My heart hurts, and I think I might be sick. Elder Berry’s face looks the same way I feel, but he’s the only one.
Even the Vater remains stone faced, but he is the first to speak. “America, I understand you believe that’s what happened but I assure you it wasn’t.”
I’m sorry, say what?
My vision narrows as I feel the warning signs that I may pass out. None of this matters. Even if he didn’t know it was happening, he knows now, hell he knew when I told him, and he chose to ignore it. He chose to be complicit.
I’m vaguely aware of the Vater talking. Something about him assuring Mateo what these girls claim, what I claim, is false. I hear him assure Mateo that he will however look into the west coast Vater, just to ensure there is no wrong doing on his part.
It’s clear to everyone in the room, at least on this point, we won’t get anywhere with the Vater. I have to get it together though; this was only one of the issues we came here to discuss.
A throat clears next to me, and for the first time since the meeting starts, Lord Paul speaks. “Fine. On to the next matter. Your men, your elders, Vater…” When he says elders, it’s with disgust and a sneer, but then he pauses looking to each man across the table before continuing. “They are stealing supplies from the people outside your walls, the people out here just trying to survive. They have attacked my men three times in the last month. The supplies that run from my territory to Bonham have been attacked multiple times in the last few months.” Slamming his fist down on the table, he adds, “This stops now! Or I will take action, and this time, we won’t just blow up a couple walls and do some damage to your buildings. I’ll bring every man I’ve got, and burn the place to the fucking ground.”
Well that escalated quickly. No wonder he hasn’t spoken until now. Man’s got a temper.
The Vater’s eyes are huge, a bead of sweat dripping from his temple down to his cheek, and a quick glance tells me his friends are feeling just as intimidated.
“Lord Paul, I assure you I have no knowledge of this, but if what you say is true, it will not be tolerated. You have my word I will look into this at once, and if I find any of my elders are authorizing theft or attacks outside the walls, they will be dealt with harshly.” The Vater says it with authority, in a manner that makes you want to believe him.
But it’s clear Lord Paul has little faith in his words. “We’ll see about that, and if not I meant what I said.”
Yeah, in case anyone forgot, he said he’d burn the place to the fucking ground.
The Vater nods in his direction, his hands clasped tightly on the table, visibly shaking. “Well, I think this went well. All things considered.”
Are you freaking kidding me?
But I don’t voice that out loud because he’s still talking.
“And with that, I think this meeting is over. Lord Paul. Lord Mateo.” He nods to each man and then stands, followed by the elders Thompson and Berry.
I can’t help but notice he didn’t address me. Wait, hold on, this meeting isn’t over. What about David? What about what he did to Ash? I need to know if the Vater knew, and the only way is to tell him and see how he reacts.
“Vater, wait,” I call.
The men already have their backs to me, but at my words, the Vater and Elder Berry turn to face me. David had never turned away from me, and Elder Thompson still walks to the door.
“Vater, there is one more thing, please.” I’m standing by the time I finish my plea as Luke stands to my left and the rest of the room stays silent waiting to hear what I’ll say. Seeing the Vater nod his approval, I spit it out as fast as I can. “Ash Booker was in one of your elders care for days inside his private residence. He tortured her. He…” I choke back a sob at the thought, and I see a look of pity cross the Vater’s face. Sucking it up, I muster through. “He did horrible things to her.”
Before I can finish, David lunges, and I can barely make out the blurry features of Luke and the General as they fly past me to tackle him. Everyone in the room goes on red alert, knives and swords drawn and at the ready in a matter of seconds.
“Stop!” The Vater yells. “Stop! Everyone, put away your weapons. There is no need for this.”
He has his hands out in front of him, trying to signal peace, but everyone’s blood is already pumping. For several minutes, it’s like time stands still. Each person in the room waiting for just one person on the other side to make a move, to flinch.
Finally, Luke and the General let go of David, but they remain between him and me. Everyone else seems to take a collective sigh of relief and then the Vater speaks.
“Go on child. I know this is important to you. Finish.”
And I do, even though I know it doesn’t matter. “He beat her, starved her, left her bound and gagged for days tied to a chair with no food. He…he molested her, Vater. Everything except, well he stopped short of raping her.”
David interrupts me, yelling, “You are sick. You need help. I would never hurt a child.”
Tears poor down my cheeks
