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“No, I ates of their little commune—will rule with God”

“That’s not particularly creative” She’d heard plenty of the sa up For most of her life her father and the leaders of his small sect had claimed that the world was in its “last days” They’d naeddon would arrive Every one had coet his start?”

“Five years ago, he was a popular frat boy at Cornell I guess he and a few rooion, loosely based on the Old Testaence report indicates that it was originally s were involved They called it the ‘antireligion’ But when they beganthe kids at Cornell and other colleges in nearby co support, and it became real”

“Power is tough to resist, especially for an Ivy League frat boy who’s used to being on top of the world”

“That’s my take, too”

She glanced away from Nate so she wouldn’t squirm in her seat at the memories that overwhelmed her whenever their eyesto this so-called religion?”

“The original four are still with hiuides’ now and they’re part of the Brethren, the twelve men who form a close circle around him A fifth roommate, one who joined a bit later, is dead”

“Dead?” she echoed “At twenty-so?”

“He was killed in a drunk-driving accident after aThere are a few unanswered questions but no real proof that it was anything other than that”

She considered what she’d just been told “What’s so appealing about his religion that others are interested in joining up?”

“It’s mostly familiar stuff but with ause And Wycliff has a few assets—besides his looks—that erous than most cult leaders”

She ignored his reference to her appreciation of Wycliff’s appearance and scooted closer to the table But the instant she caught Nate’s scent, that mix of clean male and leather that would forever differentiate hi into his bed to “surprise” hiht she’d done it Would the o away?

He gave her a speculative look, as if he could suddenly sense an added level of discootten all about her terrible faux pas As a child, she’d been sheltered so long she hadn’t grown up with the usual interplay between the sexes and, apparently, hadn’t read his signals correctly She’d thought he wanted the sa

Keeping her gaze steady, she struggled, once again, to forget that night “And those assets are…”

“More charisht to, at least a man who once idolized Charles Manson”