Rev (32 page)

Point is, you’re still my son, and what’s fair is fair. The car’s yours. Don’t worry—everything’s paid for, it’s not collateral in one of my many gambling debts, and I didn’t promise it to someone else.

You’re one of those lucky Smart Asses who actually has a chance of getting out of here. So stop reading this and drive.

Chapter 20

Two Years Ago…

I didn’t remember anything before the
Sunshine Fellowship
. I was born somewhere to my mother and some guy who took off pretty quickly. My mother refused to talk about it, but I was named Saylor, so that had to be some sort of clue or something. Or maybe I was just reading too much into it.

We bounced around, so I had only hazy memories of different places throughout the country and all the diners my mother worked at while I waited in the corner and read my books.

Finally we made our way to Northern California and Brother Phoenix discovered my mother working at a truck stop during one of his ventures into the outer world. He said later that he’d sensed her energy. He knew she was destined to be an integral part of the new agrarian world order. He could see her destiny in his dreams.

So I’d spent most of my life here in this small commune. I got up early at dawn, milked the cows, worked in the garden, sat through the mandatory education hours, and eagerly awaited my 17
th
birthday. Tomorrow, I’d be considered a woman according to the traditions of the
Sunshine Fellowship
. I’d finally be able to read whatever books I wanted, travel to the outside world with Brother Phoenix and the other Beacons, and do what I wanted with my time as long as I completed my duties for the day.

“Sister Larson.”

I turned to face one of the Junior Beacons, Brother Thomas. He taught our History of the World class. Although opposite genders weren’t allowed to spend unsupervised time together outside of Union, I’d been around him during Instruction, Discussion, and worked on his team during Harvest. Lately, I’d begun to feel something when I was around him. I didn’t understand it. But, the last couple months I was aware of the way he smiled, the way he easily lifted the bales of hay into the cart, and the way he led the horses to feed while the wind tousled his hair into careless perfection.

So I blushed when he addressed me. “Yes, Brother Thomas?”

His head dropped and his shoulders sagged. He wasn’t his usual brisk and lively self. “Brother Phoenix requests your presence.” He stretched out his arm in the direction of the Beacon Hall. “Your mother is already there.”

My mother pledged Union with Brother Phoenix a couple weeks after we moved into the commune. I hardly saw her outside of community events, since I lived together with the other Junior Sisters in the lodge. I was eager to discuss my upcoming Majority with her and the plans for my birthday tomorrow.

She met me at the gate in front of Beacon Hall. A look of worry ran across her sharp, delicate features. “I’ll be coming by the lodge tonight, Saylor, be ready,” she said hurriedly and hushed as Brother Phoenix approached.

“Congratulations!” he declared with unbridled enthusiasm, extending his arms to either side and embracing me in his typical, ostentatious way. “I look forward to celebrating your Majority and taking part in your birthday celebrations on tomorrow’s eve!”

“Thank you Brother Phoenix,” I said, head bowed as was customary when addressing the Prophet.

“No need!” he proclaimed, a bright smile stretched across his taut face. “Saylor, no need…”

My mother and I followed him into his office. He walked with a well-trained posture and deliberate, methodical gait. His bearing was a product of years of meticulous research into the physical signs of convincing leadership, and his rehearsed manner of speech was equally staged, performed as it were to maximize feelings of rapport and affinity.

Of course, I didn’t know that then. All I knew was his perpetual smile, the glaring whiteness of his teeth, and the way his gaunt, avuncular demeanor put everyone at ease. He wasn’t in the least bit threatening, he talked fast and smooth, and he had a way of making you feel like you were at the center of an exciting and fantastic destiny. He was, in short, the perfect Prophet for the
Sunshine Fellowship
.

“Saylor,” he began, once my mother and I had taken a seat in front of his ornately carved wood desk. “As you know, it is the solemn duty of the Prophet to consider how to serve the community greater.”

I nodded. Glancing to my mother, I noticed her head was bowed and eyes fixed firmly on the inlaid wood floor.

“After careful and thoughtful deliberation, I’ve reached the conclusion that I can better spread my light by pledging Union to the both of you, reaching across generations and recognizing the strong essence I can feel in your bond as mother and daughter.”

I looked again at my mother and waited until she raised her head. I searched for answers in her eyes. “I don’t understand…”

Brother Phoenix smiled wide, beaming. “Saylor, I’m inviting you to join me and Astrid in solemn Union, with all the commitments, engagements, and privileges that entails.”

