Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
As they came out into the hallway, Angel saw Cherry standing a few feet
away, her mouth open in surprise and wild hope. “Come with us,” Angel
said. “You don’t have to stay here, but you must come now.”
“Duke—”
“Come now, or you’re going to spend the rest of your life in a place like
this. Or something worse.”
“Let me get my things—”
“Forget everything. Just leave it. Don’t even look back.” She hurried
down the corridor. Cherry stood undecided for a moment and then raced
after her. They came down the stairs together, and the stranger was there to
meet them. Duke was nowhere in sight. As the gentleman looked at the two
children with her, his face filled with wrath.
“I’m not going without them,” she said.
“Of course not.”
She nodded toward the stage door. “We can go out that way.”
“No.” His eyes were hard. “We’re going right out on the stage and
through the front doors.”
“What?” Angel said. Was he crazy? “We can’t!”
“We will. Let’s move.” His face was livid. “We’re going to expose this man
for the devil he is.” The little girl was crying and clutching at Angel’s blue
satin skirt, and Cherry was hugging close as well. “Here, I’ll carry the child,”
the gentleman said, but when he moved, the girl tried desperately to hide
behind her.
“She won’t let you touch her,” Angel said, kneeling and giving her a hug.
“Hold tight, sweetheart. I’m going to carry you.” She looked up at the
stranger and said firmly, “We won’t let anyone hurt you. Duke’s not going to
stop us.” The girl’s legs clamped around her waist as Angel straightened. Her
thin arms clung to Angel’s neck, and she appealed to the man. “Another way
would be safer.”
“This way is best.” He held the curtain aside.
“There are a dozen men who’ll stop us.”
“There isn’t a man in that room who’ll touch me.”
“Who do you think you are? God?”
“No, ma’am. Just Jonathan Axle, but I do own one of the largest banks in
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