Page 58 of Forbidden Fate

She narrows her eyes. “For what?” She takes a step toward me. “For the cell? For holding me against my will? For letting that creep Zabala touch me?”

I clear my throat. “For all of it.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s a lot of sorry.”

“I know.”

“Probably not enough.”

“No.”

She looks away.

“You can shower,” I say again. “I’ll be right here.”

She hesitates. Then, “Fine.”

I turn away to give her privacy.

“Cruz.”

I look back.

“If you open the bathroom door while I’m in there, I’ll break the mirror and cut you with it.”

A strange warmth moves through me. Damn. She’s something. It’s scary how much I want to protect her. “I believe you.”

“You should.” She disappears into the bathroom and shuts the door.

The pipes groan when she turns the water on.

I settle my hand against my gun in the back of my waistband.

I crossed a line tonight, and Vega’s reach is long. Zabala’s temper is longer.

I don’t regret it.

That should scare me more than it does.

Steam drifts beneath the bathroom door. I inhale the fresh scent of soap, stare at the door, trying not to imagine Robin naked as the water slides over her.

Ten minutes pass. Then fifteen, until the bathroom door opens.

I turn.

And every thought in my head goes silent.

Robin stands in the doorway with a fluffy pink towel wrapped around her body.

Pink.

Of all the colors in this house, Señora V gave her pink. It should look absurd on Robin.

It doesn’t.

Instead she looks like a woman who survived hell and came out wrapped in cotton candy, a fire still burning underneath.

Her long hair is wet, black as night, and curling slightly at the ends. Droplets cling to her shoulders.