I gave a nod, more to myself than to Beckett, whose eyes didn’t leave me until I was fully out of sight.
With each step away, something warred inside me. I wanted to turn back, to beg a man, any man, to force me to kneel at their feet. But I also wanted to run away, to not face the reasons I wanted certain things.
Running had worked well so far.
I handed over my ticket for my phone and left the building. There were fewer cars now in the parking lot, but that also meant that there were a few groups gathered around, talking and giggling.
No one paid attention to me as I made my way to the car, which was right where I had left it.
I hated leaving Noah in the building, but I knew he was okay. Safe. Happy.
“Just protective, is all,” I muttered, adjusting my seat so I could lay back a bit but still see the way that he’d come from when he decided it was time to leave.
Dimming my phone so it didn’t bind me in the dark, I pulled up Dakota’s text thread. I wasn’t sure if he’d have his phone close to him or not, but it wasn’t all that late. At least for me. But for him, he tended to go to sleep hours before I ever did. Of course, his days started bright and early since his Sir liked to have a nice warm breakfast.
Their relationship would be strange to most people, but not me. Allister was everything Dakota needed. They fit each other’s needs, even when they didn’t know it. From leaving a sex trafficking auction to getting the world at his fingertips was still hard for my friend, and no matter how much time passed, I wasn’t sure Dakota would fully figure out he was free.
But he was still the one person to whom I could talk. He understood me in a way no one, not even Noah, could get.
Bad day. Can you talk? No biggy if you can’t.
Sometimes, I still wished Allister would have let me stay with him. For being an undercover agent at one point in his life, he was a huge softy. And he adored Dakota more than anyone ever would.
I wanted a love like that. But I highly doubted anyone could ever want me. Not with how messed up I still was, years later.
Yeah. Sir’s sleeping. So text?
My lips lifted into a small smile, one that didn’t reach my eyes. For a man who was terrified of touching a phone, he had gotten better at texting. His spelling sometimes wasn’t the best, but that didn’t matter.
What happen? He added when I didn’t reply.
Oh, where to start?
Noah got hurt last week. He’s okay. At a club now, and I hate it.
It took a few extra seconds for Dakota’s reply to come through.
Sorry to hear. what club?
Kink place Noah wanted to visit. Too many people. I’m sitting in the car waiting for him to have his fun.
Noah and Dakota didn’t know each other well. Only in passing. Mostly because Dakota was so different and hard to explain to someone who didn’t grasp how evil the world was. Well, is.
Sirs up. Says you need to talk to your parents.
I shook my head. Of course, the darn Dom in Allister would point that out.
Thanks. Will do. I’ll let you go. GN, D.
Nite.
Well, that hadn’t helped me at all. I wasn’t sure what I wanted anyway. Maybe taking a day to go back home and visit everyone was something I should do.
Glancing up, I spotted Noah and Beckett headed my way. I quickly fixed my seat before getting out of the car. I stood with the door open, waiting. It kinda felt like I was being a jerk, but it was the only way to stop myself from running to Noah and wrapping him in my arms.
“Figured you’d stay longer,” I greeted, keeping my voice light. Secretly, I was glad he hadn’t.
Noah shrugged while it was Beckett who answered. “Someone missed a certain someone, I think.”
