Chapter 18

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Cypress looked down at little Sunset and smiled. He hadn’t had any problems at all snatching the little girl. In his estimate, she was around four, a little older than he’d wanted, but he’d make it work. She’d gotten off the special bus in front of her house and like all the other times when he’d watched, no one came out of the house to greet the girl.

As soon as the bus was out of sight, Cypress had grabbed her.

She was sitting on the floor of the passenger seat with a blindfold on, a pair of headphones over her ears, a gag over her mouth, and her hands tied together with rope that was attached to the bottom of the seat. His father had taught him that sensory deprivation was the fastest way to get a girl or woman to comply. As usual, he wasn’t wrong.

He’d informed the little girl that her name was now Sunset Meadowblossom, and she belonged to him. She was going to be a good girl, nice and quiet, otherwise she’d pay the price. She’d cried and screamed and begged to be let go, but after four days on the road, she’d finally learned her place. She sat huddled in a ball wearing the brown dress that all women in The Community wore, quiet as a mouse.

Cypress grinned and turned his attention back to the road. The first part of his plan was finished…now he needed to complete the second. Then he could drive west with his future bride and find a new place to start over. He’d find likeminded men and he’d start a new Community.

He passed a sign informing him that he’d crossed the border into Virginia, and his heart began to beat faster. Soon he’d see Sunset…the bitch now trying to call herself Heather Brown. He’d make sure she understood that she was nothing. That she regretted hiding from him.

From him. Her husband, her leader, her superior.

Arrow had been too easy on her. Hell, Cypress had been too easy on her too. Obviously. He couldn’t wait to see the fear on her face when she saw him. Couldn’t wait to have her submit to him one last time.

Then he’d kill her, leave her body to rot in the precious forest she seemed to favor over him, and live his life the way he was supposed to.