Through a Glass, Darkly (Assassins of Youth MC #1) (20 page)

I knew my plan was a bold and possibly stupid one. Was I just moving on my own craving to “save” women from evil men? My love for Mahalia was deep and real. I’d barely thought of Chelsea since meeting Mahalia, and a good thing, too. She’d never been about to leave Papa Ewey. She was all about the status, I knew now. Why would she leave the Prez for a guy who wasn’t even an officer in the club?

“I’ve been hearing things that are highly disturbing,” Chiles started out. He wore his formal cowboy hat and he’d brought Parley Pipkin with him, so this was some official stuff.

And it was so early in the day I hadn’t even put my cut on yet. “Disturbing in what way?”

He folded his hands before his crotch, a protective motion. “You probably know, but let me elucidate for you. That you’ve been kissing and possibly more with one of my wives. You know to whom I refer.”

I had to bluff my way through this. It would’ve been nice if we could’ve gotten a head start on Chiles. But since that wife had seen us in a compromising position at that swimming hole, all bets were off. I had to find out what Chiles knew. “I may have kissed her once or twice. She’s a beautiful woman, Chiles, and it should be no surprise I don’t agree with your manner of handling women around here.”

He squared his shoulders in a manly fashion. “Do I look like I give two good goddamns what you think, Fortunati?”

“Well, you
did
…until now.”

“You making time with my wife supersedes you saving my life. I’ve heard from one of my wives as well as one of the children that there’s been more than kissing going on around here. Possibly some unnatural biker type stuff, too.”

That piqued my interest. “What sort of unnatural biker type stuff?”

“Stuff,” clarified Parley Pipkin.

Chiles added, “I think you know, Fortunati. And I think it’s time you said goodbye to my largesse. You can pack up your meager belongings and be out of here by noon. May you learn from your errors with the knowledge of divine retribution looming over your head. God will punish you for the mistakes you’ve made, Fortunati.”

“What about our gun deals?”

“We’ll maintain a strict business relationship. The gun deals can continue. But you must go, Fortunati.”

I had to take my punches. I held out my hands in a calming position. “All right, Chiles. I admit I’m fully and completely busted. Your wife is a delicate flower, and I don’t hold with wife beating.”

It was like a sudden storm came into his eyes then. I’ve never seen anything like it—literally, storm clouds formed and passed over Chiles’ pupils. Parley Pipkin even took a threatening step forward. Chiles pointed at my feet. “A whirlwind of judgment shall hail down upon you! No man has a right to tell another man how to treat his wives!”

“Amen!” shouted Pipkin.

That was when I noticed Pipkin was armed. A pistol butt stuck out of the waistband of his pants. I had mine, of course, shoved into the boot I wasn’t wearing.

Chiles blared on. “Bad luck will rain on your head, Fortunati! You have crossed me the last and final time!”

“All right, all right. I get the picture, Chiles. Thanks for your hospitality. Thanks for helping me recover from the gunshot wound I got while protecting
you
.” Yes, I stooped that low. It was something to say while I went and grabbed my boots, sitting on the edge of the single bed.

Parley hollered, “You were probably just protecting Mahalia Warrior, anyway! Who’s to say you were protecting The Prophet?”

The Prophet held out a staying hand. “No, no, let him go, Parley. We need his gun business.”

“And you need me to run the mine,” I reminded them. As I said this, I pointedly took my Glock out of my boot and placed it on the bed, so I could put my boot on.

“Well, that’s another thing, Fortunati. I deeded you that mine when I was under the delusion you were a friend of mine. No longer do I labor under that delusion. You never recorded the deed at the County, Fortunati.”

That fucking burned me up. I stood. “So your word is no good, is that what I’m led to believe? You randomly give things away, only to take them back later?” I thought that would tweak him, being called an Indian giver. I was right.

Pipkin’s hand went for his gun. Chiles didn’t motion for him to calm down this time. “You’re out of here, Fortunati. No one touches the wife of Allred Lee Chiles, Prophet of Good Fortune.”

