“What?” Bella whispered.
His ice-blue eyes shone with emotion. “I was exiled to the defectors’ commune because I tried to run away with you all when you were little.” He pointed at Maddie. “Maddie was just a baby. You and Mae, toddlers.” Maddie watched Stephen, her arms wrapped around Flame’s waist. Her green eyes were huge as she listened to Stephen’s revelation.
Styx had his arm slung around Mae’s shoulder. Mae was listening, lips parted in disbelief.
“Why?” Bella asked. “Why did you not tell me? Why did you disguise your eyes from me? Hold back this truth?”
Stephen sighed deeply. “Because I did not want to cause you any more hurt. You had already been through so much. I always knew we would return to the commune to try and take it down. If I fell, I did not want you to mourn me. You deserved to be happy . . . I had failed you so many times before. I could not stop the pain you all went through at the hands of the prophet . . . I . . . I was unworthy of being your father.”
Mae began crying, turning her face into Styx’s chest. Maddie was silent, looking as if she was deep in shock. But not Bella. Finding the strength she always managed to muster, Bella rushed forward and put her hands on Stephen’s cheeks. “I . . . I would have mourned you if you had fallen regardless. You have been my family… you are my family.”
“Bella,” Stephen said softly and kissed Bella’s cheek.
“You saved me,” Bella whispered, throwing her arms around him. “When I was brought to Puerto Rico, it was you who did not let me die. You healed me. You kept me hidden. You kept me safe.”
She turned to Mae and Maddie, holding out her hand. Mae went to her immediately. Maddie didn’t move at first, but then left the safety of her husband’s arms and joined her sisters. Maddie’s head was cast down in nerves. But Mae looked her father in the eyes.
Stephen smiled at the daughters he had never met. “You are all so beautiful,” he said. “More beautiful than I had ever imagined.” Mae dipped her head, then to my surprise, leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Stephen. Stephen’s face looked shocked, then it melted into an expression of deep relief. Deep relief and love.
Mae stepped back, wiping her eyes, and Stephen looked at Maddie. Bella put her arm around her youngest sister’s shoulders. Maddie fell into Bella’s side, then shakily held out her hand to Stephen.
Stephen smiled. He put his hand in hers and shook it. “Nice to meet you again, Maddie.”
Maddie breathed deeply. “It is nice to meet you too.” Her voice was barely audible, but I could see that didn’t matter to her father. It momentarily chased the darkness from my heart.
I saw movement from the back of the crowd. Lilah was walking through slowly, her eyes on Stephen. She stopped beside her sisters. “Phebe?” she asked. I could see by the devastated look on her scarred face that she knew her sister wasn’t with us.
That I hadn’t saved her.
Stephen dropped his head. When he looked up at her, he said, “You are Delilah . . . Rebekah?” Lilah flinched at the mention of her original name, but she nodded. Ky moved to stand by his wife’s side.
“Phebe helped us escape,” Stephen said. “She sacrificed so much to help us. And it was all in your honor. Your sister . . . she loves you very much. Everything she did was for you.”
Lilah released a strained sob. “I love her very much too,” she cried. Ky held his wife closer.
Stephen rocked on his feet. “She was taken by one of Judah’s associates. I am sorry, but I do not know where he has taken her.”
Lilah cried harder into Ky’s shoulder. Ky let her have a moment, then lifted her head with his finger under her chin. “Baby,” he said tentatively. “Phebe asked you to do something for her. She needs you to help her.”
“I do not understand,” Lilah replied.
Ky put his hands on her face. “Just know that I’m here with you, right? You got this. Fuck, babe, you were fuckin’ born for this.” Lilah gripped onto her husband’s arms tighter. She opened her mouth to speak again, as Sister Ruth emerged from the back of Cowboy’s truck.
Ruth smiled at me nervously, then turned back toward the back seat. Ky pulled Lilah forward toward the truck. Lilah’s steps were slow and nervous. Ruth lifted Grace from the back seat, and the blond sister went still with shock.
Ruth set the child on the floor and took hold of her hand. Ruth approached Lilah, bringing the frightened, wide-eyed child with her. Grace stared at everyone watching her, but when her eyes found Lilah’s, the kid couldn’t look away.