Page 98 of Kneeling for Them

“Of Bastian’s?”

Unsure whether the truth will help or hurt, I decide to go for the truth.We’ve had enough lies lately.“Yeah, of Bastian’s.”

“Well, I’m working all day from home tomorrow,” she says.“You can swing by anytime between noon and three and I’ll take a break to chat.”

“Thank you so much, I can do that.”

“You’re really not with the press, right?”

“I swear,” I say.“I’m just trying to get some answers, for personal reasons.”

“Gotcha.I’ll send you the address.”

I don’t tell her that I already have her address, because what better way to freak out a total stranger?So I only say, “Thank you.”

Just as we say goodbye, muffled sounds come over the phone in the background.A child says, “Mama?”

I end the call, my hands shaking so much that it takes me three tries to hit the button in the right way.

Alyssa is a mom.

What if Sebastian has akid?

Kingston

Eight p.m.I’m still at the office.I fucking hate it.

I only have myself, and my fool of a son, to blame.

Ella should be getting off work now, though, so I text Garth, asking him to pick her up, and then I call Ella to let her know in case she’s gotten off of work early.

“Hey, I’m walking out of the pub right now,” she says.

“Hang tight—I just sent Garth your way.”

“You really don’t have to do that.”

I lower my voice.“I really do.”

I know she thinks I’m being overprotective, but after learning what happened to her on Monday?No way in hell am I letting her walk around that neighborhood.And as soon as Bash and I can convince her to quit, even better.

Messages start pinging on my computer.It’s fuckin’ eight p.m.I just want to go home.But if I don’t do this, no one else will.

“Tell me about your day,” I say to Ella.I can at least take some time to talk to my little girl.

“Well, I have some news, but I don’t know if I should share.”

Immediately intrigued, I sit back in my desk chair.“I want to hear any news you have.You know that.I love you, and your news is important.”

“Well, Sebastian loves me too, and he doesn’t want to hear about it,” she says.

“Tell me, then.We can worry about Bash later.”

“I found the woman that Trina says he abused.I’m going to talk to her.”

“Ella.”I take a deep breath.“Are you sure you want to do that?What if she tells you that Sebastian hurt her?”

“I need the truth, and I think Sebastian does, too.”