by Eliza Ellis
David cocked his head to one side and gave Daemon a bored look. “You’re in no condition.”
So he understood Daemon. “You think I’m going to let that stop me?”
David offered a small smile. “No. I think you’ll do anything for her. Anything at all.”
“You’re right about that.”
“What happened to not falling for your client?”
No reason to keep up pretenses. His tenure as Zuri’s bodyguard was coming to an end anyway. “None of them were ever her.”
David scanned Daemon’s face. “Good answer.”
Daemon expected David to protect Zuri where her heart was concerned. They were friends. He’d seen how concerned Zuri was for David’s safety. Although David had yet to voice any opposition to him, Daemon suspected he wouldn’t step aside unless he was sure Zuri wouldn’t get hurt.
And Daemon would never hurt her.
“You still haven’t given me one,” Daemon practically growled. “What are you doing here?” And where were his men? He needed to get to a phone immediately. Was his cell even charged?
“Do you honestly believe I’d be here if she wasn’t safe?”
“Where is she?”
“She’s in the presidential palace. Where all the policymakers are.”
“Already?” That was fast.
“She’s been there for several days now. The country is holding a special election for the new president. She has a challenger, but the military is on her side. Most of the people will vote for her, in part, because of her father Bayo.”
Daemon smiled. His princess was going to be president of an entire nation. He couldn’t be more proud. That meant she was busy fulfilling her purpose.
Daemon sighed and relaxed into his pillows. She didn’t need him anymore. With the backing of the military, she had more than enough protection. She had done exactly what he had asked. She’d focused on freeing her country and now she was going to lead it. Wouldn’t have time for him anyway given how busy she would be. “When’s the election?”
“Tomorrow.”
“You said I’ve been out for days?” Had she been by to see him?
David nodded.
Daemon’s pulse began to speed up. “How many?”
“Nearly four. You also hit your head. Not sure how. Maybe when you fell after being shot. We weren’t sure when you would wake up.”
That explained the pounding. Probably hit it on concrete. He’d been concussed before. If this knock put him in a coma for a few days, then he would have to be careful. The next time he might not wake up.
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. Your men grabbed you before I could get to you. I didn’t know you were still alive until two days ago.”
Daemon’s hand dropped.
“Zuri begged me to find you.”
“She doesn’t know I’m alive?” Daemon hadn’t heard anything else. She thinks I’m dead. His beautiful Zuri. Did she grieve him? There probably hadn’t been time, much like when her father had died. No time for tears.
Or maybe he was a fool. She’d gone through a lot of emotions over the last few days. For all he knew, he could’ve been the perfect distraction. A simple diversion from the fighting…her grief.
“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. Zuri had her work cut out for her. 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 by 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 could recover while she won the election. He’d been shot before; in a day or two, he’d be back up and ready to work her protection detail. Watching over her wouldn’t demand any of her time. Bendola could use his men and their technology.
“It’s best that you concentrate on recovering,” David suggested.
“What about President Gohi?”
“On the run. He’s been tracked to central Africa, but we lost the trail when he crossed into the Central African Republic.”
“He could be anywhere by now. If he managed to make it into Southern Sudan, we’ll never find him until he resurfaces.”
“He has connections with terrorist groups there. We probably won’t find him.”
At least he was gone and out of Zuri’s hair. “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. 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.”
“I am sorry, Daemon,” David said while laughing.
“To answer your question, no. I think I’ll leave that to Interpol.”
“Probably for the best. You should rest.”
If everybody thought he was dead, that meant he had a lot of phone calls to make. Including one to his father. “I guess it’s time to announce my resurrection.”
David didn’t look pleased. He frowned. “I…I would ask that you reconsider. Go home. Leave Zuri in peace.”
“What?” he snapped. “What do you mean ‘in peace’?”
David put two hands up. “I mean let her believe you’re dead. She has moved on and is—”
Daemon barked laugher. “Oh, she has not moved on, David.”
David smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “You think you affected her that much? I can tell you otherwise. She is focusing on building Bendola. She is determined, and you would distract her. She needs to win the vote tomorrow—”
“She will.”
“—and then she will have to govern the country. She cannot do both. She can’t be with you and be there for her people.” David gestured toward Daemon’s bed. “Look at you, invalid. You will need constant care.”
Daemon rolled his eyes. “I’m fine.”
“But you just woke up. Have you even spoken to the doctor?”
He hadn’t, but physically, Daemon felt…fine. Well enough to drag himself out of the bed and choke David out for suggesting he leave Zuri alone. If she was elected president, her government might give Knight Industries contracts. She’d have to deal with him eventually. Why delay the shock?
