Page 8 of Kneeling for Them
“Some asshole broke into her apartment.The door’s busted.”
“She can stay with me.”
He grins.“Already claimed her for my place.”
“Your shower isn’t as good as mine,” I say, frowning.How did he already claim her?I look at my phone, and the screen doesn’t show any notifications from Ella.“So she called you, but not me?”
He shrugs.“I guess so.You had very important work to do, after all.”
I don’t like the way he says that.He knows I just fired Joel, who, despite being a world-class asswipe, was actually doing a decent job.Not a great job, but a decent one.So now, not only do I need to help reassure clients that our company isn’t being taken over by hackers, but I need to find someone to take over Joel’s duties.
I grab my things and join Sebastian, and we head downstairs to where his car is waiting.I glance at my blank phone again, wondering why Ella didn’t call me.
Fuck.I really need a business partner, or this place needs a new CEO so I can take more time off.Life goes too fast for it to all be spent working.I need to be available in case Ella needs me.Our relationship is new, but she’s more important than anything.
Bash’s driver takes us to the Bellefleur District.Pedestrians hurry along the sidewalk, bundled up against the chilly evening.
“There she is,” I say, nodding toward her building.She’s standing on the front step, wearing her tattered coat and holding a backpack.
I open the door as soon as Kellan, Bash’s driver, pulls to a stop at the curb.Hurrying over to Ella, I take her in my arms for a tight hug.I step back, looking her over.“Where’s the rest of your things?”
“This is about it,” she says, looking down at the backpack.“The apartment manager nailed the broken door shut.He said he’ll order a new one…we’ll see if he remembers.”
“I hate that this happened.Are you okay?When was the break-in?Was anything stolen?”
Bash has climbed out of the car and he hugs her before she can answer.Her voice is muffled against his shoulder as she says, “Just my keyboard.”
“That’s a weird thing to take,” I say, frowning.“Not the computer?”
“Wrong kind of keyboard,” Bash says.“You had one for music, didn’t you?”
Ella blinks rapidly.Her eyes are wet with unshed tears.She’s putting on a good show, but she’s a wreck inside, I can tell.
“Come on, baby,” I say.“We’re taking you to my apartment and we’ll feed you and take care of you, okay?”
“Okay…but I thought we were going to Sebastian’s?”
“King’s is closer,” Bash says as we get into the car with Ella.“You can stay with me, though, if you want.”
“Will we all be together, either way?”she asks, her voice sounding small.
“Yes,” I say, taking her hand while Bash buckles her in between us.
“Okay, wherever is closer,” she says, looking exhausted.
“Kellan, we’re going to King’s,” Bash says.
His driver nods, and Bash raises the privacy screen.
“Now,” Bash says, “tell us what happened.”
Ella nods.“I’ve already spoken to the police.But basically, I came home after my cleaning shift to change clothes, and found my door broken.The police came, and…that’s it.We don’t know who did it.I hate to think it was my brother, but he always needs money, and…no.I can’t think that about him.He wouldn’t.”
I exchange a look with Bash over Ella’s head.He nods.We’ll find this brother of hers.We’ll buy her a new keyboard.Hell, I’ll get her a new apartment if she’ll let me.
“What did the police say?”I ask.
She gives a snort of annoyance.“Nothing helpful.It’s Bellefleur.This kind of shit happens all the time.”
