Lila

She should have gone back to the office. She knew she was needed there—and she couldn't predict what kind of seeds Chris was going to plant with the staff if she wasn't watching over him. Their argument the night before hadn't really been resolved.

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But with the Penthouse key in her hand, even though she didn't need that to get in, thanks to the Reception area and an entire raft of staff, she was yearning to go back, to see it. To be there. Whether to be closer to Dane, or to question him, she wasn't sure. But she had to go back. And she had to go alone. Somehow that was going to make it more bearable.

So, she told the Driver to take her back to the apartment building, and to warn the staff that she was on her way, have the guards sweep the Penthouse and then clear the place for her.

When the driver confirmed that he'd done it, she thanked him, then she put the barrier up between them because she was seething and she didn't want to end up snapping at the poor man who was just doing his job.

She didn't let herself think on the drive, but when they entered the building and the car began to circle up the levels towards the top, her stomach began to flutter and twist.

When the car finally drew to a stop in the parking area right next to the elevators, Josh was there, leaping out of the back-up car before she'd even opened her door and for some reason it made her rage. When he opened the door to the stairwell since they only had one flight to get to the Penthouse level, she gave him a look and muttered, "You should find another job. Get a life where you can actually live instead of spending all your time having to run between vehicles and follow me around."

Josh's brow furrowed, though he trotted to get ahead of her and look through the door before she stepped out. "Why would you say that?" he asked quietly as they stepped into the Reception area.

Lila shrugged. She couldn't explain why watching Josh run around after her felt like a waste of life, but it suddenly did. "Nevermind," she said and patted his arm. "Thank you for your help. If you don't mind, I'd like to go in alone?"

"Let me sweep it first?"

"Didn't they already do that while we were on our way?"

"I'd feel better if you let me. Dane said never trust—"

"Okay, okay." She raised her hands in surrender, then gestured for him to go through the door first. "But when you're done, you leave me alone and stand out here, please."

"Sure, sure."

He was gone, and rather than stand there with the Receptionist and security guards who were all staring at her like she was some kind of ghost, she stepped in behind him, but stood in the doorway.

It took him minutes to check all the possible hiding areas of the massive Penthouse, but when he was finally done, he rubbed her arm as he passed and told her he'd be outside.

Lila thanked him and closed the door behind him, then stood there for a minute.

She'd been ignoring the smell—the way she could still smell Dane here, even though there were other scents mingled with his, now. There'd been so many people here and so much going on. But… it was pine, and musk, and something uniquely him that seemed to have perfumed even the curtains.

It was like he was here, and for a moment Lila wavered. But she shook her head. She wasn't going to give in to tears again. She'd been weak the past few days. It was time to put her big girl pants on and start facing what needed to be faced.

So, ignoring the ache in her chest and throat, she turned into the Penthouse, and strode through the wide bright living area, to the bedroom. Walking into the room, she was bombarded with memories she tried to resist. She had to get through to the hidden door out of the closet and see if the Police had found it. But when she walked through the closet and found the door there, open, knowing they'd never have that secret again, her chest ached and she fell into the memory…

Dane opened the door to the bedroom and walked through first, to hold it for her when she followed. His smile returned as her eyes went wide at the massive bed—bigger than any she'd ever seen—and the tall windows showing the sunset over the city.

"Welcome to my bedroom," Dane said, his voice edged in gravel.

Lila stopped in the middle of the floor, taking it all in—the rich velvet drapes, the thick plush carpet, the solid wood furniture and that view… When she turned around to find him, her mouth open, he was already right there, standing over her, his hands at his sides, stiff, like he'd forced himself not to touch her.

Dane's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared down at her. "If you'd be more comfortable, we could go through there to the living room—"

But Lila just slid her arms up his chest, to his neck and pulled him down into a kiss that made her stomach twirl…

She growled at her treasonous heart and pushed the images away.

Then her phone buzzed, a reminder of a notification that she'd ignored in the car. It was probably work and she really needed to get in there.

Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she was taken completely off-guard when she saw the name of the top of the notification. DOUG – DANE'S DAD.

"No," she breathed.

But, sure enough, it was another video. And the thumbnail alone threatened to make her scream.

It was clear this was a video of Dane. With a naked woman on him. In the image, his face was lined and his eyes closed. He looked like he was in pain.

But this wasn't from a decade ago.

"Oh, Dane," she breathed. "What has he done to you?"