9. Knight Residence
9
Knight Residence
C assie’s flight was expected to land that evening. As excited as Alexa was to see her sister after three long days, anxiety coiled in her stomach at the thought of telling her of Brandon’s sham.
Though Cassie’s reputation was no longer at stake—was never at stake—thinking how she would take Brandon’s deception worried Alexa. Of course, her sister would be heartbroken. Alexa hated Brandon immensely for that. But what would Cassie’s reaction be when she learned Brandon had preferred Alexa over her?
Cassie would never hate her. That was out of the question. Alexa was innocent in this whole scheme. But she dreaded Cassie feeling insecure because of it, that she hadn’t been good enough for her boyfriend so he fell for her sister.
Alexa’s frustration peaked and she withheld the urge to kick the wall on her way to the foyer. The more she thought about it, the madder she grew. She stepped out of the house, locked the door, and slipped the key into her bag.
Normally they kept the spare key under a certain flowerpot. But since Brandon knew the spot—not that he would come back after the ghost attack last night—it was no longer safe. They’d have to find another place where Brandon wouldn’t suspect even if he dared to come.
Alexa checked her phone to see if she had any messages from Cassie, Daphne, or Tristan—worse, Brandon. Seeing none, she typed a short text to Daphne saying she wouldn’t be at school today. Just then, a movement caught the corner of her eyes.
Alexa looked up from her phone and gasped.
There on the road, stopped in front of her house, was her SUV. Her former SUV. A mixture of shock, disbelief, and grief overwhelmed her. Her shock only doubled when the driver stepped out, a gorgeous tall man in full black attire who was a vision himself.
Alexa lost her breath.
Tristan closed the door and leaned against it, crossing his arms with a knowing smirk on his lips.
Alexa composed herself and crossed the lawn to him. “Don’t tell me…”
“I won’t.” He gave her an innocent smile.
Alexa shook her head in disbelief. “You’re—You were—It was… Are you the son Dr. Knight bought my car for?”
“The one and only,” Tristan said with a grin.
Alexa released a breathy laugh. “For a moment… I almost thought he sold it to someone else entirely. But of course, he knew how much the car meant to me and promised it was in safe hands— your hands,” she said, slowly progressing everything. Then her eyes widened. “Is that how you know me?”
“Yes and no,” Tristan answered, pushing himself from the car and gesturing inside. “For an explanation, why not get going?”
Alexa looked into the car with her disbelieving eyes. She had hoped to see it again, but not this soon, definitely not with Tristan. Her eyes began to water and she beamed at him. “Sure.”
Perhaps she was being a little sentimental, but she didn’t care. She hoped Tristan wouldn’t mind, too.
Tristan’s face softened at the sight of her unshed tears. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Alexa!”
Alexa started and turned to see Brandon walking down the sidewalk toward them in a casual outfit, his eyes bouncing between the two of them. His face was unsurprisingly bruised. He approached Alexa and eyed Tristan from head to toe before turning his attention to her. “Who is this?”
Alexa stepped away from him to Tristan’s side and narrowed her eyes at him. “Like you care.”
“Of course, I care.” Brandon narrowed his eyes back, a silent warning in them to play along.
Alexa scoffed inwardly. “Oh, sorry, wrong choice of words. I actually meant to say, it’s none of your business. ”
Brandon stole a glance at Tristan before fixing Alexa in his firm gaze. “Cassie left me as your temporary guardian, so of course it is my business.” He gestured a hand to Tristan. “Who is this guy and where are you going with him?”
“He’s my friend, but like I said, my business is none of yours. What are you doing here anyway?”
Brandon spared Tristan a glare before retorting to her, “Looking after you like I promised, which means you’re not going anywhere with him.”
Alexa stole a glance at Tristan and saw him piercing Brandon with his fiery stare, undeterred by Brandon’s insults.
“You don’t tell me what I do, and you’re not and you will never be my guardian!” Alexa seethed, despite her heart pounding wildly inside her. “Come on, Tristan. Let’s go.”
She turned on her heels, but stopped as soon as she heard Tristan take a haste step forward. She pivoted back to the scenario and caught her breath.
Tristan stood between her and Brandon, his hand seizing Brandon’s wrist in a death grip.
“I’m certain she doesn’t want you to stop her or touch her, let alone be near her.”
“Oh, what do you know about her?” Brandon asked with a scoff, a challenge in his voice.
