Page 79 of Kneeling for Them

“No, of course I do,” I say.“It’s just—”

“Hey, are you Bastian Crown?”a woman asks from a few seats down the bar.

Sebastian gives her a tight smile.“Yeah.”

“My older sisters always loved your music, but I never understood it until I saw you sing with that girl…wait…was ither?”She points at me.“Holy crap.”

Her friends shush her, and Kingston takes my hand to lead me out of the pub.I wave goodbye to Natasha, who gives me a big smile and wave back.It’s been a good night.Bartleby’s doesn’t usually let everyone keep tips, but on a big game night, Kevin makes an exception.I have an extra hundred bucks in my purse, all in ones and fives.

Somehow, Sebastian extricates himself from the conversation with the woman at the bar and meets us outside the pub.

“Doing okay?”Kingston asks him as we start to walk down the block.

I squeeze his hand gently—he’s worried about Sebastian, just like I am.It’ll be good to get home and talk about everything.

But first I have to get through the karaoke lounge.Maybe I can tell them right now.But how do I even bring it up?

Before I know it, we’re at the entrance to Kitty Cat Karaoke, and Sebastian is pushing open the door.Rick waits at a little podium just inside.

“This is new,” I say, pointing to the podium and hoping to keep the conversation directed away from what happened last night.

“Yep.Makes the place look more professional.”He grins.“So, who’s singing and who’s paying?”

“I’m singing,” I say, then look over at Sebastian, who shakes his head slightly.So he’s not singing.Maybe it’s best, if he’s already freaked out about dealing with the past, although at some point, I’d love to sing with him again.There was something magical about being up there on that stage, our voices blending together so perfectly.

Sebastian pays the cover for him and Kingston and we start to walk past Rick.

“Hey, Cinderella,” Rick says before we get too far.“I’m glad to see you brought some bodyguards with you this time.Are you doing okay after last night?”

Kingston and Sebastian give me a questioning look.

“I’m doing great,” I say, hoping he won’t say any more.

“Did you see the lights in the alley?”he asks.“Just like I promised, and then some.”

“I did, and thank you.They’re beautiful.”I was truly touched to see them when I walked from the bus stop to Bartleby’s earlier this evening.

He grins.“I’m glad you’re doing okay.Let me know if you need anything.”

I nod and hurry the guys toward a booth at the back of the club.I sit on one of the benches and Kingston slides in after me.Sebastian shrugs out of his leather jacket, revealing his glorious tattoos.Then he sits down across from us, his hazel eyes intent on mine.I sneak a peek over at Kingston, who is looking as stern as ever.

Damn, it shouldn’t turn me on so much that they look seconds away from spanking me, but it does.

Still, they don’t know anything yet that I’ve done wrong.If all goes well, I can wriggle my way out of this and tell them later, on my own terms.

A server comes up to take our drink order.He looks like he wants to ask Sebastian for an autograph, but he restrains himself.Sebastian orders an iced tea, Kingston orders some kind of whiskey that I can’t pronounce, and I order a hard cider.

“So the trip back from the coast went okay for each of you?”I ask, drumming my hands on the edge of the sticky table.

“Yeah,” Kingston says in a light tone.“Hardly any traffic.”

Sebastian nods.“My drive was easy, but noisy.”

“Noisy?”

He grins.“I brought someone with me.You can meet him later.”

Intrigued, I open my mouth to ask who he brought, but just then, our server returns with our drinks.