Knight, p.12
Knight, page 12
“He kidnapped me from a grocery store.” She points at Reaper.
I eye him. “WHAT?” I ask.
He sighs. “Her mom was mean to her, I wasn’t going to let her go back with them,” he explains, saying more in a sentence that I have ever heard from him before.
“So, you just took her?” He looks at me weirdly.
“Of course, I did.” He says it in a tone like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
She lifts her hand, like uhm hello see.
I suck in my lips. “I want you guys to tell her that I am not going to hurt her,” Reaper tells us.
I sit on the couch beside her. “Start from the beginning,” I request.
She looks at Reaper like she is waiting for him to just snatch her up again. “I’m my mother’s caretaker, and yes, she is a mean, horrible woman. She hit me, called me names.” She looks to Reaper. “He literally just picked me up, left her there in the wheelchair and carried me out of the store.”
I can just picture her just standing there and getting snatched off the ground by Reaper.
If I didn’t know him, I would have been terrified too. “First off, I don’t think he meant to scare you. Reaper is just Reaper,” I say simply and he nods in agreement. “Reaper just wanted to keep you safe,” I trail off, looking at Reaper for confirmation, he nods again.
“So, he kidnapped me,” she states and looks at Reaper. He nods, smiling.
She shakes her head and then looks at me, then at Knight then back to Reaper. “Why?”
“Because no one should be mean to you.”
I know why. She is beautiful, like take your breath away beautiful. She has blonde hair, green eyes, eyes so large, she seems so innocent and sweet.
Annie runs down the stairs and she gets excited when she sees Reaper. “Uncle Reaper.” He scoops her up and she snuggles into his chest.
Her eyes widen, taking in the scene. “He is not a bad guy, he is just like my man, practically a caveman,” I point out to her and she laughs. Reaper’s head snaps to her and looks at her.
I bite my lip.
“Well, let’s go home.” He sets Annie down by Knight who picks her up, he has been silent the whole time just watching everything.
“Wait,” she says but he doesn’t listen. He winks at me and picks her up, throwing her back over his shoulder carrying her out of the house.
This time she isn’t fighting, but actually smiling at us.
I don’t think you can kidnap someone who wants it.
Knight follows them to the door, watching him put her on the back of his bike and drive off.
“Well, that’s different,” I point out, laughing.
Knight shakes his head. “You both look beautiful.”
“We need to get me a dress for the dance tonight,” she tells him and hugs him one last time before she runs to me. “I will be bringing lunch back for all of us.”
Knight does not know but tomorrow we are having a surprise birthday dinner at his favorite restaurant. I can’t wait to see his face when everyone yells "Surprise.”
He is such a huge part of everyone’s life, and they were more than willing to drive an hour to the restaurant to spend time with him.
But tonight, I can’t wait to see the photos of them at the dance. She had a dance at her last school and Maverick took her. She was happy to go but this time her asking Knight, I could tell meant a lot to her.
Knight walks over to me, kissing me. “Be careful,” he whispers to me, before kissing my temple and letting me go.
I pull the door shut behind me looking back one last time. I’m not scared to leave anymore since Arthur is dead, but Knight insists I take a prospect with us just in case something does happen.
Driving past the clubhouse, I spot a prospect and wave for him to follow me. He hops on his bike and speeds to catch up.
“What color dress do you want?” I ask her when we get on the open road.
Knight
I watch them leave, my whole fucking heart going with them. Annie’s face when she was asking me to take her to the daddy daughter dance, the fear of me rejecting her, it about crushed me.
I just love that she thought of me enough to ask me. I smile and get dressed for the day; I need go shopping for clothes myself.
I take a detour to see if Reaper is still alive after he kidnapped that girl. He’s sitting on the porch drinking a beer while she’s standing inside the house in front of the glass door.
I chuckle as she runs outside and tries to slip past him, but he catches her hand, pulling her down onto the seat next to him so she can’t run off.
But in the end she wants to be there because she could have gotten away, and I would have taken her if she was truly terrified.
Reaper nods at me as I pass and she waves at me, then stops like she caught herself breaking character.
I turn away shaking my head, in the end she may be as crazy as Reaper. He needs that, his life has been absolute shit. His family was so abusive to him; he was homeless when he was twelve years old and somehow, he kept himself alive until he joined the army when he was eighteen.
I burst out laughing again at the hilarity of it.
Daniella
I put the finishing touches on Annie’s hair, she had me curl it for her. She is in a light blue princess type dress that resembles Cinderella.
After what happened with the teacher, she was fired and another amazing teacher took her place, Annie loves her.
I was scared to let her go back to school but I’m glad I did. I felt much better once I met her new teacher.
The other teacher dropped off the face of the earth; we don’t know where she went, she packed all her things, and she was just gone.
I was going to see if she wanted to go to therapy to deal with the life she was dealt; I know if you’re involved with the cult/church nothing good ever comes out of it.
