Into the Light (The Light, #1)(108)

Members of the Western Light’s Assembly and Commission organized all the logistics. Father Gabriel had chosen the location of this campus perfectly, as Canada made the perfect market for low-cost medications. With Brothers Raphael and Benjamin’s research, the pills and capsules created by the followers of the Northern Light were indistinguishable from those produced by mainstream pharmaceutical giants. Since Father Gabriel’s followers worked not for worldly goods or money, but to maintain their standing in the community, production costs were minimal. The followers believed they were making the medications to help others.

They were, just not the others they thought.

When I first entered The Light, it was through the smallest campus, the Eastern Light, in Detroit. At that time I was led to assume that the production and sale of illegal drugs was the focus. Over the last three years I’d learned that illegal drugs were present, but only as the smallest piece of The Light’s revenue pie. The crack and meth produced and sold through the Eastern Light were more of a diversion—Father Gabriel’s backup plan. If the time ever came when the operation was discovered, each campus had enough paraphernalia to give the perception of a large illegal drug network. The investigation would satisfy the FBI and ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Though they would boast the closing down of a large illegal drug organization, in reality they would have stopped only the tertiary source of income.

Even the preserves made more profit.

Until my recent promotion, I hadn’t known the breadth and scope of the entire operation, governed by Father Gabriel, on three campuses, with twelve Commissioners—four at each campus—and thirty-six Assemblymen—twelve at each campus. The hundreds of non-chosen followers were completely unaware.

Being Father Gabriel’s pilot offered me access that others didn’t enjoy. I had the pleasure of flying to Father Gabriel’s mansion outside Detroit, though I was never invited up to the big house; I’d seen the telecasts that gave the appearance of mundane surroundings while knowing they were recorded in the large luxurious mansion. Keeping those secrets had been some of my first tests. Passing those first tests undoubtedly aided my rise to the chosen.

Sharing my knowledge wouldn’t benefit anyone. It would result not only in my banishment, but also in the banishment of whomever I told, including other members of the chosen. I wouldn’t nor could I risk that. Micah and I were the only followers at the Northern Light who saw things away from that campus.

Each challenge presented to me was a test or a stepping stone. The only way to access the knowledge of the inner workings of The Light was to succeed. With the addition of a wife, I hadn’t only passed one of the final tests, I’d become vulnerable. That vulnerability made me less of a threat, less likely to breach The Light’s trust.

That vulnerability was one of the reasons Sara’s desire to have children could never be fulfilled. I couldn’t increase my susceptibility. There was already too much at stake.

Over the past three years, each decision I’d made and each action had worked together to gain Father Gabriel’s confidence. It also helped that Xavier had recently become ill. Since his replacement wasn’t trusted enough to ship product, Father Gabriel decided that I was.

Finally I’d been entrusted to deliver a full order of pharmaceuticals. While I finished the transaction, from the depths of my jean pocket, my cell phone buzzed. Though the men before me were capable of appearing as nondescript as any member of The Light, they were undoubtedly professionals. Father Gabriel didn’t use run-of-the-mill traffickers in his organization. This well-oiled machine required over-the-top devotion as well as top-notch performance. Kinks in the system were eliminated with the utmost proficiency. Without a doubt my phone could wait. I’d come too far to appear as anything other than completely devoted. I couldn’t risk becoming an eliminated kink.

Under the cover of the hangar, my plane sat emptied of merchandise and fully refueled.

“Brother Jacob,” said Brother Michael, the leader of this small party, offering his hand.

Though I was larger physically than Brother Michael, he’d been on the Commission of The Light from the beginning, and the aura of power and control that surrounded him was equaled only by that of Father Gabriel. He was one of the four founding fathers. While everyone within The Light was given a biblical name, only the founders had been given the names of archangels. According to Father Gabriel that was because, like the archangels, these three men and he were with God, welcomed into His holy of holies and His private sanctuary. Brother Raphael at the Northern Light and Brother Uriel at the Eastern were also among the founders.

Brother Michael’s power didn’t come only from his aura; the two large men on either side of him helped to maintain his standing. They obviously were more than members of the unloading crew. As Brother Michael and I discussed the transaction, his bodyguards made no attempt to conceal the weapons strapped to their sides. If I were to guess, each had at least one more gun strapped to the inside of his ankle. I knew I would, if I could, but delivering the pharmaceuticals unarmed was one of Father Gabriel’s requirements. He said it was a show of faith to our brothers.

Even if I could, I wouldn’t have argued. This was Father Gabriel’s show and they were his rules.

We shook. “Brother Michael, I’ll be sure to inform Father Gabriel that you inspected the shipment personally.”

“Yes, do that, and let him know I’m pleased.” Michael tilted his head toward the big guy on his right. “Brother Reuben has something for Father Gabriel.”