Page 76 of Not All Himbos Wear Capes

When he later called to say he’d been sent inland again, I barely reacted. It was partly because I wasn’t surprised that Butch had gotten punished for what happened today, but mostly that every atom of my being was laser focused on seeking revenge against the supe who’d hurt him.

Captain Masculine.

Captain fucking Masculine.

The very hero this idiotic city simped over was using his enhanced strength to intimidate and injure Biggs employees who stepped out of line. Masculine had put his hands on Butch. He’d broken his bones and left visible marks. He’d hurt the man I loved until he could do nothing but drag himself to my apartment like a broken toy waiting to be fixed.

I’m going to fucking kill him.

“Xan?” Butch’s voice on the other end of the line brought me back to the conversation. “Are you all right? Did something happen with… Harold… Holt?”

I blew out a forceful breath. “No, Butch, I’mnotall right, but it’s less about that asshole and more about howyouare treated by your employer. Do you think you could get me a copy of your contract with Biggs? I want to look it over.”

There was a long silence. “I-I don’t know where it is,” he stammered. “I’ve never seen it.”

Excuse me?

“I’m sorry… what?” I squeezed the reusable aluminum water bottle I was holding so tightly it bent in half. “How could you have never seen a contract that you signed?”

Another pause. “I didn’t sign it. My parents did. Before I was born.”

I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL THEM ALL!!!

At the moment, I was perilously close to either a nervous breakdown or a rampaging murder spree. “Baby… baby, listen to me. This is not okay. None of this is okay. When are you coming home? Because I-Ineedyou here in my apartment—ourapartment. I’ll get you set up with fingerprint access and then we’ll work on a plan together to get you the fuck out of this goddamn cult that you work for—”

“I don’t think you should give me fingerprint access to your apartment,” Butch interrupted, shocking me into silence. “Not until I tell you what I do for Biggs.”

“Tell me now then,” I demanded, beyond done with this entire situation. “Just tell me now and then we can—”

“I want to tell you in person,” he cut in again, although his voice wavered slightly. “You deserve to hear it from me, face-to-face.”

Enough of this!

“Are you actually a serial killer?” I huffed. “Or do you murder marine wildlife?”

He barked a laugh, and as it was the first one I’d heard out of him since our abduction to Biggs’ office, I took it as a win. “No. I don’t kill marine wildlife.”

I smiled, even though he couldn’t see me. “Well, since that’s myonlydeal-breaker, it sounds like everything will be fine. Seriously, baby, there isnothingyou could do to make me feel less sure about you—about us. Aboutthis.I promise.”

“I’m not going to hold you to that,” he whispered so sadly I almost demanded he come home immediately.

The arrival of a woman in the background—his mother, probably—stopped him from saying more. Their conversation grew muffled as Butch put the phone down to reply. When he came back on, he sounded even more defeated, if that were possible.

“I’ve gotta go, Xan. I think they’ll let me come back to the city tomorrow, after a… thing I have to do tonight…”

Wiping a hand down my face, I sighed, annoyed that I’d forgotten to install a tracker on his phone when I had the chance. “Very well. But I’m not kidding—I want you to comehomeas soon as you’re back, okay?”

“I will,” he murmured.

“You willwhat?”I growled, suddenly needing to remind him who he belonged to. To remind myself.

Because he was perfect, he answered immediately. “I will, Daddy.”

“Good boy,” I praised. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Tossing my phone onto the couch next to me, I dropped my head into my hands. Something seriously fucked up was going on here and the answer was hovering infuriatingly just out of reach.

As soon as Butch gets here, I’m locking him in the bedroom.