Page 97 of Deviant Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 4)

Theo refusing me last night just makes me more determined to go out and find someone who’d be willing to make me scream.

Maybe I should just go back to Lovell, find Archer and let him work me over. I doubt he’d refuse.

The thought of someone else touching me makes my blood run cold.

Damn it.

I hate that he’s got this power over me. He isn’t even here, yet he’s controlling my damn thoughts, my body.

It’s probably exactly what he was hoping for. He is a power-hungry prick, after all.

“Let’s play Monopoly,” Titch booms, making everyone groan.

“You cheated last time, like fuck am I playing with you,” Zach complains.

“I didn’t fucking cheat. You’re just a sore loser. Just because you’re the boss, it doesn’t mean you’re the best.”

“I’m gonna leave you to it, get an early night,” I say, although I can admit to myself that it’s a lie.

It’s almost midnight, and I can’t help hoping that I might get a visitor.

I’ve barely closed my door behind me when my phone starts ringing. My heart jumps into my throat that it could be him but when I look down, it’s a video call from Stella.

Swiping my finger across the screen, I wait for the call to connect.

“Merry Christmas,” both she and Calli slur.

They’re utterly wasted. Their cheeks are flushed, eyes wide and glittering. Their makeup is smudged and their smiles wide.

It makes an ache pull at my chest as I sit on the edge of my bed, keeping the room in darkness in the hope that they can’t see how I really feel.

“Merry Christmas,” I say back. “You guys had a good day?” I ask, although the answer is staring right back at me.

“We miss you,” Calli whines. “When are you back?”

“Friday lunchtime.”

“We’re going out Saturday night,” she states. “I wanna get drunk and crazy with both my girls.”

“Okay,” I say without a second thought. “Where are you now?”

“Our place,” Stella says a beat before Seb and Toby appear behind her.

“Merry Christmas, Emmie,” they say in unison.

I return the sentiment before asking the question that’s on the tip of my tongue. “Is everyone there?”

A look passes between Stella and Calli that makes my breath catch.

One of them turns the screen around and I get to see Nico, Alex, and even Daemon sitting on their sofas.

“Uh… where’s Theo?” I ask, my heart rate picking up. If he’s not there, then he could be coming here.

Butterflies erupt in my belly at the thought.

“He’s staying the night at his parents’. Family shit,” Seb says easily.

“Oh… okay.” I hate the disappointment in my voice.