Page 72 of Kneeling for Them

I shake my head.“It was too dark.He was taller than me, that’s all I know.”

Rick speaks into the phone for a few minutes more.The small crowd of people stands protectively around us.My eyes fill with tears—not tears of fear or terror or even anger, but of gratitude.Everyone talks shit about the Bellefleur District, but right now, I’m surrounded by good people.

As soon as Rick gets off the phone, he says, “I told them that the would-be victim didn’t want to be involved, so there’s not much they can do.”

“I’m sorry, I just…I’ve been through a lot lately.”Am I selfish for not wanting to pursue this?I can’t even describe the guy.

“Hey, it’s your call,” Rick says, and several people nod in agreement.

“Thank you all for being here,” I tell them.

“I’ve called you a ride,” Rick says.“My treat.Get out your phone, Cinderella.”

“Cinderella?Oh, right.My stage name.”

He winks.

I take out my phone, and he recites his number for me, which I dutifully record.I text him quickly, so he’ll have my number as well, and he nods.

“You call me if you run into any trouble,” he says.“This block is the Kitty Cat’s, and we won’t stand for any foul play.”He frowns at the alley.“Someone must have busted those lights back there.I’ll get them replaced ASAP.”

“Thank you again,” I say.

“You’re welcome.”He nods toward the street.“There’s your ride, Cinder.”

Impulsively, I give him a hug.He pats my back awkwardly.

I get into the car with a wave, my body swirling with adrenaline and gratitude and residual fear.That could’ve gone so, so bad.

Kingston will want to know about this.I take out my phone to text him, but I stop before I type out two words.If I tell Kingston what happened, he’ll want to comfort me, and he probably won’t go to the beach house tomorrow to talk to Sebastian.

Sighing, I stow my phone in my bag again.I’ll tell him after things with Sebastian settle down.

Seventeen

Kingston

I wait until after rush hour to leave for the beach house.I’m driving myself, giving Garth the day off.As I’m about to walk out the door, Ella sends me a text along with an image.

Holy fuck.The picture shows her tits, encased in a pale pink bra.Her face isn’t included, which is the only thing that would make this image better, but I realize that would be whole different level of trust.The fact she’s sending it at all, after what she went through with my son, says a lot.

The text beneath it reads,Good morning, Daddy.

Good morning, baby girl,I write back.I’m leaving in a minute, but you make me want to stay.

Her response is immediate.No, go to the beach house and bring Sebastian home.

I will.Thank you for the sexy picture.

You’re welcome, Daddy.I love you.

I love you, too, little one.

I scroll back up to feast my eyes on her picture.What a perfect little girl.Damn.Now I’m going to be hard the whole way to Mirarosa.

The winding coastal road helps take my mind off of my dick.It’s a work day—it’s not like I’d be fucking Ella right now, anyway.In a perfect world, we’d be getting off work at the same time and relaxing together every evening before falling into bed together at night.

And every weekend, we’d be visiting the beach house and fucking each other until we can’t move.