But it’s out of my hands. I am still pissed about her treatment toward Annie but I kind of felt sorry for her. I feel horrific to think of those who are still in the cult, forced into that life.
Some of the messages the pastors told us about such as the outside life is just sin, that everyone is going to die in the pits of hell, we are the only ones that are going to save the world with our pureness, our life of no sin.
But once I got out and sat down to read the Bible, I realized they took small parts of the Bible and twisted it to their benefit, nothing about them is honest.
They are the sinners, the abusers, they are the ones that will suffer in the pits of hell. I do know that Etta, she is with a member of the Grim Sinners Originals, they have made a huge dent into the cult, causing issues and she has a bounty on her head to this day. I remember when I was in the cult, they still talked about her all the time.
I wish I could help somehow to end it, but it’s so huge. It’s in every state in the US and they blend in like normal people, it’s just never ending.
From Etta’s work, I would love to foster some kids until they have their forever home or teenagers to help prepare them for the world.
I might ask Etta about it.
When I first stepped out of the cult, the world was so strange and different than I thought it would be. The freedom to literally go and get food anytime you want was insane, to go shopping and buy things we needed, it just all boggled my mind.
The women in the cult aren’t allowed to have any money in case they use it to escape, they aren’t permitted to read most of the time, it’s the husband’s decision if their wives are allowed to have any sort of education.
Our engagements tend to be set up when we are very young in age and the men tend to be much older. We are groomed, we are forced to live a life that really isn’t our own, it’s to satisfy sick men who want us to be slaves.
“Mommy, I look so beautiful,” Annie says and I break myself out of my depressing thoughts. It’s just something that I can’t change no matter how much I want to, that’s why I have sympathy for her.
“Wow, my angel, you are beautiful.” I stand her back and have her twirl for me.
She beams at the compliment. “Do you know how much mommy loves you?” I ask her, taking her hand in mine tighter.
She nods. “To the moon and back.”
I smile. “To the moon and back again and again.” I tickle her sides and she giggles.
“Are you ready for the dance?” I ask her.
She nods. “I’m so excited.” She clasps her hands in front of her.
We hear a knock at the front door and walk down the stairs. Outside the door is Knight, holding flowers.
My eyes fill with tears instantly. She gasps in shock and runs to the door pulling it open. “Knight, you look like a knight!” He’s in a suit and looking way too good.
“You look like a princess,” he tells her and bends down in front of her. He hands her flowers and a small little teddy bear. “For the princess.” She hugs him tight, before sniffing the flowers. “These are beautiful,” she tells him and I take them from her.
“Can I get a picture?” I ask, taking out my phone.
He picks her up and puts her on his hip, both of them smiling into the camera. “Beautiful.” My voice is cracking with all the emotions I’m feeling.
I move to them and hug them both tightly. “You have the best time.” Knight with his free arm, pulls me to him, so he can kiss me deeply. “I will call you when we’re on our way home.”
Home.
God, him calling it our home is insane to me, it’s the best feeling.
He may call this place our home, but he is our home. This place was new to us, we were starting over but he came along and made this a home for us.
He has changed our lives in such a short amount of time.
“Okay,” I say softly. I smile and watch as they slip out the door, he puts her in the back in her seat, and waits until she is buckled in before he waves to me and backs out of the driveway.
Royal pulls up behind him and follows as he’s taking Penny.
I shut the door and lock it, watching their headlights disappear.
I get started on dinner, one of Knight’s favorite meals: steak and potatoes, and I have his first of two cakes hidden in the garage refrigerator.
I get started, counting down the minutes until they come home. I made Royal promise to sneak pictures of them tonight.
Knight
Penny and Annie are dancing in the middle of the floor. Me and Royal have been in fucking tears over the dance moves these kids have.
“Did Reaper really kidnap that girl?” Royal asks me, laughing.
“Fuck yeah he did, right out of Walmart, just carried her out.” I laugh just picturing her face, and Royal laughs with me.
“Maybe that’s what you need to do, Royal,” I joke with him.
He chuckles. “Yeah, I think that’s what I need to do,” he jokes backs with me, but what do I know maybe he isn’t joking.
The DJ changes the music. “Alright dads, gather your daughters close!” he says through the microphone.
My heart feels like it’s going to burst through my chest. None of the dads hesitate and pick up their daughters.
Penny runs to Royal and pulls him out onto the floor.
Annie looks unsure at me; I lift my hand for her and she smiles. I pick her up and kiss her cheek, she smiles and hugs me tight while I move us side to side, she doesn’t budge the whole entire song.
I want to be her dad, I want it to be legal on paper, she’s my baby girl. She has been mine since the second she asked me to play dolls with her.
“You know, Annie, I love you,” I tell her. I have been wanting to tell her for a long time.
She sits back with tears in her eyes. “You love me?” she questions.
I nod. “I sure do, baby girl.”
“I love you, too.” She hugs me again so tight and I close my eyes. She loves me too, a fear I didn’t even think I had disappears.