“Other than the fact that she hates you to the core?” Tristan arched an eyebrow, challenging him back. “Oh, better than you do, trust me.”
On the surface, he appeared unfazed, his voice carrying a casual tone, but Alexa could discern the storm beneath the calm exterior. Tristan’s composure made him appear enigmatic, even intimidating.
“ Please , I’ve known her for years now and never once have I ever seen you around her. Who are you anyway?” Brandon tried to yank his wrist free of Tristan’s grasp.
“You heard her; I’m a friend.” Tristan took a step forward and sized him up, his eyes betraying a flicker of intensity. “And if I ever see you around her again, trying to bother her, you’ll never be able to sleep a wink at night.”
Alexa recoiled inwardly at the steel in his voice. Nevertheless, she appreciated his gallantry, hiding a small smile.
“Are you threatening me?” Brandon snorted, still trying to free his wrist, irritation flashing in his eyes as Tristan’s strength proved at each attempt.
“Yes,” he answered calmly. “And I always stick to my word. You’d better not test it.”
He released Brandon’s wrist and turned to Alexa, the steel in his gaze softening. “Let’s go.” He led her to the passenger seat and opened the door. Not sparing another glance at Brandon, Alexa got inside.
Tristan came to the other side and got behind the wheel. Alexa breathed in relief as the car gave an all-too-familiar purr and began to move.
“Thank you.” She glanced at him. When he met her gaze and opened his mouth to respond, she cut in, “I know you don’t want me to thank you, but gratitude is all I have. So, thank you.”
Tristan nodded, swallowing whatever he wanted to say, and brought his eyes back on the road. “And I’m sorry he came to you after I promised only last night he wouldn’t.”
“Tristan!” Alexa’s eyes widened at his words. “Don’t you dare think this is your fault! ”
“I promised you—”
“You’re not responsible for Brandon’s actions or motives,” she said, admonishingly. “While I wonder where he got the guts to come back after the scare you gave him, this is none of your fault! Brandon is vile and stupid, stupid enough to convince himself whatever he experienced last night was his mind playing tricks on him. That might be the case; who else in their right mind would come back to a place where they had a ghost-like attack?”
Alexa huffed and crossed her arms, looking away to the window.
“Maybe the scare wasn’t enough for him.” Tristan sighed. “Perhaps the best thing to do is turning him in to the police.”
Alexa’s gaze snapped to him. “Can we do that?”
“Of course, Alexa,” he said incredulously, not taking his eyes off the road as they rode out of her neighborhood. “He blackmailed you, and you nearly got yourself killed for it; he broke into your house and attempted sexually assault you. We have proof that they could use against him.”
“I-I have his text messages.” Her words stuttered, sensing the fury in his voice. “I think they could prove more than my words would?”
Tristan turned to her, his eyes softening like earlier. Alexa wondered what it was about her that kept softening him whenever he looked at her. Pity? She hated it, because it was all everyone had to give her and Cassie after their dad’s death. But with the way his eyes softened, Alexa wasn’t sure if she cared.
“That’ll do. ”
She gave him a small smile and looked away, suddenly nervous. The feeling almost made her laugh; she, nervous? When was the last time she was nervous around a boy?
Alexa leaned back in her seat and ran a hand over its side, feeling the familiar leather against her palm. Tristan didn’t seem to have bothered to change anything or install something new into the car, and it gave her a sense of nostalgia. It felt like the car was still hers, like nothing had changed.
“I’m surprised you haven’t bothered to make changes in the car yet,” she commented, taking the topic away from Brandon. “I had thought you’d do something to it so I wouldn’t recognize my former car the next time I saw it.”
A small smile lifted the corner of his lips. “To be honest, I’m not a fan of vehicles. With my ability to teleport, I have never had the need for one. Yet my godfather bought me a motorcycle a few years ago; it sits in my garage barely driven. Dad nagged me a lot of times to let him buy me a car and I have protested saying I have no use for one. This had been a surprise. I didn’t know about it until the car was in our front yard.”
“That explains why you haven’t bothered to make changes,” she said with a teasing smile. “Any other boy would’ve done otherwise, to make no sure one thinks the car previously belonged to a girl.”
Tristan chuckled. “I suppose.”
“So, you never use a vehicle for your travels?”
