Page 83 of Lick

Shooting to his feet, Tylan knocks over the chair he was just sitting in, slamming his hands down on the table. “You need to shut the fuck up, right now,” he shouts. Knuckles white as he clenches his hands, slamming them against the wood once more. “You are blind to think that. There isn’t a lot of good in this world. Everywhere you turn, Godly or not, there is evil and darkness. It’s a fucking miracle to come out of this life unscathed by the evil that’s behind every corner. Your God can’t help you defeat some of the evil I’ve met in my life. Jenni is the only bright thing in my life, and it’s because of her that I see clearly. I’ve become a better person because of her, because of her strength and her heart. You say she’s weak, you’re the weak piece of shit! I don’t see one ounce of strength looking at you. You’re fucking pitiful.”

“You have no right to place judgment at my feet.”

“I have no fucking right?” Tylan throws his head back and laughs. “Jesus Christ,” Tylan rasps between fits of laughter.

“Thou shalt not use the Lord’s name in vein,” my father roars. The veins on his neck begin to pump. I’ve never seen my father so angry. Micah approaches him, grasping for his arm only to be pushed off.

“You know nothing of me or of my daughter,” my father fumes.

“I sure as fuck know your daughter. In every sense of the word,” Tylan growls back.

“No, you only see through lustful eyes and know nothing of how empty her soul is.” He paces, spit flying from his mouth as he continues to ramble. “You’re guided by your devil, and only see what’s in front of you, in your temptation and nothing more. Look at the sin of the flesh that surrounds you.” He points behind Savannah and Sin to where Lily and Bianca have joined us, both wearing their Fury gear. Scarlet, Twist and Poppy, along with Heather stand near the opening that leads to the back supply room.

“You’ve lost your fucking mind,” Lick growls.

My father ignores him as he continues his rant. “Sinful. Disgusting. This is the work of the devil and I can no longer allow a child of mine to partake in this type of wicked debauchery. It is those who are uneducated in the word of the Lord who speak of things they know nothing about. Sarah Jennifer Hoyt, your time here is done. It is now up to God to forgive you for your trespasses. Your fate is now in His hands, and the sooner we get you back home and start on your redemption the better off you’ll be.”

Lick’s eye twitches while he listens to my father’s words. “Over my dead body, you piece of shit psychopath.”

My father turns to Micah, who has gone pale. “You’re a good man, Micah,” placing a hand on his shoulder, “for agreeing to take on the likes of my daughter. Especially now, knowing the filth she’s been cavorting with over these past few months. If I had only known, I would have come sooner. I’m sorry, son, that you are tied to the likes of my daughter.”

“Sir, there’s no need to apologize to me.” Micah scans the area, seeing more than what my father sees. My father has never felt that he’s had to watch his back, not coming from the town in which we have. But here he’s the enemy, and he’s attacking the people who have come to mean more to me than what my own flesh and blood ever did. “I think we need to go, sir. It’s clear we’re not wanted and as you can see, Sarah, I mean, Jenni isn’t willing to go.”

“Willing?” my father spits back. “Oh, my boy…” He shakes his head, chuckling under his breath. “She is not willing because she has no free will. She will do as I say. She will obey and bend at my mercy until she becomes your wife, then she shall bend to yours. Ephesians 5:22 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

“I’ve heard enough,” Cut booms from behind my father, who turns around at the sound of his voice. “I don’t know who the fuck you are, but you’re in my clubhouse, spouting your shit to my people.”

“I’m of no concern to you or your…people,” he says with disdain. Turning back around to face me, his face is void of emotion. “Come now, Sarah. We leave tonight.”

“Hold the fuck up!” Cut commands.

“No!” Standing, I let my voice finally be heard. I shake my head, “No, father. I’m not going anywhere.”

“There is no choice here,” he says with no emotion.

I laugh a little at how closed minded my father is. “That’s the thing, there is. You’re simply unable to comprehend that I am making mine.”

“Your family needs you. Micah has been promised your hand, and I am not willing to break my promise.”

I press my lips together. “That’s not your promise to make.”

“Your church—everything that we stand for rests on you and your brother. It’s the way it was prophesied.”

I square my shoulders. “There’s no prophecy. They’re delusions within your mind–”

“Silence!” he yells. “Do not disrespect your father, your pastor, or your future husband with this talk.”

Taking a deep breath, I calm the anger and frustration that’s starting to intensify. “I’m staying here.”

“No!”

“Goddamn it, Father!” I scream, slamming my hand on the wood of the table.

“How dare you!”

“How dare I?” I stalk towards him, no longer needing the comfort of Tylan or the security of the table. “How dare you,” I growl. “My entire life I have felt beneath and belittled by you. Time after time I’ve tried to get you to see me, but it never happened. Under the roof of your church and on that path you intended for me to walk I never once felt love. Not from you, not from my brother, Jacob and only from my mother when she knew you weren’t looking.”

“It saddens me that you are so selfish to see what matters. We live to fall to our knees and worship our Lord, not our children. You are not entitled to that kind of devotion.”