Page 123 of Revere

41

WHAT HAD TO BE DONE

PATIENCE

“Where are my parents?”

“They’re checking in on something with your brother.” The deacon closes the door behind him, and walls start to close in. “You’ve been avoiding me, Patience.”

“Why would I avoid you?” I try to keep my nerves steady but fail.

He’s right. I have been avoiding him. Ever since that night he placed his hand a little too high on my leg. Mom might disregard what Deacon Beech did because he’s a man of God or even just because he’s a man, but I refuse to.

“Sit with me.” He motions to the long bench seat as he sinks down onto it himself. “Let’s talk.”

I have nothing to say to him, but I don’t want to end up bleeding and reciting the rosary later, so I do as he says and sit beside him.

“You’re a beautiful girl, Patience. You have so much promise if you put your mind to it. I know you’re under a lot of pressure with school and family, but I can help you if you want.”

“I’m fine.” I avoid his gaze, even as I feel it burning into the side of my head.

“Are you sure?” He places a hand on my thigh, and this time I don’t shove him off.

I sit perfectly still and hope he’ll come to that decision on his own so I can avoid getting in trouble. I press my lips together and fight back the burning behind my eyes as his fingers trail inward.

“Your mother seems to agree that I could be of great help to you if you’d just let me.” He leans in closer, smelling my hair.

Of course my mother did. To her, I’m something to be traded, something to increase her value someday. My father has tried to keep her under control, but lately, she’s become more determined.

“Such a sweet girl, Patience.” Ian drags his hand higher, and I wonder if Mom knows he’s in here.

If that’s what she’s intended.

“Don’t.” I push his hand just before it reaches my core, and the first tear slips free.

It’s a weakness I shouldn’t show.

“I don’t need your permission.” He snags my wrist when I try to stand, stopping me. “Your mother already gave it to me.”

In one quick move, he shoves me down onto the bench, stomach first, so he can climb over me from behind. He twists one arm behind my back, while I try to scratch and fight him with the other. It’s no use. He’s too strong, pinning me at my hips.

Any composure I’ve tried to maintain slips as tears spill freely now.

“The more you fight this, the rougher I’m going to have to be with you.” He grabs my thighs to spread them. “Your mother warned me you were a fighter, but I reassured her I was more than capable of handling you.”

He moves for my clothes, but just as he does, the door to the room swings open.

It takes me a moment to realize what’s happening as Ian’s weight is suddenly off me. I grab the cushion and slowly slide to the floor, curling into a corner.

“Alex, stop!” I cry as my brother begins beating the deacon’s face to a pulp.

As he becomes nothing more than bloody bone and flesh.

But Alex doesn’t stop. He can’t. Like my mother always promised, I’d be both our downfalls.

The moment I cross the property line into the Lancaster estate, my heart is racing. I swore to myself I wouldn’t come back here after returning from LA. There’s nothing left for me between these walls. But saying that this place has no power over me and proving it are two different things. Which is why I’m here, responding to my mother’s text, to show her that she no longer has control.

My car rolls to a stop in front of the ridiculous estate my parents called a house, and I regret not taking Jacob up on his offer to come with me. Regardless of what my family did to him, he would face this for my sake. It’s one of the many reasons I fell for him.