“You’d be surprised, but I barely travel; visiting my cousins who live in the outskirts of the city is where I ever go, and like once in a year, I’d take my motorcycle with me. All the other times, I teleport. My family knows about my… special abilities.” He spared her a brief glance. “I do go to the town sometimes, attend some boring parties of older people with my dad… but mostly, I stay at home. It’s something with what I am.”
The questions Alexa had wanted to ask Tristan increased, and she didn’t know which one to ask first. “Is there a limit to your teleporting? Like, how far can you shift from a place?”
Tristan met her gaze with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I haven’t tried it out of the state yet.”
Alexa gasped and gave him her most disbelieving look.
He chuckled. “I’ve teleported to the farthest corner of Oregon once, but never tried out of the state.”
Alexa couldn’t breathe as she stared at him, marveling. “Why not?”
“Perhaps I lacked inspiration.”
She snorted a laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”
“No, it’s the truth, actually. If someone inspires me to try, I will.”
Alexa shook her head in disbelief. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, her phone pinged with a message. She took it out of her bag, expecting Cassie, but seeing Brandon’s name froze her internally.
She hated that he had such an affect on her even after learning he was just an empty threat.
Brandon: I don’t know what game you are playing, pretty doll, but don’t forget what’s at stake if you do the wrong thing.
“Are you alright?” Tristan’s voice pulled her out of her trepidation.
Alexa sighed and looked at him wearily. “Brandon just texted me.”
All the warmth left Tristan’s eyes. “What does he say?”
Alexa read the message aloud, cringing as she pronounced his disgusting nickname.
“Are you going to reply to him?” Tristan barely succeeded to hide his displeasure of the nickname, too.
“I don’t know. Should I?” Alexa glanced at him for his opinion. “I didn’t respond to his previous texts because I was defenseless then, but now that I know the truth, how should I respond? Should I keep up the act?”
Tristan gave her a surprised look before he slowed the car and parked it to the side of the road. As Alexa began wondering what that look meant and came up with several interpretations in her mind, what he said next proved her wrong.
“You’re asking my opinion?”
Now, she was surprised. “Of course,” she said.
Tristan looked away to the windshield and composed himself before turning back to her. “If you trust me, may I?” He extended a hand, gesturing for her phone.
Alexa passed her phone to him wordlessly, not looking away from his face. What had been that expression on his face when she confirmed she was asking his opinion? What had been going on in his mind—and what was going on in his mind now? He was so confusing, hard to read, intriguing, mysterious…
And she couldn’t wait to know more about him.
Alexa dropped her gaze to the phone in his hand and leaned over to read the response he was typing out to Brandon.
Alexa: You wanna release the pictures? Do it. I do not and I will never bow to your threats.
Don’t worry, he’s got this. Alexa told herself as her heart gave a jump.
In that precise moment, more than last night, Alexa realized she trusted him—with her life. The realization washed over her like warmth and made her steal a glimpse at his face.
There was fire in his eyes, blazing like a fiery furnace, flaring with intensity. He was focused, and his determination was etched on his features. He looked dangerous. Dangerous and beautiful.
The admission made her heart flip. Terrified at the feeling, she quickly dropped her eyes back to the phone and steeled her heart against the fatal blow. The last thing she wanted was a romantic feeling blossoming toward him.
Brandon: Jeez, Lex. I’m not stupid to believe you actually mean this. I know you love your sister so much to make one wrong move.
Alexa: So you’re trying to take advantage of my love for my sister.
Brandon: Ouch. You don’t realize I’m doing this because I love you, do you?
Alexa: What do you know about love? You’re not capable of it .
Brandon: I can prove it to you.
Alexa: Just release the pics and be done with it.
Brandon: You’re not serious.
Alexa: I am. And that was the part of your so-called deal, wasn’t it? If I refuse you, you’ll release the pics. I’m refusing you now.
Brandon: I’m allowing you time until Cassie arrives. Don’t jump to conclusions yet.
Alexa: Get lost.
Tristan handed the phone back to Alexa. “I guess he’s shocked enough.”
“Honestly, I think he’s never been this shocked before. Can you imagine his face? I wonder if he realized how pathetic his texts sounded.” Alexa couldn’t help but splutter a laugh, glancing at the screen where it showed Brandon was typing. Still typing. “Now we have more proof to give the police.”
“That we do,” Tristan said with a relaxed grin and restarted the engine. “When do you wish to report the case?”
