Page 5 of Rockland

Always an excellent provider, he’d left me millions.

And I’d give them all away just to see his face again. Hear that raucous belly laugh.

My sobs begin to subside. I hear the three claps. They signal our rock, the one all our family members’ frozen remains are stored within. The whirring begins and the enormous gray stone rises from its hiding place within the Earth.

The grass is unseasonably green, as it always is here. A mystery I’ve never solved. I stare at the rock, knowing what’s expected of me next.

My gut roils. I can’t do it.

I won’t do it.

The family falls to their knees. Bow their heads, join hands. They chant Love lives on, over and over and over. Goosebumps rise on the flesh of my arms. I’m grateful I’m all cried out—otherwise I’d begin weeping. Rockland helps me kneel.

I hold onto him, clinging to his chest.

A few quiet moments later, Bronson comes to me. Helps me up. Takes me to the far side of the stone wall. I’m beside John now, the member of the Brotherhood who Brett was closest to. John’s my age and Brett was more of a father figure to him than anything else.

The same could be said about my relationship with Brett, I suppose.

Bronson removes a stone. Places it on the ground. John holds the black chamber out to me. What’s left of Brett’s body lays within.

They are waiting.

Bronson’s gaze locks on mine. Soft, but commanding.

With shaky hands, I tug at the chain around my neck. The necklace Brett locked around my neck the day we were wed, the day I became a Bachman. I’ve worn it every day since. The little sword made of cut diamonds the sign of Brett’s dedication to lay down his life for me.

He didn’t get the chance to.

He’s gone, way before his time.

I’m angry now—this precious memento is being taken from me as well—and the chain snaps. My fingers clutch around the charm. He’s gone. He’s left me. I throw it onto the chamber, screaming, “Damn you, Brett! How dare you leave me. How dare you—” My words turn into a choked sob and Rockland appears by my side.

His arm firmly wraps around my waist. I turn to him, I lift my fists, beating his chest. I cry, “He left me, why did he leave me?”

He doesn’t even flinch. Just lets me have my mindless moment. The fury leaves my body and I collapse against him, boneless and spent. I take a few deep breaths.

Then I feel Rockland moving his hand. He’s taking something out of his pocket.

My world stops spinning. The air around me is frozen, buzzing with tension. A white heat flushes over my face and my breath leaves my body. In my mind, I’m screaming no!

But there it is, in his opened palm. His sword, diamonds glittering in the sun. It’s different from Brett’s. Sleeker. Darker.

Just like Rockland.

Before I can move, he’s got it clasped around my neck.

Marking me as his.

Never.

Fury rises in my chest. My hand goes to my neck and snap, the necklace is broken. I give him one dark look and toss the thing to the ground like the piece of trash it is to me. It means nothing.

Placidly he retrieves the chain from the ground. Slips it into his pocket.

Now he’s grabbing my arm, hard. So hard that I’m wincing. I prepare to shout let go of me! but before I can summon the words, the brush of the stubble of his beard strokes my cheek. His mouth is hot against my ear. I smell his cologne, feel his tense muscles press against me as he gives me another squeeze and hisses, “Best behave, little girl.”

I freeze.