Page 33 of Arrow

“Perfect,” Emilee lied, clenching her jaw.

“Maybe you should go home. I mean, you can’t be having any fun sitting here alone. Of course, that would require you to have a home to go to. Oh, that’s right, you're homeless right?” One girl said.

“No, she’s staying with Arrow. He took her in like a stray kitten,” another woman said.

“How nice of him to take in the city stray,” the first girl replied.

“Why are you bothering me? I didn’t do anything to you,” Emilee asked them.

“No, that’s true. But, you did a lot to Catie. You let her be kidnapped and didn’t get help. Who does that? Catie is one of my best friends and I don’t think it’s right for you to hang out in places she deems safe. Can’t you move somewhere else? Or is that part of your game? Do you get off on making people uncomfortable?” Mia asked.

“I didn’t leave her!” Emilee said, trying desperately to tell her side of the story. But, like the night at The Citadel, they wouldn’t hear it, didn’t believe her.

“If Catie said you left her, we are going to believe her story. If you’d gotten help, why did it take the police so long to find her?” Mia asked. “Oh yeah, because you are a liar!”

The pressure built inside of Emilee, an emotional crescendo that threatened to spill over. And then, with Mia’s words, it did. “Just leave me alone!” she suddenly exploded, her voice sharp and loud enough to slice through the heavy air. Heads turned, conversations paused, and in that moment, Emilee wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Tears pricked at her eyes—traitorous, unwanted—but she refused to let them fall.

“Whoa, tantrum much?” The girl to the left of Mia said with a laugh.

“What is going on here?” A familiar voice cut through the turmoil, deep and steady. The girls around her dispersed. Arrow. Emilee's gaze snapped up to meet his clear, concerned eyes. How much had he seen?

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Trinity texted me when you didn’t come back from the bathroom. She came looking for you and saw the girls around you and thought you’d need me.”

“I’m fine,” Emilee mumbled, her words tinged with embarrassment and resentment.

Arrow's presence reminded her of how far she had spiraled out of control. He assessed her with those analytical eyes thatmissed nothing, and she knew—knew—that he recognized this dance of hers. The push and pull of her emotions that so often left her stumbling. Why couldn’t she not care what other people thought about her? Why did it matter so much?

“Let's step outside,” he suggested, his hand extending toward her, and she took it, feeling the rough calluses against her palm.

Out in the crisp winter air, Emilee sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm the storm within her chest. Arrow didn't speak immediately; he simply stood beside her, offering silent strength.

“Talk to me, Kitten,” he finally said, his voice gentle yet firm. “What happened in there?”

“Nothing I can't handle,” she insisted, but her voice cracked like thin ice underfoot.

Arrow shook his head slightly. “That wasn't nothing, Kitten.”

She looked up at him, her defenses crumbling under the weight of his scrutiny. “I just... I don't fit in with them, Daddy,” she admitted, the title slipping out with a mixture of reverence and desperation. “They don’t like me. I don’t think they will ever believe my side of the story.”

“Then maybe it's time to stop trying to tell it,” he responded simply. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand, rubbing it tenderly.

“Easy for you to say,” she huffed, a stubborn streak lighting up her words.

“Never said it was easy,” Arrow countered, “but you've got me. And I'm not going anywhere. You’ve got Trinity, Delilah and Makenzie. You have the entire Watchmen family. Stop chasing girls who don’t matter. If they mattered, they’d listen to your side and get to know you. They don’t want to know the truth, Kitten, and nothing you say will change their minds.”

“Daddy, can we go home? I… remember when you said you would give me a therapeutic spanking if I ever needed it?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Think we could… I need…” She needed release. She needed pain. She needed to not be in control. But, she didn’t want to act out to get it. He nodded as if he could read her thoughts.

“Yes, Kitten. Let’s go home.”

CHAPTER 14

EMILEE

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