Page 49 of Knight

He raises an eyebrow, pointing his mason jar to my arm. “Your scar. It’s like the one King has. Even has his buried in tattoos.”

“Oh,” I say through my very slow chews, telling him to hold on with an index finger.

While he waits, my phone vibrates beside me, Christian’s eyebrows lowering as he takes a chug of the green stuff in his glass. Saved by the buzz. Reaching over, I’m even more relieved when I see who texts.

Willow: Meet you at school! xo

“It’s my sister.” I’m saying my words through another bite of food, not mentioning the number of calls from Damien. I’m not fuelling that fire this soon. I want to tell Christian how good this is but instead, the question on my mind comes out first. “You gonna talk to him today?” I’m talking about Damien.

“Are you?” he fires back.

To be honest, I don’t know.

Damien could help me find more answers to what’s turning into a murder mystery. But can I trust him? Looking at the phone in my hand I glance at the time. Eight o’clock. “Shouldn’t you be getting dressed?”

Christian glances at his phone and agrees, “Yeah, you’re right.” He hops off the bed, leaving me to finish the breakfast he made. “Do I get the pleasure of seeing you in one of my uniforms this time?”

“Another mark on my record is exactly what I need,” I say, my sarcasm ripe for the morning. This morning is nice. No Vincent herding us along like cattle and I’m not staying in bed, tired until the very last minute. It’s hard not to laugh again when Christian waggles his eyebrows. “Best I borrow something from Allie.”

He smiles. Another charming one and God, it’s damn near heartbreaking. As if she heard her name there’s a rattle on the door, Allie’s voice coming through, “Is Jo still here? Or did you scare her away?”

“Almost!” I call.

The door opens and Allie’s behind it, already in her uniform. Most of it anyway. She’s swapped her green blazer for another hoodie.

“Should I worry that you still are?” she asks, lowering her black frames on her nose.

Christian throws a lighter and it lands on her head, falling to the floor. “Give her your uniform,” he demands.

“Should I start ordering extras for you?” she asks with a smile. “I suppose you’re riding with me this morning too?” She dangles her keys from her finger.

“Nope,” Christian says, pulling on his white shirt. “Today she’s riding with me.”

* * *

This morning is one for the books.

Easy-going. Chill. Relaxed.

Hell, even Christian’s gardener told me to have a good day.

But when we get to school, I’m not sure how long the calm will last.

Damien’s waiting for us when we get through the gate and he’s not at the top of the stairs this time. Not holding court with his crew. He’s pacing back and forth in the parking lot, coin between his fingers, leather jacket on his shoulders. And when he sees me in Christian’s Jag, he looks ready to kill.

Once I’m out of the car he approaches, grabbing me by my arm, I hold back but he doesn’t let go. “We’re leaving.”

“Damien, I have class,” I protest, my body on fire in his hold again. “Unlike you, I need good grades to get into university.”

“I’ll handle it,” he growls.

“I don’t need you to.”

Christian’s out his car now, “King—”

“I swear to god, Perez if you take one step closer to me, there’s gonna be a goddamn bloodbath.”

“Spoken like a true murderer.” Christian tenses up.

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