Finding Eternal Peace (8 page)

Allison shut her mouth and lowered her chin. Meg let out the breath she held. Joe’s husky voice broke into her thoughts, and she turned to pay attention.

“She finds ways to rub my cock, caress it, if you want to call it that, during those special times when we are not sexually active.” He threw his arm behind her shoulders and pulled Meg toward him. “That makes me feel special.”

Meg reached up and curled her fingers around his thumb on her shoulder. Squeezing it to death, she smiled.
Doesn’t he realize how asinine he sounds? Puleeze!

“Interesting.” Lord Stephen turned and accepted a glass from Lisa. “Go ahead and continue.” He turned to the other women. “Drink up, girls.”

Joe raised his brows. “Well, I’m not sure what other things you want me to share…”

“Does Kathy let you play with her body whenever you want? Does she obey every order you give her?” Lord Stephen sipped from his glass and uncrossed his legs.

The flaps of his robe opened up, and his flaccid cock lay out for everyone’s view. Meg glanced away and raised her glass to her lips. Joe laid his hand on her arm and stopped her from swallowing the liquid. In her frustration and embarrassment, she had forgotten that Joe had warned her not to eat or drink anything this evening.

“Uh…sure.” Joe turned back to Lord Stephen. “She always obeys me. She always puts my needs first.”

A soft snort came from the group of women. Meg squeezed Joe’s leg. That was the first real sign of the sister she knew and loved.

Allison’s head came up, and she glared at Joe. Meg wanted to jump up and shout to the world that the person showing some life in her was her little sister.

“Excuse me.” Lord Stephen stood. “Allison, come here.”

Meg’s back straightened, and she put her other hand on the arm of the couch. If he punished her for reacting to something Joe said, she’d kick Lord Stephen’s ass. She turned to Joe. He nodded and slipped his hand into the front of his robe. Knowing that he’d planned this very thing to happen, and he had control of the situation, helped Meg not blow their cover.

Earlier, he’d taped a miniature microphone to the inside of his robe with the hope that he’d receive some kind of evidence against the founder of Eternal Peace. Unable to hear what Lord Stephen and Allison were discussing, Meg could only sit and wait.

Her sister ducked her head and returned to the couch. The breath Meg was holding rushed out, and she gazed over at Allison. She wished her sister knew she wasn’t alone in here. She and Joe had her back, and if Allison would look over, she could see the truth. To her disappointment, Allison sat with her chin flat against her chest.

“OK.” Lord Stephen clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Kathy, dear, come up here. Let’s show the others how someone obeys the man in their life the right way.” His lip curled. “You have shown a great excitement for finding peace in your life. Through you, the others will also go on to a great plateau of contentment.”

Meg lifted her chin and stood up. Holding her shoulders back, she approached the lord of the commune. “Yes, Lord Stephen.”

“On your knees.” He motioned for her to kneel at his feet.

She gathered the front of her robe to keep the edges together and bent her legs. Once on the floor, she gazed at his bare feet in a sign of respect. The back of her neck warmed, and she wondered if Joe was staring a hole through her head to get to the thoughts that circled inside her brain.
I’m OK. I can do this.

“Very good.” Lord Stephen stepped around her and faced his harem of women. “Without question, she obeyed.” He paused. “I will continue to ask her to perform her duties as a member of Eternal Peace. Raise your hands in the air, Kathy.”

She slowly lifted her arms. Lord Stephen pulled on her sleeves.
Oh, fuck.

“Slip your arms out.”

She pulled her arms back down, free of the robe. He let the material fall. The belt around her waist helped the gown cover her lower half, but her top half was now exposed to the men in the room.

“Uh, Lord Stephen.” Joe stood up. “Why don’t you try the lesson with one of the other women?” He stood in front of Meg. “I’m sure it would be easier to learn if they were able to practice in a more hands-on approach.”

Meg turned from Joe to Lord Stephen. Her stomach rolled. She’d go so far to get her sister out of here, but performing a sexual act…nuh uh. No way.

“In just a moment, Joe. I want to have Kathy do one more little thing.” Lord Stephen clapped Joe on the shoulder and motioned with his head for him to step back out of the way.

Joe shuffled back, but stayed within arm’s distance. Lord Stephen took his place in front of Meg. Joe stepped off to the side to stay in her view, and she glued her gaze on him. He winked and nodded. She stayed calm. He’d put a stop to Lord Stephen touching her, he’d promised.

“As you women will notice…” Lord Stephen let his robe fall off his body and puddle at his feet. “Kathy lives a peaceful life full of harmony and bliss. It will not take her long to make me hard—”

“Stop!”

Meg whipped her head around and shook her head at Allison.

“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Stephen stepped toward her sister. “You know better than to interrupt your lord. Disrobe!”

Allison glanced from Meg to Joe, back to her sister, and shook her head. “No.”

Lord Stephen raised his open hand and slapped her across the face. “Do you have any idea what happens to women who do not seek peace and love at Eternal Peace?”

Allison held the side of her face, tears rolled down her cheeks, and she lifted her chin. “Y…you can’t—”

“That’s it.” Lord Stephen grabbed her upper arm and pulled her toward the door.

Allison dug her heels into the floor and stared back at Meg for help. Meg stood and rushed forward. This had gone too far.

“Lord Stephen…wait!” Meg reached out, but stopped herself from grabbing her sister out of his clutches. “Where are you taking her? Shouldn’t we give her another chance?”

Lord Stephen bent down and stroked Meg’s head with his free hand. “No, my gentle love. I demand complete obedience. It is the reason why having you show the others how to gain control over their happiness is so important.”

