I should have hit him harder…

Giran licked his bruised lips. “We have to remember that Governor Cruel comes from a long line of unstable genes. Why do you think all of them have been assassinated? Our latest leader is the worst of them. I’ve released his medical file for public review. Right here”—he held up the mobile reader in his hand—“the psychologist says that Governor Cruel had to be restrained due to his violent outbursts, and this while he was sedated…”

He glanced down at his mobile so that he could read the report verbatim. “ ‘Patient Cruel is showing no improvement or remorse for his past behavior, whatsoever. He continues to be belligerent, lunging out against the staff and cursing all of us. He’s resistant to our best efforts to rehabilitate him. Yesterday, he broke the arms of two guards. When asked how he felt about putting them in the hospital, he responded that he not only enjoyed it, but that he’d gladly do it again. And that if he was able to, he’d harm me as well.’ ”

Zarya gaped at Darling.

His features darkened as he clutched the remote in his hand. Vicious memories of that event rushed through him and he wanted blood for it. He returned her shocked expression with a fierce growl. “They were violating me with a pole and the doctor stood there watching, telling them to be more sadistic with it. When they hit me in the arm with the pole, it knocked loose one of my restraints. As soon as I had my arm free, I beat the shit out of them. And yes, I enjoyed it. Every second of it, and every scream they let out while I did it. My only regret was that they sedated me before I could kill them.”

Zarya felt sick at what he described, and at the shame that tinged the anger in his jerking eyes. Damn that bastard for dredging up something so foul.

Still, when one didn’t know Darling’s side of the event…

“I understand, but it sounds so bad from the doctor’s point of view.”

“Of course it does. You don’t really think he’d put in a report that his treatment was to sanction the brutal rape of a patient, do you?” He cursed under his breath as the reporter continued to question Giran about his mental capacity and inability to lead them.

Zarya cringed with every word. The saddest part of it all was that Darling would never set the record straight. His shame and horror over it ran too deep.

And she couldn’t blame him for it. In his place, she wouldn’t breathe a word of it either.

He gestured toward the monitor with the remote. “They’re taking everything out of context and spinning it to annihilate me. It’s…” His voice trailed off as his eyes widened and his face went stark white.

Zarya turned to see a naked teenaged Darling with Nylan. Maris was right. Darling was crying and it was painfully obvious that he wanted no part of Nylan’s groping. Her stomach tightened to the point she thought she’d be sick as she grabbed the remote from his hand and turned it off.