Page 94 of Protected By the Sinner

I don’t know whether she realizes those aren’t the only deaths on my record. “You heard what I said? I killed my adoptive father.”

“No, I heard you say you killed two sick bastards—one of whom murdered your real parents and robbed you of growing up with your family. If you think that makes you a bad person, then I’m worse—because if I had the chance, I’d kill my biological father without blinking.”

After she falls asleep, I kiss her forehead and go down to the library on the first floor.

I’m waiting for Roman to confirm we’re ready to wipe the six elders off the face of the Earth.

After I found out who they were, everything started to make sense. Especially the part about them preaching against technology inside the cult walls. If the members had access to cell phones, they could ask for help. If they had internet access, they’d eventually see one of the “elders” in a headline.

It’s unbelievable what fanaticism can do. It’s like these people’s brains were rewired.

Knowledge is power.

Ruslan used to say that to me all the time.

Ignorance is easier to manipulate. By keeping their followers in the dark, they protected their own identities and reduced the risk of being exposed.

The time has come for each one of them to pay. Amber’s father will be last. He’s earned a special kind of punishment.

But before we go after any of them, we need to get the girls out.

The elders meet every Wednesday, and as tempting as it is to burn the whole place down with them inside, there are still women working in the kitchen—and of course, the girls.

We don’t know exactly how many, so Roman thinks it’s safer to raid the place on a day when only Tobias is present, not during the six-man gatherings—since those are the days the abuse is at its worst.

They have orders not to touch Amber’s father yet.

I don’t care that he never got around to abusing his own daughters—or whether he “protected” them from the others. For me, the intent alone is enough.

In my world, there’s no forgiveness for pedophiles, but it’s even more despicable when it comes from someone who was supposed to protect them.

When that self-proclaimedholy manfinally meets me, he’ll wish for a quick death, just like the others.

Chapter 44

Someone is screaming.

It’s terrifying, because I can feel the fear in her voice.

I want her to stop, but no matter how much I beg her, her screams just keep coming.

“Amber, wake up! It’s just a nightmare!”

More screaming.

“Amber, wake up! You’re safe. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

Now, along with the voice, there are arms around me. I’m trapped between heat and protection—but the fear is still there.

“Amber.”

“Beau?”

“Yes. You had a nightmare.”

I open my eyes and see he’s turned on the light. I look around and confirm that I’m in our room, but I know what I saw in the dream.

I lift my face to look at him. “They took my sister. They were going to sell her. How can Elodie be in Italy now?”