No One Has to Know (Deal with the Devil)

by Carin Hart

Me? I only give a shit about my pretty little florist.

From the moment she shyly flagged me down months ago, offering me a single daisy to brighten my day, I’ve only ever cared about keeping one soul safe. Of watching her, of learning all her secrets, of obsessing over the moment I could find a way to make her mine. My angel.

I’d slit the throat of anyone who thought to hurt my angel, but that wouldn’t mean anything if I lost her before I could make her mine.

Anyone with bad intentions could sneak up the fire escape and let themselves into the sanctuary of her bedroom. Which is why I spend nearly every night I can climbing into her apartment, standing guard over her as she sleeps.

I’m drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, addicted to the sight of her light brown hair, her luscious curves, and those wary, guarded hazel eyes.

“What did you do? You tried to give yourself away to another man. You’re not allowed. That pussy is mine.”

“Because, at first, you saved me from the dark thoughts.” From the way his gaze roves over me, I can guess what those thoughts are about. “But then they just got darker. I had to take you. I had to make you mine, and the only way to do that was to make you mine. Lover… captive… prisoner. It doesn’t matter to me what you are so long as I can claim you. You belong to me, and that means you belong with me—locked up or not.”

“Ah. You’re just noticing my little gift to you.” Little gift. Little. Gift. Little gift? It’s a fucking tattoo.

My stomach goes tight. “‘Burns’?” I read. “It’s… it’s your name?” “And my badge number. In case you had any doubt you’re mine, don’t. I put my mark on you. The first woman who earned it,” he adds, answering a question I never would’ve thought to ask, “and the only one.”

“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?”