Page 175 of Bake the Town Red

“Let me have the scoop.” His hand covers the top of mine, and my fingers open for him. Allowing him to take our murder weapon for the night. “Good girl, Dahlia.”

We stand there, watching the chip poking out of Johnathan’s arm a while longer.

“Such a good girl.” He nods and sets for the stove.

I miss his warmth at my side, miss his hands on me. I don’t go to him, though. Don’t rub myself all over his back or climb him like I want to.

“Mmmm!”

This. The screaming, tortured man is what’s important. The knowledge that Tyler will soon be back to avenge me—that’s also important.

Moreover, the sooner we’re done, the sooner he’ll fuck me.

Can’t wait.

“The burn mark on your stomach was only the appetizer.” Tyler spanks my ass as he crosses the room to Johnathan.

I burst out laughing, and he turns his head to me. One of Tyler’s brown eyes disappears for a fleeting moment. The moment he winks at me.

“A decent appetizer. For me, that is.” He whirls the ice cream scoop in front of Johnathan’s face. “Since the wound in your body will make thishurt so much more.”

It looks almost as though Johnathan’s eyes are going to bulge out andhop, hop, hopto the floor. A lot of people get that. I have no idea why some slam them shut or some open them so huge. Neither option is going to save them.

It never saved me. Only Ian had. And Tyler. And me. I saved myself.

Anyhow, the eye thing? Never helps.

Especially not to Johnathan. Tyler aims the scoop at one of the blisters on his abdomen. To a space the rope doesn’t cover.

My love doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t linger.

The ice cream scoop dives as deep as it’ll go. Tyler puts everything into it. Even a part of the handle disappears in Johnathan’s stomach. That’s how forceful Tyler push is.

“You could’ve threatenedme.” Tyler’s whispers are loud in our small torture chamber.

Johnathan’s screams behind the tape aren’t.

“That would’ve been fine. I’ve had other dipshits threaten me over the years.” Tyler’s attention on Johnathan’s bulging eyes is fleeting. He gazes at me. Sends a message tome. “My woman, though?”

Left, right. Left, right. Left, right. Johnathan’s head shakes furiously, a feeble attempt to convince us that Tyler has it all wrong.

“Stalking her bakery while I’d been home, working?”

Johnathan stares directly at me when Tyler starts with the circular motion. Begging for mercy.

Lame.

“Don’t you dare look at her.” Tyler’s voice cracks at the last word. He grips Johnathan’s chin. “You look at me when I’m talking to you.”

While I enjoy toying with my targets, Tyler isn’t as playful.

After our encounter in the baking room, nothing about Johnathan amuses Tyler.

“You bragged about raping her.” A touch of crazy slips into Ty’s voice.

No, that’s not the correct description.

A touch is way too subtle. There’s a whole fucking lot of crazy there. His neck muscles bulge as well, meaning he’s really angry. Meaning the circle he’s carving inside Johnathan’s stomach will have an impressive circumference.

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