“Today.” Alexa leaned back in her seat. “I don’t want him to spend another day blackmailing another innocent girl.”
“Then I have the perfect plan.”
* * *
The car glided smoothly into Tristan’s neighborhood. The streets lined with picturesque houses radiated a sense of suburban charm, adorned with manicured lawns and welcoming sidewalks. Tristan made a left turn when they approached a particular street, onto a quaint, narrow road. The hedges flanking both sides rose tall and dense, creating a corridor-like effect.
At the end of the leafy passage loomed an elegant two-story house.
“Is that—?” Alexa stopped short in awe.
“Welcome to the Knight Residence.”
Alexa let out a disbelieving laugh. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised because Dr. Knight was rich—how rich, she didn’t know, but he was rich enough to own such a beautiful residence—but she did.
“It’s breathtaking.”
She absorbed their surroundings as she stepped out of the car in the driveway. The front yard was a meticulous canvas of landscaping, featuring an array of blossoming flowers and well-manicured shrubs. The house was a charming blend of modern aesthetics and natural elements, the roof adorned with overhanging eaves. The exterior boasted a muted color palette, with warm beige tones complementing the surrounding greenery.
A cobblestone path led to the entrance, toward the welcoming portico of the two-story house.
Tristan joined her side after parking his car, and Alexa felt a sense of ease settling in as she prepared to step into his welcoming residence.
Tristan guided her into the foyer, and the scent of vanilla and coffee beans wafting through the air immediately captured her senses. Her gaze drew to a candle burning on an attached shelf along the farthest wall, and she realized it was the source of the delightful scent. The same fragrance she had noticed on Tristan last night.
An array of vibrant green plants in neatly arranged flowerpots stood by every corner, the luscious foliage creating a visually appealing contrast against the neutral tones of the walls and the dark hardwood floor.
Alexa pivoted to Tristan from examining her surroundings. Every corner had an exquisite touch to it. “You have a beautiful home.”
Tristan’s efforts to hide his grin were futile. “I’m glad you think so.” He planted his hands in the pockets and cocked his head to the side. “Would you like a tour?”
“Of course,” she said with a grin.
“My dad has early morning duty calls and is at work now; he won’t be back until night, so it’s going to be just the two of us—and Valero, our Italian cook. I’m sure he’s in the kitchen now, preparing breakfast. Come on.” Tristan turned to the doorway Alexa presumed led into the living room and gestured to her to follow him. “This is the living room. Don’t be so surprised with the tidiness; it’s all credits to Mercy, our housekeeper. She comes every two days, and today is her day off.”
During the explanations he gave her on their way to the kitchen, Alexa couldn’t help but notice that he was a different person from the one he was in the drive to here, even the one from the carnival last night. He looked rather homely, relaxed with no pressure of anything on him, no composure, no hardened exterior… just Tristan.
And Alexa was surprised that she liked this version of him. He was even a little boyish, despite managing to look attractive.
“Morning, Valero,” Tristan said as he walked into the kitchen.
The air was delicious as Alexa followed in after him reluctantly and paused at the doorway seeing a man in his fifties or sixties wearing chef’s dress, standing with his back facing them. He turned from the stove at Tristan’s greeting and returned it, breaking off midway seeing Alexa.
“And who is this lovely girl you’ve brought home, Trist?” The older man’s dark eyes twinkled with mischief as they flickered between the two of them. He had a thick Italian accent.
“Valero, this is Alexa.” Tristan turned to Alexa. “Alexa, Valero.”
“Alexa,” the man repeated and gave a slight bow. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Trist has never ever brought home a girl before. You must be really special that he dared to do so.”
Alexa stole a glance at Tristan and saw him sending Valero a deadpan look. She plastered on a smile to hide her nervousness. “It’s nice meeting you too, Valero.”
Valero winked at her and sent Tristan a mischievous smile before turning back to the stove. “Breakfast is ready, pals.”
“Please ignore him,” Tristan murmured to Alexa as he led her toward the island in the middle of the kitchen. He set their plates and glasses before taking the barstool next to her.
Alexa’s eyes skimmed the kitchen, wide with a mixture of hunger and admiration. This place was a culinary haven, equipped with every imaginable kitchen appliance, and she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. The interior design was captivating and lively. While she had a deep affection for her kitchen back home, this one was a masterpiece. And a tiny part of her couldn’t help but wish for a kitchen as splendid as this one.
