Page 59 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

The second and third, not so much.

In the dead of night while she’s sleeping, I’m able to indulge myself in the fantasy that she could be mine. I’m able to pretend, to run my knuckles over her soft skin, to tuck her hair behind her ear and listen to her calming breaths.

I’m sure for anyone else, lying beside her when she’s so calm and peaceful would send them to sleep right alongside her, but I’m not anyone. I’m the devil, consumed by the darkness that sleep eludes unless I’m seriously running on empty and I’ve knocked back a pill. Or two.

At least it assures that I can enjoy indulging in my addiction without the risk of getting caught by someone who would kill me for invading her privacy.

I work at my best while hiding in the shadows, and my obsession with our now not-so-innocent little princess is no different.

The silver moonlight that streams in through the one uncovered window illuminates the space enough that I’m able to see the way Ant holds her while they sleep.

It should make me happy that she’s turned her back to him, but it doesn’t. Not with the way his arm is locked around her body like she belongs to him and her arse is tucked up right against his crotch.

My chest aches as I stand there at the end of the bed, watching them.

You should have killed him,the little devil that takes up most of my subconscious says.

Maybe I should have.

Although, it wouldn’t be my shoulder she would be crying on if I had.

No. I need to come at this differently.

I need to figure out his angle, because there’s no way he’d take a risk like this. There has to be a reason for his interest in her.

Or does there?

Her power has me forgetting everything I’ve always told myself I couldn’t do. Maybe she just tangled him up in her hypnotic web like she has me.

If I were the enemy, would I walk away? Or would I be exactly where he is right now?

I don’t even need to pacify myself with an answer.

The fact that I’m standing here right now is all the evidence I need.

Calli shifts, a quiet moan rumbling deep in her chest. One I remember all too well from when she was sleeping in my bed. I take a step back, slipping into the shadows.

With the contents of my foraging in my hand, I step into the bathroom and silently close the door behind me.

Holding the branch with dry leaves in front of my face, I pull my lighter from my pocket and flip it open, letting the orange light of the flame illuminate the room.

My own reflection catches my eye in the mirror, my face lit up like a demon behind the glow of flame as I hold it to the bottom leaf.

A smile curls at my lips as it catches, and adrenaline shoots through my veins.

Goodbye, Antonio Santoro.

In only a few seconds, every leaf is burning, smoke billowing from the top of the branch. Moving to the middle of the room, I hold it under the smoke detector, and not a heartbeat later does the alarm start blaring, quickly followed by the sprinkler system Evan had installed when they renovated the house a few years ago.

Ice-cold mist rains down on me as I put my fire out and stalk toward the window to get rid of the evidence.

“Oh my God,” Calli squeals from the other side of the door.

“Oh shit,” Ant barks.

“You need to leave. What if they know you’re here? What if this is a setup?”

I can’t help but smile at her suspicions.