Page 137 of Ruin Me Gently

“Then fucking find him. You know his name, his job, his face. He shouldn’t be that hard to track down.”

Harris squared her shoulders. “We understand your frustration, Mr. Graves. We’re doing everything we can.”

I inhaled slowly, forcing my shoulders to drop, peeling my fists open finger by finger. Now wasn’t the time for fury.

Right now, Lilith needed something steady, something soft.

She neededme.Not my rage.

“Okay.” The word tasted like surrender, but I said it anyway. “Let me walk you out.”

I led them to the elevator, pressing the button. The doors opened with a soft chime, and they stepped inside.

“What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” I asked, not bothering to hide the weight in my voice.

Harris turned to meet my eyes. “Look after her.”

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

The water shut offwith a hollow groan, the last droplets pattering against the tiled floor.I stood there for a moment, steam curling around me, my skin burning hot from the shower but my insides ice-cold.

“Lilith?” The voice was soft, calm, feminine. “Are you done in there?”

“Yeah,” I murmured. “Be right out.”

My fingers twitched at my sides, reluctant to move, reluctant to leave. But I stepped forward, turning toward the mirror, reaching blindly for a towel—

I jumped out of my damn skin.

“What the fuck, Evelyn?” I snapped, voice sharp to cover the tremor beneath it. “Do you not know how to knock?”

Black and purple bloomed across her ribs, wrapping around her arms like something rotten. There was a deep gash across her temple—thick, swollen stitches pinning the flesh together. Her eyes were both sunken and swollen, a sickly mix of purples and greens.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my wet hair. “Wayne really did a number on you this time, huh?”

She didn’t answer. Didn’t move. Just stared.

“You look… different, Evelyn. When did your hair get so long?”

No word.

“Are you gonna stand there gawking at me all day, or can I go now?” I muttered, reaching for a towel.

“Lilith? Are you okay in there?” The soft voice came again, startling me.

“Yeah, I’m good! Be one sec.”

I pulled a towel from the rack—and so did Evelyn.

I reached for the door, fingers curling around the handle.

“You know youcouldjust leave him, right? And all of this… it would stop.”

She turned at the same time as me, perfectly in sync.

I frowned. “You’re being really weird today,” I muttered, tightening the towel around myself. “I’ll see you later.”

I stepped out of the bathroom and a woman’s voice greeted me. “Lilith! Do you feel better?”

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