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 body.
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 rtionship 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. Myposure was unshakable in the naked 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
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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 nketed his face. Hunter eyeballed Damian as he crossed the room and upied the
space beside me on the long couch, He grabbed my mmy 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 ck 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 ims 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 particr, 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
<
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 Romewyered 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 herwyer.” 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 body shook with anger. Damian let me soak his shirt with my
tears. He’d be 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 mest 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 howpletely and utterly in love I am with
Damian ck. 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