Page 55 of Filthy Beginnings

Relief slamming through her, she spun around. “Thank the Goddess, Damien. I—”

“Not who you were expecting?” Egan stood in the doorway to the secret room, unmasked, that familiar sneer on his face now even easier to read.

“H-How?” She staggered back.

Egan’s grin widened. “You didn’t think we’d discover your secret little hideaway. Bribes work both ways.” He inhaled deep. “You fucking scent of him.”

So this was the reason her arms had been left free and her door unlocked. It hadn’t been Damien’s doing, after all.

They’d come so close. They’d only needed one more rotation. But, in the end, they’d fallen short.

“W-What are you going to do? Where’s Damien?”

Egan ignored her questions, his sneer slipping away as his eyes bled red. “You’re a fucking prize. You don’t ask questions. You don’t talk back. And you definitely stay where we put you.”

Her gaze flickered toward the door.

“Hoping to escape? Or that Damien Skolov will swoop in and save you?” He shook his head. “Sadly for you, neither will happen.”

He stalked toward her, one slow step at a time.

Fear for Damien and for herself twisted through her.

She shuffled back.

Egan kept coming. “You have more spirit than expected. I thought I beat it out of you and your brother long ago.”

Another wave of panic slammed through her. He couldn’t possibly know about her brother, could he?

“But no,” her smirking handler circled closer, “you both refused to do as expected. After I put so much time and money into you.” His voice rose to a shout. “Ungrateful, defective merchandise.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No?” Egan snarled. “I told you to stay away from Damien Skolov. I told you not to cause trouble. I told you this was bigger than you and me. But you didn’t listen.”

He feinted forward, then stopped, a predator tormenting its prey.

“Stay away.” She skittered back, gliding just out of reach.

“Come here now!” He yanked the strap from his belt, snapping it in the air.

“You can’t. T-The tournament. I’m a prize.”

“You think that can protect you? The vids only show what we want them to, and inspectors can be bribed as easily as guards. As long as the worst bruises are hidden from view, you’ll still serve as a workable prize—even if you’re a little more banged up and tarnished than most.” A leer twisted his features. “I’ve been given orders to make an example of you—and ensure it’s crystal clear what happens to those who get in his way.”

“Get in whose way? Who are you talking about?”Who could hate her and Damien that much?

But Egan ignored her questions, lost to his growing bloodlust as he stalked closer, his voice deepening to a menacing growl. “I don’t usually like to be told what to do, but in this case…. I’ll enjoy every brutal moment, prize.”

He launched himself at her.

She screeched in rage and terror, her hands flying up to ward him off.

A searing wave of heat erupted from her, shimmering across her skin before exploding from her palms. It was a violent, monstrous streak of black, hotter than any flame, and more potent than any laser.

Egan flew backwards, his eyes white with shock, mouth open wide. But no sound emerged.

He landed on the floor, unmoving, his limbs twisted at odd angles.

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