Page 92 of Kneeling for Them

“Coworkers,” I say.Not that it’s her business.

“Oh, she’s quite pretty.I was wondering if that’s the maid, because if so, wow.She cleans up well.”

I don’t have to stand here and listen to her insult my Ella.

“Good luck with the move,” I tell her, and then I turn around and walk the fuck away.

This isn’t going to be good.

Ella

I feel like the entire world is weighing on me by the time I’m done at the pub.And when I step outside?Kingston’s driver is standing at the curb next to a car.

“Hi, Garth,” I say.

He nods and opens the rear door for me.“Hi, Miss Marchand.”

“Call me Ella, please.”

“Ella,” he says, helping me into the car.

Kingston isn’t in the back seat.

“He has to work late,” Garth says, “but he wanted to make sure you had a ride home after a long day.”

Despite wishing Kingston were here, I smile at Garth.“Well, that was friendly.”

I buckle in and lean back for the ride back to my apartment.It isn’t far at all, so in no time, I’m hopping out of the car and waving goodbye to Garth with anotherthank you.

Then I hurry into my building and up to my apartment.After getting into more comfortable clothes, I take out my phone and dial Kingston.

“Hi, little girl,” Kingston says, his voice a growl.

His voice alone just stirs me all up.Amazing.

“Hey, Daddy,” I say.“Thanks for sending Garth to pick me up.You know you didn’t have to do that, right?”

“I worry about how safe that area is,” he says.“We’re going to have a talk about that soon—you and me and Bash.”

It’s probably an overdue conversation, but wow, I don’t want to have it.But he said “soon,” which means, not right now, so I say, “Well, I have a question for you.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Sebastian’s cousin found my brother, you said?I wanted to thank her.”It’s the truth—I’d been meaning to, but forgot about it after everything else happened.

“Oh, yeah.Lin Rosewood.Want me to forward her contact info?”

“Yes, thanks,” I say.

He’s quiet, then my phone buzzes and a little banner shows at the top, with Lin’s name and number.

“Now I have a question for you,” he says.

“Okay, what is it?”

“Why are you asking me for Lin’s info, instead of asking Bash?”

Shit.