Page 199 of Only Be Mine

Me.

I looked at the ring between us, then back at him.

And for the first time since I’d walked into this house years ago, I saw it clearly.

This wasn’t protection.

This wasn’t devotion.

This was ownership.

And ownership, when threatened, becomes something else entirely.

Trevor leaned forward slightly.

“Now,” he said, voice calm again. “We need to talk about what happens next.”

Chapter 70

John

May 10 – Ten Years Ago

Lightning flashed again, closer this time.

In the brief burst of white, I saw him.

Trevor.

He stepped around into my line of sight as the darkness returned, like he’d been waiting for the right dramatic moment to reveal himself.

For a second, relief flooded me.

Trevor.

Someone I knew.

Someone rational.

“This isn’t funny,” I said again, more breath than voice. “Untie me.”

He didn’t smile.

That was the first thing that felt wrong.

“You figured it out,” he said quietly.

My heart stumbled.

“Trevor, if this is some kind of…”

He punched me.

Hard.

My head snapped sideways. Pain detonated along my jaw. I tasted blood immediately.

“What the hell?” I choked.