Valero sat with them after serving breakfast. The conversation was short and easy, thanks to the warning glance Tristan occasionally sent Valero’s way. Valero told her about his family, especially about his two-year-old grandson. He then asked after Alexa’s family, offered his condolences hearing about her dad, and then chatted away about their shared interest in culinary.
“So, how do you and Tristan know each other?” Valero asked after they finished the breakfast.
“We—” Alexa broke off and glanced at Tristan. Bookstore? Now that she thought about it, she realized she didn’t know how he knew her.
“We met at Alexa’s dad’s funeral.” Tristan hurried to answer. He met her wide eyes and turned back to Valero, giving him a rueful smile. “It’s a little complicated.” He slid off the barstool before Valero had time to respond. “The breakfast was delicious, Valero, as always. You’re the best. Alexa and I need to be upstairs. See you for lunch!”
Tristan grabbed her hand and Alexa let him pull her from the barstool and out of the kitchen. Once she made sure they were out of earshot, she swept in front of him and whirled around to block his path.
“At my dad’s funeral?”
Tristan sighed, his shoulders sagging. “It’s part of the story I promised to tell you. Let’s go upstairs. ”
He led them to the winding staircase in the foyer. When they reached upstairs, Alexa remembered his jacket from last night in her bag. “Oh, I almost forgot about your jacket.”
“You didn’t have to bring it,” Tristan said as she pulled the jacket from her bag. “I’ve got plenty of them.”
Alexa paused and looked at him, shrugging. “I’ve got plenty, too.”
Tristan smiled. “I know. You can add it to your collection.”
A smile rose on her lips and she pushed the jacket back without protest. “If you say so.”
Tristan led her down a hallway that opened into a small room. He pushed open the door to reveal a cozy house library. Alexa gasped as he turned to her with a crooked grin, stepping aside and holding the door for her.
“You have a library in your house?” she gushed as she entered, looking around at the shelves filled with books. “It’s so unfair my sister is an author and all we have is a bookshelf in each of our rooms.”
Tristan chuckled from behind and closed the door. “Make yourself at home, then. It’s all yours.”
Alexa laughed and turned to him. “I was only kidding.”
“But I was being serious.” His facial expression didn’t betrayed any hint, even if he did mean it seriously.
“Touché.” Alexa pivoted back to the shelves. Her eyes hooked on a line of familiar spines and dropped her bag on a lounge before approaching it. “No way,” she murmured, reading Cassandra Ford at the bottom of the spines.
“Of course, your sister has a new fan in me,” Tristan said from behind. “ Blinding Love is my favorite.”
Alexa spun around to him with Blinding Love in her hand. “It’s my favorite too!”
Their gazes met. And for a heartbeat, the world outside their bubble ceased to exist.
“I guess we might have a lot in common than we know,” Tristan broke the charged silence between them.
Alexa dropped her gaze to the book, heart erratic in her chest. “But what do we know about each other?” She looked up at him. “Is this how you know me? Being a fan of my sister?”
“ You are how I met her and her amazing works, Alexa.” Tristan’s eyes were intense but tender. “It all started with you.”
“What’s all? ”
“Everything I have been in the last three and a half months since I saw you at your dad’s funeral. I used to be a completely different person before then.” He gestured to the lounge chairs between them. “Take a seat.”
Alexa placed the book back in its place and obliged. Tristan sat opposite her. He took a deep breath.
“ Bitten is rather an interesting statement when you asked me if I was bitten by a spider,” he said, his facial expression turning grim. “In one way, I guess I could say I was bitten—by an aunt.”
Alexa blinked. “An ant?”
Tristan spluttered a laugh, a hollow one. “ Aunt, ” he corrected her. “One of my aunts.”
She stared at him for a moment, incredulous, before asking slowly, “Your aunt bit you?” Was she a vampire or something?
“She cursed me. ”
Her eyes bulged out of their sockets. She couldn’t be hearing this! “W-why would your aunt curse you? What is she?”
“She’s a witch.” Tristan’s eyes dimmed with each answer he gave her.
“Oh, my God…”
“And it’s a long story.”
Alexa composed herself and sat straight in her lounge, leaning forward. She studied his eyes before prompting softly, “Tell me.”
Tristan looked to the bookshelf behind her, staring unfocused, as though he was gathering his words. And when he began, Alexa realized there was no turning back from this.
She had chosen to fall into the rabbit hole.