Page 47 of Knight's Fall

She screamed as she jerked, her grip loosening on Bogie. The Corgi leapt from her arms as her eyes adjusted to the dark. The figure in front of her held up her phone, the movement causing the lock screen to appear, illuminating his face.

She knew that face, but this time icy fingers of fear ran down her spine. The sinister way he watched her had her stepping back. She shook her head as if to dispel the crazy notion her mind was entertaining. No matter how far-fetched it seemed, her gut knew it was true. The eccentric man she’d come to know was responsible for the man fighting for his life inside.

When her back bumped into the side of the house, the impact sent her stumbling forward. He grabbed her and jerked her close to him with a strength that belied his average appearance.

“Malcolm!” she gasped.

The scream clogged in her throat as Malcolm raised his hand and drove it down against her neck. Pain shot through her body before her world went black.

Chapter Twenty-Two

As he walked back to Courtlyn’s house, Wings called their neighbor’s little dog every foul name his brain could conjure — a few he was pretty sure he made up but they served their purpose. The little shit had messed up one of the best nights he’d spent in a long time.

He had stopped analyzing what it meant that he thought of Courtlyn constantly, that he yearned to be with her, that he was happiest when he was with her and not just when they had sex, though that was the best he’d ever had. He stopped imagining all the ways it could go wrong or thinking of all the ways he was wrong for her. He just rolled with it, knowing he’d rather be with her, even if there was a possibility it would end, than never have been with her at all.

What he had stopped himself from admitting out loud was that he had no plans for it to end. Courtlyn could do much better than him, but despite that, he refused to let her go. She was under his skin. She was as much a part of his life as his KSI family.

No, he may not be the best guy for her, but he’d be damned if he would surrender her to another man. She was his. Every incredible, eccentric, sexy inch of her was his. And if it took the rest of his days, he would prove to her they belonged together.

A high-pitched yapping pierced the night, and Wings squinted through the darkness to see a small shadow shooting down the sidewalk toward him. The little guy was running like a lion was hot on his tail, and the Corgi failed to notice Wings right in front of him.

Careful not to startle the dog, he bent his knees deeply and waited for Bogie to shoot straight into his arms with a startled whimper. Instead of resisting, the Corgi nestled his shivering body against Wings' chest, quieting his whimpers.

“Where have you been, little guy?” Wings crooned. “Did you get spooked being out here by yourself?”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and typed out a text to Courtlyn.

Found him. Meet you back home. In my bed. Naked.

He grinned, picturing the deep blush turning her skin a rosy pink. He’d made it his mission to look for ways to make her blush, which wasn’t a difficult task. Courtlyn was pretty as she was, but when she blushed, she was stunning. As he turned to head to Mrs. Dobbs’ house, he moved with anxious steps. The sooner he returned the damn dog to his worried owner, the sooner he could get back to the woman he loved.

Wings jerked to a stop so suddenly that Bogie whimpered and tried to climb up his chest. He absently settled the dog even as his mind reeled at the random thought that floored him.

Love wasn’t a word he threw around. He never entertained the emotion when it came to women. Though he was happy for his buddies who’d found love with the women of their dreams, he’d seen how complicated their lives could be. Their women came to them with troubles that the KSI family helped them out of, but he’d seen how vulnerable his teammates had been in those situations.

His teammates were the best of the best and continued to do their jobs without fail, but they had changed their approach to their jobs. Hell, Tristin even stepped down from the business after marrying Kat and starting a family. Jay stepped up as CEO, giving up his place on the Alpha Team after he and Payton adopted Davi and Stephanie. Sam had once stepped down from the Alpha Team to be an investigator when his girlfriend worried he would be killed and leave her alone to raise their son. He only rejoined the team after she decided the domestic life wasn’t for her, and she walked away from Sam and Aidan.

Wings started moving again, but he couldn’t shake the shock numbing his body. What was that saying he’d heard? You can’t control who you love, or some such shit. He wanted Courtlyn in his life, but love? That changed things. That complicated things. Was he ready for that?

Walking up the steps to Mrs. Dobbs’ home, he didn’t have to knock. The older woman must have been watching for them because she threw the door open and reached for her dog.

“Bogie, you little devil! Oh my! You scared your momma to death. Don’t you ever run off like that again.”

The Corgi wiggled out of Wings’ arms and practically lunged at his owner. Mrs. Dobbs cuddled the dog close before turning her shrewd gaze on him.

“You must be Courtlyn’s boyfriend?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied before he could second guess himself.

Mrs. Dobbs’ eyes swept him from foot to hair, and he shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He’d endured interrogations from hostiles that didn’t make him feel as ill-at-ease as his neighbor’s scrutiny.

“I can see why she’s infatuated. She’s a good girl, you know. Sweet and innocent. Very kind. You’re a lucky man.”

This time he had no trouble responding with, “Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. Dobbs’ eyes narrowed in a glare that would have made him grin if he didn’t want to offend her. “You treat her good, you hear me? You hurt her, and you’ll answer to me.”

“Understood. Is there anything I can do for you, ma’am, before I head home?”

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