Chapter 208

Wilford Young and a group of waiters arrived at their suite with a cart full of food and drinks. Corporal Green and Corporal Wilson scanned everything before the waiters could place it on the dining table.

“Mr. Collins,” Wilford said, bowing. “The Prophet King has instructed me to provide you with anything you may require. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Young,” Louis said. “This is more than enough.”

“It is my pleasure, sir,” Wilford said, bowing again before leaving.

Gladice looked at the cart. “Well, let’s see if the Mormons can cook.” She lifted a silver lid. “Lamb stew.” She tasted it. “It’s good. Very flavorful.”

Angelique looked at the other dishes: crispy crab cakes, steak frites, chicken Milanese, pigs in a blanket, a tray of fresh salads, and a variety of pastries and desserts. “Not bad.”

Willa opened a bottle of lemonade and poured it into a glass. “No alcohol, of course.”

“We still have our own stock, Willa,” Gladice said, pointing to the mini-fridge. “Our gallant captain Yamamoto made sure it was well stocked.”

“I’ll stick with the lemonade,” Willa said.

“Suit yourself,” Gladice said, getting a bottle of white wine from the fridge and pouring it into a glass. “I’m going to need it.”

Donya put a napkin on her lap. “I’m curious to see their lifestyle up close.”

“It’s going to be a circus,” Maeve said, her arms crossed. “A very polite, very well-dressed, anvery creepy circus.”

“I hope we can get some answers there,” Willa said, sipping her lemonade.

“I’d rather get a nice story to tell,” Gladice said, tasting a crab cake. “Like a secret affair between one of the wives and a guard. Or a hidden dungeon in the basement.”

“Let’s not get carried away, Glads,” Angelique said, serving herself a small portion of lamb stew. “And please, let’s not jump to conclusions. We don’t know anything about them yet.”

“I know they have too many kids,” Maeve said.

“You know, polygamy is also legal in the Dominion,” Louis said. “And we are a family of eight.”

“That’s different, Louis,” Donya said. “We are here because we love each other. We chose each other. We are equals. Are the Prophet King’s wives equal to him? Did they choose him?”

“Probably not,” Savannah said, tasting the stew. “But it’s not our business.”

“I’m more interested in their internal politics and power structure,” Willa said. “The Kingdom’s population is declining. Its economy is stagnant. The Prophet King is under pressure. That’s why he wants a trade deal with the Dominion. He needs a way to stay in power and to keep his people happy.”

“He’s using us,” Louis said. “And we’re using him. That’s the nature of diplomacy.”

“It’s still sickening.” Donya shook her head. “The way he hides behind faith to justify his crimes and to get what he wants.”

“He’s not the only one,” Angelique said. “Many leaders did that in the past and in the present. Only in different ways.”

“At least your father doesn’t pretend to be a prophet, Louis,” Gladice said. “He’s just a dictator who likes to party.”

“He’s good at it.” Louis laughed. “I should call him before we go to the Prophet King’s house. To give him an update.”

“Do that,” Angelique said.

Louis nodded and took out his phone. He called Constantine and turned on the speaker.

“Louis,” Constantine’s voice came. “How are things in Salt Lake City?”

“Interesting, Dad,” Louis said. “The Prophet King is not what I expected. He’s smooth. He also gave us a gift.”

“Mr. Sterling,” Constantine said. “I heard. Yamamoto already reported it. You handled it well, son.”

“He also proposed a trade deal, Dad,” Louis said. “A partnership between the Dominion and the Kingdom.”

“Did he now?” Constantine said, a hint of amusement in his voice. “He’s a fast learner. He knows which way the wind is blowing.”

“He’s also invited us to his private residence,” Angelique said. “To meet his family.”

“Of course he did,” Constantine said. “Enjoy the show. But keep your eyes open.”

“We will, Dad,” Louis said. “But I want you to do something for me. I want you to have a team with a fast plane ready in Nevada. Just in case.”

“You think you’ll need it?” Constantine asked.

“I hope not,” Louis said. “But I’d rather be prepared than sorry.”

“You’ve learned that lesson well, son,” Constantine said. “I’ll discuss it with Robin. We will have a team ready. They can be in Salt Lake City in an hour.”

