Fear the Wicked (Illusions Series Book 2)(57)

“Call me James,” he said before casting a pointed glance down at the man still lying on the carpet. “I’m not sure you can do much with this one. The son of a bitch was caught raping a girl behind the dumpster of a liquor store. It seems he likes to prey on women that make the mistake of being caught in an empty part of town.”

I wasn’t sure what liquor store he was referring to, but I assumed it was at the edge of the county. We were living in the center of the Bible Belt and due to our strict adherence to scripture and God’s rule, there weren’t too many places that sold liquor anywhere close to our town.

Kneeling down, I looked the man in the face and smiled a gentle grin. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you to respect women, son? God doesn’t like it when you harm people for your own lustful sin.”

“Fuck you!” He yelled, his hand grabbing at his side where James had previously kicked him. I angled my head in response and tsked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

“And here I was wanting to help you.”

“Just take me to jail,” he roared again, this time getting kicked again for the outburst.

“You won’t be seeing jail, you sick son of a bitch. I’m tired of assholes like you in my county.”

Standing up, I glanced between the condemned man and the sheriff, careful to keep my expression blank and resigned. Lowering my voice so that only James could hear me, I asked, “And what makes you think this man is infected with evil?”

James looked at me like I was an idiot. “Did you not hear me? He was raping a woman. Thankfully his hand slipped and she screamed loud enough for the store attendant to hear her. If he hadn’t been outside on his way to the exterior bathroom, this son of a bitch would have finished the job and been off to rape another innocent woman.”

“She asked for it!” The criminal yelled. He shut up when James kicked him in the head.

Rolling his eyes, James stared me right in the eye and said, “They always claim the woman wanted it. Every fucking time. I guess they don’t realize that the word no and the tears and fighting mean the woman isn’t really into it.”

My lips tipped down into a frown, my eyes narrowing with feigned disgust. What the sheriff didn’t seem to know is that, sometimes, the crying and fighting is half the fun. It wasn’t that we didn’t know the woman didn’t want it. Hell, for most of us, that was the best part.

I wouldn’t be the one to tell him that. Being a priest, I assumed raping and killing was frowned upon.

“I tell you what, James: why don’t we take this man into the back so I can see if there’s a way to save his soul before we do anything more drastic. I’m still not sure I’m a hundred percent on board with all this. I hate to see any life extinguished that can be saved.”

James looked at me with disapproval behind his eyes, but eventually conceded to my concern. “You’re too soft, Priest, but I guess that’s understandable given your profession. Maybe one day I can drive you around with me so you can see the crime scenes and broken lives these bastards leave behind.”

Biting my lip to keep from laughing, I answered, “I’m sure that can be arranged, but for now, let’s try it my way. At least I’ll feel better knowing I did something to save this man from Satan’s grip.”

“What?” The criminal in question was now sitting up with his head cradled in his hands. Looking up at us, there was pure fear running behind his eyes. “What the fuck are you two talking about? What the fuck is this creepy ass place?”

James grabbed him by the hair and jerked him up off the floor. “I thought I told you to shut your fucking mouth.”

A door at our back swung open before we could escort the criminal from the room, and the soft gasp of breath that followed immediately after had me turning around to find Eve standing at the opposite side of the room.

“Eve?”

I moved toward her quickly, hoping like hell Gentry hadn’t described the woman possessed by lust to his brother. A quick glance at James told me he didn’t recognize her. Reaching her, I laid my hand on her shoulder and lowered my voice to a whisper. “Eve, you shouldn’t be in here. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Her eyes were focused over my shoulder when she answered, “I couldn’t sleep after you left. I was too restless.” She grew quiet for a second, still staring at where James stood with the condemned. Her voice was shaking when she asked, “What is he doing here?”

Turning, I glanced back at James and wondered if Eve had ever met him. Not remembering when that could have happened, I returned my focus to her and gripped her chin to direct her face to mine. “He, who?”

Her bottom lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes. “That’s him, Elijah. The man from the road. The one who tried to…”

Her voice trailed off and I knew instantly who the bastard was that James had dragged in.

I couldn’t thank the universe enough for that small coincidence. Keeping my voice soft, I confirmed it again. “That’s the man that made you take your clothes off on the side of the road? The one who tried to touch you?”

Her eyes locked to mine, her brows pulling together in confusion. “Yes. Don’t you remember? You were there.”

Shit. It never even occurred to me that Jacob had been there that night. Or, as far as Eve knew, I had been there to rescue her.