She sits back and looks at me. “I may not be your biological dad baby, but I want to be your dad, to be that role for you in your life if you want me to.”
I have mentioned it to Daniella, that I want to take that role in her life. It’s been on my mind.
She bursts out crying and panic hits me hard. “What’s the matter?” I ask her, scared that she is upset that I mentioned this to her.
I carry her to the corner of the room, sitting her in a chair with me kneeling in front of her, so I can speak to her.
She sniffs and I dry her tears from her face. “I want you to be my daddy, Knight.” Her little voice is shaking as she tells me.
My heart feels like it’s going to fucking fall out of my chest at her admission. I hug her. “I’m glad baby, this is the best birthday I will ever have.”
She hugs me back just as tight; this is a moment that is changing my life forever. I know that I haven’t known her long, but it doesn’t matter, she is my daughter. I knew she was mine from the moment I met her.
She smiles at me, pulling back. I finish wiping the tears from her face, she giggles and pokes me in the chest. “I bet I can out dance you, Knight.”
She takes off running and I follow her, laughing.
13
DANIELLA
I stare at the picture Royal sent me of Knight and Annie for the tenth time in the last hour. It’s a picture of Knight and Annie dancing; I’m going to get it framed.
Knight and Annie are on their way home.
I put everything on the dining room table, so they can just come in and eat.
I walk to the door and hold it open waiting for them. Annie waves at me from the back of the truck from where the light is shining on her.
Knight smiles and helps her out where she runs straight to me. I bend down and hug her. “Did you have the best time?” I ask her, fixing her messy hair. I guess she danced too hard.
She nods enthusiastically. “Knight told me that he wanted to be my daddy and I said yes!” she says loud and proud.
I look at Knight who looks like he is a big pile of mess. I knew that he wanted to talk to her about it.
He stepped into the role without a second thought, and I knew it was coming when he mentioned it to me.
He has become such a huge part of both of our lives.
“Did he really? Are you happy?” I ask her, wanting to make sure that she is okay with him.
“Yes.” She runs back to hug Knight one last time.
“I’m happy then, baby.”
She grins and lets him go. “I smell food,’ she says.
“Dinner is on the table,” I tell her and she runs past us into the house, toward the direction of the food.
I stand back and wait for Knight to stand before me. “I think you made that little girl happy.”
He kisses my forehead, pulling me into a hug. “She made me fucking happy. I love her so much, she is my heart.” I smile loving that he loves her like that.
I love him too.
He pulls back, staring down at me, his face completely serious. “You know I love you too, right?” he whispers to me and cups my face in his hands. “I fucking love you so much, I think it hurts me sometimes that I have gone years without you in my life.”
I gasp in shock at his admission. “Baby, I love you too.” I jump and kiss him, my legs going around his waist wanting to be as close to him as possible.
I do love him. I never believed in love at first sight until I met him. I was taken with him from the first moment I saw him. He is my person, he is the person I am meant to be with. I don’t have any questions about that.
He kisses me back with the same amount of passion. I can feel the kiss all the way down to my toes; this is a moment I will never forget.
“Happy birthday,” I whisper against his lips, hugging him one last time before he sets me down on the floor, the cool night air making me shiver.
He pulls me inside the house and out of the cold. “Ready to eat?” I ask, having him follow me to the dining room.
He stops at the meal I have prepared and set out. “About time,” Annie says and we laugh at her impatient tone. “The dancing has made me starving.” She sighs and eyes her steak.
Knight laughs. “This little girl can dance; her and Penny danced the whole time.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, showing me a video of her and Penny dancing around to the hokey pokey.
“Mommy, can I join the dance class at school?” she asks.
“When does the classes start?” I ask her and place salad on her plate.
“Next week,” she tells me and I smile.
“Of course. Do you need me to sign anything?”
She shakes her head. “I think you fill it out at the front office.”
I eye the dance moves she has on camera, and I try not to laugh. It’s too cute with her arms flying everywhere, the kicks. Knight is watching the video, smiling. “I think Penny is going to do the classes too.”
I still seriously love how close they are, to have a friend that she is so close to and grow up with.
“Let’s eat,” I encourage everyone and they all dig in.
“Want me to cut your steak, Annie?” he asks and she looks at me then to him. She scoots her plate over to him and he cuts it in little pieces.
She watches with a happy expression and I shake my head. I don’t try to let him know that she can do it herself, she is liking the attention from him.
“Now.” He pushes the plate back and she thanks him. “Thank you, Knight.” She bats her eyes at him happily.
I try not to laugh again, she so has him wrapped around his finger. “Thank you for dinner,” Knight thanks me, kissing me on the cheek.
I smile and rest my head on his shoulder for a second. “There is one last thing.” I walk to the garage and get out the birthday cake. I carry it back in and grab the candles along the way.
I start singing Happy Birthday to him.
He smiles widely when I put the cake in front of him with the candles. I light them and back away. “Make a wish,” I tell him.
