Page 55 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

CALLI

The second I pull up at home, my skin tingles as if I’m being watched.

My heart jumps into my throat as I sit there looking, waiting.

Now I know he’s awake, I’m on full alert.

He’s not going to let what I did slide. There’s no way. That’s not how Daemon works.

My hand trembles as I reach out to cut the engine, my unease only growing.

The house beside me is in darkness. Both Mum and Dad’s usual cars are absent from the driveway.

We might be in the city still, but the Cirillo land is vast, and if someone were to get to me here, no one would ever hear me scream.

Knowing I can’t sit in my car all night, I gather up my bags and push the door open, swallowing down my fear.

I can handle Daemon.

What’s the worst he’s going to do? Tell me he owns me and fuck me again? Pretty sure there are worse things in life.

Sucking in a deep breath, I take off around the side of the house, my eyes scanning the darkness in preparation for him to jump out at me.

The bushes beside me rustle, making my heart rate spike, but as the wind blows my hair, I assure myself there’s no one there.

Until there is…

“Oh my—” My heart jackhammers in my chest despite the fact that I knew it was coming.

A warm hand covers my mouth, cutting off my scream before my feet leave the floor and I’m pulled against a hard, familiar body.

His scent fills my nose and a sob erupts behind his hand.

“Unlock your door,” he growls in my ear, and I do so without hesitation.

In only seconds, we’re in my basement and I’m released.

“Ant,” I cry, throwing myself at him, wrapping my arms around him, holding tight.

He grunts as we collide, but the fact that he might be in pain after getting shot by Daemon barely registers through my relief.

“You’re okay,” I breathe, nuzzling my cheek against his chest, letting my tears soak into his shirt.

“I’m so sorry, Calli. If I had any clue that—“

“Shh, it’s okay,” I assure him, looking at his battered face through blurry, tear-filled eyes. “I know you didn’t know. And I’m sorry too. I was so scared that he… th-that y-you were—”

“I’m okay, Sunshine.” He forces me back and my arms drop from around his body as he cups my cheeks in his hands and lowers down to stare into my eyes. “I’m okay. It would take more than a bullet to my shoulder to keep me away from you.”

“Ant,” I sigh, swooning at his words. I try to fight it. I can’t fall under his spell right now—it’s too dangerous.“You shouldn’t be here,” I tell him, wrapping my hands around his forearms as he continues to hold me.

“I needed to see you. Needed to know you were safe.”

“I’m okay. Daemon wouldn’t hurt me,” I say with a wince. He might not hurt me physically, but he’s more than okay with drugging me, tying me to his bed, and shredding my heart to pieces.

“What happened? Where did he take you?” He searches my eyes for the answers. “I know you haven’t been here. I waited all day Saturday for you to show.”

“He took me to his place. Hid me from the others,” I partly lie.