The Father
It was full dark when Father Emmanuel, Jeb, and Zeke approached the silo. Jeb had locked Juliette and Luke in the silo earlier, and managed to climb back over the wall and stash the ladder just in time to avoid being seen by the cops. They’d wasted no time getting that warrant. Maybe calling the attorney had been a mistake, made the cops more suspicious and determined to get into the refuge. Despite the lawyer’s assurance that he’d scared off the police officer, Father Emmanuel thought the guy might have overestimated his ability to intimidate the cop. After all, she was a K-9 handler. It had to take some balls to work side by side with a beast who could rip your throat out. Of course Emmanuel had been proven right. The cop hadn’t been scared away. Fortunately, she and the detective seemed satisfied after speaking with Zeke. They’d bought the story hook, line, and sinker. The original Eve might have brought about mankind’s downfall, but the Eve he’d fabricated had saved their asses today.
Jebediah unlocked the silo. Juliette and Luke leaned against the opposite walls, their mouths, hands, and feet bound by duct tape. They blinked against the harsh glare of the lantern.
Emmanuel looked from Luke to Juliette. “Does your baby have a heart-shaped birthmark on her bottom?”
Juliette’s brow quirked, but then her eyes seemed to brighten. Must be the flickering of the lantern. She nodded, unable to respond verbally with the tape still across her mouth.
Father Emmanuel turned from her back to Luke. “You understand this was for your own good, don’t you? You two have dishonored yourselves and your Lord and Savior with your lust. The rest of us must save you from yourselves. We only want what’s best for you.”
As his gaze went between them, the two nodded slowly, Juliette closing her eyes as she did so.
“All right, then,” Emmanuel said. “You may rejoin the flock.”
Jeb yanked the tape off their mouths and cut the strips to release their limbs.
When they were fully freed and had stood, Emmanuel said, “You must stay away from each other from now on, or next time the consequences will be much harsher. You will obey my word now, won’t you?”
It gave him no small sense of satisfaction to hear them both say, “Yes, Father.”