Page 152 of Wicked Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 1)

“Damn shame. We could have had some real fun.”

“I’m sure,” I agree, pushing his hand from my leg for what must now be at least the fourth time.

Get a fucking clue, dickhead.

Enzo’s wandering hands aside, it’s been a fairly good afternoon. And I’m more than happy that Calli’s managed to enjoy herself without her brother and his dumb friends breathing down her neck.

I’ve long relaxed and forgotten about the possibility of seeing them by the time we emerge from the building to the warm afternoon sun.

Ant pulls Calli aside and pushes her up against the frosted windows while Enzo throws his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side.

“I wish you could come tonight,” Ant says, wrapping his hand around her neck.

“Maybe another time.” She smiles at him, and I can’t miss the disappointment in her voice.

I’m just about to cave and tell her we can go when Ant crashes into the two of us, his face exploding with blood.

“What the—”

“Nico, what the hell?” Calli screams, rushing toward Ant, but she doesn’t get anywhere near because her brother wraps his arms around her waist and hauls her back against his body.

“What the—” I start when I’m pulled back and damn near thrown into the building as three hyped up, angry guys descend on Ant and Enzo.

“What the fuck are you doing? Get the hell off them,” I scream, reaching for Seb’s arm when he slams Enzo against the windows with his fist in his shirt. “Seb, stop it.”

But he’s too lost to his anger. He pulls his arm back without thinking, and I’m not quick enough to move. His elbow connects with my eye socket and I cry out as he swings, landing a solid punch to Enzo’s face.

I back away from the scene, sirens blaring in the distance, there’s nothing I can do to help. Hell, they don’t even deserve me trying to stop them. They deserve to get caught for this.

“Stella,” Seb calls as realization dawns on him.

“No,” I bark. “You’re a fucking asshole. Whatever this is,” I gesture between the two of us, “it is so fucking done. I don’t want you anywhere near me ever again.”

His chin drops as the devastation continues to play out behind him, Theo and Alex taking the reins of ensuring both Ant and Enzo are in no fit state to touch either of us.

With one more look into his dark and haunted eyes, I all but run to my car to get the hell away from him and his poisonous soul.

I don’t stop to think about how much my eye freaking hurts, or where Nico disappeared with Calli, I just start my car and floor the accelerator to get away from them—from him.

Pulling up outside my house, I note that my dad is here and groan. I really don’t have the kind of patience to deal with him right now. I’ve managed to avoid him almost as successfully as Seb has me for the past few days, and I’m more than happy for it to continue.

Slamming my car door closed, I race for the house. I’m almost at the door when someone calls my name.

I pause, recognizing it, and look over my shoulder.

“What happened?” Toby asks, rushing toward me, concern pulling his brows together as he takes in the state of my face.

“Ask your friends. Although they’ll probably need bailing out of jail first,” I mutter continuing inside the house. The fact that I don’t slam the door in his face is a freaking miracle.

“Stella, wait,” he says softly, and my body follows orders, too exhausted to even think about arguing with him. “Are you okay?”

I take a step back, colliding with the wall. My knees almost give out and I think he senses it because he’s in front of me in a flash.

He stares into my eyes and tears fill mine faster than I’m able to comprehend.

“Shit. What’s going on? Tell me how to help.”

I suck in a ragged breath as his hand lands on my waist, his support, his presence almost enough to send me crashing into the realms of emotional breakdowns.