Page 81 of Kneeling for Them

“Daddy,” I say.

“Daddy…”

“That kiss is for luck.You’re going to need a lot of it tonight, because Bash and I are going to teach you a lesson for keeping things like last night from us.”

“Sebastian wasn’t even talking to me last night,” she says.

“Cinderella!”Rick calls.“No more making out—get up here and sing, girl!”

“Iwas talking to you last night,” I say, my voice deep with anger.“You could’ve told me.And Bash would’ve wanted to know, too.”

Biting her lip, she nods.“I have to go—it’s my turn to sing.”

I reluctantly release her and take my seat again.She walks to Rick, a little flounce in her step.She says something to him, probably telling him what song she’ll sing.He nods and taps on his phone screen while Ella climbs the steps to get on the low stage.She adjusts the mic and says, “Testing.”

“Is Bastian joining you?”someone hollers from one of the tables.

“Not tonight,” she says.

There’s a groan of disappointment, but Ella just gives them a brilliant smile that shows off the dimple in her left cheek, and they quiet down.

Ella clears her throat and speaks into the microphone.“Tonight I’ll be singing ‘A Mistake,’ by Fiona Apple.It’s an older one, but a good one.I dedicate it to Kingston.”

My eyes narrow at her as the music starts.There’s a slinky, bad girl vibe to the song, and Ella sounds fucking amazing.She moves her body slightly with the music—not dancing, but showing that she’s really getting into it.

And the lyrics.Fuck.What a bad girl she is.I exchange a look with Bash as Ella sings about making mistakes on purpose, and how it’s fun to ignore the rules and do what’s wrong.

He nods at me.He’s hearing the message, too.This is a girl who is now pushing our buttons on purpose.

The crowd fucking loves it.Of course they do.Ella’s pure sin with the voice of an angel.They applaud, beg for more, but Ella gives them a little bow and a wave, and then she’s hurrying from the stage and back to our table.

I leave some cash to cover our bill before hauling that girl out of the place.I’m tempted to go full caveman and throw her over my shoulder, but we are in public and she was just attacked yesterday—and I don’t yet know the details.

Which makes me fucking insane with rage.If I ever find the guy who did it, he’ll wish he was never born.

I text Garth, who pulls up at the curb.I nod at Bash to climb in first, so we can put Ella between us.

“Let’s go to my place,” Bash says.He probably wants to show Ella the cat.I can’t believe he has a cat now, but okay.

“Take off your bra,” I say to her as soon as I’ve raised the privacy screen between us and Garth.

She shakes her head.“I—”

“I am not asking,” I say.“It’s not a request, little girl.You’ve been naughty, and unless you use your safe word, you’re going to face the consequences for disappointing your daddies.”

“Look,” she says.“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want it to interfere with Sebastian coming home.”

I send Bash a dark look.If he hadn’t left, Ella wouldn’t have had to choose between complete honesty with us and bringing him home again.But in the end, it was her choice.It was the wrong one, as far as I’m concerned, but I can understand why she did it.

Really, right now, this is less about punishing her, and more about reminding her that we care.It’s more about reassuring all of us that we’re here and she’s safe.

But then she pulls off her shirt and removes her bra.Sitting up straight, she gives me a sassy look and says, “There.Happy?”

“Happy…Daddy,” I say.

She sighs like it’s such an onerous reminder and says, “Happy…Daddy?”

“I cannot wait to warm this ass with my palm,” Sebastian says.“In the meantime…” He reaches over and cups one of Ella’s tits, weighing it in his hand.“Fuck, princess.You’re so soft.”