“I think you’re arrogant to believe she can’t function without Daemon Knight,” David whispered. “That you are worth more to her than Bendola.”
The last statement pierced his heart, or maybe the bullet had rubbed against it. Either way, Daemon’s pride was hurt. If he knew Zuri at all, she would give up everything for Bendola. His life, hers, David’s…
Maybe David was right. She had a job to do that needed her complete attention. Running a country wasn’t for the faint of heart. He could best serve her by going home, recuperating, and getting his company prepared to work in Bendola. Hopefully by
then, she’d be ready to welcome him back into her life.
Maybe then David would be in the picture.
Daemon narrowed his eyes again on his friend, feeling more threatened by him than he ever had in his life. David stared pointedly back, not afraid of Daemon. That irked Daemon even more.
“You know I’m coming back,” Daemon said evenly.
“Not today.”
“No?”
David sighed wearily. “Be reasonable, Daemon. Let her go.”
Daemon shook his head, while his insides shuddered. Zuri was the one. He was going to make it work with her. He didn’t know how, but that woman was going to be his wife. Give him children.
“She is well and protected,” David insisted. “When I heard you had been taken to the hospital, I came to see for myself.”
“What’s your role in the new government?” Daemon asked.
“Security advisor. When Zuri is elected, she plans to put my name forward as the National Security Advisor.”
“Sounds great, David. You’re well-suited for that position,” Daemon said with sincerity. He was confident David would advise her and the government well. And since he had American citizenship, he could leverage his knowledge and probably forge a better relationship with the US. Daemon foresaw future bilateral exercises with their respective militaries.
“Thank you.” His brows rose. “So…will you leave Bendola? Allow Zuri to focus on the country?”
Daemon sighed. He wished it was an easy decision, but his feelings were getting in the way. If he weren’t so in love with her, then he’d quickly agree. He’d be calling for a plane right now. Was his boat still at the port? If he could check himself out of this place, he could be on the boat in an hour. “What if I promised I wouldn’t get in the way?” he asked while chuckling. The pain in his chest forced his eyes shut.
David laughed right along with him. Yeah, they both knew Daemon would get in the way. His presence alone would be enough of a distraction.
David’s phone rang, and he answered it. Daemon saw his friend’s easy expression darken. David’s eyes shot to him. “Daemon…”
“What? Is it Zuri?”
David shook his head and handed Daemon the phone.
“Daemon? Thank goodness you’re awake.”
“Roland.” Daemon sighed. “It’s good to hear your voice, my friend.”
“Are you still in the hospital? We traced your tracker to that location, and then we lost it. It pinged at another location soon afterwards and has since died. Our men on the ground confirmed where you were.”
Daemon looked around for his pants where his tracker was imbedded. “They probably shredded my pants taking them off. Got shot in the leg. The tracker is likely in a dump somewhere.”
“We figured that after we heard you were taken to a hospital. Shot again, huh? Just can’t avoid those bullets, can you?”
“Not exactly a superpower,” Daemon said over Roland’s laughter. “How’s everything?”
“Daemon, you’ve got to come home. Your father…”
Daemon tensed. “Don’t tell me he’s—”
“Still alive, but he got weak fast after hearing you went missing. We told him you were still alive, but he hasn’t recovered. We think it’s time.”
Daemon grunted as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. The brief, sharp pain of the needle in his arm made him wince as he pulled it out. “I’m on my way. David will drive me to the port.”
“Head to the airport. We landed a plane there this morning.”
“You landed a plane?”
“We secured the airfield so aid companies could ship stuff in,” David said while Daemon rose. “I’ll go check you out.” He left the room.
Daemon slipped his feet into waiting slippers and then wobbled over to another chair where a robe lay draped over it. He wrapped himself and made his way to the door, ignoring the dizziness.
“Yep. Should have everything you need, including a doctor. We’ll patch you in to your father’s room when you get on the plane.”
“Thanks, Roland.”
“What about Zuri? You finished your assignment?”
“She’s busy running the country. Doesn’t even know I’m alive.” His breath hitched. The sensation to run past David and drive straight to the presidential palace nearly overtook reason. “Yeah…I’m done.”
“Too bad. Guess you’re not going to get paid.”
“I’m hanging up now, Roland. Talk to you when I get on the plane,” he said to Roland’s laughter. He knew what his friend meant: he and Zuri wouldn’t be together. That wasn’t his fault. He wouldn’t be the reason she couldn’t keep her mind on building a country. Governments were weak during times of transition. She had work to do.
