Page 77 of Kneeling for Them

We travel from Dorado Heights to the Bellefleur District and watch the buildings get smaller, the sidewalks darker.I don’t love that Ella lives and works in this area.She’s our little girl, and I feel like I’m not doing my job as her daddy by allowing her to run around without me in a dangerous neighborhood.Maybe I’m old-fashioned or something, but it’s part of my life calling, part of the way my mind works, to take care of her.And it pisses me the fuck off that she won’t let me.

“We need to get her out of here,” I say.

Kingston nods.

“Once we figure out where she stands with my past, then we’re moving her in with one of us.Me or you, I don’t care.And she can quit this job at the pub, if she wants.If not, we’re sending her here with a driver.”

Staring out the window, he says, “Sounds good.”

“You’re not listening to me,” I say.“What’s up?”

Looking startled, Kingston turns back and says, “Sorry.I was just thinking, I’d really like to hear her sing.”

“Well, the Kitty Cat lounge is down the street a little ways.”

He nods.“Yeah, I like that idea, if she’s up for it.And it’s not far from the pub?”

We’re passing it, so I point.“It’s right there next to—huh.I wonder what that’s about.”

“What?”

I gesture at the alley near the karaoke place.The usual light back there is brighter than usual, and several strands of twinkly lights have been draped around the building, anchored to the window ledges and providing even more light to the alley.It’s really weird because the alley doesn’t boast more than a couple of dumpsters.It also has loading docks for delivery trucks, but that’s hardly a thing to highlight, either.

Kingston just shrugs.

“Hey, what is up with you?”I ask.“Your distraction isn’t all about wanting to hear Ella sing.”

He sighs.“Rayanne’s been driving me fucking crazy.She wants me to hire back Joel.”

“Fuck no,” I say.

“That’s basically what I told her.”

Rayanne.What a nightmare.I’m grateful every day that King and I never shared her.

Garth pulls up outside the pub, and King and I climb out of the car.Bartleby’s looks crowded, with a few people gathered around outside, and the area around the door full of people coming and going and waiting around.The servers are hustling, the bartender is rushing through drink orders.

“I’ve never seen it so crowded,” I say to Kingston.

We make our way farther into the place, and I’m pleased to see a couple of open stools at the bar.King and I snag them and wait until the bartender is free to order a beer for King and an iced tea for me.

“Any food?”the bartender asks.

“Some fries,” King says.Looking over at me, he adds, “We might be waiting for Ella longer than we’d thought.”

“Yeah, why is it so busy?”I ask the bartender.

“Game night,” he says, pointing to a television screen I hadn’t noticed in the corner.There’s no game on, but he continues, “The Bandits won, so everyone’s here to celebrate.”

He puts our drinks down in front of us and soon after, brings us a plate of fries.

I turn halfway on my stool so I can survey the dining room.Ella seems to shine brighter than everyone else in the room—I see her immediately as she checks in at a table and retrieves a couple of empty glasses, presumably to bring back to the bar.

She turns around and looks up, finally.She sees me watching her.She smiles so brilliantly, it makes my chest ache.

But as she makes her way toward us, her smile transforms into an angry scowl.

Without saying a word to me, she goes to Kingston’s side and addresses the man behind the bar.“Kevin, I’m about done for the night.My tables are all settled up, and Natasha and Nicholas can handle the rest.”