Page 34 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“Sunday.”

I nod, already predicting that to be the case, although wishing not so much time had passed.

Surely, people would have noticed that I’ve fallen off the face of the earth this weekend. I don’t even have my phone. I left it and my bag in Ant’s room.

Brianna’s concerned stare burns into the side of my face, but I refuse to look up and see the sad look in her eyes that I know is going to be there.

“Th-thank you,” I say, finally unwrapping my arms from my body but being careful not to flash the driver. “I’ll pay you back for the journey, I just need—” A silent sob cuts off my words, and I quickly slam the door closed before either of them gets to witness me break.

I’m almost around the corner, my door nearly in sight when Bri’s voice rips through the air.

“Calli, wait.”

“Shit,” I hiss under my breath.

Her footsteps crunch on the gravel behind me and in only seconds, she’s right at my side.

“You don’t need to do this. I’m okay,” I argue.

She glares at me, although I still refuse to actually look at her.

“I know you are. But I’d feel better if I got to share the rest of this with you.” She holds up the bottle of prosecco that I’ve already taken a couple of big mouthfuls of.

“That’s really not—”

“Who else are you going to talk to about this, Calli?” she asks as I come to a stop outside the entrance to the basement and send up a silent prayer for Dad’s over-the-top tech which allows me to enter with my handprint and not the key that is God knows where right now.

Dread sits heavy in my stomach as I consider the possibility of that key falling into the wrong hands. I left it in enemy territory, after all.

“No one,” I mutter as I push the door open and walk inside, remembering that Bri asked me a question. “Glasses are in there.” I point toward one of the kitchen cupboards as I pass, making a beeline for my chest of drawers to find some clothes before I lock myself in the bathroom.

“I’m going to order Chinese,” Bri calls just before the door closes. “Something tells me you need it.”

My lips part to argue, but I quickly find that I don’t have any words. Instead, a massive lump clogs my throat and red-hot tears fill my eyes once more.

“Thank you,” I force out, my voice rough with emotion before the catch clicks closed and I fall back against the door, dropping my face into my hands.

My body trembles as I suck in shaky breaths and images from the past two days flicker through my mind as clearly as if I’m watching a movie.

If only I’d done the right thing and refused to meet Ant on Friday night.

I knew we were going to get caught. I knew we were on borrowed time. But that still wasn’t enough to stop me from putting him at risk.

And then there’s Daemon.

A part of me is glad that it wasn’t Nico who found me. But it’s not a very big part.

It could have been Alex, or Toby, or Seb. They wouldn’t have freaked out quite as badly. They might have helped me escape. They certainly wouldn’t have dragged me out, drugged me and locked me away in their lair. Okay, so Alex might have. But at least he wouldn’t have…

“Fuck,” I breathe as more and more regrets slam into me.

Finally, I push from the door, let Daemon’s shirt flutter to the floor and shove my borrowed knickers to my ankles, wincing at what my life has been reduced to this weekend.

I was already keeping enough secrets from my best friends, and now they’re only growing. And I’ve just dragged Brianna right into the thick of it.

Turning the shower on, I step under the water long before it has time to warm up. My need to wash my mistakes away, his scent from my body too much to deny.

I gasp as the ice-cold water literally takes my breath away, but I force myself to stay there to endure the pain of my mistakes.