And he had a father to visit, a company to run, not to mention a body to heal. That was going to take time.
They both needed time. Thankfully, there was plenty of it.
Chapter 19
“You have nothing to worry about, Dad. I’ve got the company. I won’t let anything happen to it, I promise.”
A pale and sunken Arthur Knight smiled from his large bed at home in Daemon’s mansion in Ashburn. Arthur didn’t want to die in a sterile hospital room smelling of sick and staph infection. Daemon had him moved to his home so he could care for him.
A couple of weeks ago, Daemon had barely noticed his father’s illness. Now it ferociously overtook the man, and Arthur allowed it. Daemon had taken over as CEO, giving Arthur peace. The will to fight had since vanished.
Watching his father die had been more difficult than Daemon could’ve imagined. He’d been deployed for much of his mother’s illness, and absent for his fathers, but without Zuri, he would truly be alone.
“You look like you need taking care of.” Arthur laughed and then hacked. Daemon brought up a bowl for his father to spit in and then wiped his mouth clean with a cloth.
Recovery was annoying, but each day, Daemon’s strength improved. With his father resigned to his bed, Daemon couldn’t afford to rest. “I’m okay. Not my first bullet.”
“First one for a woman,” Arthur said, his mouth still smiling.
“Eh. I could argue I took a bullet for every woman in this country when I was in—”
“Stop.” Arthur held up a shaky, bony hand. “We get it, G.I. Joe. When are you going to go get my future daughter-in-law? I’d like to see her again. At least know you’ll be taken care of when I’m gone.”
Daemon caught his father’s hand and held it. “Still trying to play matchmaker?” He smiled.
Arthur grinned back. “While I draw breath, I can do work that matters.”
Daemon leaned back in his chair, contemplating his father’s earlier question. “I guess when everything’s calmed down over there. When the government starts requesting contract bids for work. Knight Industries is well-positioned.”
“Use whatever influence you can,” Arthur advised with a wink.
Daemon wouldn’t argue with that.
“I hear she’s president.”
Daemon grinned. “She is. She’ll make a wonderful leader. Has a lot of help around her.”
“I think you’re making a mistake letting her think you’re dead. I know you’re recovering and you want to be here with me, but—”
“We weren’t in a relationship, Dad. She was my client.”
Arthur gurgled another laugh. “And the next thing you’re going to tell me is that you don’t have feelings for her.”
Daemon crossed his arms and winced. His chest still hurt. It was going to be a long time before he would be able to get back into the gym, but his doctor had given him a prognosis of an excellent recovery—if he took it easy and tried not to breathe too hard.
“Dad, what makes you think she’s your future daughter-in-law? That she’ll even want to marry me—if I asked.” He’d let her believe that he was dead. Not even one word. She was stubborn and prideful enough to never forgive him.
Arthur smiled. “Yo
u’re my son. Of course she’ll want to marry you. If not you, then definitely for the money.” He chuckled softly. Daemon made a look of disgust. “Oh, come on, you can take a little joke. I can’t take any of it with me, you know. Don’t deny me a few laughs before I’m six feet under.”
Daemon winced again, and this time because his father was expected to die any day now.”
“Even if I did ask her, it won’t happen for…”
“Until I die,” Arthur said bluntly.
Daemon held the man’s weary gaze. “I’m not going to leave you, Dad. Not now.”
Arthur’s sharp eyes scanned his son. “Then you’re not getting any of the money.”
“What?” Daemon nearly yelled.
“You don’t go get your woman, then you can’t have my money. I swear it. I’ll call my lawyer.”
Daemon snarled. “Not if you can’t get to a phone.”
“Oh, so now you want to be a billionaire?” Arthur laughed again while Daemon held the bowl to his father’s chin. Tears welled in the elder man’s eyes. “I’ll be all right, son. I’m going to see your mother again. In truth, I’ve been waiting for this for too long. If I could’ve joined her sooner, I would’ve.”
Tears slipped by Daemon’s lids. “Dad…”
“Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t have wanted to leave you, but when you meet a woman who is everything—and I know you have—being separated will be the hardest thing you’ll ever do. And I didn’t do it well.” He frowned.
“Lola is okay, Dad. I talked to her this morning. She sent you those flowers.” Daemon nodded to the large bouquet on a table in the center of the room.
“She was the best one, after your mother. I should’ve treated her better.”
“She’s opening a foundation for youth to help them start businesses. It’ll be in your name. I think it’s a great idea, Dad, and I’m going to endorse it.”
