Page 101 of Bake the Town Red

“Tyler, stop.”

“I won’t.”

“Al turned Ian and me to his prisoners.” I frown. Growl. “It won’t happen again. I’m so much more than some ani—”

Tyler’s hand wraps around my throat at frightening speed. “I am nothing like him. This…this belt. Ineedthis. I’ll be gone for a day. And you’ll have this on until I’m back. Don’t worry. There are holes for when you need to go to the bathroom. But it’s symbolic. Please.”

We’re glaring at each other in the dark. My heart pounds. His nostrils flare.

“This is about removing him from you.” Tyler’s mouth ghosts over the bandaged tattoo on my neck. Then he’s back to looking at me. “This is about me owning you. And you’re giving this to me. More importantly, you’re taking it.”

More silence. Tyler’s quiet for the minutes it takes me to wrap my head around the idea. The idea of being this unhinged man’s possession. Of havinghim, not Al on my pussy for the next twenty-four hours.

Okay. Okay. I’ve got this.

My smile is slow. “I’m yours.”

“You are.” His grip on my throat loosens, and then it’s gone. He grabs my leg, hauling me to the foot of the bed. “I’m trying, Dahl. I swear I’m trying to be a good man. For the both of us. To not be as terrified. That’s another reason I have to do this. It’ll keep your pretty pussy safe when I can’t be there.”

“Don’t worry.” I stay still as he lifts my legs one after the other and adjusts the belt around me. “You’re locking me. I’m yours. Nothing will happen to me. I promise.”

I won’t say more. We both know who I am. What I do. That I don’t need a human shield anymore. I’m my own damn knight in shining armor.

But we’ve been through too much tonight for this type of conversation.

He’ll just have to get the hint on his own.

“I don’t deserve this.” The lock snaps shut, effectively caging me in. “There won’t be a happy ending for us. Not after everything we’ve been through. Tell me you think differently?”

If I weren’t this sleepy, I would’ve put up a fight. Explained in detail that our past doesn’t reflect on our future.How we, out of everyone, deserve an ending that isn’t a total shitshow.

Lucky for him, my eyes are heavy. Tyler wraps his warm, lean body around me and I don’t even notice the belt is on me anymore. This psycho brings me that much peace.

“Night, Ty.” My bandaged hand covers his that are pressed to my stomach.

His chin rests on the top of my head. “Night, little savage.”

My alarm rings at four a.m. the next morning. By then, he’s nowhere to be found.

I’m anything but upset, though.

This belt he’s put on me is more of a promise than any engagement ring ever would.

It’s sick and it’s beautiful and it’s crazy.

It’s Tyler. My Tyler.Mine.

The smile on my face is there to stay as I throw my legs out of bed.

Time to ground flesh into dust.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Dahlia

Ari the pedo is here, all tied up in my back-back room.

A sheen of sweat has beaded on my forehead in the process, and I wipe it off with the back of my hand. Fuck. I haven’t had that much trouble with a target in a long while.

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