Page 153 of A Vicious Love

“Discreet unless someone touches her.”

“And then?”

“Then visible enough the whole fucking street learns.”

“Yes, sir.”

I leaned forward, scanning the gym entrance camera.

“And the gym. Sweep everything. Hidden cameras, locker rooms, showers, ceiling gaps, vents. I want no blind corners in the hall approach. No male staff assigned near the women’s change rooms unless cleared by me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Any trainer who touches her without consent loses the hand.”

“Should I put that in the staff policy?”

“Not in writing.”

“Of course.”

My thumb moved over Sienna’s contact again.

The worst part was that buying things made sense to me. Buildings. Security. Staff. Territory. These were clean. I could make the world around Sienna safer by force before I worked out how to make myself less dangerous to her. But I could not make any of that matter if she still believed I hated when she breathed near me.

My phone dimmed.

I tapped it awake.

Sienna’s name returned. I typed again.

I’m sorry.

I stared at it until my throat tightened.

Too small.

Deleted.

I tried again.

I behaved badly when I saw you with Weston.

Deleted.

Coward. That made it about my jealousy.

Again.

I have no right to ask anything from you, but I would like to know you got home safely.

I stared at that one.

My hand stilled above the screen. Better, maybe.

Not come here, baby, because I missed you and watched you on six cameras. Bought three places tied to your routine like a man who deserved prison not marriage.

I sent it before I could destroy it. The message delivered.