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Why did you let her in? You knew this was going to happen.

Her eyes widen in expectation as her hand lands on her waist, her hip popping out with an attitude I’m not used to seeing from her.

“I need my bag,” she seethes.

“You go inside. I’ll get your stuff,” Nico offers. “I need to have a chat with Daemon anyway.”

Panic grips my chest, making it hard to drag in the air I need for a few seconds as I finally rip my eyes from Calli in favour of her brother.

He’s staring at me as if he doesn’t know me. And I swear to fuck, as his fist clenches at his side, I see my death waiting for me at the end of whatever it is he wants to talk about.

“And life returns to normal once more,” Calli mutters under her breath before turning away from me.

Evan catches her before she hits the stairs that lead to the front door.

“It’s good to have you back. We missed you.”

“Missed you too, Dad,” she says before marching forward.

And just as I predicted, she never once looks back at me.

It fucking guts me.

The darkness of Nico’s shadow finally makes me look back at him.

Not willing to see the questions and need for death in his eyes, I turn away and grab Calli’s bag. The second it’s free, I shove it into Nico’s chest.

“My job is done. Your little princess is safe,” I grunt.

By some fucking miracle, his entire demeanour changes as he finds the straps of her bag and drops it to his side.

“Thanks, man. We really appreciate you putting up with her while we sorted this shit out.”

“Didn’t really have much choice, did I?”

“You know they’re just trying to push you to be your best,” he says, telling me without so many words that he’s now aware of the situation too.

“Because a certificate with a couple of grades on it makes me a better soldier,” I scoff.

“I get it, man. I really fucking do.”

“Right. Well, I’m gonna—” I thumb over my shoulder and back toward my bike.

“Yeah. I’m gonna take this down to the angry girl in the basement. I thought she was gonna be pissed, but I wasn’t expecting that.”

“She’s had to put up with me for company for a week. What did you expect?”

“You’re a good person, D. Don’t let what’s going on right now make you think otherwise.”

“Sure,” I agree, throwing my leg over my bike, more than ready to make my escape.

Movement in the kitchen window catches my attention, and my heart jumps into my throat that she might be standing there watching me, but then Evan reappears from the front door and I realise my hope was pointless.

“Thank you, Daemon. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done to keep her safe.”

You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew the truth.

“I’ve had worse jobs,” I mutter, throwing my leg over my bike, more than ready to get the hell out of here now my cargo has been delivered.