Page 37 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

CALLI

Reluctantly, Brianna left after Jodie started blowing up her phone, wanting to know who she’d been distracted by. I could see in her eyes that really, she wanted to stay and try to drag some more information out of me, but I wasn’t having any of it. As far as I’m concerned, the less anyone knows about the shitshow that is my life right now, the better.

I don’t need anyone’s judgy eyes or opinions over how I’ve managed to make some seriously questionable decisions in the past few months.

With my tablet clutched to my chest, I climb into bed as memories of Halloween night come back to me.

The second he touched me, it was like nothing I’d ever felt before.

I want to say that things would have gone differently if I’d known who it was, if I were able to see through the mask and to the danger that was lurking beneath. But I couldn’t. I was too drunk, too determined to break out of my innocent little life, and I jumped in without considering the consequences.

I just wish I could regret it. But I can’t. Those few minutes in that dark room, even without knowing who I was with… It was everything. The excitement, the recklessness, the desire. All of it brought me to life in a way I’d never experienced before, and I was there for it. Hell, clearly, I’m still fucking here for it, because I fell headfirst into him this weekend despite what he had just done. Despite the fact that he’d barely said two words to me since that night.

I’m a fool. I know I am. Wishing for something that’s never going to happen.

We can’t be together, I know that.

Not only would we never work, Nico and Theo, my parents, would never allow it.

They all have very solid ideas about who I’m going to end up with, and while Daemon might be an invaluable member of the Family, I know he’s not who any of them would put me with to pop out little soldiers for my dad and brother to train.

I let out a pained sigh as I wake my tablet up and log into the secret account I have to message Ant.

My heart pounds and my hands tremble as the app opens up.

I have no idea what happened after Daemon marched me out of his room. All I know is that he shot him. My initial reaction was that he killed him, but as the hours have passed since, there’s something inside me that wants to believe he didn’t.

Daemon might be a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. He’ll have known that I’d never forgive him if he did kill him.

But does he care enough?

All the air rushes from my lungs as I stare at our brief conversation from Friday night and find nothing new.

“No,” I whimper. “No, please.”

Calli: Ant? Are you okay? Please, please tell me you’re okay? I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

A tear splashes on my screen as I hit send and just stare, praying it’s going to be delivered. That it’s going to be read.

But it never is.

Abandoning my tablet, I drop my head into my hands and sob.

* * *

My eyes barely respond when I try to open them when I come to some time later. They’re swollen and they hurt. And as I roll onto my back to stare up at the ceiling, I realise that’s only the tip of the iceberg, because my entire body aches. My inner thighs pull and my core… that’s sore in a way I’ve never felt before.

My cheeks heat as I remember staring up at Daemon as he thrust into me, claiming my virginity like he actually believed it belonged to him.

I sigh, closing my eyes once more, wishing I could drift back off into the nothingness that sleep offers me.

Unfortunately, I don’t get anything close to that kind of peace, because my tablet starts ringing somewhere on the bed.

With a frustrated huff, I throw the covers back and start searching.

I cringe when I find a video call with Stella awaiting me. I have no idea what I look like—probably the back end of a dead rhino—but something tells me that ignoring her will be worse.

Swiping the screen to connect the call, I grunt, “Morning,” as I fall back down on my pillows.