Page 163 of Pandora's Pleasure

The door burst open.

Damien appeared in the doorway. He was out of breath and looking disheveled, having been woken abruptly and brought here in a haze of confusion. He’d brought my purse. Goodness knows what they’d told him. Or what he believed.

My heart soared at seeing him, even under these circumstances. But the pain in his eyes as he looked at me, along with his disbelief, cut me deep. It hurt every cell in my body knowing that I was causing him agony.

“Pandora, come with me,” said Damien. “We’re leaving.”

Carter glared at him. “Back off!”

Damien came closer. “Tell them you never went to Galante’s.”

Carter sneered. “Want to see the photos of her coming out of his house?”

“She was with me,” snapped Damien.

“For how long?” Carter folded his arms. “You were her alibi from what time, exactly?”

Damien stared at me in confusion. “Say something, Pandora.”

“It’s not what you think.” I rose to my feet.

“Sit down!” snapped Carter.

I crumpled in the seat.

Carter was staring at the TV monitor. “Want to tell us what they have on my father?” He pivoted to glare at me. “We hate surprises.”

“Get him out of here,” said the Senator, pointing at Damien.

Damien handed over my purse to Theo. “I’m not leaving.”

With the snap of an order, Damien was dragged out of the room against his will by two of Godman’s men. Agony ravaged my insides at seeing what this was doing to him. To him, this must have felt like being in the pit of hell…the ultimate betrayal.

After this was over, I’d explain everything to Damien, tell him how I’d done all of this for my father and for his. I just hoped that I would get the chance—and if I did, that he would believe me.

“I need to speak with Senator Godman alone,” I said.

“Carter, get out,” snapped the Senator. “Theo, I want you to stay.”

The sneer Carter threw me sent shivers up my spine. I breathed a sigh of relief when he left the room.

I looked at Theo, and held out my hand for my purse. “I can stop the story from airing.”

“How?” said Theo, handing me the purse.

I pulled out my phone. “Galante was going to run the story on the Senator even before I went to his house. It has nothing to do with what I did.”

“What did you do?” asked Theo, shock glimmering in his eyes.

“Galante has no idea I was even there.”

The Senator leaned back in his chair. “We’re listening.”

“They are now in my possession, sir.” When the Senator didn’t follow, I added. “Galante’s secret files.”

Comprehension flashed over his face.

With shaking hands, I fished out Galante’s business card and dialed his number.