Page 70 of Submitting to Them
“Yep,” Lin says.“Unfortunately, there’s no super clear shot of their faces, but we might be able to track them down with street cam footage, if it exists and if they didn’t evade it when they left the building later.”
“When you do find them, I bet you’ll learn the Hacklers hired them,” I say.
Baldwin nods.“This is helpful stuff, thank you both.Kingston, I’d like a list of places you think Joel might hide out, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.Happy to help.”
I write down the different properties that I’m aware of.The home in Tahoe where he frequently stays.Another vacation home in Malibu, which he usually avoids.There’s a boat house in Tahoe, as well.
“I own a house in Mirarosa,” I add, “and Joel has come to stay with me there before.I don’t know if he still has access, but…actually, here.”I pull up the security app on my phone and access the house’s system.The alarm hasn’t been disengaged since Sebastian left, and I show the app to Baldwin and Lin.“Looks like he isn’t there.”
“Let me know if that changes,” Baldwin says.“In the meantime, we’ll look into the other properties.”
“There are probably more that I don’t even know about,” I say.
Baldwin grimaces.“We’ll check their property tax records and other financials.As far as vehicles, what we have on file for him is a silver Porsche Spyder.”
“Yes, as far as I know, that’s his only car,” I say.It’s the same as mine, because I got it for him as a gift when he liked mine so much.
There’s nothing more I can do, and Baldwin tells me so.I look at my phone.Only about an hour has passed, but it feels like days.All I want to do is go home and cuddle with Ella.
I knew Rayanne was slimy and conniving, but I wouldn’t have pegged her for a kidnapper.
She wanted to mess with my company, put Joel back in so she could have access.
My ex-wife, our son, and her husband are all seriously fucked up.
Seventeen
Kingston
The next day is Sunday.I woke up to Ella pinning me down, her hands on my shoulders and her pussy lined up with my hardening cock.
“Don’t go to the office today, Daddy,” she whispered, rubbing against me.
Manipulative as fuck, but I couldn’t complain.
She rode me quietly and I looked over to see if Bash was awake—he was, of course.After I finished in her pussy, he took a turn as well.
Afterward, we had breakfast, and Ella suggested inviting Kristin over for dinner.
“She might be scared,” Ella said, “or maybe she hasn’t gone grocery shopping yet.Or maybe she just doesn’t want to be alone.”
I called Kristin to invite her, she said yes, and now the four of us are seated around the dining table in my penthouse, making awkward conversation while eating Japanese take-out.Ella looks cute as ever in a light pink top and matching skirt, and I find my gaze wandering over to her more often than not.
After a forced exchange about summer travel plans, Kristin finally says, “Okay.I know you’re all wondering what it was like being the Hacklers’ forced, long-term guest.”
“We would never ask you to talk about it,” Ella says, “but if you want to talk about it, I think any of us would listen.”
Kristin smiles at her, and I’m pleased because I can see she genuinely likes Ella, and vice versa.“If I didn’t want to talk about it, I wouldn’t bring it up,” Kristin says.“I have a therapy session lined up for tomorrow, first thing.”
“That sounds smart,” Ella says.
“Yeah.The hospital insisted.They want me to process my feelings.I know my feelings, though.Mostly I’m just mad.”
Ella nods, a sympathetic look on her face.
Kristin goes on, “I was kept in what I guess was a modified guest house?It had a studio set up.Single room with a bathroom.There was a kitchen, but all the knives and sharp things were gone, and the stove didn’t work.The windows were barred.The doors were locked from the outside.I found out later that the staff had been told I was a distant relative who had voluntarily turned herself over to the family to get weaned off of substance abuse.”
