Tanner, Tank’s friend, had also moved into the compound. He was generally quiet and kept to himself. I always got the sense he was carrying a huge amount of sadness in his heart. Ky told me he had not been fond of the man at first, but after Tanner risked his life to help get me back, he now had his respect.

Flame’s head was twitching from side to side and his black eyes roved the yard like an animal seeking prey. A bottle of beer was thrust into his hand by Viking, but Flame threw it to the ground and continued his search.

Seeing us sitting on the porch, Flame stormed over, his arms and chest muscles bulging under his full body of tattoos. He wore a cut but no shirt with leather pants and heavy black boots. The side of his neck was stitched, red and scarred where my bullet had grazed his neck. Seeing that wound filled me with guilt.

“Where is she?” Flame snapped at Styx before I had a chance to apologize for what I had done to him.

Styx’s eyes narrowed, yet he stayed silent.

Flame next looked to Ky. This time his voice was like broken glass. “Where. Is. She?”

Ky shuffled below me, adjusting my position on his lap, and said, “Calm the fuck down, brother. You only just got back, and it’s my motherfuckin’ wedding day in case you haven’t noticed!”

Flame radiated rage and, face turning red, he screamed, “WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE!”

“Our Savior,” I said quickly. Flame’s tormented eyes bored holes into mine. Sitting forward, I said, “Firstly, Flame, I want to apologize for hurting you. It was never my intent. I was… I was not in a good place.”

Flame tensed at my apology, but curtly nodded his head, and I knew that it was as far as the conversation would be going.

“Maddie?” he pushed, his intense black eyes completely unnerving me.

“Maddie is at Our Savior Church,” I revealed. “She has been going there for a while now. We all have.”

Flame stumbled back like he had been punched in his stomach and his face contorted with pain. “No…” he hissed, looking from Styx to Ky, seeking confirmation. They both nodded, their expressions stern.

Flame fisted his hands and his body physically shook with anger. “NO!” he roared, causing me to jump and grip onto Ky. Flame began picking up chairs scattered around the yard, smashing them on the ground.

“She can’t be there! Why the fuck did you take her there?” he screamed out. All the brothers gave him space, watching him with confused and worried eyes.

Whipping out his blade from his cut, Flame began slicing at the skin of his arm, blood pooling from the cuts. He was shaking his head profusely and mumbling to himself. “They can’t. She can’t be there. Hurt. She’ll be hurt. They’ll hurt her. She’ll scream. I can’t hear her scream. Maddie. My Maddie. Maddie. FUCK. MY MADDIE!”

Throwing back his head, Flame let out a deafening, blood-curdling scream then, burying his blade into a nearby tree, turned and sprinted down the hill.

“Fuck!” Ky spat. AK and Viking glanced to him and Styx. Ky stood with me in his arms and ordered, “Get the fuck after him and don’t let him kill no one in that fuckin’ church!”

AK and Viking ran after him, the “psycho trio” once again hitting the road as Ky had ordered.

Ky looked at Styx and said, “More fuckin’ drama, prez. And what the fuck issue does Flame have with a motherfuckin’ church?”

Styx signed something response and they both huffed out a humorless laugh.

“Will Maddie be okay?” Mae asked Styx.

“Vike and AK will get to him first and calm him down,” Ky said and Mae warily nodded her heard.

Strangely, I was not worried for Maddie. For as ill in the head as Flame seemed, he was completely infatuated with my sister, and if I had it judged right, Maddie viewed Flame differently to the rest of the male population of whom she was so intensely terrified.

I had learned of late that someone who appears wicked on the outside, may actually turn out to possess the kindest soul of all. Flame projected violence and hate, but when he looked upon Maddie, you could see nothing but adoration in his stare.

Only time will tell, I thought to myself.

We ate, the men drank, and by nightfall, we were ready to retire to bed. When everyone had left our yard, Ky scooped me up in his arms and carried me to our marital bed, all the time gazing at me with those beautiful blue, adoring eyes.

When he asked me if I was happy with my new life, I could only reply with the truth. “Ky, my heart… it beats for you. My lungs, they breathe for you. My soul…”

Ky’s eyes filled with emotion as I spoke.

“What, sweet cheeks? Tell me,” he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

“My soul… belongs to you. You saved me, baby. You wanted me for the me inside. Even looking like this, you make me believe I am enough.”

“Fuck, baby,” Ky whispered and, gripping the back of my head, smashed his lips to mine.

After we had dived into a sensual heap, explored each other’s bodies, this time under the sacred blessing of the Lord, I realized Prophet David had been wrong all along.

For he preached that no man could truly love a woman of Eve. And no woman of Eve would ever have the love of a pure soul.

But I, Delilah, a Cursed woman of Eve, had the pure untainted love of Kyler “Ky” Willis, a pure and protective soul, unwavering in his devotion, truly loving me without condition.

And I, Delilah, a Cursed woman of Eve, had found what I had always dreamed of.