Page 50 of Fallen Creed

Hastings, Nebraska

David Ruben hated the cold. And snow pissed him off.

He texted Vanessa to let her know he and Shelby were stuck in Hastings for the night. He decided he would not drive in this crap. The expense of another hotel room in a different city was simply an inconvenience. Money was never a problem. His parents had left him plenty after their tragic accident, an accident he orchestrated. It was one of his first successful experiments and probably his most brilliant.

The snow was a reminder of things he couldn’t control. They needed to finish up business and hit the road for some place warmer. Shelby’s idea of Florida sounded better and better.

Vanessa didn’t answer as quickly as he would have liked. She was probably still tired. She did the bulk of the digging last night. Or it peeved her that Shelby got to spend the night alone with him.

He couldn’t be upset if that was the case. After all, he’d worked hard to create that exact atmosphere. He wanted his girls jealous of each other and vying for his attention. Part of his strategy was built on that motivational premise.

Shelby came back to the room, beaming. She presented a tray full of goodies.

“They have free popcorn and Coke in the lobby. I brought you some, too.”

She had such a radiant smile when she was happy. He rewarded her with one of his own and gestured for her to put his can of cola on the nearby night table. He sat on the edge of one of the queen-sized beds and channel-surfed. Shelby took the chair by the window, watching the snow and gobbling popcorn.

Before they left the Walmart, Ruben suggested they buy whatever they needed for their sleepover. Shelby did love a shopping spree. It put her in an absolutely effervescent mood. Or maybe it was the drugs. She was like a shaken champagne bottle waiting to blow her cork.

He stopped and considered the opportunity for only a second or two. Did he want to waste his time teasing her? She was certainly primed for sex. Sometimes he missed the days when he screwed his girls all night long. He did still enjoy watching. He just couldn’t participate anymore. Not to his satisfaction. He’d rather stick to other ways of controlling them. Seeing him vulnerable or weak was not an option.

Also, he’d discovered being a father figure was much more powerful. Young women learned too quickly how to use sex to manipulate men. The fact that it didn’t work with him contributed to his all-powerful image. And his influence.

So he ignored Shelby and continued looking for local news. He wanted to see if there was anything about the missing hardware store worker. It was probably too early for information on the boy waiter.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shelby on her phone, texting someone. He pretended not to notice. It couldn’t be another boy. She had to have learned her lesson. But when she smiled, he felt the low boil at the back of his skull. Already his teeth started to clench.

She looked up at him. The smile was more radiant than before as she said, “Got it! We finally have directions and an address for Emma Hobbs. She’s living in a place in the country not far from here.”

He was impressed. Shelby and Vanessa were working together as a team. Since last week’s mishap, the two had been determined to use their social media connections and on-line skills.

Shelby tapped something back, then looked up again and asked, “Should we start calling her Libby Holmes?”

—39—

Florida Panhandle

Brodie was packed and ready to go before Jason could change his mind. It was a given that Hank would go along, but she needed to figure out a way to sneak Kitten with her. They had been inseparable for almost a year. She couldn’t leave the cat behind.

She just couldn’t.

Hannah prepared food in two travel coolers, enough for three or four days. Brodie knew that was Hannah’s way of compensating for not being able to join them.

A streak of guilt almost kept Brodie from going when she realized Hannah might have to handle all the kennel chores. Then she overheard Jason arranging to have his veteran buddies come help. She accidentally overheard part of his phone call with Taylor, too. He sounded so disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to see her.

Secretly, Brodie didn’t like Taylor Donahue. She wasn’t sure why, she just didn’t. It was bad enough that Hank recognized her, got excited and wagged at her, but then to listen to Jason’s lovey-dovey talk was a bit too much. The woman was too pretty, her body too perfect. She couldn’t walk into a room without every man gawking at her. None of that was Taylor’s fault, but Brodie could tell that Taylor liked it. Liked it a lot. Used it to her advantage.

And why did Taylor still care about what other men thought when she already had Jason? He should be enough for her. Jason was more than she deserved.

Taylor got her last boyfriend, John Lockett, killed. Lockett had been Hank’s owner. When it came right down to it, Brodie figured it was Taylor’s fault that Hank had gotten shot, too.

No, Brodie didn’t much like Taylor.

So why, when they were only a few miles across the Alabama border, did she bring up the woman? It sort of fell out of her mouth.

“Is Taylor mad at you for leaving?”

“I wouldn’t say mad, but I think she’s disappointed.”