Page 9 of Resist
“Did any of your friends come with you? Do you want me to call anyone?” I address the still-shaking woman, but Cecelia steps in and puts her arm around the woman, leading her a few feet away from the three of us.
Thankfully, few people have noticed the exchange, and we’re not drawing a crowd. At least not yet.
Cecelia isn’t on my team, but from the protective way she’s put herself in front of the stranger, I know she’s in good hands.
“I’d like you to come with us to talk to a member of our team.” Getting the offender away from the harmed, and the public at large is my main priority. But, from the way his lip curls, this guy really did no research about where he was taking this woman on a date. And if he thinks we’re simply going to stand by and let him leave without at least getting his name for our no-fly list, he has another think coming.
“The fuck I will.” He draws back his elbow like he’s going to take a swing at me, but catches Slade in the face with his elbow.
I leap to grab his arms to contain him, but Slade shakes his head, bursting into action, blood trickling down his face onto his undoubtedly expensive shirt. “I can handle this. Make sure she gets home safely.”
We’d normally ask the harmed what they would like to see happen next, but that guy just threw an elbow at the owner’s face, his fate now rests with the boss man.
I draw Cecelia to the side by her elbow and speak low into her ear. “Would you mind coming with me upstairs? Considering her experience, she may feel a bit more comfortable with a woman.”
It’s as easy for me to call one of my team into action to wait with the woman until someone comes to pick her up. But selfishly, I don’t want to let Cecelia out of my sight any more than I’m willing to let this poor woman wait by herself.
Without missing a beat, her brows shoot up. “I wasn’t intending on leaving her alone anyway.”
We guide the woman upstairs, and Thor makes the three of us hot chocolate while we wait for her sister to arrive and take her home.
“It’s not always like this, you know.” Cecelia addresses the girl, whose name I’ve learned is Mary. “Please don’t let this one awful experience put you off this place.” She takes a sip of her hot chocolate. “You did so well knowing to come somewherepublic for your first time meeting him.” Cecelia gives Mary’s back a reassuring rub.
Mary nibbles on the edge of her paper cup. “He seemed so nice on the dating app, you know? We’ve been talking for weeks, too. It’s not like I just started talking to him this morning or anything.”
Cecelia holds up her hand. “You don’t need to justify yourself to me. Predators will find a way to hurt people, it’s what they do. That man needs an education about kink and what this place is about.” She shakes her head. “This isn’t your fault, and I won’t stand for you gaslighting yourself into thinking it is.”
I stay quiet, observing the exchange between the two women as I play with the whipped cream bobbing on top of my molten chocolate. For some reason, I’m surprised at how gentle and kind Cecelia is being with Mary.
They chat for a few more minutes before a woman who looks like an older version of Mary appears in her pjs. With frantic eyes, she scans the space, and Mary gives her a wave.
When Mary’s safely away with her sister, Cecelia stares at me expectantly.
“Thanks for that, you were really good with her. Are you in the market for a job?” I wink, only half-joking. She really would make a good addition to the dungeon monitors team.
“I’m good. I do need to go back down and tell Phoenix I’m heading out, though.” She jerks her chin. “You can walk me if you’d like.” There’s curiosity in her eyes, but it’s guarded by a fence ten feet tall.
“What made you want to be a dungeon master? You must really like...” She shudders as she walks. “People.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I do. I like meeting people, and I like protecting those who need protecting.”
She stares at me like that’s not a sufficient enough answer,so I shrug. “Bullied as a kid. Standing up to bullies as a grown-up feels like I’ve come full circle.”
She nods.
“What about you? Why haven’t I seen you around here before?”
Nope. Wrong question to ask, her shutters come down visibly in front of my eyes.
A few people say hi to me as we pass, and Cecelia watches the exchanges with inquisitiveness and confusion, like she’s not sure how someone can be so at ease with strangers.
“Dare I ask why you came to somewhere where there are so many people when you don’t like people?”
“Extreme duress,” she deadpans.
I forgot Phoenix is her friend. I can’t imagine she’d take no for an answer if she wanted her friend to come out for the night.
“Fucking finally.” Speaking of Phoenix, the woman herself jumps down from the platform she was presenting on and bumps Cecelia on her shoulder when we get to the stage. “I thought you were superglued to that stool upstairs.” She turns to me, then eyeballs Cecelia before her face morphs into an enigmatic smirk. “Hmmm.” She regards me again. “Yeah. I could see it.” She waves her finger between us, and that pink stain blooms in Cecelia’s cheeks again.