Page 92 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

DAEMON

The second I slam my front door behind me, I begin stripping out of my sopping wet clothes. It’s easier said than done, especially when my cock swells the second I think of the girl I left behind in the shower.

She begged me not to go.

But I could hardly stay.

I’d used her to sate the anger and uselessness my dad had reignited in me, and that wasn’t fair.

She’s not my toy to play with and discard the second I fear she might just see more to me than I’m willing to show. And despite my claims, she’s not my girl, either. Nor should she ever be. She deserves better than me, more than I’ll ever be able to offer her.

With my clothes in soggy piles behind me, I step into the bathroom and come to a stop in front of the basin.

For the longest time, I don’t lift my eyes from the taps. I can’t. I’m too terrified of what I might find staring back at me.

Disappointment. Regret. Guilt.

Sucking in a deep breath, I force myself to look up.

My breath catches at the pathetic man staring back at me.

No wonder my father said what he did, thinks what he does.

My eyes drop to my body. Thanks to my shower with Calli, most of the blood and dirt from my hours with those three snakes has been washed away, leaving me with nothing but the scars of my past haunting me.

“You’re too weak for this life.”

“You’ll never be the soldier we need you to be.”

“You’re not strong enough. Brave enough. Clever enough.”

My father and grandfather’s words ring out in repeat in my head as the evidence of them stares back at me.

I shower and fall into bed, my body on autopilot as I battle the demons in my head.

But unsurprisingly, I don’t find any solace. Instead, I spend the few hours until sunrise staring at my ceiling, wondering if she was able to curl up and go back to sleep after her little midnight visitor.

When my alarm blares, I’m still lying in the same position I fell in. Only at the sound, I close my eyes.

I might hate it, but I’ve got to listen to Dad and go to school if I want any kind of future in the Family. But it fucking pains me to do it.

I silence my alarm and swing my legs over the edge, ready to start what I already know is going to be a painful motherfucking day.

My phone starts ringing when I’m in the bathroom, showering once more in the hope it’ll help clear my head, but even the thought that it could be Calli—it’s not, I already know she’d never call after the way I left—isn’t enough to drag me out to look until I’m good and ready.

I quickly discover that I was right not to run, because I find a missed call from my father.

I’m debating calling him back or just flat-out ignoring him when it rings again.

Only this time, it isn’t Dad. It’s worse.

“Boss,” I growl, putting the phone to my ear.

“I hope you’re getting ready for school, kid.”

“Of course,” I mutter, anger swirling within me that Dad’s stooped so low as to call in the boss.

“I’ve spoken to Mr. Davenport and we’ve put extra sessions in place to ensure you get all the support you need in the lead-up to your exams. I’ve also spoken to Theo, and he said that he’d—”