Page 15 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“So you can go back to him.” It’s not a question. It’s a statement, as if he knows he’s already lost.

I mean, I can understand why. Anyone in their right mind would go running back to the nice guy right now, had he not just been taken out of the equation.

A sob erupts once more as I think about Ant.

It’s my fault.

All of this is my fault, and he’s just paid the ultimate price.

One of my tears slips free, and Daemon watches as it tracks down my temple before soaking into my hairline.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

And you’re fucking deranged, I think, but I keep it to myself. Something tells me that offending him isn’t the way to get out of this.

Leaning forward, he presses his lips to my temple, his tongue licking at the remnants of my tear.

“W-what are you doing?” I ask, hating the way my voice sounds from one single kiss from him.

“He doesn’t deserve you, Calli. You’re too beautiful for the likes of him. Too pure.” My breath catches as I remember telling him on Halloween night that I’d never been with anyone before. His response was that he knew.

Had he been keeping tabs on what I was—or wasn’t—doing?

“So you killed him?”

His hand slips higher up my thigh, and it makes my entire body burn with need.

Stupid, traitorous body.

Swallowing down my emotions, my desire, I hold his eyes. “I need the bathroom,” I tell him as softly as I can.

His gaze flicks across the room—I assume to the en suite—before coming back to me.

“Please. I need to pee and freshen up.” I’ve no idea how long I’ve been asleep for, but the state of my mouth tells me it’s been a while.

He hesitates, and for a few seconds, I actually expect him to refuse my request. But after another uncertain look in the direction of the bathroom, he reaches for the silk scarves and begins untying them.

My arms ache worse than I thought as I lower them and begin to twirl my wrists around, but my arm is soon captured in his grasp and he takes over my movements, helping me loosen my muscles before pressing a soft kiss to the inside of my wrist, his eyes locked on mine.

“Daemon,” I breathe as he repeats the action on the other arm.

His tenderness confuses me after his brutality in Ant’s room and the way he threw me into the back of his car and tied me up here when I was unconscious.

Tugging my hand free of his hold, I roll off the bed and stand on my feet.

My head spins and my knees almost give out, reminding me of something else he’s done.

“You drugged me.”

The last thing I remember was launching myself at him from the back of the car as he drove away from the Italians’ warehouse. The next thing I knew, I woke up tied to his bed.

He pushes to stand before me, and I flinch away when he reaches out for me.

Pain shoots through his eyes, but he covers it up quickly, allowing his hand to drop to his side.

“It was for your own good.”

“How? How was drugging me for my own good?”