Faking it with Damian Black novel (Millie)

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 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 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

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 Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

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

<

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 body 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