Chapter 22
Kael
This was maybe the ninth time I’d been to Bria’s parents' house since I’d taken her. I came to make sure they could see my face, to make them feel comfortable about leaving their daughter to my devices.
Bria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring at the front door like it might bite her. Her hands twisted in her lap, her nails digging into her own skin.
“Breathe, Bunny,” I said calmly, resting one hand on her thigh. “They’re your parents. They already agreed to this arrangement. You’re not walking in as the same girl who left.”
“I know,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “But what if they look at me and see the old me? The junkie who stole from them? That’s what Darius said earlier—what Brook saw. You can’t outrun the shit I did.”
I turned her chin gently so she’d meet my eyes. “Fuck what happened earlier. Listen to me. You’re not walking in as the same girl who left. Get out of the car and show them. They deserve to see you at this point—where you’re safe, where you're clean.”
She took a deep breath, nodded, and finally stepped out. I followed, staying close behind her as we walked up to the porch. I knocked firmly.
The door opened. Mrs. Ellis’s eyes widened when she saw her daughter. “Bria… oh my God.”
She pulled Bria into a tight hug immediately, sobbing into her shoulder. “You look… you look so healthy. Baby, I’ve been so worried.”
Mr. Ellis stood behind her, stunned for a moment, before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around both of them. He caught my eye over their shoulders, his voice thick. “Thank you.”
We moved inside. The living room felt small compared to my estate. Bria sat between her parents on the couch, her mother still wiping tears. For a few minutes, it was just catching up, her mother asking gentle questions about how she was feeling.
Then Mr. Ellis looked at me. “Kael, can I speak with you outside for a minute?”
I nodded and followed him out to the backyard. He closed the sliding door behind us.
“Are you letting her come home now?” he asked directly, arms crossed.
“No,” I said evenly. “I don’t trust that you’ll keep her clean. Not yet. She’s still too fragile, and the streets are still watching her. We ran into Darius today, and she’s been shaky ever since. She stays with me.”
His face tightened with anger. But after a long, heavy silence, he exhaled and rubbed his jaw. “Damn it… you’re right. We’ve failed her before. I hate it, but I know you’ve done what we couldn’t.”
I met his eyes. “There’s something else you should know.”
He waited.
“I’m going to marry your daughter.”
Mr. Ellis stared at me like I’d slapped him. “Why?” he finally asked, his voice low. “Why her? You could have any woman you want. Why tie yourself to someone with this much baggage?”
I glared at him. “Why would you ask me that?” I felt myself becoming angry, but I tried to remain respectful.
“Because it’s a logical question. I don’t want you selling her a fairytale and then dumping her when the reality gets too heavy. She can't handle another heartbreak, Kael. If you break her, who fixes her then? We damn sure can’t.”
I didn’t flinch. “I don't sell fairytales, Mr. Ellis,” I said, my voice deadpan and low. “And I don't break things that belong to me. I’m keeping her because the thought of anyone else having her is unacceptable. She will be safe. She will be cared for. And one day, when she’s ready, she’ll stand beside me as my wife. ”
He was quiet for a long time, his jaw working. Then he sighed. “You want to try and redeem yourself in this chess game?”
“I do.” I played him several times, and I couldn’t beat him.
We ended up at the small table on the back porch with the worn chessboard between us. Inside, I could hear the women talking. Today had turned out to be a good day despite Darius.