Page 129 of Forgive Me Father

“There’s no fucking way I can agree to that. He’s asking me to trust he won’t hurt her further.”

“We need leverage,” Echo insists. “Proof that this isn’t just talk. If you can get me video footage from that church, I can bring in my team from the nearest city. Evidence is the only way we’ll end this, Roman. I can rig a camera on you, funnel the live feed to myself. We’re at a crossroads. We either act now and hope she’s safe, or we don’t and face the unknown.”

Staring at Echo, it feels like a loaded gun is aimed not at me but directly at Eden.

“Roman? 5, 4, 3, 2—”

“I’m still here, David,” I growl. “Fine. I’ll agree to your terms, but I need confirmation that she’s okay right now.”

I hear him scoff, followed by the shuffling of movement.

“Speak up, bitch,” David snarls.

Don’t you fucking speak to her that way.

I swear to God, I’ll kill David—

“Roman,” Eden gasps.

Has she been screaming?

“Eden, are you okay—”

“Roman. I don’t want to be here. Please—”

A harsh slap rings out, and she gasps. Gripping my phone with white-knuckled intensity, I fight to keep my composure.

“See what you’ve made me do, Roman?”

“Rot in hell, you bastard!” I roar, her muffled sobs making the situation even more unbearable.

David’s laughter drifts through the line, followed by a clearing of his throat.

“There’s someone else who would like to speak to you, Roman,” David’s voice takes on a mocking tone.

Another voice clears its throat, deep and authoritative.

“Quite a mess you’ve made, Roman.”

Father Kevin.

“Says the man who deceived me about the true nature of my priesthood at this depraved church—”

“Now is not the time for moral high ground, Roman. At least I’ve never sullied an altar server and made the mistake of falling in love with her,” He snaps. “I had grand plans for you. I thought you’d surpass those before you. But looking at your precious girl now, I understand why you faltered. She truly is delectable. See you soon, Roman.”

“Wait—”

The screen goes black as the call ends. Trembling with adrenaline, I hurl Aiden’s phone across the room, watching it shatter upon impact. My rage erupts in a scream, my only focus now on Eden.

“Roman, you need to calm down,” Echo’s voice is a calming force, his hand resting firmly on my shoulder.

“Calm down?” I explode, face-to-face with him. “The woman I love is being tortured, and I’m just standing here doing nothing—”

“You have an in,” Echo snaps back. “I’ll accompany you to the event. They can’t stop me. We’ll get her out, and all the other kids too. But until then, we have to be strategic. So, do your fucking job, keep a strong front, and when the time comes, help me expose all of this,” Echo pleads.

Eden’s screams and sobs echo in my mind, leaving me feeling nothing but defeat.

“So I’m supposed to just sit and wait, hoping for the best?” My question hangs in the air, met with silence from everyone around me.