Stolen Melody (Snow and Ash #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

there.”
    His jaw works. His eyes go cold then, and he seizes me by the forearm and hauls me into the nave and up the center aisle.
    Bugger.
    I can’t look at anyone.
    Axel stops just short of the pulpit and spins me around. I refuse to look up, but I sense that every eye is focused on us. I feel every bruise, every tear, every bite of the last twenty-four hours, and I’m sure that everyone out there can see just by looking at me what I let him do. Especially the guys at the perimeter. The ones who want to be next.
    I stand silently and block out everything—the mumbling, the tears, the suppressed anger of just about every person in the room. I lock my eyes on a knot in the pine-wood floor. The knot is safe. I make it the only thing that’s real.  
    A few minutes later that leader guy shows up with the pastor, and like Axel did with me, he marches Uncle Mike to the front of the room. I can feel him, literally feel the faded blue eyes seeking me out, trying to get my attention. No way. No.
    Tears press at the back of my eyes, and it takes several swallows before I feel like I’m in control again.
    “Listen up!” Leader Guy’s voice is sharp, loud, and terrifying.
    The room falls silent.
    “I just want to thank you all for your hospitality. That flag we hung over your gate marks this as our territory, so if other gangs make their way to your merry little town, they won’t be tempted to bother you. They do, they’ll have us to contend with. You take that flag down, though, and I can’t promise you anything. Make sure you put plenty aside for us.” Here he smiles. “We’ll let you know when your taxes are due again.”
    A murmur of protests erupt from the pews.
    Leader Guy takes out his handgun and points directly at a young mother. “Shut the fuck up!”
    The room goes silent. “As I said, you will put aside a portion of your food and supplies. Taxes will be due whenever I goddamn say they are. Is that understood?”
    This time no one says anything.
    “Good.” Leader Guy holsters his gun. He takes a deep breath. “Just to show you we are men of our word, all hostages will be released once we are half a mile outside the gates.”
    Everyone just sits there staring at him, including me.
    “That’s it,” he says. “That’s all I have. Everyone move out.”
    At the first stirring of movement, Axel steps forward. “One more thing,” he says in a loud, piercing voice. He looks to his leader, who nods.
    Axel pulls me forward until I stand in front of him. Tremors hit me so hard my limbs shake with it. I can’t help it, and I squeeze my eyes against the coming ugliness. I can hardly breathe. I feel him pull the hair out from my collar and sweep it to the back. He undoes the first three buttons of my coat, then my shirt, and forces my head to the side.
    A collective gasp explodes from the membership.
    Oh God.   Oh God.   The pine knot is all that matters.   The pine knot is—
    “Aw, fuck!” says one of the marauders.
    “Look at her. Take a good look at my mark.” He pushes me forward a half step. “I’m claiming this girl as mine. If any man tries to take her, it will be a fight to the death.”
    “Imogen?” It’s Pastor North.
    My parents lived in Denver. There’s no doubt in my mind that they died during or shortly after Yellowstone blew. After my manager died, I had nothing, no one. I’ll never be able to repay the kindness of this man who took me in and treated me like family. How can I face him now that I’ve, you know, done stuff in his house? He’s no more than five feet from me, and I can’t even look at him. I’m so afraid of what I’ll see in his face. I sniff back the bubble of snot that threatens to fall, but my chest shakes.   The pine knot is a lie; it’s the demon behind me that’s real.
    “Come on,” Axel mutters, not unkindly. He takes my hand and starts for the aisle.
    I fling one last, desperate look at my guardian.
    He’s wearing this stunned look that’s tinged