Page 83 of Cruel Devil

“No, but?—”

“But nothing. For fuck’s sake, Nyx, no one can blame you for what happened, not unless you want them to. Is that what you want?”

She’s staring into the corner of the room, eyes glazed over, methodically chewing her red licorice. “It’s what I deserve.”

“Ugh. If I knew this would turn into a pity party, I’d have told you I was washing my hair or something.” I swing my legs over the chair, managing to stand on the second try. “I’m going to bed.”

Nyx catches my wrist as I walk past, and I hope she’s going to change her attitude, maybe to ask me to stay.

“I don’t expect you to understand.” There’s a glimmer in her eyes, like budding tears.

I know I’ve only just met Nyx, but it’s weird how so many things about the woman just suddenly fall into place. She seems so willful, so full of life that it would be impossible to crush her spirit, no matter how hard you stomped on her.

But ever since she came out of The Foundry, it’s like she’s a more brittle version of herself. Not just easily broken, but prone to shatter into a million shards.

With her arm up, and from the angle I’m standing, I can see the slope of her breast. And a fresh bite mark on her skin.

Maybe the reason she seems so broken is because she’s been manhandled one too many times.

“Savage give you that?” I cut my eyes to the mark, and she snatches her hand away from me to cross her arms over her chest.

It’s my cue to stop asking questions, but I didn’t get where I am today by sticking my head in the sand. I crouch down beside her chair, catching myself on my fingertips when I wobble. Holy hell, that sad bitch Llorona pulled a number on me.

“What happened after I got thrown out of The Foundry?”

When she looks at me, there’s so much pain in her eyes it feels like she punched me in the gut. I sit back on my heels, grabbing her wrist.

“What did he do to you?” I say.

Nyx rolls her lips, glancing away like she’s building up courage.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it. You think if you just pretend it never happened, that the memory will fade, along with the bruises.” I gently squeeze her wrist. “And you’re right…about the bruises. They’ll disappear over time. But not the memories. Those will keep haunting you.”

She tugs as if to pull out of my grip, but I clap my other hand on top of hers, sandwiching her fingers between mine.

“You need to tell someone.”

“I can’t,” she rasps, blinking rapidly as if to keep back the tears threatening to spill.

“Whatever you tell me stays between us, Nyx. “

“What about Vito?” she asks with a wry smile.

“Screw Vito,” I scoff. “He’s not my keeper. I can be discreet.”

It looks as if Nyx tries to swallow, but it’s like there’s something stuck in her throat. I’m pretty sure it’s shame, not a piece of Twizzler.

“Fuck discrete. I need Pentagon-level security here.” She leans closer to whisper, “If Savage finds out I lied to him, he’ll never forgive me.”

Chapter 27

Vito

It’s taken me over half an hour to find just the type of porn I was looking for. My lube is on my nightstand ready to go, already got a hand down my boxers and wrapped around my stiffening shaft…and then someone knocks on my fucking door.

“Busy!” I yell.

The only answer is another clumsy round of knocking.

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