Page 62 of Submitting to Them
When we reach Dorado Terrace, they shadow me at a respectable distance.The concierge on the ground floor already knows them—likely because of Jaxon, Ryder, and Olivia living here.Her eyebrows hike high on her forehead when she realizes they’re escortingme.Thankfully, though, she doesn’t comment on it and Cora, Terrence, and I travel up the service elevator to one of the floors I’ll be cleaning.
At first I’m self-conscious, as if every move I’m making is being watched and judged.But after a while, I start to forget they’re even there.They blend into the background not because of their appearance, but because of how quiet they are and how relaxed they seem.
I’m vacuuming next to the elevator when it opens—and my brother steps out.
I jab the vacuum’s off switch and turn to face him, shock rendering me speechless.He’s a wreck—his face is bloody and bruised.One of his eyes is swollen shut.
“Ella.”His voice is rough, like he’s really thirsty or hasn’t spoken in a while.
Finally, I find my voice.“Tommy, what the hell happened?”
He reaches forward.As he tries to hug me, Terrence comes barreling down the hall and grabs Tommy’s arm.
Tommy winces.“Ow, what the fuck, dude?”
“Do you want me to see this man out?”Terrence asks me in a low voice.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell him.“He’s my brother.But thank you, anyway.”
Terrence ambles down the hall and takes up his station next to Cora once more.
“Who the hell is that?”Tommy asks, rubbing his arm where Terrence grabbed it.
“Some shit has happened—as you’re aware,” I say, “and now I have some personal security guards.”
He snickers.“You’re probably the only maid in the world with her own security team.”
“I wouldn’t need them if your loan shark buddies hadn’t knifed my boyfriend.”
Sobering, he clears his throat.“Personal security is probably a good idea.I’m sorry about before.”
“Yeah, well.”I shrug.I’m not going to tell him it’s okay, because it most certainly is not.“What do you want, Tommy?”
“You don’t live at your old apartment anymore,” he says.“Your name isn’t on the listing, and that old lady told me if you didn’t give me your new address, then it was a hint you probably didn’t want me coming around.Ella…do you really hate me that much?”
Bless Mrs.Dali.I should make her cookies.Even though I’ve moved away, she’s still protecting me.
“I don’t hate you, Tommy.I moved.It seemed safer, and I love my boyfriends.”Boyfriendsseems like such a casual word, when what I have with Kingston and Sebastian is a lot bigger.“But you didn’t come here to talk about that, so how about you just tell me what you want, so I can tell you no?”
He has the audacity to look hurt.“I wanted to talk about Dad a little.And yeah, I’m strapped for cash, too, but I don’t want to ask you for anything.”
“We can meet up sometime later to talk about Dad,” I say.“Right now, I’m trying to work.”
“Really?I can take you to breakfast one day.We can get pancakes.That’s what Dad used to make you on your birthday, right?”
“French toast and fruit salad,” I say.“You always wanted pancakes and sausage.”
“Right.Damn, can’t believe I forgot that detail.”
“Tommy,” I say, “do you have a job right now?”
Deer-in-headlights.His blue eyes are wide.
“You need to get a job,” I say, “but first you need to get cleaned up.”
“That’s why I could really use some cash,” he says.
I have some money in my purse, which is on my cleaning cart just behind me.A little under eighty dollars—left from when Kingston passed me a few twenties to grab lunch for us last time we visited Bash in the hospital, and what I didn’t leave behind at the Bistro yesterday.I’ve been meaning to return it but haven’t yet.