“I appreciate that, Dad,” Louis said.

“Of course,” Constantine said. “I want you to be safe and to get what you went there for. But I will also welcome a new trade partner. If you think the Prophet King is sincere, I’m willing to explore the possibility. Utah has a lot of rare earth minerals that our tech sector needs.”

“That’s what I was thinking too,” Louis said. “He seems to be sincere, for now.”

“Good,” Constantine said. “I will have a discussion with Philip too. He will want to be involved.”

“Of course he will,” Angelique said.

“Talk to you later, son,” Constantine said. “I’m proud of you.”

“You too, Dad,” Louis said, hanging up.

“Republic of Nevada?” Savannah asked. “You think they would help us?”

“They will, if my father asks them to,” Louis said. “Nevada is our puppet state. They do what we want.”

“What does that mean?” Cherish asked.

“It means we own them, Cherry,” Gladice said, pouring herself another glass of wine. “Literally.”

“How?” Cherish asked.

“Their economy is based on gambling, tourism, and entertainment,” Willa said. “Most of their customers and their investors are from the Dominion. So we have a lot of leverage over them.”

“Not to mention the Dominion Guard operates freely on their soil, and most of their security forces are trained by us,” Louis said.

“So it is a colony, basically,” Maeve said, shaking her head. “Typical imperialist behavior.”

“It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, Maeve,” Angelique said. “It keeps the peace in the region. That’s what matters.”

“It’s still a colony,” Maeve said.

“Call it whatever you want, Mae-Mae,” Gladice said. “I call it a free pass to the best casinos and shows in the world.”

Donya sighed. “You are such a materialist, Glads.”

“I prefer to call myself a hedonist,” Gladice said, tasting the pigs in a blanket. “And I’m proud of it.”

“This Joseph Taylor reminds me of Benjamin Calloway, in a weird way,” Willa said, her eyes distant. “The way he talks, the way he carries himself. Except Calloway was not a religious leader.”

“I don’t know, Willa,” Donya said. “At least Mr. Calloway was honest about who he was and what he wanted.”

“He also failed to deliver us to safety, if you recall,” Savannah said.

Maeve scoffed. “What do you expect from the toll dog? He only cares about money.”

“Speaking of money,” Gladice said. “The People’s Army stole our euros and gear. I’m still mad about that.”

“I’m still mad about what they did to you, Mae-Mae,” Savannah said.

“It’s over, Savvy,” Maeve said. “What’s done is done.”

“I’m still glad we stole their chopper,” Gladice said. “That was a good day.”

“It was a very risky day.” Angelique frowned. “We were lucky to be alive.”

“We’re always lucky, Angel,” Gladice said. “Because we’re the best.”

Donya put down her fork. “I’m worried about our souls. Are we really going to make a deal with a man who buys a girl for a million euros and calls it salvation?”

“The world is a complicated place, Donya,” Angelique said. “Sometimes you have to make deals with people you don’t like to get what you want. And to protect the ones you love.”

“But at what cost?” Donya asked. “Our integrity? Our humanity?”

“I still have my integrity and humanity, Donya,” Willa said. “I’m here with you. Because I believe in what we’re doing. And I trust Louis to make the right choices.”

“Thank you,” Louis said. “But sometimes the right choices are the hardest ones.”

“I know, Louis,” Donya said. “But I’m still worried. I need to pray for guidance.”

“Can I pray with you, Donya?” Cherish asked.

Donya smiled. “I’d like that, Cherry.”

Louis looked at them. He felt a warmth in his chest. “You two are so cute.”

Cherish blushed. “Louis.”

“I mean it,” Louis said, smiling. “You are the light in our family, Cherry. And Donya, you are the conscience.”

Donya smiled. “I try to be. But I’m glad you see it.”

Maeve rolled her eyes. “Are we done with the love fest? I want to see the Prophet King’s dungeon.”

Gladice laughed. “I’ll go with you, Mae-Mae. If we find one, I’ll lock the Prophet King in it and throw away the key.”

“I don’t think he has a dungeon, Glads,” Angelique said. “He’s a modern monarch. He probably has a panic room. The prison would be outside the city.”

Louis snorted. “I bet he’d want our surveillance tech. He must be using an older version of it.”

