By the time she was out, he’d finished the coffee she’d started making and he’d gotten her a key.
He poured himself a travel mug.
She grabbed her cell and gave it to him. She also wandered to the door with him.
He kissed her there and muttered, “Bolt this after me.”
“Yes, master,” she teased.
“Already late. Don’t tempt me,” he warned.
Her lips twitched up, not a smile, not completely but it was something.
He’d take it.
For now.
“Six, babe.”
She nodded.
He left Olivia Shade in his house without him there, rolling the door closed himself.
He heard the bolt go.
Livvie safe inside, he walked to his Jag.
* * * * *
11:56 – Late That Morning
“Okay…” Knight said, his voice vibrating.
Nick watched his brother take a breath in through his nose.
Then he finished, “What?”
His brother was in his office, the door closed, Nick was giving him a full brief.
He’d just shared about Olivia’s scars.
Many would misunderstand Knight Sebring’s purpose of providing administration services, including client vetting as well as protection, to a stable of call girls. Most every human being would think he was doing it for the ten percent he got, making money off pussy.
He was not doing it for the ten percent.
He was doing it because he was Knight, a name that defined him, a baby born to a whore with the intent to use him as a shield. Knight had protected his mother for as long as he had memories. It was the first thing he’d learned to do.
Shit like that was hard to shake.
Needless to say, that being him, a woman being burned for any reason was not big with Knight Sebring.
“You heard me,” Nick said quietly. “We aren’t that far with figuring shit out so she hasn’t shared the story direct, but from what she said, she had somethin’ with Tom Leary and her dad didn’t like it. Made his point. She says her dad owns her and she’s terrified as fuck he’s gonna find out about us and hurt me.”
“He burned her.”
“Knight, brother, need you to focus.”
“He burned his fucking daughter.”