Page 74 of Reckless Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 7)

“Noooo. Please. I’m sorry. Don’t leave me,” I scream, fear lacing each word.

The slam of the heavy door of the basement rattles through my body as I’m consumed by the cold and darkness.

I gasp, my eyes flying open, quickly discovering that wherever I am is as dark as it was in my nightmare.

My heart is racing, making every inch of my body pulsate with its fast pace. I throw the covers back, my skin damp with sweat as I push from the bed and stumble toward the light of the moon shining in through the large windows.

Pressing my palms against the cool glass, I lean forward until my brow touches it, instantly cooling my burning skin.

I stand there for the longest time, sucking in deep breaths and trying to rid myself of the images lingering from my nightmare.

It’s not the first time he’s haunted me in my sleep, and I know for a fact that it won’t be the last.

Once I’m confident I’ve got a little more control of myself, I take a couple of steps back and fall down onto the chaise that looks out over the trees and rolling hills in the distance during daylight.

I keep my eyes fixed on the stars as I lose myself in my thoughts, on my dark need for revenge on the man who is still controlling my life despite being locked up and unable to touch me.

My fists curl with my need to hurt him. To do all the things he’s done to me and those I love over the years.

If I were at home right now, he’d have already found me standing in his cell. If he was lucky, I’d just be looming over him, taunting him. If he wasn’t, then he’d already be bleeding as I unleashed the monster he spent years creating within me.

He wanted me as his little protégé, his heir in the Family. And he certainly succeeded in creating a brutal soldier. I just don’t think he ever considered the fact that I might turn it on him one day.

Delusional fucking cunt always thought he was untouchable.

Big bad Jonas Ariti. Capo and son of the Consigliere.

He always believed that one day he would fill his father’s shoes, becoming the Family’s advisor. Hoped that I would get to do the same. Or at least, that was what I always thought.

Now I can’t help but wonder what his game plan really was.

Where did he see Joker fitting into all of this?

He’s the true Ariti heir, despite the fact that I have more Greek blood running through my veins.

Was his stint as a Reaper only temporary? Did Jonas plan on somehow getting him to switch teams and join?

These questions have been spinning around my mind for weeks now, and despite beating him, torturing him to within an inch of his life, I’m still nowhere closer to having the answers.

If I didn’t know the manipulative cunt as well as I do, I might be starting to think that he didn’t even know himself. But that’s not the case. The power-hungry fuck knew exactly what he was doing. Clearly, I’m just not as fucked in the head.

I’m so lost, I don’t hear Jodie get out of bed, or her soft footsteps as she makes her way over, and it’s not until her delicate, warm hand slides down my back, scaring the ever-loving shit out of me that I even know she’s awake.

“Hey,” she says softly. “Is everything okay?”

We spent almost all night in the hot tub. Between us, we drank the champagne, smoked the joint, and polished off the food after getting the munchies for something other than each other’s bodies.

It was incredible. She’s incredible. More so than I ever expected her to be, which makes this whole thing a huge head fuck. As if I need any more of that in my life right now.

“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep,” I say quietly as I sit up straight, reach out and pull her down onto my lap.

Instantly, my muscles relax at having her close, having her scent filling my nose and her warmth against my skin.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Shhh.” She presses her fingers to my lips as she twists in my hold. Her legs encase my hips and her arms wrap around my shoulders.

“No talking. We’ve done more than enough.”