The New World

Dane

Delphine being worried that I was going to hurt Sammy was almost laughable. 

I was the leader. I had to uphold our rules. Going after Sammy simply because she wished it was him who had claimed her was against the rules. Delphine was allowed to have feelings. No matter how misguided those feelings were.

The only way I could hurt Sammy was if he broke our rules. Sadly, as far as I know, Sammy was an upstanding citizen. Annoying as it was, I couldn't do anything until he broke the damn rules.

I left Joshua at Delphine's house and took the rest of the guys with me. Being the leader always came with someone trying to overthrow you. Sammy's brother was one of my trusted men, and I hated that I couldn't trust him with the task I had in mind.

Pulling Victor aside, I told him that this had to stay between us. Victor assured me that he would keep it a secret and do his job well. Not that he had a choice. Displeasing or disobeying a direct order from the leader was an instant disqualification of the inner circle. If that happened, said man would be shunned. Not too many men disappointed the leader. Being shunned was worse than a woman who was promiscuous.

Before they get officially shunned, the men were pulled through town naked and bound while the townspeople threw trash at them. At the end of the procession, the men get branded like cattle and cast to the outskirts of town where no one will talk to them again. 

The old leader let a few guys get away with displeasing or disobeying him, but I was not him and I was a stickler for the rules. Even the dumbest rules we had. I knew the last few leaders completely ignored a few rules because of how dumb they were, but now that I was the leader, they wouldn't go unpunished. Not one.

Looking at the watch on my wrist, I see that it has been two hours since I walked into Delphine's house and made her mine. I know that she is at the compound now. She was probably miserable, but I would change that. I just had some things to do before I made it back to the compound.

As leader, I had to make sure that our laws were upheld.

Walking into the bakery that Sammy's mother owned, I looked around. Every business in town was supposed to be spotless. The other leaders were lenient with that, but I wouldn't be. If I found any dust, dirt, or anything pertaining to a mess, Marcia would end up paying the consequences.

The booths were clean, as were the display cases.

Marcia walks out of the back and squeaks when she sees me.

"I'm sorry Mr. O'Grady. I didn't know you were here."

My eyes roam over the bakery. "Just here for a routine checkup. Making sure everything is clean." My eyes land on her. "You know that you can't tell anyone that I'm inspecting today, correct?"

"Rafe didn't care if we called and warned the others."

I smirk at her. "Yes, that was Rafe. I'm the new leader. I follow the laws completely. One infraction and you know the consequences."

Marcia swallows. "Of course, Mr. O'Grady." She sweeps her hand around the bakery. "Please, have a look around. You won't find anything."

I don't need her permission to look around. So I do it. I stop in front of the large case holding fresh made bread. There isn't a speck of dust or anything. Marcia looks smug until I walk by her and pull the ladder down for the attic. "You are aware that when you're told that every area is supposed to be clean, that meand the attic as well."

Marcia tries to stop me from heading up to the attic, but I shake her off effortlessly. As soon as I step into the attic, I sneeze. Dust is flying in every direction. Steps sound behind me, meaning that she had followed me upstairs. It's fine. She can follow me all she wants.

"Mr. O'Grady, I beg you to give me one day to clean up. It will be clean tomorrow. I promise!"

"You know the rules, Marcia." I turn to her. "Who is in charge of cleaning your shop? You, George, or Sammy?"

"George and I."

I so badly wanted it to be Sammy. Disappointment sets in. I may not have him where I want him yet, but I will. Sammy would slip up. Everyone slips up at some point.

"Tomorrow, noon. You will both be in the center of the town waiting for your punishment. Understood?" A tear slides down her face, but she nods. "Good. My wife and I will be there to witness."

"Wife?"

No one in town knows about us yet, but this is the perfect opportunity to let the word spread. Marcia was our resident gossip. If I ever wanted something to get around, she was the one to tell.

"Yes. Delphine Parker was chosen by me this afternoon."

Marcia shakes her head. "That poor girl. She has no idea what she's in for when it comes to you."

Her insult should bother me, but if anything, it feels like a compliment. "Delphine knows exactly what she's in for. She told me as much when I told her I had chosen her."

Being here with Marcia was beginning to make my skin crawl. I wanted to get to the compound and see how Delphine was settling in. That has to wait though. I have to go to at least one other place in town to make it look like I wasn't targeting Sammy and his family, even though I clearly am.

"Tomorrow, noon."

I make my way to the little convenience store down the road where I find dust on the windowsill. I guess Rafe gave these people too many chances. He was supposed to uphold out laws, not let people get away with breaking them. I gave the owners the same time and date as Marcia and her husband.

After I visited the little convenience store, I went to three more plaxes and found them all to be equally as dirty. At the end of my little visits, I had ten people who were going to be in the center of town to be disciplined. If no one took me serious after all of this, I would have to step my game up exponentially. 

Now I was on my way back to the comnpound. I have been away from Delphine for far too long. I'm anxious to see her. We weren't officially married yet, but we might as well be. Once you choose your wife, you can't send her away.

Only if there are extenuating circumstances. 

I make my way through the front door, just to walk into a frenzy of my men running around searching for something. I start running towards my room where Delphine is supposed to be holed up. If there is a threat, I will protect her with my life.

Before I make it to my room, a heavy hand lands on my shoulder. "She's gone, Dane. We can't find her anywhere."

That's impossible. Delphine knows the fucking rules!

"How long has she been gone?"

There is no way in hell that Delphine would run. She knows the consequences. She knows that I would get to pick the punishment to dole out in front of everyone. The punishment I picked would not be pleasant for her or her family.

"At least an hour. Everyone is out looking for her. She should be found shortly."

Then I remember that I told Joshua and Rita to let Delphine know she could explore her new home. "And you looked everywhere?" I have a sneaking suspicion that I know where my dolphin is, and she didn't try to disappear. It happened on accident.

"Everywhere but your office."

No one is allowed in my office. It is reserved for the leader only.

Turning on my heel, I run to my office. The door can only open from the outside. There is a secret exit that no one knows about. Once the door closes behind you, you end up trapped inside. If Delphine had known any of this, she wouldn't have gone inside the room.

My men follow me, telling me that there is no way that Delphine is in there. They're wrong. I can feel it in my bones that Delphine didn't run. She's trapped. If she isn't the room, then I will follow every possible lead to find her.

But they're wrong.

I fling the door open, and my suspicions are confirmed. Delphine is in the corner on the floor, crying.

"Dolphin,"