“You already know,” I said. “Dawn will be going with either you or Zack; the least likely places someone would look for her.” Of course, she looked at me when I said her name and I couldn’t help but gently smile at her, letting her know everything wasokay.
“Now, let me meet this girl who’s kept you home from your job for so long,” hegrinned.
“Come, Dawn,” I said. She stood, her body stiff. I could see the fear in her eyes as she walked to me. How many men had used her? What had they done to make her sopliable?
She relaxed a little as I took her hand, which in turn made me feel better. I led her around the desk and stopped in front of Kaleb. Lifting her head up with my finger under her chin, and then stroking her cheek, I smiled, showing no harm would come toher.
“Dawn, this is Kaleb.” She briefly looked him over before lowering her eyes as soon as I dropped my hand from her face. “There will come a time when you might have to go with him, but only as a means to keep you safe. He won’t ever hurt you in any way. His wife would never allow him to doso.”
“Yeah, Kelly would have my nuts on a platter,” Kaleb joked. “How old are you,anyway?”
“Nineteen, I think, Sir,” she answered quietly, squeezing my handtightly.
“You look younger,” he said, tilting his head as he looked at her a bitcloser.
I moved towards the chair on his right, with Dawn following. Once I sat down, I pulled her so she could sit in my lap. She scrunched up as much as she could, with her head between my neck and shoulder and her legs laying over the armrest. Her face was towards Kaleb, even though her hair was mostly covering theview.
“Yes. She was only fourteen when she was taken. With the lack of food, she will look younger. Once we get her back to good and healthy eating habits, she should gain some weight. Her mother didn’t look her age at all untilrecently.”
“You grew up together,correct?”
“We did. I don’t know how much she remembers from her childhood,” I answered, squeezing her hand inreassurance.
“I’m sure Joslyn has stories,” he winked at me. “And I bet you were a cute baby and handsome little man. Kaleb would never be unfaithful to Kelly, but he was just naturally a flirt. He gave me a wink and turned his attention toDawn.
“Dawn, can I ask you a few questions?” he said quietly but with authority. He became the Dom and special agent in charge that I knew so well after over six years. He kept his voice calm, but the authority and respect that he demanded just by his presence werethere.
Dawn only nodded, burying herself more into me, if it were possible. I hoped she might be beginning to see me as her safeplace.
