Page 17

“That’s not necessary,” Ant says calmly.

“Damn right it’s not,” I agree. “And anyway, we both know I’d win. You do seem quite fond of the size of my cock after all.”

A growl rips from Calli as Ant’s eyes widen in shock. It’s the first time I’ve acknowledged out loud that I’m more than a soldier protecting his princess. Not that I think for a second that Ant hasn’t worked it out.

It’s the reason he came to me yesterday with this intel, after all. Well, that and anyone else wouldn’t have believed him and would possibly have blown his brains out the second he got close.

“Daemon,” Calli growls.

Ignoring me, Ant turns his attention to the girl vibrating with anger in front of him.

“Take this,” he says, digging something out of his pocket and passing it to her. “The only number saved is to my burner. If you need anything, need an escape from that psycho, then—”

“She won’t be needing that,” I say, snatching it from between the two of them and stuffing it into my pocket.

Calli glowers at me, but she doesn’t say a word.

“Do you have to go?” she asks, emotion cracking her voice before she looks back up at him.

More shreds are ripped from my heart as I watch the way her expression softens when she looks at him.

“Yeah. They’re going to notice I’ve gone soon, if they haven’t already.”

“What happens if they find out what you did?”

“You don’t need me to answer that, sunshine,” he whispers.

A sob catches in her throat.

“Stay. We’ll protect you. We’ll—”

“I can’t. I’ve done what I needed to do. You’re safe.”

She nods. “Th-thank you.”

“Always. I knew a future for us was never in the cards, but it was fun pretending, huh?” he asks, his hand slipping around the side of her neck.

Watching him touch her sends a surge of rage through me. It takes everything I have to stay put and not rip him from her body.

“I’m so sorry,” Calli whispers weakly.

“Me too. In another life, you could have been it for me.”

Twisting his fingers in her hair, he presses his lips to her forehead as she cries.

They stand in silence, completely still for the longest time.

“Please,” Calli pleads when he finally releases her. “Be safe.”

He smiles at her, the tears tracking down her cheeks breaking his heart just like I’m sure they are mine.

His eyes shoot to me briefly before he turns back.

“Give him hell, yeah? He deserves it.”

A sad laugh falls from Calli before he takes off through the house.

I take a step to follow him, to have the final say, but Calli’s pained cry rips through the air and I quickly turn her way.