I swallow. He’s so intense. It’s like he considers me a foregone conclusion. In many ways, it seems like I’ve been here a year instead of a day.
“Two days ago, I might have said I was a Daddy through and through, believing that I wouldn’t be happy without finding an adult Little girl who wanted to be with someone who takes care of her, but…”
“But what?” I ask.
“But then I met you, and, Eloise, I’m not kidding. You make me realize I shouldn’t be so rigid about my expectations from a woman. If you hate age play, we won’t do it.”
Age play… My mind is reeling.
“Now, I want to say one more thing, and then we’re going to eat.” His fingers are still on my cheek, and he slides them down to my neck. “Black Blade Protection is one of the country’s leading agencies for finding and protecting people. I want you to know that I have no doubt that, with the minuscule amount of information I have about you, I could discover everything you’re hiding within a few hours. Mace is our computer genius. He’d have it done even faster.”
I gasp and start shaking.
“I don’t say that to scare you. I’m telling you that because I’d rather hear directly from you what you’re running from. I’ve asked Blade to hold off on having Mace digging into your past until I say so. They won’t wait forever because they’re as concerned about what we’re dealing with as I am, but they’re giving me a chance to talk to you first.”
“You don’t even know my name,” I blurt. I’m freaking out. Could anyone else look me up like he’s suggesting his people can?
“I assume you’re telling me the truth that your first name is Eloise, Little one.”
“Yeah, but that’s not enough.” My panic is growing.
“It’s more than enough. I’m guessing you were raised in the southern Appalachians. Kentucky or Tennessee. Perhaps Virginia. You’re twenty-two, so you probably went to high school in that area until about four years ago. Eloise is a pretty rare name. I could find you, angel.” His words are kind and gentle, but the implication has me wanting to run from the room, the apartment, and the building.
Fear makes it hard for me to breathe.
Cannon slides off his chair and pulls me into his arms. He holds me close and rubs my back. When he kisses the top of my head, I fall apart and start sobbing.
“Shh. You’re okay. No need to panic. I don’t care what’s happened to you, Eloise. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.” He tips my head back and holds my gaze. “I’m going to be honest. I suspect you might have killed a man for whatever he did to you. If that’s the case, good for you and good fucking riddance. I just need you to trust me enough to tell me the details so I can make it go away.”
Tears drip down my cheeks. He’s serious. He’s fucking deadly serious. He doesn’t even know me well enough to bring me into his apartment. What if I were a conniving lunatic and robbed him blind? The idea that, on top of that, he would clean up the mess I left behind and give me a high-five at the same time is impossible to comprehend.
“Tell me one thing, Eloise. If I had your full name and searched for you in a police database, would I find a warrant for your arrest?”
I answer him honestly. “Yes, but I didn’t do anything I’m accused of.”
He smiles. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
Oh, I have a fuck of a lot to worry about.
Chapter Fourteen
Eloise
* * *
It takes me several minutes to calm down enough before I start tasting the sandwich I’m eating. It’s delicious, but Cannon dropped several bombs before we started eating.
I’m in a silent panic as I try to absorb his words. It’s a lot. Between the unusual lifestyle he enjoys and the fact that he’s inevitably going to track down my truths, I’m crumbling.
What do I have to lose? I’ve never committed a crime in my life. I’ve never even stolen a piece of candy. For as often as I was tossed around from one family to another in my childhood, I never misbehaved or gave anyone trouble. Yet…
When we finish lunch, Cannon takes me by the hand and guides me into the living room. He sits in a giant recliner and lifts me onto his lap so I’m sideways. “Do you mind sitting with me, Little one?”
I shake my head.
“I know I’ve upset you. Do you want to talk about it?”
I swallow. “I didn’t kill anyone, and I’ve never done drugs. I’ve never even touched them. I’ve never stolen anything. I’ve never even broken a single law.”
