I stared off over to my cabin and sighed. “Mae’s chosen this life. She’s chosen you. You ain’t in no danger.”

Styx put his hand on my shoulder and lifted it to tap my cheek twice. He didn’t need to speak. I knew my brother well enough to be certain he knew who I was probably gonna have to give up.

“N-never s-s-seen you l-like this b-before, b-brother,” Styx said, handing me another smoke.

“Never had anything to lose before, Styx. Never had anything that could destroy me like losing Li would.”

Styx’s cell started ringing, signaling that Mae had Maddie. Maddie hadn’t left the apartment in months, apart from checking on Lilah after the cult abduction. That led to Maddie finding Lilah gone and cutting herself in the bar. After that, Maddie hadn’t dared come out. But she lived with Styx and Mae now, in their cabin, and Mae had obviously somehow convinced Maddie to come with us today.

Styx opened the truck door and said, “I-I’ll c-catch you th-there.”

I pushed off the truck and walked into the cabin. Lilah was cleaning, humming to herself, wearing a long-sleeved white dress. It was more fitted than she normally wore; it showed off her stunning figure. And she was kicking ankle-length biker boots on her feet. Her short blond hair was messy but fucking cool, and she was wiping along the countertops. But best of all was my patch on her back, her leather vest proudly stating that she was “Property of Ky”.

My heart sank as I watched her. I wondered if this would be the last time she’d be with me like this. Sucking up a breath and hearing Styx’s truck pass by our dirt road, I knew it was time I found out.

Walking to Lilah, I wrapped my arms around her waist, and she jumped, shedding her cleaning gloves.

“Ky!” She laughed, turning and wrapping her arms around my neck. She pressed her lips to mine and then nuzzled into my neck. “Mmm… you smell good. Like oil and smoke.”

“And that’s good?” I asked gruffly.

“Really good,” she whispered. “It makes me feel safe.”

My gut clenched and I held her real close.

Lilah held her breath, then edged back, looked into my eyes, and asked, “Are you okay, Ky?”

Cupping her face, I pushed her back against the countertop. My lips slammed against hers, and within seconds, I had her dress hitched up, her panties ripped in two, and thrust my freed cock up inside her.

“Ky…” Lilah moaned, gripping onto my hair, her bare ass on the granite top. I didn’t give her a chance to say much else as I pounded into her, her pussy drenched and starting to clench my dick.

“Fuckin’ love you, baby,” I rasped out as my thrusts got faster and I could feel myself about to blow.

“I love you too,” Lilah said just before her pussy clamped down on my cock, coating me with her wetness and draining my cock of everything I had.

“Fuck!” I shouted as I came, my head on her shoulder as I caught my breath.

Lilah’s hips rolled slowly, jerking the last outta us. Then she lifted my head, her eyes concerned. “What is wrong?”

I quickly pressed my lips to hers and pulled back, my dick sliding out of her dripping pussy, and I zipped up my fly. “Go get cleaned up and put on your leathers. We’re going for a ride.”

“We are?” she asked.

“Yeah, baby. Got somewhere we gotta go.”

Lilah eyed me with suspicion but did what I asked.

Five minutes later, we were cruising down the freeway, heading downtown. Lilah held on to me tight, and I did everything I could not to lose my mind.

*****

I pulled in behind Styx’s truck, and I felt Lilah’s arms tighten around me in surprise. “Ky?” she questioned.

Turning off the engine, I just sat there for a minute.

“So beautiful,” I heard Lilah murmur from behind me. I forced myself to look up at the church. That white church she’d been so wrapped up in all those months ago.

“Off, sweet cheeks,” I ordered, and Lilah swung her legs off the seat and hit asphalt. I followed after and watched her head tilt back as she drank in the sight of the church.

“So, so beautiful,” she whispered again.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” I said under my breath, but I weren’t looking at no white stone or stained glass window. I was looking at my woman, eyes bright with excitement.

Turning to me, Lilah asked, “Ky, what are we doing here?”

I glanced to the truck, seeing that it was empty, and I ran my hand under my nose. “You said you didn’t know who you were without your faith.”

Lilah’s eyes widened and she took in a ragged breath. “And… and you brought me here?”

“Yeah, babe. I did. Organized for the pastor to show you ‘round, show you how to have a religion that ain’t gonna abuse you or make you do shit you don’t wanna do.”

Lilah’s eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. “I do not… I do not underst—”

“Lilah, baby, I fuckin’ love you—”

“I love you too,” she interrupted, but I held up my hand for her to quiet. A tear dropped down her cheek, and I wiped it away.

“I fuckin’ love you, but I know without all this,”—I pointed to the church behind me—“you don’t feel whole. Don’t have no sense of purpose. But most of all, you believe in God, baby, and that’s what it boils down to.”

Lilah’s hand ran along the edge of my cut, and I couldn’t meet her eyes. Like a damn pussy, I couldn’t meet her fucking eyes.

“Ky,” Lilah hushed out as the back of her hand ran down my cheek. I looked up to see a sad expression on her face. “What is wrong? Why are you doing this?”

“Because it’s right that you have this. You’ve been told what to do your whole life. Never had something you loved, you owned, nothing.” I pointed at the church behind me and said, “You need this place, sweet cheeks.”

“But why are you sad?” she pushed again.

I stepped forward and pressed my forehead to hers.

“What you believe and how I live are poles apart, Li. The Hangmen don’t live a moral life. We live apart from folk, make our own rules, none of which chime with your faith. And I get that.” I blew out a sigh and said, “I just want you to be fuckin’ happy. I—”