I went for my cut hanging on the back of a chair. I shook it out like it was the Shroud of Turin—which to me, it was. Shrugging into it, I said calmly, “Well. The Bureau of Land Management, not to mention Bronson Carradine and the ATF, might be highly interested in the dozens of bodies buried out at the Altar of Sacrifice.” I smoothed my cut down like it was a tuxedo now, tugging on the hem. “I might be persuaded to ignore those bodies if I was given, say, the entire mine.”

Boy, did that storm in Chiles’ eyes turn into a tornado fast. This time, Pipkin did slide his piece from his pants and aim the barrel at my head. Chiles calmly went to my duffel bag and rifled through it, looking for the deed, I assumed.

“Hey!” I shouted at Pipkin. “For a guy who turned tail and ran the second someone started shooting inside the book bindery, you’re sure quick to draw!” I grabbed my Glock off the bed, but kept it at my side.

Chiles stepped toward me, waving my deed. “
What
bodies might you be referring to?”

I snorted. “Nice try, Chiles. But the fucking gloves are off now. You beat Mahalia and more of your wives. You should’ve been arrested a long time ago just for that. Let’s make a trade. I’ll keep quiet about the bodies and the wife beating, and you give me the mine. Oh, and let Mahalia Warrior and her daughter leave here quietly.”

He was definitely thinking about it. Dust Bunny had only found three bodies so far. He’d puked before giving up on the job. But three was good enough for me. Dust Bunny told me that past the barricades there was disturbed earth enough for several more bodies. I was just bluffing about the “dozens” to see Chiles’ reaction.

His reaction was swift. He nodded to Pipkin, who took four giant strides toward me, taking the safety off and pressing the gun barrel to my temple.

Chiles was even calmer now, if such a thing was possible. He talked like a ventriloquist with barely any movement of facial muscle. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

I said, “I’ll take that as a no.” I moved slowly, the barrel glued to my temple, to get the duffle bag Dust Bunny had brought me. A few toiletries were in the bathroom, but I could always buy a new toothbrush.

Chiles intoned, “You have made a mistake that renders you unworthy to return to the presence of God. But I’m afraid that’s not penance enough.”

“Oh, yeah?” I dared to say, hefting the bag over my shoulder. “Those are mighty big words coming from a guy who buried a bunch of rivals in a gold mine.”
And what’s preventing him from burying me there, too?
My phone in my cut pocket kept buzzing obnoxiously. I hoped to hell it wasn’t Mahalia, and Chiles decided to take a look at it.

Chiles’ voice was chilling now as I inched toward the door. “God has given me a revelation about the principle of celestial marriage. No man may tear that asunder under risk of death. We are a peculiar people, Fortunati, and all of us will obtain the highest degree of exaltation in the celestial kingdom thanks to the new and everlasting covenant. We live the principle. We alone are absolved of all sin.”

“Well, that’s mighty handy.” I opened the door and glanced into the sandy yard that separated the cottage from the main house. Mahalia wasn’t looking out the window this time. I was sure she’d be under heavy guard from this point forward. “Chiles, you’re arranging a marriage between a creepy older pervert and an underage girl who doesn’t want to go. That alone should prevent you from entering any celestial kingdom.”

That got to him. Chiles roared, “The mainstream church has wrongly abandoned these holy principles!
We will be avenged!
”

“Yeah.” I snorted. “Abandoned them because they’re creepy and immoral.”

Chiles raised a hand and pointed like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. “Out! Out, you infidel! The wrath of God will rain its mighty vengeance down on your head!”

So much for saving his life. Now I saw some shapes moving behind windows downstairs. Three or four heads were looking out, maybe from a kitchen window. They saw me do the Walk of Shame down the pathway at the business end of a pistol. I was halfway down the path with my hands held at waist level when Pipkin tore my Glock from my waistband. I started to spin around to protest, but his gun barrel convinced me to shut the fuck up. Not that he’d risk shooting me with all those witnesses, but you never know.

I shoved my duffle into my saddlebag, and they allowed me to mount my scoot. “Good luck, Chiles,” I sneered. “You’re going to fucking need it for all the bad karma you’re building up here.”

