Legendary Daddy by Mia Monroe (each kindness read aloud txt) 📕

immediately clench my fists. It smells like piss and the mailboxes have seen better days. There’s an elevator you couldn’t pay me to get on and a big staircase in front of us. This building is old. At one point, it was probably beautiful. Maybe even had some up-and-coming Hollywood actors and actresses living here, but that was a long time ago.

Matteo squeezes my arm, encouraging me to climb the stairs. Upon reaching the top, we walk down a hallway with flickering lights and little natural lighting to Bentley’s apartment.

I knock, trying to calm down so I don’t lose my fucking mind. He opens it, smiling, but it quickly fades as I step inside.

“Pack your things, Bentley. Everything important to you.”

“Wh-what?”

“How could you—” I stop myself when I feel Matty’s hand on my back. I’m practically seething at this point.

Bentley grabs my hand. “Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me, Daddy?”

I close my eyes, breathing slowly in and out for a few seconds. “No, baby, I’m not mad at you, but I am very concerned with you living in this area. It is not safe.”

Bentley’s cheeks burn bright red. “I can’t afford more. I have to have money for my business, and this place doesn’t cost much.” His eyes well with tears. “Please don’t be upset.”

All my fire dissipates when I see that I’ve hurt him. I pull him close, kissing the top of his head. “Sweet boy, I’m only upset because I care so much about you. I would not be okay if something happened to you.” I pull back, cupping his face. “Do you understand?”

He nods, but a tear streaks down his cheek. “Yes, Daddy,” he whispers. “Ramos also says I should leave, but I can’t afford to move.”

“Who is Ramos?”

“He looks out for me. He said I remind him of his little brother.”

“Okay, sweetheart, I want you to get your things. All your important things, okay? You’re gonna stay at my place for a while.”

His eyes go wide. “Your place? Bu-but we just...I don’t want to be a burden. I can figure something out. I—”

“Bentley.”

His breath catches.

“It wasn’t a question. You’re coming with us, and you are never coming back here.”

“But my lease is—”

“Do you trust Daddy to take care of you?”

“Of course.”

“Then let me.”

His bottom lip quivers. “Yes, Daddy. Thank you.”

I bend enough to press a quick kiss to his lips. “Thank you, darling boy. I wouldn’t be able to sleep with you here.”

“I understand.” His big eyes move to Matteo. “Hi.”

Matty smiles. “Hi, Bentley. Nice to meet you.”

He nods, smiling. “You too. I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Why would you be sorry?”

Bentley shifts his gaze to me, his teeth digging into that gorgeous lip. Using my thumb, I pull it free and his cheeks blush again.

“I’ll go get my things.”

“We’ll help you.”

Less than an hour later, we have two suitcases full of his clothes, a few gym bags of other things, and all his equipment. I can only imagine what could have happened if anyone discovered he had thousands of dollars of camera equipment in here, and it’s not good.

As we leave his apartment, I mentally decide what to do next. I’ll pay the rest of his lease, send movers for anything he wants to keep that we couldn’t bring today, and get him set up at my place. I can offer him a guest room so he has his own space. It’s fast, but there’s no way I’m allowing him to live here another fucking minute.

When we step outside, the man we saw earlier is leaning against my truck with a defensive stance. Was he...protecting it?

Bentley’s face lights up. “Hi, Ramos.”

Ramos?

“Hey, little Bento.”

Bentley grabs my arm. “This is Ramos. He watches out for me.”

My shoulders drop with relief as I set a bag down and offer my hand to him. “Legend.”

His eyes widen. “I thought you looked familiar. Nice to meet you, man.”

“You know him?” Bentley gushes.

“I know of him. Seen him on the screen a few times.”

He watches gay porn? Ramos is exactly why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

“You got a lot of things. You finally getting out of here?”

Bentley nods. “Legend doesn’t want me to stay here anymore.”

“Thank god,” Ramos says. “Like I said, I don’t mind keeping an eye out, but this is no place for a kid like you.”

“Thank you for protecting him.”

Ramos nods at me. “No problem, man. He was moving in, and I could see the looks, you know. I didn’t want to see nothing bad happen to him. He’s a good kid. A little green, you know, not too city smart. It was my good deed. I needed some positive karma.”

“I am indebted to you.”

Matteo loads Bentley’s things in the truck.

“Were you protecting my truck?” I ask.

Ramos nods. “Yeah, I heard you say Bentley’s name walking in, so I figured you were his man. Plus a truck like this stands out around here.”

“I appreciate it.” I dig my card out of my wallet. “If you ever need anything, call.”

Ramos looks down at the card then back at me. “Nah, man, you don’t want someone like me in your life.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re a good person. A bad person wouldn’t go out of their way to protect someone they don’t know. Do you need help?”

“No.” He glances at Bentley, still clinging to my arm. “You know, I’m clean now. I got involved in drugs. Taking ‘em, not dealing ‘em. I know I look like a thug, but I just lost my way for a while. I’m getting my shit together. Went to rehab after I broke into a place. I never hurt no one though. But this is my hood. People know me here, so they leave me alone. They leave anything alone if I tell them to.”

“Do you work now?” I ask.

“I run a little charity program.” He laughs. “Basically, I get weed to old and sick people who can’t afford it. It’s a little side business but not entirely legal.”

“Why