Page 5 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

TOBY

I barely react to the loud crash that comes from my living room. It could be any of the many things that I’ve destroyed in the past hour as I tried to outrun my demons, my pain, falling off the walls and crashing to the floor.

Everything hurts. No. It more than fucking hurts.

I’m in agony. Every inch of me is suffering from the fallout of tonight, but nowhere more than my heart.

I might have delivered Jonas everything I’ve craved for almost all of my life, watching his face twist in pain as he watched Jodie, his daughter, learn the truth about the kind of monster he really was.

But nothing could have prepared me for how I would react to the look on her face.

I might have ripped Jonas’s heart out with my own hands, but fuck if I didn’t feel like I was doing exactly the same to myself.

It’s not until the sound of light footsteps hits my ears that I finally drag my head from my knees and look up.

My heart pounds and my skin tingles with awareness.

Did she come back?

It’s a pointless hope, because despite the fact that I’m aware I have eyes on me, my reaction is nowhere near as strong as it would be if she returned.

When my eyes finally collide with the person standing in the doorway to my bedroom, my breath gets caught in my throat.

I’ve seen Stella angry before. But fuck. I’ve never had it directed at me quite like it is now.

“Get. Up,” she seethes, her voice low and terrifying.

Jeez, it’s no wonder she had us all wrapped around her little finger almost from the moment she arrived. She’s Cirillo through and through. And despite not being aware at the beginning, deep down, I knew. There was no other reason this beautiful, dark goddess was sent our way without her being one of us.

“I said… Get. The. Fuck. Up.”

Unable but to do as she demands, I force my body to move. Every single one of my muscles has locked up tight, and it physically hurts to do so.

Something Stella notices and seems to only look happier about.

“Does it hurt, big bro?”

“Stel, what are you—”

“I said, does it fucking hurt?” Her voice echoes around my silent bedroom.

“Yes,” I concede.

“It’s about to get fucking worse.” Before I know what’s happening, she’s right in front of me. “This is for lying to me.”

“Oof,” I grunt when her fist collides with my stomach, forcing me to bend over to catch my breath.

“Stand up, you fucking pussy,” she spits, her voice nothing but venom.

Sucking in a deep breath, I push my hands on my knees and stand to my full height, my eyes finding hers.

Gone is the usual light blue, replaced by a much darker, more violent shade.

“And this is for Jodie.” She barely even gets her name out before her fist connects with my cheek, forcing my head to wheel to the side as pain explodes across it.

“Fuck,” I hiss, lifting my hand to my cheek.

“You’re a fucking asshole, Toby. I’m so fucking ashamed of you right now.”