Keep Me (The Fox Family Crime Syndicate, #3)

by Summer O'Toole

“You’re not the Cortez I take orders from. Bark at me again, and I’ll be the one you need protecting from.”

Time doesn’t heal shit. It only gives wounds more time to fester.

And that same darkness is the reason I don’t fear him because I recognize it for what it is: a cloak he wraps himself in to hide whatever ghosts haunt his soul. I wear a matching one.

“Because when my hands are wrapped around your throat, I’m the one you’ll be praying to.”

*get eric a rosary hand tattoo immediately*

“Why are you sleeping there?” she asks, her voice curious and light. “You were on the couch,” I explain simply. “What about your bedroom?” “You were here, so I was here.”

“If you ever make me that hard again while torturing someone, I’m fucking you next to their corpse.”

“You know the rules,” she says breathlessly, lifting her chin. “No touching unless I’m in danger.” I growl in warning. “You sure as fuck aren’t safe around me right now.”

Remember how nobody can make you shatter like I can. On my tongue, my fingers, my cock. Even on my fucking gun.”

Maybe it’s our unique brand of madness.

“Say it,” he bites out, jaw tight and sweat sliding down his temple. “You’re mine,” I gasp. “Mine.” “Fuck, I don’t want to be anything else,”

“I’m gonna paint the back of your throat.”

Only weak men need to harm and hurt women, and only the weakest need to do it behind a mask.

“Wake up, please, I need you. If you wake up for me I swear I’ll fucking marry you. I’ll take you skydiving. I’ll love you with every breath I breathe, every second of my life. Please, just come back to me—”

“I’ll always be your monster, you only have to be my light.”