Page 29 of Kneeling for Daddy
“Long story. One for another day with far too much wine.” She laughs. “But seriously, I know what happened last night. Men like Nik… and Cillian and Enzo… they aren’t normal men. They love differently. When you belong to a King, they’ll burn the world to the ground for you. All of them. Because there is nothing they wouldn’t do to protect this family.”
“I know,” I whisper, surprising myself with how small my voice sounds. I’ve heard straight from Nik’s mouth the ends he would go to ensure no one hurt me, and I experienced it last night. When things went sideways in the club, Enzo materialized out of thin air to whisk me away. With his strong arms wrapped securely around me and his body shielding me from what was happening, he promised me that everything would be okay and that I was safe. As terrifying and chaotic as the entire situation was, there wasn’t an ounce of me that didn’t believe him.
By the time our nails are polished to perfection, I almost feel normal again. Madison insists on coffee. We sit in the corner of a little café, sipping lattes and laughing over nonsense. With her bodyguard hovering a table away, we swap stories—childhood crushes, embarrassing moments, and favorite books.And I make a note to visit Eavan’s bookshelf.The distance between us shrinks with each passing second, and I feel like I’ve known her my entire life. I find myself telling her things about myself that I rarely share with other people, and in that moment, I’m actually glad she dragged me out.
My phone buzzes loudly—and repeatedly—against the metal-topped table.
NIK
Where are you?
I told you not to leave the building.
Answer me, Ani.
“Oh shit!” Madison exclaims, seeing the message. “I didn’t think… I didn’t realize I was going to get you in trouble.”
“It’s fine,” I lie. “He’s a lot of talk.”
“Really?” Madison sounds surprised as she flags down the waiter for our check, her hands fidgeting with the credit card already in her hand.
“Yeah,” I exhale, as the phone buzzes again in my hand.
Last chance before I come find you.
My stomach drops.
Don’t be ridiculous.
Ridiculous?
I’m with Madison, and we’re paying the bill now.
I’ll be home soon.
His reply comes instantly.
I told you not to leave the building.
There will be consequences for your disobedience. And you’ll be learning them when you get home.
The short ride back to the apartment feels like the slow descent into hell. My palms are sweaty, and my heart pounds harder with every mile we grow closer to home. Nik is on the other sideof the door, waiting impatiently for me with a scowl carved into his face.
He stands in the middle of the living room with his sleeves rolled to his elbows. His posture is deceptively calm, but the storm in his eyes makes my stomach flop. “Where the fuck have you been?” he asks, so controlled that my skin prickles.
I hesitate for a second, mustering the courage for my single-worded answer. “Out,” I sass with the bratty annoyance of a teenager being interrogated for breaking curfew.
“Out?” he parrots with a dark, humorless laugh. He angrily tugs at his tie to loosen it.
I open my mouth, ready with a snarky retort, but the words die on my tongue when I meet his eyes. They bore through me, so hot that my skin flushes as he slowly pulls the tie from around his neck.
“This isnothow good little pets behave,” he declares, tossing his tie. The charcoal silk flutters through the air. It lands on the coffee table, falling on top of a black leather collar and matching leash.
Ani’s eyes widen the moment she sees the collar. The silver D-ring on the front gleams, catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows. My pulse spikes, and her posture tense as her chest begins to rise and fall a little faster.
I stalk toward her, the weight of my gaze pinning her in place harder than my hands ever could. “I told younotto leave the building,” I admonish, speaking each word with deliberate annunciation as I circle her. “And what did you do?”
She swallows audibly, her throat bobbing. “I went out with Madison. It wasn’t?—”