Meg nodded. “I understand, Lord.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. She fought to keep from spitting. “May I ask a question, Lord Stephen?”

He nodded. “Of course, my love.”

“Where do the women go who displease you and the peace you create here at Eternal Peace?” She cocked her head and lifted her brows.
Joe, are you getting this?

“I send them overseas where they will enter a hardcore training session.” He narrowed his eyes in Allison’s direction. “There they will be owned and made to submit.”

Meg shivered and wrapped her arms around her bare breasts. “Do they come back fully trained?” She stepped closer in and lowered her voice. “Will they find peace within?”

His eyelids drooped, and he stared at her mouth. She parted her lips and licked the corner of her mouth
. Come on, asshole, dig your grave.

“No. They will never come back.” He leaned forward and closed his eyes.

Meg jerked out of his reach and raised her eyes to look over Lord Stephen’s shoulder where Joe stood smiling. She wiped her arm across her mouth to wipe away the thought of the kiss that hadn’t come.

Joe jerked Lord Stephen’s arm behind his back and, using the man’s belt from the robe he’d dropped on the floor, tied his hands, preventing him from touching anyone else.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Lord Stephen threw his shoulder away from Joe, but didn’t go anywhere.

“Well, let me tell you.” Joe winked at Meg. “My partner, Kathy, is going to run down the hall to our room, grab my cell phone, and call 911.”

“For what?” He struggled in Joe’s hold. “I haven’t done anything. This is preposterous. I run a wholesome, loving retreat for those open enough to share their love and peace.”

“No, you coerce innocent women to your commune where you supply them with sedatives to keep them dummied up enough to believe your preaching about peace for eternity.” Joe yanked up on the man’s bound hands until Lord Stephen groaned. “When you tire of them, you sell them overseas as sex slaves.”

“That’s a lie!”

“Tell it to the jury, fuckhead. I’ve got it all on tape.” Joe turned to Allison. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go over and sit with the other women. Your sister is going to go make a phone call and then, I swear on my life, she’ll not leave your side for a long, long time.”

Meg smiled at Allison and nodded. “Go, sweetie. I’ll be right back.”

Chapter Nine

Allison reached out and entwined her fingers in Meg’s hand as they walked across the street to the park after Allison’s doctor’s appointment. Meg smiled. Her sister’s doctor had put her on an as-needed basis for treatment today, and declared her stable enough to withstand life’s pressures.

“I’m proud of you, sis.” Meg swung Allison’s arm. “We’re going to make it together.”

“Yeah.” Allison sniffed. “I’m pretty proud of myself.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve put you through a lot. Too much.”

“No.” Meg stopped walking, turned, and grabbed for Allison’s other hand. “Listen to me. I would do anything for you. From here on out, whatever you need, I’ll be right here.”

“I know.” Allison gazed down at the ground. “I know you and Joe worry. He told me about his sister.” She raised her chin. “That won’t happen to me.” Patting the area over her heart, she smiled. “I’m strong. I can see how wrong it was for me to try to escape the pain of losing our parents. The doctor has given me ways to find answers and seek comfort rather than hurting myself.”

Meg pulled her sister into her embrace. “I’ll never stop worrying, but it feels so good to hear you say that. I know it isn’t always easy to talk to someone so close to you, but you do know that Joe has very broad shoulders and would love it if you wanted to talk.” She pulled back. “It might even help him. It hasn’t been easy for any of us.”

“I wish I would have known Joe’s sister. Maybe I would have been strong enough to help her see that there’s life after Eternal Peace.” Allison sighed.

“We all wish that, hon.” Meg rubbed Allison’s arms. “Helping you really helps Joe to deal with his own loss. He’s so damn proud of what you’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

“The trial was horrid.” Allison shivered. “I don’t understand how I could have fallen for all of Lord Stephen’s bullshit.”

Meg grinned. “Well, thanks to your help and Joe’s evidence, that asshole won’t see the outside of a jail cell for a long, long time.”

A car horn blasted on the other side of the park. Meg gazed over Allison’s shoulder and smiled bigger.

“Let me guess—P.I. Joe?” Allison giggled.

Meg snorted. “Good one.” She laughed. “You like him, don’t you?”

“If you tell him, you’ll pay.” Ally shook her finger and narrowed her eyes. “He’ll never let me hear the end of it, if you say something.”

Meg pinched her thumb and forefinger together and motioned across her lips. “I’ll never tell.”

“OK. Now get out of here. Your man is waiting, and he doesn’t seem like the patient sort to sit in a park while we gab.” Her sister gave her a little push.

She walked backward toward Joe’s car. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m meeting some of the people from my calculus class in the library.” Allison waved. “I’ll be home early. I promised Joe I’d watch the game with him.”

Meg smiled. “Catch ya later.” She turned and jogged the rest of the way across the park.

* * *

The football game blared on television, and Meg shook her head at the way Allison picked on Joe. She laughed. Her sister even wore a Cowboys sweatshirt and sat on the opposite couch from Joe, who sat wearing his Packers jersey.

“Look! Look! Look!” Joe scooted to the edge of the seat and pointed at the television. “He’s going…going…oh, shit, no one can stop him.” He jumped up. “Touchdown for the Packers!” He turned around and gave Meg a high five. “In your face, Ally brat. You owe me ten bucks.”

The doorbell rang and Allison jumped up, laughing. “I’ll get it.” She stuck her tongue out. “Saved by the bell.”

“Did you see that? That move was supreme. No one can catch Johnson when he’s got the ball.” Joe plopped down beside Meg. “Shit, that was a great game.”