“It was awful,” she gasps. “Totally fucked up and absolutely awful. He’s starting a cult where he takes advantage of young women.”
I shake my head, expression grim.
“Yeah, it looked like he was headed in that direction.”
But Kaci shakes her head, dabbing at her cheeks with a Kleenex.
“But it’s worse,” she whispers. “You saw how young those other girls were! How they were nude too, and Mike was making it sound like he was Adam, and was about to re-live the hedonism of the Garden of Eden with all those girls. I mean, are you fucking kidding me? What’s wrong with them?”
I take her small hand in my own.
“They’re brainwashed, that’s all, but they’ll be fine. We called the police on our way out, and there were sirens in the distance, so they’re safe.” But I look hard at my sweet girl. “Did Mike hurt you, baby? We’ll whup his ass if he did.”
Kaci shakes her head angrily, looking a bit more like her old self now.
“No, but if he tried, I’d have bit his dick off. I can’t believe he was willing to do that to me. I’m his daughter! I mean, seriously, how screwed up is that?”
Hunter and I nod in agreement.
“What a fucking animal,” my friend bites out.
“In a bad way,” I add. “I’m sure he’ll be eating shit next.”
Kaci shakes her head again.
“And that girl from the restaurant was there again, and she was dressed like Laura Ingalls again too. I think her name is Mindy? Anyways, she was doing everything my dad told her to, and I really thought that if he’d told her to suck his dick and have his baby, she would have. What is she, eighteen? Nineteen even?”
“Or less,” Hunter says in a grim voice. “I wouldn’t put it past Mike Stott.”
Kaci’s expression is sorrowful.
“I know, and I wouldn’t either,” she says in a soft voice. “It’s terrible. I wish I could have done more for those women.”
I pull her trembling form close to my broad chest.
“You did enough, sweetheart. We’re just glad you’re not brainwashed yourself because you’re his daughter, so it would have been easy enough. Hell, this whole shit storm would have ended way differently if you’d bought into Mike’s dog and pony show.”
Kaci lets out a half-cry, half-snort.
“I’m far too stubborn to fall for my father’s tricks. Who would have thought that being pig-headed would be a good thing for me?”
I chuckle, squeezing her form as some of the tension eases. “I’m glad to hear that, sweetheart. See? There’s a silver lining to everything.”
But then, I look over at Hunter and he nods. My buddy and I have discussed this before, and today’s events have merely cemented our resolve.
“We care about you, Kaci, and we want to be with you, sweetheart. But if we’re going to be in a relationship, then you can’t be a part of Sanctuary Church anymore. That place is dangerous and fucked-up, and even as an occasional parishioner, it would be too much. I know your father is a founding member, but you have to leave. It’s a lot to ask, baby, because I know it means a lot to you, but that’s our condition.”
Kaci immediately snorts. “Sanctuary doesn’t mean anything to me. I was only going because of my dad, and now we’ve seen his true colors. So yeah, absolutely. I’m quitting the church because what is there left? How will they even keep going, given what happened this morning?”
I shake my head.
“You’d be surprised. We were the only witnesses, after all, so it’s their word against ours. But regardless of their future, I want to make clear that you’re no longer associated with Sanctuary in any way, shape, or form. Not only that, but you’re not seeing any other men other than myself and Hunter.”
Kaci immediately nods.
“I wasn’t, Brent. I swear on it. Yes, things used to get frisky at the Corinthian, but not anymore. In fact, I may even ask to be transferred.”
Hunter frowns then.