Page 138 of The Colour of Revenge

I can’t fucking breathe.

"He did this to you?" My voice is low and rough, barely more than a growl.

She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t have to.

"I'll kill him."

I step back, ready to storm out and destroy whoever did this to her, but her hand presses against my chest, stopping me in my tracks.

Her fingers clutch my shirt, trembling.

“Nate,” she whispers.

I look at her.

Not just at the bruises. Not just at the damage. But her.

The woman who has survived every hell thrown at her. And still, somehow, she’s here.

A tear slips down her cheek. Not for herself but for me.

For what I’ll do if I walk out that door.

Slowly, my rage doesn’t disappear, but it settles.

Not gone. Never gone.

But I’m not leaving her. Not now.

I cup her face, brushing a thumb over her cheek.

“I’m still getting you out of here, Princess,” I murmur, my voice raw. “I swear it.”

“You can’t.” Her voice is barely more than a broken whisper.

"Why the fuck not?" I grit out, my teeth clenched so tightly it hurts.

"There are guards everywhere, Nate," she says, her tone pleading. "They'll kill you before you even get close. Not to mention the number of media outlets here."

"I don't care."

"Well, I do!" Her voice breaks, raw and desperate.

Then the hammer drops.

"He has evidence—an entire folder of every kill you've ever made.” She swallows hard, her throat working around the words. “That's why I haven't been able to get away. That's why I can't risk it."

I freeze.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, twisting my insides into knots.

“Not possible,” I whisper, thinking back to every kill. I’m careful. Kai is too good.

“He showed me, Nate.”

My blood runs colds. “You saw the evidence?”

“He showed me the folder, but he pulled it away before I could see much.”