Page 79 of Brutal Knight

The next night, I wanted to sneak into his bedroom at night. I even walked by his house, staring athis windowhoping he'd tied a ribbon to it, asking for me like so many times I'd done for him.

Yet, the glare of the guards kept me away.

On the fourth night, I decided enough was enough.

Like I had as a kid, I used the side path to jump over the fence, then climbed through the patio.

This time, I knew how to move through the house without being discovered. Sticking to the shadows, I waited outside the living room door, instead of peeking in, and listened.

Raul was laughing, his loud boisterous voice booming through the room.

"What an idiot," A voice I recognized, a cousin named Pedro, said.

Raul's laughter quickly died. "He's not an idiot. Have some respect for the man, he just lost his parents."

"I'm sorry," Pedro’s voice was quickly sober. There was an awkward pause. "Do you think he'll return?"

My insides froze.Was Knight gone?My heart pounded loudly in my ears.

Raul only grunted, then there was the breathy moan of a woman’s soft voice. "If he doesn't, that means you'll be the boss.”

Fucking Valentina. I hated that woman. How she made it out of there alive, I didn’t know.

“I will,” Raul answered. I shook my head in horror, considering what the world would be like with Raul in charge.

“I doubt he'll ever return,” Pedro interjected. “He's too busy burying his father, then he’s going to take care of the men from Veracruz.”

“He could still return.”

“He won’t.” Raul said. “He enjoys his work in the States too much to return here.”

"If you want to be the boss, you'll have to marry," Valentina giggled expectantly but Raul only grunted noncommittally.

"You've had your eye on the Krapivnik girl.” At Pedro's words, I stiffened, my heart in my throat. "Think you'll marry her?"

"Maybe," Raul replied, causing Valentina to hiss.

"What about me?"

"You?" Raul said. "You're a good fuck, is all.”

Valentina shrieked in anger, and I took the commotion as my opportunity to run away. I couldn't stand there any longer. I had to discover the truth with my own eyes.

I raced up the stairs, taking two at a time in my rush to know the truth.

Knight’s door opened easily, and I stepped inside, my eyes searching. The bed was empty, the floor was empty—no empty suitcases with clothes thrown about.

I raced to the closet, relieved for a brief moment when I saw a line of suits.

Then horror washed over me as I realized that these were the suits he always kept here. The rest of the closet only held empty hangers.

I ran back into the room. The top of his dresser was bare, save for some used candles—candles we'd lit, the last time we were together in his room.

I shook my head, my mind careening. Not caring if they heard me now, I jerked open the drawers, one by one, my stomach twisting as each one revealed there was nothing inside.

Empty, everything fucking empty, like my chest right now.

I felt his presence before I saw him.

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