“Yeah, committing murder will really endear you to people,” she snorted.

“Shut up!” Brother Adam ran his fingers through his hair, looking enraged. “She never stops.” He glared. “I wish we had taken a different one.”

“Me too. We finally agree on something.”

“You are a vile woman.”

“You’re a crazy dickhead, hiding behind a warped Bible.”

His face turned red and he took a threatening step toward her. The older man stepped between them. “She’s tempting you to sin, Brother.”

“Send Brothers Bruno and Fred in here and we’ll carry her outside.”

Zandy couldn’t do anything but lie there waiting until the other men arrived to crowd into the tight confines of the motor home’s living room. The bench she was strapped to reminded her of a rescue backboard. They hoisted her up and tried to carry her out the door but it was too wide. Pain gripped her where the belts dug into her skin when they turned her sideways.

She screamed from the pain. It seemed to amuse Adam and he laughed. The sunshine blinded her again when it directly hit her face as they straightened her out. A sick feeling made her grateful that they were starving her, otherwise she might have thrown up.

Her eyes adjusted to the bright light and she took note of all the trees around the clearing the group had turned into a temporary home. Other motor homes and campers were parked nearby and the smell of a campfire filled her nose. Women were outside staring at her as the men took her to the back of the motor home where she’d been imprisoned. Their plan sank in when they began to talk again.

“How are we going to get her up there?”

Her gaze lifted to the high roof and desperation struck. She had to escape. “I have to pee!”

Adam shot her a glare. “Piss your pants. I don’t care.”

“Brother!” a stern voice barked. “Shame on you.” The owner of that voice walked forward—a thin-lipped woman in her fifties. “Where is your compassion? Let her use the bathroom.”

“It’s best if we leave her tied up, Sister Deanie.”

The woman glared at her leader. “I raised you better than that.”

His voice lowered. “Come on, Mom. Not in front of everyone.”

Zandy’s eyes widened in astonishment. The older man got involved. “Son, it will turn your followers against you if you abuse that woman. Listen to your parents.”

Holy shit. Her gaze darted between the three of them, seeing a resemblance. They were obviously a really screwed-up family.

“Fine.” Adam nodded at the men. “Put her down but make sure she can’t run away.”

The bench was eased to the ground and the two large men unfastened her restraints. She’d been flat for so long that she felt a little dizzy when she sat up. The older woman approached, looking fearful.

“Now, don’t you spin your head at me or anything.”

Zandy’s smart mouth kicked in. “I think you watched way too many horror movies. I’m not possessed.”

The woman frowned. “Do you need to go pee-pee?”

Pee-pee? Really? Just bitchin’. I’ve been kidnapped by idiots who use a two-year-old’s vocabulary. “Yes.”

They didn’t remove the handcuffs which held her wrists locked in front of her. The woman gripped them in the middle and led Zandy over to one of the campers, tugging on the chain as if she were leading a dog.

“Don’t try anything evil,” Deanie warned. “I’m watching you.”

Zandy’s gaze swept the interior, looking for a weapon but the place was pretty bare. Dishes had all been put away and the woman refused to release the chain on the restraints. The bathroom was a tiny one.

“Go ahead. You hurry up.” Her voice lowered. “Stop giving my son grief, young lady. You’re trying to make him look bad in front of his followers. Do you know how hard it was for him to gather so many of them?”

It was a struggle to get her pants undone and use the bathroom with her hands locked together. “No. Not really. I haven’t read much about cults.”

Deanie gasped. “Shame on you for even saying that. We’re—” The woman glanced down and gasped a second time. “Sinner! I see that whore’s underwear instead of what should be decent covering for your private area. Tsk, tsk! No wonder you were lured to the dark side.”

Zandy blinked a few times. “They had really good cookies and they approved of thong underwear. What can I say? I didn’t stand a chance.”

Her sarcasm was totally lost on her captor as Deanie frowned. “What does that mean? What kind of cookies?”

“Oh geez. You people are seriously screwed up. No wonder your kid is so messed up.”

“You’re an evil sinner with a potty mouth. Shame on you.” She turned around and jerked open a drawer built into the wall. She turned, holding out bright blue shorts. “Remove that whore garment and put this on.”

“Are those swimming trunks?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“You will. You can’t cleanse your soul when you’re wearing that bright-red sin tempter. We’re trying to save you, not send you to hell.”

“I’m already there, lady.”

Deanie’s face reddened. “Change or I’ll have the men come in here to do it for you. These are clean and pure.”

The thought of Adam or those other creeps taking her pants off made Zandy decide to comply. The men’s swimming trunks were a bit big but it seemed to have soothed the upset woman when she almost smiled.