“They’ve been asked to stay a little way back unless we call them in if things look serious.”
“All right, that’s probably a good idea.” I fall silent.
Liam takes one of my hands and Austin the other. Austin and Cameron will flank either side of me during the hand over. Tate will carry the money, and Liam will remain in the car so he doesn’t smash the Leader’s face to pieces.
Even though Zoey’s come with us, she’s already been told that under no circumstances is she permitted to get out of the car. The adamancy on Tate’s face when he delivered his order made me scared. I know she wanted to be at my side, but she instantly agreed. We’ve become really close, and I’m so grateful to her that she stopped me from running away.
The limousine pulls into what appears to be an abandoned manufacturing area.
“We’re here,” the driver informs us.
We normally have random drivers for the vehicles we travel in, but the driver of the tour bus is taking on the duty today. He’s someone the band trusts.
He exits the car and opens the door for me. I know I have to get out first.
“Is he here?” I ask the driver.
“Is he about six foot, brown hair on his face and head, and the look of a pompous ass?” the driver responds, and I try to suppress the first laugh I’ve felt all day.
“Sounds about right.”
“The jackass is here then.” The driver glares toward where I assume the Leader is waiting.
“Thank you,” I say and take one final look at Liam.
“I’m right here.” He swallows deeply, and Zoey takes his hand. I’m glad she’s staying in the car. She’ll be a comforting and calming influence on him.
I slide from the limo and stand tall. I instantly see the Leader watching me. I take a step forward, and Austin, Cameron, and Tate emerge behind me. I see the Leader shake his head in disappointment as they do.
Tate throws his phone at the driver.
“Record everything.”
“Yes, sir.”
The driver sets the phone to record as we make our way to the Leader. Tate stalks out in front of us like a prowling lion. Austin and Cameron each take one of my arms and hold me tightly. I feel safe in their protection, but I still long for Liam to be at my side. His presence is the most soothing one.
“I’m not sure you’ve followed the rules I gave you, Harmony.” The Leader uses my birth name. The one I refuse to use anymore because of the bad memories associated with it. “Then again, why am I not surprised you broke them? You truly have been corrupted.”
“Shut the fuck up with the crap speech,” Tate interrupts. “None of us need it. You want money. We want assurances that you won’t come after Yivi again.”
“I don’t need to give assurances to anyone. I have more power over Harmony than you realize. I hold her parents.”
Cameron snorts. “The same parents who thought it was a good idea to have her brought up in a primitive world run by a man who obviously likes the finer things in life?”
I don’t understand Cameron’s words at first, but then I take a closer look at the Leader. He’s wearing designer sunglasses. His suit is a perfect fit and tailor-made, and his shoes are the finest quality. I look at his car. It’s the top of the line Mercedes. It occurs to me he must have a phone if he’s been able to text me. How did I not notice all of this before? It’s because I didn’t know the meaning of these things. I just knew they were the Leader’s property. I didn’t understand the truth behind them. There were times in the commune we struggled to get food, and we had to try and grow our own, a virtual impossibility in the acrid Nevada desert. All the while, he lived with riches and modern technology.
“You’re a liar. You’ve always been one.” I speak up. “How could you do this to your people? I’m not the only one who wants to escape. That place is the true Hell, not out here in the real world—I see it now. The demons are the rulers there, and you’re the Devil.”
The Leader laughs. “Such corruption in someone so young. I truly fear for your future, Harmony. These men will take you down the path to Hell. They are the devils. Listen to their music. They even sing about Hell. They consume alcohol, and they’re probably high on drugs. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve all taken advantage of your feminine parts and ruined them. I think I’ll be doing your parents a favor by telling them you’re dead. They wouldn’t want the shame of having a daughter like you.”
“Enough!” Tate growls. I can see his jaw ticking. I know the reference to the drugs will hit him hard. None of the band touches them after the death of Tate’s sister from a heroin overdose. “You don’t get to speak to Yivi ever again. We’ll give you the money to add to your corruption, but that will be it.”
“I see you’re recording this, but it won’t stand up as evidence in court. Not with my lawyers, and not when it comes from a man whose sister killed herself at eighteen. I’m a prominent member of the community.”
Tate’s nostrils flair. I nudge Cameron to go to him and hold him back, and he does so instantly. Austin stands behind me and wraps his large body around mine to give me better protection.
“If you think I’m such a fool that I’ll fall for your cheap tricks to anger me, then you’re more stupid than you look. I made peace with my sister’s death a long time ago,” Tate responds to the Leader.
“Have you made peace with the fact the piece of scum holding you back from hitting me is obviously a sex addict.”
It’s Cameron’s turn to jump forward. Tate grabs him by the arm.
“He’s trying to antagonize us. That’s the sort of piece of shit he is. He wants one of us to hit him because it will mean he can get a bigger payout from us to stop him going to the press.”
“Fucking asshole,” Cameron spits his way. He makes sure it doesn’t land on him, though. “You’re just jealous because you don’t get enough sex.”
“I’m not sure he has a problem with getting enough sex,” Austin speaks from behind me. “We’ve seen his corruption on a lot of levels. Yivi told us she was lucky because she followed the rules, but I’m guessing bad things happen to girls who don’t. Is that what the hole is about? You bury them alive until they’re begging, offering you anything to keep them from dying. You probably kill them anyway.”
The Leader smirks, and my stomach sinks—I immediately know what Austin has just said is true.
“I’m a peaceful man of God. I’m trying to lead my people in the right way. Not the way of the sinners of this world.”
“And you’re the biggest sinner of them all,” Austin retorts. He too leaves my side and forms a line with Tate and Cameron.
“Take the money and go. If you ever contact Yivi again, we’ll make sure you don’t get a chance to hurt anyone else.”
Tate places the suitcase on the floor and kicks it over to the Leader. I don’t see him pick it up, though, because I’m too focused on Zoey behind me, shouting for Liam to stop.
Chapter 25
Liam