Chapter 220

“So,” Gladice said, glancing at the city as they drove. “This is the capital of the Dominion.”

“It is,” Louis said, leaning back against the leather seat. “Last time I came here, I got into a fight with a drunkard.”

“With your bare hands?” Maeve asked.

“With the Dominion Guard,” Louis said, smiling.

Gladice snorted. “Of course you did.”

“What happened to the guy?” Savannah asked.

“A free trip to Santa Catalina,” Louis said. “He’s still there. I think.”

“That’s a long way for a fight,” Maeve said.

“He harassed my companion,” Louis said, shrugging. “He deserved it.”

“What was her name?” Donya asked.

“Maya,” Louis said, looking out the window. “I forgot her last name.”

“Did you sleep with her?” Gladice asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

“Of course I did,” Louis said. “But then I never saw her again.”

“Because she’s in prison?” Maeve asked.

“No,” Louis said, laughing. “I ordered the guard to send her home.”

“So you are a gentleman after all,” Angelique said, smiling.

“I try,” Louis said, taking her hand.

The convoy arrived at a large villa in a gated community. Dominion Guard soldiers were patrolling the perimeter. Two were inspecting a delivery truck. They waved the convoy through. The Hummer pulled into the driveway. A Guard officer opened the door for them. “Mr. Collins. Ladies.”

“Are they inside?” Louis asked.

“Yes, sir,” the officer said. “Four of the Prophet King’s wives and all the children with their nannies. Rachel Allred too.”

“Thank you,” Louis said. He led the women to the front door. A Guard opened it for them. They walked into a spacious house. Sister Naomi, Sister Hannah, Sister Mary, and Sister Leah were on a sofa, playing with the children. A nanny was serving them juice and cookies. They looked up as Louis and the women entered.

“Mr. Collins,” Sister Naomi said, standing up. “Welcome.”

“Ladies,” Louis said. “How are you holding up?”

“We are fine, Mr. Collins,” Sister Hannah said. “The Dominion has been very kind to us.”

“We are grateful for your protection,” Sister Leah said. “And for bringing our children to safety.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Louis said. “Where is Rachel?”

“In her room,” Sister Naomi said. “She hasn’t come out since she arrived. And she hasn’t eaten anything.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Louis said. He looked at the women. “Why don’t you get to know the children? I’ll be right back.”

“Alright, Louis,” Angelique said.

Louis walked down the hallway and stopped at a door. He knocked. “Rachel. It’s Louis. Can I come in?”

He heard a muffled sob. He waited for a moment. “Rachel?”

The door opened a crack. Rachel’s face, tear-streaked and pale, peeked out. “Brother Louis?”

“Can I come in?” Louis asked gently.

Rachel opened the door. She was in a simple blue dress, her hair disheveled. Her eyes were red. “What’s wrong, my shepherd?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Nothing is wrong, Rachel,” Louis said, stepping inside. “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“I’m… I’m confused,” Rachel said, tears welling up in her eyes. “I thought… I thought the Prophet King loved me. I thought it was the Lord’s will.”

Louis looked at her, feeling a pang of guilt. He had used her. And he had lied to her. He had to tell her the truth. Or at least a version of it that she could handle.

“Rachel, you are a very special woman,” Louis said. “You are kind and beautiful. And you have a strong faith. But the Prophet King… he realized he wasn’t ready for another wife. He is old and wounded. And he has many responsibilities.”

“Then why did he choose me?” Rachel asked, her hands clasped together. “Why did he make me believe?”

“Because he was tempted, Rachel,” Louis said. “Like any man. He saw your beauty and your purity. So he wanted you.”

“Did I disappoint him?” Rachel asked, her face filled with fear.

“No, Rachel. He disappointed himself,” Louis said. “He realized he wasn’t the man he thought he was.”

“Brother John told me I was chosen,” Rachel said, her voice shaking. “He told me I was blessed. He told me to trust him.”

“Brother John was a liar, Rachel,” Louis said, his voice firm. “The Prophet King told me he was struck down by the Lord’s lightning.”

Rachel stared at him. “He was?”

“He was,” Louis said. “I saw it with my own eyes.” He paused. “The Lord was angry. So He punished him for his sins.”

“But I trusted him,” Rachel said, tears streaming down her face. “I trusted him with my soul.”

“I know, Rachel,” Louis said, stepping closer. “But you were misled by a devil in disguise. It wasn’t your fault. You were innocent.”

“What should I do, Brother Louis?” Rachel asked, her eyes pleading. “I don’t know what to do.”

Louis thought for a moment. “Do you like grapes, Rachel?”

Rachel looked at him, confused. “Grapes?”

“Yes, grapes,” Louis said. “Do you like them?”

“I do,” Rachel said, wiping her tears. “They are my favorite fruit.”

“Good,” Louis said. “Then let me make a call. Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

He left the room and closed the door. He took out his phone and called Robin.

“Louis.”

“I need a favor, Robin.”

“Anything.”

“I want to send Rachel Allred to your vineyard in Napa with a therapist. I want her to stay there for a while. And I want you to find a good job for her. Something that makes her happy.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Robin said. “Chloe will be happy to have another woman at the vineyard.”

“Good,” Louis said. “Make the arrangement.”

“Will do,” Robin said, hanging up.

Cherish and Donya came down the hallway, with Donya carrying an Athena phone box.

“Louis, the delivery is here,” Donya said. “How is she?”

“She’s in a bad way,” Louis said. “I’m sending her to Napa for a change of scenery.”

