Page 62 of Kneeling for Them

Kingston frowns and pours himself a drink.“She’s going to listen.We’re going to figure this out.”

I shake my head and march toward the counter.Kingston doesn’t say a word as I pick up the bottle of whiskey.I hesitate, holding it in my hand, tempted to lift it to my lips and drink straight from the bottle.

“Are you waiting for me to tell you that’s a shitty idea?”Kingston asks.

“No,” I say, setting it down.

“When’s the last time you had a drink?”

“That night, almost seven years ago.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Not really.”

He nods, opens his mouth to say something, but then the elevator doors open and Ella steps into the penthouse.

“Ella.”Kingston takes long strides toward her and pulls her into his arms.

From this angle, I can see her hands fist the fabric of his t-shirt before she lets go and pushes him away.

“Is it true?”she asks, stepping around him to face me.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific, princess.”

“Don’t fucking call me that right now,” she says.“You know what I mean.Is it true?Trina said—”

She breaks off.She can’t even say it, the poor girl.

“Trina said…?”I prompt, because I’m an asshole.

Ella’s gaze flits from me, to Kingston.

“You should look at me when you tell me what myformeragent is saying about me,” I say, unable to keep the bite from my words.

“Bash,” King says sharply.

Ignoring him, I stalk forward until I’m standing toe to toe with Ella.“So?”I say, peering into those beautiful brown eyes.“What did she say?”

Her voice is barely above a whisper.“She said you hurt someone.A girl.”

“And you believe her.”I can’t look away from Ella.I’ve never been able to.She is magnetic.

“I don’t know what to believe.I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Oh,” I say with a laugh.“Isthatwhy you ran away from me when I came to pick you up from work?Because you wanted totalk to me first?”

She shakes her head slightly.I reach forward, snagging a tendril of curls that have escaped from her ponytail.

She doesn’t flinch, even though I expected her to.

She should goddamn flinch at me, a monster, touching her.My rage awakens—rage that one stupid night that I don’t even remember should ruin everything today.One stupid night where I ruined another person’s life.

Maybe it’s time that night ruined my life, too.

Maybe, all this time, I’ve been escaping my consequences, and here they are finally, here to break me.

“Is it true?”Ella whispers.