“I don’t listen to nonbelievers,” he shouted as I pulled the clutch and pressed the starter button. Since he was standing a good fifteen yards away, the rest of his asinine speech was drowned in the purr of my engine. Even Parley Pipkin stepped back, his gun arm still raised.

I flipped them both off. I know it was childish, but I did it.

I felt powerless as I drove toward the front gate. I didn’t want to risk stopping until I was safely outside.
What. The. Fuck
. Mahalia’s sister wife and some unknown kid had both reported us to Chiles. I shouldn’t have been surprised at that. What was more surprising was that Chiles hadn’t suspected before now.

The irony didn’t escape me as I went through the automatic gate that I was repeating past history. Just a month earlier I’d been riding up here, wondering what I’d done to incur a wrath that would stick me with the likes of Tim Breakiron. I’d messed with a superior’s woman, and I was repeating my past mistakes now. Why couldn’t I have left Mahalia alone? I might not have ever made the long dive to protect her from Breakiron’s bullet and I might now be out at the Altar of Sacrifice digging up my own stash of gold.

But fate had brought me to Mahalia, and I didn’t regret one action of mine. I’d get her out of there somehow.

Once past the gates, I pulled over to check my texts. There were only two from Dingo so I ignored those to text Mahalia, before Chiles confiscated her phone.

Sweetness. Your sister-wife told Chiles everything. In case you didn’t see, I’m out bad from Cornucopia. Hide this phone carefully so we can still communicate. Get out if you still can and come to me.

I doubted she’d have time to get out. Chiles would slap a guard on her as fast as a jackrabbit in front of a prairie fire. With a heavy heart, I read Dingo’s text.

I am glad I put those “ears” and “eyes” in your cottage. I just heard every word of every threat Chiles made against you. I’ve got the recording safe.

Good God in an evil world.

The third text read,

Oh, and some risqué recordings of you and Mahalia that I will erase.

The third text said,

What do you want for dinner? Dust Bunny likes my spaghetti and meatballs.

MAHALIA

I
didn’t need
to read Gideon’s text to know what had happened to him.

Kimball, Tazmin, and a few more wives and I watched Gideon march down the pathway with his belongings on his shoulder.

“See what you’ve done,” I hissed to Tazmin.

She seemed proud, though. “Why shouldn’t I have told? You’re going against everything we stand for, Mahalia! That’s adultery!”

“What’d she do?” asked Chastidee, an older sister-wife. She was a diehard Allred fan, and at the moment I wanted to throat punch her, as the teens say.

Tazmin’s nostrils flared righteously. “Let’s just say she was in a position with that Gideon man that should never be enacted in a moral and scrupulous home.”

“Oo, do tell!” chirped Emersyn.

Kimball grabbed my arm. “She’s not telling because there’s nothing
to
tell, right, Mahalia?”

“Well, I—”

“Come!” Kimball jerked me even harder, and we went onto the glassed-in sun porch. I was about to admit to the truth, but Kimball shut me up. From here we could see the cottage. Parley and Allred returned to it and were turning it upside-down, from what we could tell. A chair cushion went flying out the door, tumbling into my flowerbed of daisies. “Look, Mahalia. You know I don’t agree one dot with what Tazmin and Rayd went telling Allred.”

“
Rayd
? What in blue blazes? I assumed Tazmin had squealed, but Rayd?” Rayd was Kimball’s twelve-year-old son, and two of his friends had just been dragged off the compound to join the legions of Lost Boys “outside.”

Kimball folded her hands and looked at the floor. “I know. I tried to make him do penance for it, but he refused. He seems to think by ‘doing the right thing’ by Allred, Allred will let him stay here instead of taking him to join his friends.”

“
Well
!” I was incensed. “He can jolly well
do
that, then! He can stay here with his beloved Allred if he thinks that man will do right by him. But I’ve had my bags packed for days, Kimball. I’m just going to wait for a sign from Gideon, then Vonda and I are joining him at his house. You and Nyler and Zaylee are welcome to follow any time after. But Rayd can jolly well stay here. He’s getting old enough, anyway.”