Page 105 of Forgive Me Father

“Fine,” Seth says, his voice steady now.

“Good,” I say, the finality in my tone clear. “I’ll be in touch with further details. Make sure you’re ready.”

As I hang up, I feel a grim satisfaction. The pieces are falling into place, each move aligning with the grand design I’ve set in motion. Tonight’s work was necessary, and tomorrow, the path to cleansing the world of David Faulkner will be that much clearer.

Proverbs 15:18: "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."

Chapter 28

Eden

"Ididn't want to believe any of it," Zoey whispers, all of us huddled on the couch of the spacious apartment. My apartment.

Fully furnished, it was as if Roman had been planning for Aiden and me to come here for months.

"Then Roman showed me the file, and the names tethered to all of it..." Zoey trails off, sobbing in her hands. "My own father wanted to put me in that fucking auction, selling me off with the rest of those children that are God knows where," Zoey cries.

Aiden has remained quiet as he’s taken all of this information in for the first time.

"The police-"

"They know," I answer before he can start. "Maybe not all of them, but the ones that are in power do. Our dad has been doing this for years, Aiden. Roman would have already gone to the FBI, but he was afraid they’d find out and move the kids. We still don’t know where they’re being held.”

Aiden shakes his head. “Roman shouldn’t have gotten involved. I know something more is going on between you two, but getting caught up in something like this could get you killed, Eden.”

Running her hands through her curly hair, Zoey sniffles, the weight of what my brother thinks will happen to us, reminding her that we’re all in very real danger.

“I won’t leave Roman to deal with this alone, Aiden. He’s tormented by the evil things going on in that church, and I don’t know how far he’s willing to go to put an end to all of it. I’m worried about him.”

I’d called Roman seven times since we’d gotten to the apartment.

Each time, it went straight to voicemail.

Where the hell could he be?

Zoey's phone lights up, her teary eyes gravite toward the bright screen.

"It's from the correctional facility," She sniffles, all of us exchanging a look.

Tapping the answer button, she puts the call on speaker.

"You are receiving a call from an inmate in Idlewood County Jail. Press one to accept."

Tapping her screen, the person on the other line sounds frantic

"Zo-"

"Dad?".

"Zo, I messed up bad. I need you to come here so I can figure this all out," He gasps.

"Dad, I know everything. I know about the kids-"

"Zo, this isn't aboutthat. I did something that is going to get me a lot of time. I need you to call your stepmom, and I need both of you to come in-"

"Fuck that stupid whore, and fuck you. I know what your plans were for me, Dad. I know who you really are-"

"Zoey damnit, just get your ass over here so I can get this figured out-"