Laundry and food preparation was so much easier with fewer people. She could get through laundry so easy now. Even with Jump’s added clothes, it would take her only a few hours a week to finish the laundry.
Perhaps she was selfish. Maybe the cult’s mandate to fill the world with The Faithful was the correct way. But the abuse, the pain she’d suffered couldn’t be propagated. It had to end. There was no way how they’d lived, the loneliness she’d suffered along with the abuse had to be wrong. She didn’t want to believe that some divine power would want most of the community to suffer.
She took a sip of her tea, wondering if she should write her thoughts down. She wasn’t particularly religious because the women in The Faithful weren’t seen as active participants in their religious practices. She was a second thought, nothing more than a worker to keep men’s lives as easy as possible.
Obtaining her freedom had come at a cost but also introduced an incredible amount of freedom to her life. The freedom had given her so much more than anything The Faithful had ever brought her.
Grayson couldn’t believe his luck. The bitch sat outside and she was alone. He could grab her and they could be outside the city before the sun came up. Once she understood how important it was they be together, she would probably come willingly with him.
Maybe someone who knew her father had brainwashed her into leaving. That had to be it. When they got back, he would find the person who had told her to run. There was no way a woman could have come up with a plan on her own.
The house next to the place where she was living sat empty. He’d been watching it since he’d showed up and had seen no movement. It was a sign. He had a place to watch from, which afforded him the view of her sitting on the patio sipping coffee, or was that tea?
He just needed to get into her yard. He could jump the fence. Or he could go around and open the gate.
It took him a moment to decide. He cursed himself on the way over to the gate because he’d wasted too much time. That dude she was in there with could wake up at any moment and his plans would be shot to hell.
He put his hand on the gate latch, hoping it didn’t squeak when he opened it. It was now or never.
Slowly, he lifted the latch, glad there was no noise. Excitement slid through him as he stepped to the corner of the house. She was almost back in his hands.
Before moving around the house, he drew in a slow breath, saying a quick prayer. He had God on his side. This would work.
He stepped out and moved quickly toward Blakely. If she got inside, this would get messy. He had to hope she didn’t recognize him and start moving before he got to her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Blakely had almost finished her mug of tea when she closed her eyes, breathing in deep as she tried to form the words she wanted to write down for her book. It was easy to think the thoughts, but difficult to put it all down on the page in a manner that explained exactly what she was feeling.
Something made a noise off to her left, and she popped open her eyes, searching for the source. It took her way too long to realize she needed to get moving.
Someone was in the yard with her. She jumped up and her mug crashed to the patio, shattering in the process. For a second, she thought she’d made it to the door, but then a hand landed on her shoulder, halting her progress.
She let out a scream, but a hand came around and covered her mouth. She only hoped Jump heard her.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Her stomach clenched as unease filled her. Grayson had found her. She had to fight for her life, or she would end up trapped and under his thumb. She would never be allowed any freedom if he got her.
He clamped his arm around her and started dragging her backward. She struggled, fighting to break free, but his hold was too tight, and she couldn’t get away.
Grayson grunted. “Stop struggling.”
She must be making some ground otherwise he wouldn’t have told her to stop. She just had to keep fighting and then maybe she would get away.
Jump blinked open his eyes. It was still dark out, but he could tell it was close to sunrise. He reached out, feeling only cold sheets.
He sat up, not hearing any sounds coming from Blakely. Where was she?
Jump stood and wiped his hand over his face but froze. Something was off. The hair on the back of his neck rose as he moved toward the door. He pulled on his pants, buttoning them quickly.
Before stepping from his room, he reached into the top drawer of the dresser and pulled out his gun, opening the case. He checked his ammunition, hoping he didn’t have to use the weapon.
He heard another noise and sped up, moving through Wave’s house as he tried to pinpoint where the noise was coming from.
Outside.
He ran to the door and stepped out, seeing someone drag Blakely around the side of the house. Anger pumped through Jump’s veins.