Page 28 of Creed (Rock Hard Mountain Men #3)

Had they found somewhere safe to go, or had they stayed out there, alone, in the forest as each of them gave birth?

Either way, it must have been terrifying. I’d been through some difficult situations in my life, but that was one I couldn’t imagine.

Chester Grieve tossed the photos aside. “So, you do know about it. Tell me, what did they do with the children? Did any of them survive?”

In reaction to his questions, I just laughed. It came out sounding more manic than I intended. I didn’t feel fully in control of my body. Everything was too hot, and my brain felt like it was floating inside my skull. It almost seemed like I was drunk, except I knew I hadn’t had a drop to drink.

“You’re insane if you think I’ll tell you anything.

I know all about your little bloodline problem.

You and your son are the only Grieves left, and its looking like your son is probably infertile.

Once the two of you are gone, your bloodline is finished.

You want to find out what happened to the Milford sister’s children so you can track down any surviving members of your lineage.

Well, too bad. I’m not going to help you drag any more innocent people into your little cult. ”

I expected anger. Maybe even threats to try and force me to help him. I was prepared for it all. I’d been captured by enemies tougher than this. I’d even faced torture before. Whatever they had planned for me, I could take it.

What I was not prepared for was laughter.

“Oh, you’ll help us,” Chester Grieve said with a strange look in his eye. “We don’t even need your cooperation.”

Without warning, he suddenly ran a finger down the exposed skin of my arm. It was such a slight touch that I barely should have noticed it, but that barest friction of skin lit every nerve in my body on fire.

It didn’t hurt, but it was so overwhelming that it left me writhing on the bed. The chains on my wrists rattled, but didn’t budge.

Chester Grieve watched my reaction for a moment. “Hmm, yes. I think you’re ready.”

He rolled away from the bed toward the door, and I was left gaping at him, gasping for breath.

“Wha... what did you do to me?”

Rather than answer me, he opened the door and ushered someone inside.

A young woman stepped through the door. At first, I feared she was a child.

She looked young and had a very slim figure, almost bordering on underweight.

However, when I got a closer look at her face, she looked a little older than a teenager. Probably early twenties.

She was also dressed in nothing but a satin robe.

God, please let her at least be in her twenties. I had no idea what Chester Grieve had planned for her, but whatever it was would be even worse if it turned out she was a child.

The poor thing was trembling like a leaf caught in a hailstorm. She clutched at the front of her robe, holding the thin material to her like it was a shield. She didn’t even have any shoes to protect her feet, just that single piece of satin to keep her covered.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked Chester Grieve, even as her terrified gaze kept darting toward me.

He patted her on the arm. It was the kind of gesture that a kindly grandfather would do while comforting a scared child. Coming from this man, seeing him acting like that, made my stomach churn.

“I know it’ll be hard,” he said, his voice disturbingly soft. “But you must do it for our community. It’s the only way we can secure our lineage.”

“You’re fucking crazy!” I shouted at both of them. “What’s even the point? This isn’t going to help you at all.”

I tried to fight my way off the bed, lashing out with my legs as if I could kick myself free, only to find that my ankles were chained up as well. I was chained flat to the bed, unable to do more than writhe around.

“On the contrary,” Chester Grieve said, sounding far too calm for the situation. “You’re going to be a big help.”

I glared at the terrified girl, but my vision swam the harder I tried to focus. My head felt like someone had replaced my brain with cotton. “If she’s some relative of yours, why not just marry her off to another member of your cult? Why involve me at all?”

“Oh, no,” Chester Grieve shook his head, even as he pushed the girl closer to the bed. “She isn’t my relative. You are.”

I could only gape at him, too stunned for words. My eyes bugged out of my head until they began to water, and I had no choice but to blink.

Yet, Chester Grieve acted as though he hadn’t said anything weird. In fact, the man was so calm, that for a moment I wondered if I was the crazy one.

“I wasn’t sure until I met you in person, but now I’m certain.

Why else would three men randomly buy property in an area they had no connection to unless something in your blood called to it?

It was instinct for you to return to the land of your ancestors, and you’ve come at just the right time to save us from decline.

With your help, we can revitalize our community and return to our former glory. ”

The man was insane. There was no other explanation for it.

“Just because I bought the land that the Milford sisters used to own doesn’t mean I’m related to them.”

“That’s why I said I wasn’t sure until I met you.

” Chester Grieve shuffled the girl closer to the bed until she was only inches away from me.

“According to our records, each of the triplet sisters was uniquely gifted. To grow, to build, and to survive. Those were the ideals that they brought to our community, and the three of you embody it so perfectly. It can’t be a coincidence. This is the work of fate.”

I strained against the chains hard enough to shake the whole bed, but it accomplished nothing. “Yes, it can be a coincidence. Coincidences happen all the time.”

Realizing I wasn’t going to be breaking free any time soon, I stopped fighting, but I didn’t give up on the argument.

“Look, even if you were right, this isn’t going to work. I’m... I’m gay. Very, very gay. So, it doesn’t matter what woman you bring here, it really isn’t going to work.”

I’d hoped that Chester Grieve would at least hesitate over this wrench in his plan, but the man didn’t even blink.

“Don’t worry about that. We’ve already taken care of it. Eventually, we’ll have to find a way to collect your friends as well, but for now, we can start with you.”

The girl ran a tentative hand down my arm, and every nerve in my body lit up like someone had poured gasoline over me and lit a match. I felt like I was on fire and sweat started to bead on my forehead.

Even worse, I felt myself becoming aroused.

A horrifying realization settled over me. While I’d been unconscious, they must have drugged me with some sort of aphrodisiac. I really wasn’t going to have a choice in this.

They wanted a child from me, and they were going to get it one way or another.