Page 55 of Compelled Obedience

Then without giving him a second look, I flew out the door.

So much for the bad girl inside of me.

CHAPTER 14

Grant

Star Angel.

I chuckled as I thought about her reaction to the spanking. That hadn’t been gentlemanly of me but was also borderline sexual harassment. She’d been surprised at my demands, yet amiable to being taught her first lesson. I’d decided not to let her in on a secret that I’d almost fired Madisen twice before, the bad boy inside of me glad Star had protected herself.

“Hey, Drake. It’s Grant. I have a pupil I’m going to likely send you next week. She’s an ingénue, a new employee to Blackout but very much wants to work in the confines of Carnal Sins. I believe she’s an excellent candidate, but it will take time. Call me tomorrow so we can talk about a plan for her training.”

After ending the call, I shoved the phone into my pocket, studying the dim lighting in Kerri’s neighborhood. Several of the streetlights were out, which were the county’s responsibility. It pissed me off that the officials didn’t seem to take as much care with the more impoverished neighborhoods. If I remembered correctly, there were at least two members who worked for public utilities.

They would hear from me in the morning.

As I pulled onto her street, I knew I was risking what relationship we did have coming unannounced but as I’d already told her, I wasn’t the kind of man to take no for an answer. Plus, I knew she was in real danger. Lachlan’s concern alone helped me realize how worried I should be. I’d decided that she was coming with me, whether I had to carry her out to the car or not.

I found a parking spot close to her building and glanced up at the windows. A light was on in her apartment.

As I climbed out, I thought about the other phone call I’d made, one that if it worked could change her life. Knowing Kerri, she’d be pissed at me but it was a chance worth taking. She deserved more in life.

I crossed the street, careful to pay attention if anyone was either following me or paying attention to her building. Fortunately, the night was quiet, the traffic minimal.

It was disconcerting how easy it had been to gain access to her apartment. After pressing every apartment’s button on the intercom system, I only needed to wait for ten seconds before I heard a buzz then a click indicating I’d been allowed access to the main lobby.

I was definitely going to find her another place to live. It would be another fight with her, but one I would win.

A grin remained on my face as I took the stairs two at a time. As soon as I made it to the landing, I heard a sound that I couldn’t distinguish. It sounded like someone was having a meltdown inside her apartment.

There were dogs barking, televisions turned up to full blast, but there was no doubt the horrific sound was coming from her place. I pounded on the door, listening to see if the noise stopped. When it didn’t seem as if she was going to open the door, I pounded again even louder. “Kerri. Let me in. What’s happening?”

I knocked a third time and was certain I could hear footsteps, but I was also certain I heard wailing. If Kerri didn’t open the door, I was going to break it down. No one would ever hurt her again as long as I was alive.

When the door was pitched open, the exasperated girl on the other side had a look of relief and fear on her face.

And it wasn’t Kerri.

She was frazzled, so much so beads of sweat were running down both sides of her face. Very young, her long dark blonde hair was in strings around her face. The apartment was sweltering, but it was the wailing that I knew was exasperating her more than anything.

“Who are you? I can’t do anything. Kerri isn’t here. Just come back.” When she started to close the door, I stuck my foot in the doorway.

“I’m a friend of Kerri’s. What in the hell is going on? Where is she?”

“She’s working. If you’re a friend, then you know that.” She threw a look over her shoulder.

I noticed a flash out of the corner of my eye. What the hell?

“At work? The school? No, the club. Blackout or something. I need to go. Casey is having a severe meltdown and I can’t seem to get it to stop.”

Casey? When a little face appeared again, a young boy who was beyond hysterical, I was floored. Hold on. Kerri. Was it possible?

Oh, dear God. She was Star Angel. How had I not figured that out? I knew the curve of her body, the way it felt in my hand. I’d sensed something but hadn’t been able to put my finger on it. She’d hidden a huge part of her life from me. Now, I understood why.

“Please, mister, I don’t know who you are, but I need to go.”

When the child flew out across the room toward me, I bent down to keep him from jetting out the door. Then I had the shock of a lifetime when the little boy flew between my legs, throwing his arms around me.

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