Page 111 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“We’re all just surprised it took so long,” Stella offers.

“She’s not wrong,” I agree. “When those boys want something, there isn’t much to stop them from getting it.”

“Is that right?” Bri asks, eyeing me closely.

“Yep, so you’d better watch your back with Nico,” I warn before she gets a chance to turn this on me. Honestly, I don’t think she would. I think she’s loyal to the core. After all, it’s been a week since she found me running from Daemon’s flat like I had the devil snapping at my heels, and I have no reason to believe she’s told anyone that she rescued me with her emergency knickers.

“Ah, but there’s a difference there. He doesn’t want me. He—”

“No, he just wants your pussy,” Jodie finishes for her.

“Ew,” I complain lightly. But in all honesty, I’m pretty numb to conversations that involve sex and my brother. They’ve almost become normal, which should probably be concerning, but this is Nico we’re talking about. I swear the guy only possesses one brain, and it’s not leaving his cock anytime soon.

“And my mouth. He reckons I was the best head he’s ever had.”

“Nico is a bullshitter, Bri. I wouldn’t put too much weight on anything he tells you.”

“I think she probably figured that out when he dropped his trousers and she realised he wasn’t rocking the thirteen-inch beast he probably promised her,” Emmie barks.

Laughter rips through the air and joy fills my heart. I’ve missed this so much. I was starting to feel like a prisoner in my own home. It’s so good to be free and kicking back with my girls.

“You don’t always need the size if he knows what to do with it,” Bri announces happily.

“I don’t know about that,” Emmie states. “I’ve got both, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“Tell us more, girl. What’s Theo got packing in his pants?” Bri asks, leaning forward between the front seats, sounding way too serious about this conversation.

“Uh-uh,” Emmie tuts. “That’s for me to know, love and abuse only.”

“Spoilsport. I haven’t got laid in…” She uses her fingers to count. “Three days.”

“Three days, seriously?” Stella laughs. “If you want sympathy, you’d need to be dry for at least a week.”

“A week?” Emmie blurts. “There’s no way you’ve gone a dry week since you and Seb started hooking up.”

“Did I say I had?” she scoffs, shaking her head as she pulls into the Burnt Coals for burgers. “I was just saying that as a suitable amount of time to complain about.”

“Well, good thing you’ve got Nico’s not-quite-thirteen-inches to keep you company for the next few days then,” Emmie says loudly as Stella pulls up to the window, revealing an embarrassed-looking kid staring back at us.

“Give the guy your orders then, ladies, and let’s get this show on the road.”

* * *

Unsurprisingly, the conversation stalled once we all had bagfuls of junk food on our laps. And once we finished, thankfully the topic of conversation was no longer anything to do with my brother’s body parts.

We talked about nonsense shit, sang along to the music Stella had pumping through the speakers, and just relaxed as we left real life behind.Although it was easy to see that Jodie struggled with that prospect more than the rest of us.

I sit forward when the GPS in the middle of Stella’s dash shows that we’re only two minutes out.

“You’re aware that we’re in the middle of nowhere, right?” I ask, getting a little concerned that this trip is going to involve tents and dirty toilet facilities. I don’t want to be a princess or anything, but I’m kinda fond of being warm, dry, and having access to running water.

“Trust me, Cal. Have I steered you wrong yet?”

“Pretty sure my brother and parents would suggest you have,” I mutter lightly.

“Well yeah, I threw the doors open on your ivory tower and started showing you the world.”

“And things have never been the same since,” I quip.