Page 54 of Kneeling for Them

Instead of looking at his face, I focus on his shoes, the ratty laces tied into knots because he never wants to take the time to do a bow, so he just slips his sneakers on and off.

“You’re still my brother,” I tell his shoes, “but we’re not hanging out anymore.I don’t want to see you, I don’t want to hear from you.”

He steps back as if I’ve struck him.“Never?”

This would break our father’s heart.I can’t say never.“Not never,” I say, “but a good long while.”

“You meannever,” he says.“I should’ve known you wouldn’t understand.It’s why I hid, Ella.I’m trying to protect you.”

“You could protect me by going to the motherfucking police!Turn in the goons you owe money to.Ask for help from people who are equipped to help you, rather than stealing from me when I havenothing.”

“You have rich-as-fuck sugar daddy,” he says, gesturing with his chin toward my bedroom.

He’s starting to sound like Joel, judging me for who I’m having sex with.Anger washes over and through me, coating everything in a red haze.

“Get the fuck away from me,” I say.“Maybe it isnever.I don’t know right now.All I know is I can’t stand the sight of you.You’ve hurt me over and over again, Tommy, and it stops now.”

“Fine,” he says, “if you’re going to be such a cow, I’ll leave.Don’t expect me to come running every time you text or call.”

“Oh, you’ve proven you won’t already,” I say.

Shaking his head, Tommy yanks open my door and leaves the apartment.

Damn him.

I start to sink into my crappy sofa when I remember that Kingston is still here, waiting in my room.I’m halfway there when he opens my bedroom door.

“I heard him leave.”

“You probably heard everything,” I say, moving toward him even though I’m afraid he’s going to distance himself from me.

He nods.A small smile plays on his lips, made handsomer by the whiskers highlighting his face.“He was wrong, though.I onlywishI was your sugar daddy.”

I can’t help it—I laugh.

“I’d give you the world if you’d let me.”He grabs my hand and tugs me to him.

Pressing myself against him, feeling how hard he is already, I whisper, “You already have.”

“You know I don’t care about where you come from or where you live,” he whispers, spinning us around and backing me toward the bed.“I only care about who you are.And Ella, I’m falling in love with you.Let me?”

I reach into his pants, feel how hard he is, the skin smooth, stretched over his impressive length.“Yes,” I whisper.“I’ll let you.Because I’m falling in love with you, too.”

We haven’t talked much about the other terrible part of my day—when Sebastian was clear that he didn’t want me working with his agent.My heart’s been shredded and battered multiple times today.

But here in Kingston’s arms, in my tiny, creaky bed, I can feel myself coming back together again.

“Open your legs for me, sweetheart,” he groans.“Let Daddy in.”

Thirteen

Kingston

Something happened between Ella and Sebastian.I knew when she didn’t act excited about the prospect of me inviting him over to my place along with her last night.I didn’t push the matter, because she’d just had that gut wrenching conversation with her dipshit of a brother.

But no more.

And this time, I’m going to the source of the problem.I tell my personal assistant that I’m taking a long lunch break, then I call Garth to give me a ride to Bash’s place.