Page 242 of His To Erase

That’s what—number three? God, I’m getting really tired of this. At least it’s only a slap.Small favors.

“Okay, Frankie,” I mutter, trying to mask the panic that’s creeping in. “I think the slapping’s getting old.”

His jaw twitches. Then he takes a step closer.

I smile. “Don’t tell me that’s what gets you hard.”

I shouldn’t say it. I know I shouldn’t. But it’s already out, and I’m running out of fucks to give.

I glance down—and sure enough, when I actually see it—I laugh. It’s a sound that scrapes my throat raw and tastes like gasoline.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I giggle. “You hit me and now you’re hard? Shit, maybe I’ve been giving you too much credit. I thought all those nice dates and big words meant you wantedsomething real. But no. Turns out all you really need is a girl who bleeds pretty, huh?”

Something cracks behind his eyes, and I see it too late.

He lunges—grabbing my arms, yanking me against him. My back slams into the nearest wall and he cages me there with his body. His breath is hot and wild against my face.

“You think this is funny?” he hisses.

“No,” I say calmly, even though my breath is shaking. “I think it’s a fucking horror story. And you’re just pissed I stopped swooning long enough to notice.”

His grip tightens.

“Oh, baby doll,” he murmurs. “I paid for you.”

The words don’t register at first.

“I bought you,” he says again, more force now. “Like a goddamn investment. I’m starting to think you’re more trouble than the money was worth.”

And just like that, the air gets knocked out of the room. My body goes still. My brain scrambles for understanding, but all I can do is blink. Because what the fuck did he just say?

“I knew you were too good to be true,” he says, like he’s admiring a painting. “All that fire. All that fight. You really thought the world was gonna let you keep it?”

He leans closer, and the smile on his face makes me want to puke.

“No, sweetheart. Girls like you don’t get freedom. You get owned.” His breath is hot against my ear, and I swear my soul tries to crawl out of my skin. “Girls like you are meant to be fucked into obedience.”

My stomach flips so violently I have to bite my tongue so I don’t gag. He pulls back just far enough to watch it land—to watch the truth carve me open.

“Don’t look so surprised,” he adds, cruel now. “You think I bought you for your winning personality?”

No, no, no, no. He’s lying. He has to be lying.

Everything I couldn’t remember suddenly has a shape. The shadow in the room. The voice in my ear. The hands that dragged me.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Didn’t realize all that freedom you’ve been pretending to have came with a price tag?”

I can’t stop shaking. My mouth opens, then closes.

“I never—” My voice breaks. “I never agreed?—”

He chuckles. “You didn’t have to. The deal was sealed the second your ex decided you were worth more on paper than in his bed.”

I stagger back like he hit me again. My hand finds the wall, and my legs don’t feel real.

This can’t be happening.

This whole time—this entire fucking time—I thought I escaped.