was rolling me over on my back, frowning until I let the giggles escape. His worry changed to a growl.

“Woman, I’m going to make you pay for doing that.”

“Oh, yeah, how?”

“By torturing you for a long-ass time without allowing you to orgasm. It’s called orgasm denial. Are you up for that?”

I wasn’t a fan of withholding my orgasms, but the idea that they would be even better, which was what I’d heard, was too much to resist.

“Deny away, Lover Man.”

“I’ll show you Lover Man,” He growled, then his mouth was sealed to mine. I let myself go with it and let the bad memories float into oblivion.

???

After an insanely wonderful lovemaking session after my bad dream, Ben and I got a few hours of sleep. We couldn’t sleep in as long as we wanted, due to the work that we had to do today.

We were up and all gathered around the large dining table in our rental. We’d moved it to the middle of the living room, close to the big-screen television mounted on the wall. The reason was so we could watch the video, work on the maps, and lay out sketches on the table.

When we went to Wynne’s house, we all wore tiny cameras.

They were disguised in earrings for us ladies and in buttons for the guys.

That video went straight back to their tech crew.

And while we slept, they compiled all four into one master one.

How, I didn’t know, but I thought they did a spectacular job.

I couldn’t tell that it hadn’t been shot as a single video by a single camera.

The audio had been removed. We were told by Beau that it was so it wouldn’t distract from studying it.

We were taking our combined memories and the master video to create a diagram of Wynne’s house.

When we went on the tour, we hadn’t just admired the artwork and the decor.

We scoped out where he had cameras or the keypads for his alarm system.

When Beau saw the alarm panel, he asked Wynne who had made it, because he wanted to upgrade his, and the one Wynne used appeared much more complex.

Wynne rattled off the maker without a thought.

As we watched the video for the sixth time, I was stunned by how the men pointed out things that I wouldn’t have known were a camera, a hidden panic button, or a microphone. Their experience showed.

I’d asked before we went about planting bugs so we could hear what was happening in that house when we weren’t there.

I was shot down due to the risk that they’d be found when Wynne had his people sweep his house.

They were convinced he was paranoid enough to have it done at least daily, if not more.

When it came time to designate one of us to draw the diagram, automatically, Ben, Heath, and Beau all pointed to Justin and said he would do it.

They told us they meant no disrespect if Keeley and I could draw.

They insisted Justin did an awesome job.

Justin shrugged it off, though he agreed to do it.

He had a sketchpad, pencils, and the charcoal pencils artists use.

I got the feeling that those were his, not items he bought for this purpose.

He sat there with the sketch book tilted up as he scratched away.

We left him to create his masterpiece. He listened to all the details we gave him.

While Keeley and I looked for cameras or where all the doors were on the tour, and when we didn’t enter them, we casually asked where they led.

Wynne would tell us, but we had no way to know if what he said was true.

He claimed they were for extra storage or closets.

I wanted to tear them open to see if they led to a basement or secret room where he was holding poor Aimée Ferrante.

Aimée plagued my mind more than I admitted. I knew what I endured had been awful, but it could’ve been worse. Was Wynne worse than Vadzim? The idea of him made me sick to my stomach.

“We’ve got to get inside the doors he didn’t open.

I doubt they lead to a secret playroom or dungeon, but we have to check.

It’s most likely that a man like him doesn’t want to chance getting caught.

If he entertains, which we’ve heard he does, he wouldn’t want any of his guests to stumble upon it accidentally or to hear anything.

That means the room is soundproof and the entrance is hidden.

It could be a false wall in a closet or even a room.

Going through that house will take diligence and time.

It’s the time I worry about. We can bypass his security system.

And we can even get past those guards. It’s having the time to search thoroughly, and having Wynne out of the way is the problem,” Beau was talking out loud. The other guys agreed with him.

“Do we do that before Friday’s meeting with the clients he wants us to meet? That means you only have tonight or tomorrow night to do it. I can’t see it happening that quickly,” I pointed out.