Page 76 of Guarding Zuri
“Of course we lied, but this is Arthur Knight. He was halfway here when we convinced him to turn around.”
“Good.”
“He’s on a yacht off the coast. We overestimated our powers of persuasion.”
Daemon laughed. “Ow.” It hurt to laugh. Daemon touched his head. It was tightly wrapped with a bandage. He wanted to rip the constricting thing off. “Do you have a phone? What’s the number to—”
“She doesn’t know you’re alive.”
Daemon froze. “What do you mean?” he whispered.
“She saw you fall, Daemon. So did I. We thought you were dead. I didn’t know you were alive until two days ago.”
Daemon’s hand dropped.
“Zuri begged me to find you.”
“She doesn’t know I’m alive?”She thinks I’m dead.His beautiful Zuri. Did she grieve for him? There probably hadn’t been time. Like when father died. No time for tears. She had a contender for the presidency; she would be busy trying to win an election to worry about his dead body. In her mind, he had fulfilled his part of the bargain: he’d given his life for her.
“I thought—I believed it was best not to tell her, especially now that she is focused on the election. There’s a lot riding on this transition of power.”
David was right. The first few days after the end of a government were the most critical. Until the new one was in place, the country was in danger of falling under the control of another evil person, like President Gohi. Zuri and her team had to act fast.
David’s dark eyes flitted over Daemon. “She shouldn’t be distracted by you. I know you agree with me on this.”
Daemon averted his gaze back to the sea. Right again. He did agree. Distractions killed—and Zuri had an entire country to keep alive. First she had to win the election, then see to security right afterwards, and then form a transitional government. That meant she couldn’t be at his bedside watching him heal. He didn’t need her for that. The country would demand more from her. She’d been preparing her whole life to give it. She was ready.
But I’m not.Daemon wasn’t ready to just leave with his heart tucked safely inside his chest. He looked at the boat outside the window. His father’s yacht.Dad’s waiting for me to start our own transition.
“It’s best that you concentrate on recovering,” David suggested. “Maybe after she’s settled into the Presidency, I can break the news to her.”
That would be months away.I’ll be grieving my own fatherand busy trying to keep Knight Industries intact. Daemon didn’t argue. “What about President Gohi?”
“On the run. We’ve tracked him to central Africa, but we lost the trail when he crossed into the Central African Republic.”
“He could be anywhere by now. If he made it into Southern Sudan, we’ll never find him until he resurfaces.”
“He has connections with terrorist groups there. We won’t find him.”
“At least he’s gone and Zuri won’t have to worry about him. What are the chances of him coming back?
David grunted. “He’s too far away from his supporters here. Unless he plans on marching an army across central Africa, there’s no chance he could return and take over. Interpol has a warrant out for his arrest.” David’s eyes twinkled. “Have you ever thought about being a bounty hunter?”
Chuckling felt like a knife wound to his side. Daemon groaned and clutched his chest with his right hand. “No laughing,” he said with a ragged breath. “Hurts too much. To answer your question, no. I think I’ll leave that to Interpol. Besides, my father needs me to take over the company.”
“It’s for the best. You should rest. And what are you talking about? You’re the CEO of Knight Industries?”
“My father is stepping back from the company. We talked, and I decided it was time I take the throne.”
David’s eyes scanned him in amazement. “Never thought you’d pick the desk.”
“Perfect timing after being shot. And he’s ill. But I’m looking forward to exploring new philanthropic endeavors for Knight Industries.”
“I’m sorry about your father. Who’s taking over Shield?”
“Thank you. Roland. Haven’t told him yet, but he knows when the time comes that he’ll be in charge.”
“And the rest of the team?”
