“He has Lilah as a witness. She was a captive in his basement.”
She shook her head. “Unless Ron gets to her first. You know he’s looking for her. He’s just waiting,” she said, and I heard the fear.
“I do know,” I agreed.
She tried to roll over but couldn’t because of my weight. I moved off her to my back. Disa curled into my side and laid her head on my chest. “I knew this was too good to be true.”
I tilted her chin up to me. “Don’t say that. Don’t you ever doubt that this is forever. You and me, Disa.” The thought of losing her crippled me. I didn’t even want to think about it.
I brushed my lips across hers. She settled back against my chest when our kiss ended. Time wasn’t on our side. Ron Parson had a plan I was sure. A plan to smoke out Merci, Disa and Lilah.
He needed Lilah because she was a witness to his crimes. Merci and Disa were his obsessions. I was sure he wanted both sisters. I glanced down at the woman in my arms. Disa was mine. I knew then a need to protect her that included killing the man if necessary. I knew that I would protect her and Asia with everything in me.
Chapter 17
I knew it was probably frustrating Elder Ron that he couldn’t just walk into Ike’s and intimidate Disa anymore. She wasn’t there. Dad said he made several visits over the next few weeks while we planned our special night for Disa.
I wanted to surprise her. Dad kind of laughed at my romantic gesture. Mom slapped him in the back for a change and Danni eagerly offered to help me.
On a Saturday night, one of Dad’s busiest nights of the week, he closed early. Ike’s was decorated like a prom night for high schoolers with streamers and a disco ball that circled the ceiling casting diamond shaped lights across the walls. The tables were decorated in paper tablecloths with heart shaped center pieces made of flowers and a purple candle in the center because it was Disa’s favorite color.
A banner hung across the back of the bar welcoming Disa to her prom night. This was the night that I was going to propose to her too.
Music was playing on the juke box. Songs I chose because I wanted to slow dance with Disa. I was like my other brothers except Seth. I couldn’t fast dance to save my life. Seth was a smooth one on the dance floor. He might dance with the girls but otherwise my girl was going to have dance with my sister and her friends if it was a rock and roll song.
Disa was with Danni at Elijah’s house getting dressed. I hadn’t seen what kind of dress Danni had bought for her, but I couldn’t wait to see Disa in it.
I wore my only best suit. The one that I had worn to Granddad’s funeral. The charcoal color looked good against my dark skin and hair. Danni bought me a light gray shirt with pale purple and gray tones to it to match Disa’s dress.
I was waiting on my woman to arrive with my sister and brother. Walker, Matt and AJ were here already. Heath was staying home with the women at his house. He wasn’t much for parties anyway. He might have felt differently if he had known I was asking Disa to marry me tonight.
India, Asia and Jeremiah were staying at Heath’s house with them. An older woman Mom introduced Matt to was watching my other nephew at the farm. She was good with him.
I had appeared in court for temporary full custody of Asia and now we waited for another court date about thirty more days for the time that Jasmine had to be gone then they would grant me full permanent custody of my daughter.
Tonight, when I asked Disa to marry me I wanted it to be a happy occasion but we all had it on our minds that Elder Ron had done nothing in the weeks since Heath and AJ had taken Merci and Lilah. He hadn’t even approached me or Disa. He had to know who I was and where I lived. Sherwood was small. It wouldn’t take much to find out much about me.
Hawk was biding his time, hoping to scrounge up more evidence against the elders of the church. With Lilah, he had only Ron and he wanted them all. I didn’t much like Hawk’s pl
an. I wanted Ron Parson off the street, so he wasn’t a threat to Disa.
Dad was standing behind the bar. He was wearing a suit too. Mom was wearing a dress that I was pretty sure she had worn when she had dated him as a teen. I couldn’t believe that she was still the same size after giving birth to seven kids. The dress was strapless revealing far more of my mother than I cared to see. Dad was liking the view though as she leaned over the bar to receive a kiss. I rolled my eyes at them. I guess I should be happy that they were doing so well this time. I hadn’t seen them this happy in a long time.
Elijah and Jenny were bringing Danni and Disa soon. I had the ring in my pocket. The mood was set. I just needed the girl to arrive.
I was getting nervous when she was a little late. I paced in front of the windows of the pub looking out for Jenny’s car. There was no way they would come in Elijah’s jeep. Not that heap of metal. Not this time when it was so important to me.
Seth had the food ready for dinner. They just had to get here. I glanced over my shoulder at my brothers and Walker.
“Ben, relax. You have three women who need to get ready,” Walker informed me. “I’m sure that is why they are late.”
I nodded and turned back to the window. They were a half an hour late when I tried Disa’s cell. She didn’t answer. That was unreasonable, she always answered for me especially now with Ron being a threat to her or me. I tried Danni’s cell and she didn’t answer. That wasn’t good.
I was starting to panic. “They aren’t answering. Neither Danni or Disa,” I told them.
Walker came to the windows. He looked outside too. Matt took out his phone and called Elijah. He answered, and I felt my heart drop into my throat, waiting to hear his explanation.
He chuckled then hung up. “Hawk is dropping them off in ten minutes,” Matt told me. “Danni as usual left her phone home because she hates having a phone. Disa can’t find her phone. She thinks she left it at home in the rush to get of the house to get to Elijah’s when Danni picked her up.”