No One Has to Know (Deal with the Devil)

by Carin Hart

“Burns?” Her voice is hoarse. “What are… I thought you were… oh my God.” God can’t help her, but Mason Burns can.

“Who did this to you?”

“Look, we’re both broken. I was born this way. You were made this way. But that’s the beauty of us, angel. No matter what, we can make each other whole. Forever has been built on less, and we have our mutual obsession and a taste for justice to keep us together.”

“Love can fade. I love you desperately, but sometimes that’s not enough. But obsession? You’re all I think about it. I close my eyes, I see your face. I lick my lips, I taste you. If I thought you’d let me, I’d fucking chain you to my side so that I would never have a heartbeat when I wasn’t experiencing you.”

“Angela… if I put this on your finger, that’s it. Nothing short of you stabbing me in the fucking heart will get me to agree to let you take it off again. Even then, I’ll plead with you as I bleed out to keep it on until I’m dead and can’t see you without it. I’m that fucking serious. Do you understand me?”