“That’s kind of you, Louis,” Cherish said.

“Let’s go inside,” Louis said, opening the door. Rachel was still standing in the middle of the room, looking lost.

“Rachel, I have a place for you,” Louis said, smiling. “It’s a beautiful vineyard in Napa with a lot of grapes and good people.”

Rachel looked at him. “A vineyard?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “You can work there and learn new things. Or make new friends. You will have a therapist to talk to. About everything.”

Rachel looked at him, then at Cherish and Donya. “I don’t know, Brother Louis. I’m scared.”

“It’s okay to be scared, Rachel,” Cherish said, putting an arm around her. “We were scared too when we left our homes.”

“But you had each other,” Rachel said. “I have no one.”

“You have us, Rachel,” Donya said, handing her the box. “This is a new phone for you. You can call us anytime. And we will come to see you as often as we can.”

Rachel took the box. “This is for me?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “As promised.”

Rachel opened the box. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s yours, Rachel,” Louis said. “You can use it to call me any time.”

Rachel looked at the phone, then at Louis. “Thank you, Brother Louis.”

“You’re welcome, Rachel,” Louis said. “Now, eat something. Then rest. Someone will come to pick you up.”

“Who?” Rachel asked.

“My aunt,” Louis said. “Her name is Chloe. She’s very nice.”

Rachel nodded. “I will trust you, Brother Louis. As I trust the Lord.”

Louis smiled. “Good.” He turned to Donya and Cherish. “Let’s go back to the others.”

They walked down the hallway. Ephraim Taylor came toward them. He looked relieved to see them. “Mr. Collins. Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome, Ephraim,” Louis said. “Your father is a strong man. He will recover.”

“I hope so,” Ephraim said. “It seems my family and I will be staying here for a few days until my father is stable.”

“Take your time,” Louis said, picking up another box of Athena phone from the table. “This is for you. A little gift.”

Ephraim took the box, surprised. “Thank you, sir.”

“Let me know if you need anything,” Louis said, nodding. “We’re friends now.”

Ephraim smiled. “Yes, sir. We are.”

“Call me Louis,” Louis said. “I’m only five years older than you.”

Ephraim laughed. “I’ll try, Louis.”

Louis patted his shoulder and went to the living room. Sister Naomi was talking with Angelique and Savannah.

“—So I asked the chef about sushi burritos. I was very curious.” Sister Naomi said. “And he made some for us. They are delicious! The children love them.”

“I told you,” Angelique said, smiling.

Sister Naomi looked up as Louis entered. “Mr. Collins. Your ladies were telling me about your plan to build a compound in Honolulu.”

“That’s right,” Louis said, sitting on a sofa. “Pax Pacifica.”

“It sounds wonderful,” Sister Naomi said. “I hope we can visit someday.”

“You are always welcome, Sister Naomi,” Louis said. “Do you like your new phone?”

“I love it,” Sister Naomi said, looking at the pink Athena X-30 in her hand. “I’m still learning how to use it. But it’s amazing.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Louis smiled.

“Mr. Collins,” Sister Mary said. “We want to thank you again. For saving us. And for our Prophet King.”

“You’re welcome, Sister Mary,” Louis said. “We are allies now. And allies help each other.”

“We will never forget what you did for us,” Sister Leah said.

“Me neither,” Louis said, looking at the children playing on the floor. He thought about Cherish’s words from the night before. He still wasn’t ready to be a father. But he felt a warmth inside. He was glad he could protect them. He stood up. “We have to go now. Take care of yourselves.”

“You too, Mr. Collins,” Sister Naomi said.

Louis and the women left the house. The Hummer was waiting for them. They got in.

“Let’s go to Pacific Hall,” Louis told the driver. The convoy started to move.

“You did a good thing, Louis,” Donya said, leaning against him.

“I hope so, Donya,” Louis said, looking out the window. “I really hope so.”

“You did,” Angelique said, taking his other hand. “You saved a life. And you gave her a new one. That’s a big deal.”

“I still feel like I used her,” Louis said, sighing.

“You did,” Savannah said. “But you used her for a good cause. And you made it right in the end.”

“Is there a difference?” Louis asked.

“There is to me,” Savannah said.

Louis nodded. “I’ll take it.”

Cherish looked at him. “Tell me about Pacific Hall, Louis.”

“It’s the political center of the Dominion, Cherry,” Louis said. “My father’s office is there. I have a room there too. But I barely use it. I prefer my place in LA.” He looked at Angelique. “And that’s the place where Angi and I danced.”

“Oh?” Cherish asked, her eyes bright.

“We danced at the reception celebrating my father’s appointment as foreign minister,” Angelique said. “It was an interesting night.”

“Interesting is an understatement,” Louis said, laughing. “I still remember Malcolm’s face when I asked Angi to dance with me.”

“Malcolm? Who’s Malcolm?” Donya asked.

“Son of the Minister of Finance,” Angelique said. “He’s a good man, but a boring one.”

“Speaking of which,” Louis said. “He might be there today.”

“Doing what?” Savannah asked.

“Probably want to meet us after our journey,” Louis said. “He was lucky that I removed him from the guest list of the state visit. Or he would be in Dixie with us.”

Gladice snorted. “And probably dead.”

“Very likely,” Louis said. “He’s not a fighter.”

“Neither were we,” Angelique said. “Until we had to be.”

“True,” Louis said, leaning back. “But we were not born to be fighters. We were born to be free.”

“And rich,” Maeve said.

“That too,” Louis said, smiling.