Page 114 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Alex mutters as the others all laugh, enjoying the company and our freedom.

“What day?” I ask absently.

I might be watching the scene play out in front of me, but inside, I’m still worrying about Daemon, still panicking over the fact I almost told Alex, and still waiting for a damn message.

“That Nico got himself pussy-whipped.”

“Oh right, yeah. Same.”

“You know, if those two hook up, you’re gonna have to bunk in with me again. Seems to be becoming a bit of a tradition for us, huh?”

I swallow nervously, ripping my eyes from my brother, I look back at Alex.

“Uh…”

“Sorry, you were about to tell me something,” he says, smiling at me encouragingly.

I shake my head, pushing to my feet and walking away.

“Calli?” he calls after me, but I don’t stop. I can’t.

“I just need the bathroom,” I shoot over my shoulder as I head toward the tipi that Brianna and I claimed as ours long before the boys even got here.

The second I’m hidden from the others, I pull out my phone and bring it to life.

“Where are you?” I hiss, hating that I’m losing my mind over a boy who still insists on holding himself back.

I shouldn’t care that he’s not here. I shouldn’t care that he’s missing out. It’s been this way for years, and it’s never bothered me this much before.

So why now?

Why do I feel like we all left a massive part of us behind all of a sudden?

Because he’s let you in. He’s let you see more than all the others do, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

You’ve seen his pain, his loneliness, his demons.