Page 136 of Filthy Royal

“You’re not.” His hard expression had disappeared. Instead, he appeared almost… gutted. “Did I do that?”

“No!” She looked away. Oh Goddess. It was beginning already, and they weren’t even on the top floor. Her shameful secrets were coming to light. The ugly pieces of herself she’d never wanted him to see, exposed. “It’s me. I’m doing it to myself.”

“I don’t understand.”

She forced out the truth. “It’s a side effect of my power. When I get… worked up, it happens. Though it takes a while for the bruising to work its way to the surface and become visible.”

“Your gift did that to you?” Surprise mingled with outrage. “Make it stop.”

“I can’t.” It was bad enough that her colors had disappeared, but to have her own so-called gift work against her only made her more of a freak and an unstable risk.

Just one more reason she’d never wanted Damien to know what she’d become.

“It’s not really your concern.” She tried to regain her footing. “I can still get you to Darvish’s private suite just fine.”

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t take the bait, his voice a gentle rasp when he spoke. “It looks… painful, baby.”

Baby?Her heart clenched.

“I barely feel it.” Lying, she tilted her chin upward. “Don’t go soft on me now, Enforcer. You’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Still glaring at her bruises, a surprise chuckle erupted from him. “Such a damned mouth.”

She stood taller. The last thing she wanted was his pity.

The elevator came to a stop. Its doors slid open.

Relieved, she leaped out.

“Wait.” Damien appeared in front of her, his laser raised before she’d even blinked.

Her heart gave another one of those irritating skips, and this time, she didn’t hate it as much as before. The guy had come searching for his sister, after all.

That stupid light—the one she’d been so sure was extinguished for good—flickered back to life inside her chest, despite her earlier assertion that she’d never forgive him: a tiny vivid purple and yellow flame amidst the darkness.

“No one’s here.” Damien voiced what she’d already sensed. He turned her toward him and studied her expression before dropping his gaze to her torso. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” She tugged at his hold. “Darvish may be gone, but that doesn’t mean he or his minions didn’t leave behind something of value. We still need inside that private room.”

“Me, first.” Hand encircling her wrist, Damien strode forward, gaze shifting from side to side, scanning for an ambush. “Stay alert.”

Scarlett braced herself and let him drag her forward.

She’d never been on this level without supervision. Or restraints. And with every step she took, the bad memories just kept on coming.

“What’s behind this?” Damien stopped in front of the formidable, oversized door at the end of the corridor.

“Hells.” She didn’t bother pretending.

He didn’t bother hesitating. “How do we get in?”

Unlike the elevator below, there was no obvious keypad or eye-scan device.

She could have lied, told him it was impossible to access, and kept the rest of her secrets to herself, but she needed to get in there too. And even if she hadn’t, his explanation changed everything.

A missing sister.

Scarlett knew better than anyone just what Darvish was capable of. If there were answers about Damien’s sister’s whereabouts, they’d be behind this door.

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