“He’d probably kill to get your AI predictive system,” Willa said. “Imagine that. A theocracy powered by algorithms. A prophecy machine.”

“That would be an interesting combination,” Angelique said. “Faith and data. Piety and prediction.”

“It would also be a nightmare for the people of Utah,” Donya said.

Gladice rolled her eyes. “Who cares about the common folks? Let’s focus on us and what we want.”

Maeve looked at her. “What do you want, Glads?”

“I want everyone who was involved in our kidnapping to pay with their lives,” Gladice paused. “Maybe except Sterling, if he’s useful. He’s a rat, not a snake. Rats can be trained.”

Donya sighed. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

“Not if you take both eyes, Donya,” Gladice said. “Then they can’t see you coming.”

“That’s a terrible philosophy,” Donya said.

“It’s a practical one,” Gladice said. “And it works in the world we live in.”

“Sometimes I wonder how do you manage not to kill each other,” Maeve said.

“Because we love each other,” Gladice said, winking. “Do you love me, Donya? Even though I’m a terrible person?”

Donya sighed again. “I do, Glads. Even though you drive me crazy. And sometimes I don’t agree with you.”

“Because you’re a good person, Donya,” Gladice said. “A very good person. That’s why I love you too. Besides, you have great tits.”

“Glads!” Donya said, her cheeks flushing.

“What? It’s true,” Gladice said.

Louis laughed. “She’s right, Donya. You do.”

Donya covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe you’re all objectifying me in the middle of a serious conversation.”

“It’s not objectification, Donya,” Savannah said. “It’s appreciation. We appreciate you for who you are, and for how you look. And for how you make us feel.”

Donya looked up, her eyes bright. “Really?”

“Really,” Cherish said, smiling. “You have beautiful eyes too.”

“And a great ass,” Maeve said.

“And a kind heart,” Willa said.

“I love you, Donya,” Angelique said. “We all do.”

“I love you all too. So much.” Donya looked at them, a tear running down her cheek. “I’m so glad I found you.”

“We’re glad we found you too, Donya,” Louis said. “And I’m glad we’re all here together.”

“Group hug,” Gladice said, standing up.

They all stood up and gathered in a circle, hugging each other. Louis felt their bodies pressed against his. He felt their warmth. He felt their love. He thought of the song Cherish and Maeve had sung. For him, this was home.

“Alright,” Angelique said, stepping back. “Let’s get ready. We have a date with a prophet.”

“Time to go, ladies.” Louis led them to the elevator. “Captain, we’re heading out. I want Sergeant Zhang’s team to stay here with Sterling. The rest are with me.”

“Understood, sir,” Yamamoto nodded.

They went down to the lobby and walked out of the hotel. Three of their SUVs were waiting. Louis led the women to the RV and turned on autopilot. A Humvee from the Legion led their convoy.

“I wonder where he lives,” Cherish said, her eyes on the road. “I hope it’s a nice house.”

Willa looked at her phone. “It’s a compound in the hills outside the city with a lot of security.”

“Like your family’s mansion in Portland, Angi?” Savannah asked.

“We have more horses and gardens,” Angelique said.

“It’s probably full of holy water and crucifixes,” Gladice said. “To keep the ghosts out.”

“They’re Mormons, Glads,” Angelique smiled. “They don’t have crucifixes.”

“They have something to keep the demons out, then.” Gladice rolled her eyes.

The RV drove through the city. Louis glanced at the pedestrians. Men wore suits and ties, women wore long dresses with long sleeves. They stared at their convoy with curiosity. No one had taken out phones.

“Either they’re not allowed to have phones, or they’re just well mannered,” Savannah said, also looking out the window.

“Or they’re scared of the Danites,” Maeve said. “I would be.”

“This is a surveillance-heavy society,” Willa said. “They just don’t advertise it like the Dominion does.”

Louis smiled. “We don’t advertise it, Willa. We just have it and use it.”

“Still creepy,” Willa said.

The convoy left the city and drove into the hills. After a few turns, they reached a high wall with a steel gate in the center. A squad of Legion guards stood by the gate, their rifles at the ready. The lead Humvee stopped, and the gate opened. The convoy drove through.