Page 41 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

CALLI

Thankfully, the concealer I applied more than liberally to both my under eyes and my neck seemed to do the trick, and no one so much as questioned what I’d been up to over the weekend. All more than happy to buy my story about being home, working on assignments and studying for exams.

I was sure that Jerome was going to spot something in our study session together over lunch, but even he seemed oblivious as I kept all our conversation focused on work.

And there was no sign of Daemon all day.

It’s not unusual not to see him at school. Unlike the rest of us, he only attends part-time, even that took some convincing and blackmail from Uncle Damien when we were all coming to the end of our time in year 11.

Daemon was more than happy to give up on education and just dive straight into life as a Cirillo soldier. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t an option as far as Uncle Damien and Dad were concerned. In the end, they settled for part-time education, but it was a battle I was glad I wasn’t a part of.

I might hate having almost every second of my life dictated by them, but sometimes, I can’t help thinking that going along with it just makes life easier in the long run.

Fighting it seems like too much hard work.

Not ready to go home and face the music, and also desperate to talk to Alex, I find myself a seat in the early spring sun after school and watch them all out on the football pitch.

I’m not the only female sixth former sitting around watching the guys, and I can’t help but roll my eyes at them as they blatantly check them out.

They’re brave, especially the desperate two of the lower sixth girls who sit there openly talking about Seb and Theo. Clearly, no one has told them just how lethal both of my best friends are. Either that, or they’re just stupid.

“Take your shirts off,” the redhead shouts, and I tsk a little too loudly.

“Problem?” the blonde hisses at me.

“Who, me?” I ask, pointing to myself. “No, I’m good.” Movement over her shoulder catches my eye, and I can’t fight the smirk that pulls at my lips. “You might want to reconsider who you’re shouting at, though.”

The blonde stands, her face reddening as she prepares to get into a slanging match with me.

“You’re just jealous because they would never look twice at you,” she spits. “They— what the fuck,” she squeals as her head is ripped to the side and she’s given little choice but to drop to her knees.

“Do we have a problem?” Emmie seethes, stepping up beside Stella, who’s snarling down at the blonde girl who’s now on the verge of tears.

“N-no,” the redhead stutters.

“Funny, because I thought I heard you demanding that our boys take their shirts off for your benefit,” Stella states.

“W-we were just having fun,” the blonde whimpers.

“And they’re hot,” Red adds, clearly having bigger balls than her friends.

“Right, well how about you go and have fun while watching the rugby team instead?” Emmie suggests. “I think they’re more on your level.”

Red stares at Emmie, a wicked comeback right on the tip of her tongue.

Wisely, though, she swallows it down and reaches for her friend.

“Come on, Lex. Let’s get out of here. They’re not worth it.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Stella says, placing her hands on her hips and glaring pure death at both of them. “They’re more than fucking worth it.”

The two girls look at Stella and Emmie as if they’re the craziest bitches on the planet. Pride washes through me as I glance between my two best friends. Yes, they might be all kinds of fucking crazy, but they’re everything to me.

“Go,” Emmie says, waving the two of them off as if they’re nothing.

“Anyone else wanna stick their nose in where it doesn’t belong?” Stella asks the small crowd of girls sitting at another bench.

A couple of them shake their heads before they all move to grab their bags and skulk away as if they were never there.