Chapter 38

Chapter 38

-MILLIE-

What Natalie and Hunter did to me left a permanent scar on my heart. Over-the-counter medicine cannot cure the pain their betrayal inflicted on me. If I could. I would erase all the memories I had of them. I want to see them as strangers, not someone I used to know.

Looking into Hunter’s eyes, knowing his tells, made me clench my fist so tight they turned white.

He’s mad. Anger shot from his eyes as they slid on the long bruise on my left arm. I scraped it against the window sill when Rome hauled me down like a rag doll. A bandage on the back of my head covered a wound the size of a penny. It would leave a permanent scar on my scalp, no hair would grow in that spot again. My leggings and loose shirt hid all the other bruises and scratches on my b*dy.

As the lead investigator in this case, he has first-hand information on my medical reports. So why does it look like he’s learning about the physical abuse I received for the first time?

“How are you doing?” Hunter asked, genuine concern shone in his eyes. Though he wore a mask of indifference, I could still see through his tough cop facade. Our relationship might have ended terribly, but we shared part of our lives for two years and a half. Two years and a half that I wanted to undo..

“I’ve been better. My composure was unshakable in the n*ked eyes, when inside, I was a trembling mess.

Damian asked me to sit this out, but I decided it was best to deal with it now. No one would do this for me. But there was a considerable difference between knowing and doing that. Just the thought of Rome Fletcher, how he stepped out of the shadows in my room like the monster I’ve been terrified of since I was five, how his calloused hand felt against my skin. determined to do to me what he will, and how he stared down at me like a starved man and I was his meal made me want to vomit everything I had for breakfast. My stomach was a twisted iness since Hunter walked in. My feet itched to dash from the

living room where we were seated to Damian’s room and lock myself there forever.

Damian stood in the corner, his hawk eyes glued on Hunter and me. Once my gaze locked with his, understanding blanketed his face. Hunter eyeballed Damian as he crossed the room and occupied the space beside me on the long couch, He grabbed my clammy hand, enveloping it in his huge one. Though my chest was still heavy, Damian’s nearness loosened. the shackles around my throat

Hunter gawked at our joined hands with a feral gaze. Glowering, his nails dug into the leather covers of his notepad as he prepared to take my statement. “I know this isn’t easy, but could you walk me through what happened the night of the assault?

I squeezed Damian’s hand, drawing courage from him before recounting what happened that night, f movies to the moment Rome stepped out of the shadows. Whenever my voice trembled, Damian wou my knuckles.

“For the record, did you know Rome Fletcher before the incident at the Black Hotel?”

1 frowned, confused. “No. I haven’t resided here for years. Everyone I know in Roslin City could attest to th

Hunter’s voice was steady as he said. “Outside Roslin City.”

The edge in his voice didn’t sit well with me. “What are you implying?”

“Kome Fletcher claims that you knew each other before the incident, that you invited him into your house.”

1 flinched. A throb started to pound in my head. “The hell would I be involved with someone like him?”

“Someone like him?” Hunter stared down at me, concern bubbled beneath his cool blue eyes.

Damian and I didn’t discuss his information in Rome in particular, but I’m not s tupid to realize my mistake.

over

Eyes glued on Hunter’s face, rage coated my words. “Someone who’d try to touch me without my consent. Someone who’d

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09:27 Sat, Feb 10

Chapter 38

take advantage of a woman twice smaller than him. Someone who’d threaten to hurt the people I care about if I don’t break up with my boyfriend. I could go on, Hunter. Let’s cut the bu lls hit and tell me why the f uck you’re asking me something you already know the answer to,” I said through gritted teeth, my heart punching out of my breastbone.

Hunter blinked away whatever doubt he had from before. “I am obliged to take his statement as well, Millicent. And I’m letting you know that Rome lawyered up. They would take this to court and fight.”

My vision tunneled. “He can do whatever the f uck he wants, but would stand by my statement because I am the one telling the truth!”

I could hear my heartbeat through the silence that ticked by. Tears pr icked my eye, bile slithered up my throat, leaving a sour taste on my tongue. How dare that ba stard try to make himself look like the victim? Rome wanted to imply that I him reason to assault me? What the f uck?

Damian was the epitome of a calm morning breeze. “Your thirty minutes are done. Detective Lean. If you have further questions for her, speak to her lawyer.” He handed Hunter a card, then stood to open the door.

gave

Hunter’s gaze could cut through steel. Fixing his leather jacket, he stretched to his full height and stared down at me. “You still have my number?” I answered him with a forced nod. “Call me if you remember anything else that might help this case. I will make sure Rome Fletcher pays for what he’d done to you

Once Hunter was gone. Damian’s eyes softened. He rushed to me and drew me into his arms. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and my entire b*dy shook with anger. Damian let me soak his shirt with my tears. He’d become the beacon that guided me through these dark times. Although I’ve pushed him away since New York, he showed nothing but understanding and kindness

No, he didn’t need to go out of his way and sleep with me last night, but he did so I could have some rest and not be afraid

of the dark.

I realize this was the time that I finally admitted to myself how completely and utterly in love I am with Damian Black. The situation was as f ucked up as it could get, but once this contract was over, I knew Damian would be taking my heart with

him