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“No.” She replied. “But the strange thing is, one of their teachers went missing and a new teacher was brought in. The new teacher was the one that almost released Kenny to that stranger.”
“A new teacher?” I asked. “They usually inform us when they have someone new starting. I pay a lot of money in tuition to that school so my child will be safe.”
“Well, once this is over, you can have a talk with them.” Kokou told me. “They have no idea where the other teacher is so I was thinking of visiting a few places the teacher frequented to see if I can find anything else out. I mean, if a teacher was retiring, she would have said something.”
“That is true.” I replied. “I’ll go with you. Kenny is due to visit her god mother for the weekend.”
“And you trust this person?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Hank knows her.”
“I don’t know if taking you with me is the best idea.” Kokou told me. “You do know I don’t need you to protect me, right?”
“That’s not why I’m going.” I rose and picked up the empty glass. “I’m going because this is my child and it’s bad enough I can’t protect her myself. The least I can do is participate in regaining her safety.”
Kokou stared at me for a silent eternity before exhaling loudly and nodding. “Okay, but if I tell you to run—you don’t ask questions, you don’t argue. You run. Got it?”
I hesitated.
I wasn’t sure I liked the way that sounded, but I knew if I disagreed, she’d find a way to make me stay behind and not accompany her. I knew she could protect herself—but there was this thing inside me wanting to keep her safe.
What can I say—I’m an idiot.
“Got it.” I told her.
CHAPTER5
Abeke “Kokou” Bolande
The days turnedinto two weeks. I didn’t think I would be on this assignment so long. I figured, it would be a week tops and then I would be back on a plane to Lagos. But with each passing day, I was beginning to see if I didn’t do something, this entire thing would just drag out forever.
And to further complicate things—I felt myself getting attached to Kennedy—her ready smile, her soft, sweet nature—her.
Not wanting to step on any toes, I decided to keep the peace for a while longer. And during that time, I fell into routine with Kennedy Archer. When it wasn’t school, it was dance classes and watching her in the pool.
She was a bright little girl—almost like sunshine to the darkness that floated around inside my head. Se was kind and inquisitive—the kind of child I wish I had been.
Kennedy was the child I wished my parents had allowed me to be.
Daniel had his meetings with his team and managers, plus endorsements he’d already signed up for that he couldn’t back out of due to ironclad legal bullshit. But he still found time to spend with Kenny—bake with her, teach her how to make popcorn on top of the stove, daddy and me date nights. He was very religious in helping her with her homework, and ensuring that whatever book she wanted to read, he supplied.
The bookshelf in her bedroom seemed as if it would explode if they added one more.
“Have you read all of these?” I asked.
“Yup.” She brimmed proudly. “A book doesn’t go on the shelf unless I’ve read it.”
“Dad helps me a lot.” She told me, kneeling to reach under her bed for a decorative box. “When I don’t know a word.”
Again—there were very few things that made a man sexier than being a good father.
I sat in the seating area with the other parents and watched the dance class. When I looked around, I couldn’t believe these people were actual parents. All of them were looking down at their phones, scrolling away—none of them were actually paying attention to their kid.
It confused me.
“First class?” The woman beside me asked.
“Um.” I shook my head. “Not really, but it feels like my first. How can you tell?”