I contemplated exactly what he was saying. I still couldn’t understand.

“It’s a great honor!” Brother Phoenix affirmed. “Astrid, speak with your daughter. Help her see the light.”

My mother took my hand and walked with me in silence to the gate. As Brother Phoenix approached, following us out to the courtyard, she raised her voice: “Consider the dignity and devotion this brings to our lives!” And then, in a hushed whisper, she reminded me, “I’ll be there tonight. Pack what you can.”

Chapter 21

Jab. Block. Block. Swipe. Kick. This guy’s playing around. Nothing with any force. So he’s looking for an angle. Checking my reach, my reaction time, looking for a weakness.

I was back in the ring where I belonged. The bustle of the crowd, the dingy sweaty air, and the force of bones and muscles crashing together—it was electrifying. I hoped my dive back into the familiar would get the last few days off my mind. So far, it seemed like it was working.

His left hand’s slow to the center.

Looks like his whole plan had backfired. He’d given me more time to find his weakness. I waited until he threw a long cross and sidestepped, ducked and threw a punch right to his abdomen. Like I thought, he was slow. And I punched hard.

The guy pulled back, a look of sharp agony and regret on his face. If I could do that a couple more times, this was all over. Unfortunately, he was a fast and took it easy, saving every bit of energy for the long haul. So, I’d be biding my time.

He threw another combo. Light, swift jabs, a decent cross, and I waited for the kick.

Saylor?

I saw a flash of light hair in the crowd and could have sworn she was right there, to the right, between those two shady looking guys near the exit.

Block the kick!

I instinctively closed my hips and pulled my shins into position to try and catch the arc of the kick. It never came. Instead, I was greeted by an uppercut to the face. A move I should have seen.

Shit! Fuck!

Searing pain invaded my mind. I struggled to remain conscious as my head felt like it would explode. I caught most of it under the cheekbone, so my nose remained where it should be. But there was blood.

I should have fallen down and it should have been a knockout. But for some reason I didn’t. The other guy had every reason to believe I would. He had every reason to drop his guard. But he shouldn’t have.

My mind was screaming, my body was shutting down. But, I held myself together long enough to throw my own decent uppercut while he was still hanging over me waiting for me to fall down. Mine connected under the jaw, snapped his head back a little more, and maximized the impact and shock. He fell, unconscious.

About two seconds later, I was down, exhausted. I’d never gotten hit like that. I won, but it was a close one. Way too close.

Evan, Chris, and John rushed into the cage and grabbed me, pulled me up, and half-dragged me over to the benches by the locker room.

“That was close, man, that was close….” Evan leaned in, waving his hand in front of me.

I nodded. Then I passed out.

The guys convinced me to come out to
Headlights
with them after the match. So I sat in the corner, beer in hand—trying not to drink too much—and nursing the worst headache I’d ever had in my life.

“Oh, Dean! Babe what happened?” Lexie plopped down in the seat next to me. “Let me see that,” she offered, reaching for the cut under my eye.

I brushed her hand away. “Lexie, I appreciate it. But not right now.”

“Oh come on… Dean.”

I grabbed the bag of ice the bartender had dropped in front of me and held it to the right side of my face. “Let’s just not do that right now. That’s all I’m saying.”

Lexie frowned. “Dean, I’m under no delusions about the nature of our relationship. I get it. We’re just having fun once in a while, that’s all.”

“That’s not the point Lexie.”

“What is it then? Huh?”

Her tits were big, well shaped, and magnificent as ever, but my cock stayed soft and silent. I had other things on my mind. “I’m not into that anymore, that’s all.”

Lexie leaned back, arms crossed, confounded. “What, are you gay now or something Dean? Any guy here would—”

“I’ve got something else going on.”

Lexie glared, wide-eyed. “Who the hell is she Dean?”

“None of your business, that’s who.”

“Fine.” She got up, slapping her hand on the surface of the bar. “Good luck with that, Dean. You and I both know that won’t last long.”

I nodded. “Thanks Lexie. Have yourself a great evening.”

Fucking A.

I should have forgotten about Saylor and jumped right in bed with Lexie. Maybe it would have helped me forget. At least it would have been a decision that made sense.

Objectively, it seemed like I was hung up after one damn night of sex. In fairness, it was the hottest, most explosive, mind numbing sex I’d ever had. Just thinking about it made my cock ache.