“They are all talented,” Turner said. “But they are mostly non-believers and heathens.”
That much rang true. Still, he could tell there was more.
“What about that Larken Maynard gal? The female lead?”
Turner ran a hand across the back of his neck and then wiped his palms on his jeans. “What about her, Father?”
“There seems to be something . . . extra about her. How well do you know her?”
“Not that well, Father. I haven’t been with the show that long, and we had to go on hiatus after the last investigation.”
Nowthatwas an outright lie.
“I don’t believe you, son. I think you know her very well. Are you fucking her? You know you aren’t allowed to be with anyone but the one I choose for you.” He knew his son wasn’t, of course, but he wanted to make him squirm a bit.
“What?” Turner said, his eyes widening and his back going straight and stiff. “No. Of course, not. I know the rules. I have never defied you.”
That much, at least, was true. He hadn’t.
Until today.
“You know what I think, son?” He waited for a minute, making Turner sweat a little more.
“I think you know exactly who she is.”
Turner looked down and away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A tell-tale sign of deceit. Even if he hadn’t assumed his member’s gifts, he would have known that was a lie.
“Listen,” Lionel said, sitting forward and resting his clasped hands on the desktop between him and his son. “I know you’re lying. But I want to hear you say it. You know that Larken Maynard is actually our lost Starling, don’t you? And, furthermore, you know that she is your half sister.”
Turner didn’t say anything, but he wouldn’t meet his father’s gaze any longer.
“I am so very disappointed in you, Turner. As punishment for your deceit and outright lies, I don’t think I will let you see your mother.” He picked up the phone receiver on his desk and pressed a button.
“Damien. I would like you to escort my progeny to the gates and make sure he leaves. Immediately.”
Turner’s head snapped up then, his face flushing red. “You can’t do that!” he yelled.
Lionel slammed the phone back on its cradle and stood, his chair crashing backward with the force and speed in which he’d moved. “I can do anything I damn well please, you ungrateful little bastard.” He pointed his finger in Turner’s face. “You are my offspring. My property. I own you. Andnobodydefies me. I am the goddamned prophet of the Divine. I am the leader of this community. You will leave this ranch immediately, and you will not return until you have explicit and express consent. Fromme. And only me. Now, get out of my sight.”
Lionel saw Turner blinking back tears, but to his credit, he didn’t let them fall. And he didn’t rebel. He simply stood and walked from the room. Damien met him just outside Lionel’s office and, with a hand on the butt of his gun, escorted Turner from the building.
Lionel turned to watch out the window as the two men walked away from the house and to Turner’s vehicle, and then he watched as the car slid through the gate, and the large, wrought-iron behemoths clanged shut behind him.
Lionel now had confirmation of where his little blasphemer was. And he knew exactly where he could find her since he’d gotten the location of the show’s current investigation out of his son before Turner knew better not to share.
The irony of where this would all come full circle wasn’t lost on him.
He would take some time to prepare, but he couldn’t wait to see Starling’s face when everything came to light.
Chapter17
~Kholt~
When we got to Holy Cross, I suddenly felt a deep sense of sadness settling over me. Once I dropped Lark back at her car, the night would be over. And I didn’t want it to be over. I wanted to spend more time with her. I felt like nearly two decades had been stolen from me—from us. And for what? Power? Delusions of grandeur?
Lark had been absolutely right in saying that those in a cult didn’t realize it. I would have never, ever called the family that. Even when Turner had said it the other day in response to what Lark had told the team, I’d defended Balance of Light. Now, knowing the horrible truth of what they’d done to her, knowing there was more horror that I stilldidn’tknow, I’d started looking at my life differently and through a different lens.