Page 58 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

DAEMON

Darkness surrounds me as I lean back against the tree trunk, my short nails digging into my palms. The pain from it barely scratches the surface of what I need right now, but it’s all I’ve got aside from the piece tucked into my waistband. I’m not stooping to those levels. Not yet, anyway.

The second I saw him step out of the shadows and wrap his hand around her mouth, I wanted to do what I probably should have done on Friday night and put a bullet straight between his brows.

But once again, I didn’t.

And why?

Her.

I’ve never spared anyone’s life before. But for some reason, when I pulled that trigger, I’d subconsciously already lowered my aim from his head, knowing that she’d never forgive me if I’d blown his brains out right in front of her.

I could have done it later in the night when I went back, but still, I spared him.

I watch them through the window in the door which she has no way of blocking.

I know, because this isn’t the first time I’ve sat up here and watched her when she thinks she’s hidden from the rest of the world.

It’s beyond fucked up. But I’m long past caring.

I need her.

It took me a long time to find the right tree and the perfect branch that would give the best vantage point, but it was worth it.

Their legs tangle together on her bed, and I have to fight to stay still and not overreact.

She’s not yours.

The only time she gets up from the bed is to visit the bathroom, and when she emerges she’s wearing her pyjamas. Not the sexy kind, either—a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of trousers.

I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips.

He might be inside with her right now, but she’s keeping a barrier between them. It’s everything I need to know.

I sit there until my arse is more than dead, the lights in the basement before me have gone out and my vision of them has been severed.

I should go home.

My body aches and my head still spins from the strength of those pills.

But I can’t leave.

I can’t walk away, knowing that she’s inside with him.

Hopping out of my favourite tree, the leaves on the ground beneath my feet rustle as a plan forms in my mind.

Slipping inside her basement is easy. Calli might have happily taken over the space that Nico previously used as his party pad, but she never thought about changing the permissions on the biometric scanner to keep us out.

I guess she’s never had a reason to think we’d want to invite ourselves in.

How naïve of her.

As much as I want to say this is my first time slipping inside in the cover of darkness, it’s not.

There have been a couple of times since she moved in that my need to be close to her has overridden my common sense.

The first time was purely curiosity to see if I could get in, without the risk of moving through the house to get to her.