Page 68 of The Ecstasy of Sin

I laugh, then release him. “He’s a whore for attention.”

Hunter trots back to the door, and I open it for him so he can come back inside. Ghost scratches him behind the ears one final time before turning and heading back towards the garage.

“Good luck,” he says quietly as he slips out the way we came in.

Hunter walks over to me with his tail wagging. I crouch down and pet him with both hands, fingers combing through the scruff of his neck. “That’s my good boy. Take a nap for me and keep the house safe while I get your new mom settled in, alright?”

I point toward one of the many dog beds scattered through the house, and he happily trots over and curls up on top of the expensive memory foam. Once he’s settled, I double-check his water dish—still full, thanks to Torin’s late-night visit—then head back into the bedroom.

Standing in the doorway, my breath catches at the sight of Wren settled in my bed, her hair fanned out across the plush pillow that’s cradling her head.

I walk over and tug my shirt up and over my head one-handed, tossing it onto the dresser. Before I do anything else, there’s something important I have to take care of.

I step inside my walk-in closet, not bothering with the light since I know what I’m after. Leaning down, I retrieve the small box tucked away in the back corner.

Box in hand, I walk back over to the bed and set it down beside her. I climb on top of the sheets and sit next to her.

She’s still unconscious. I pull back the duvet to expose her, my eyes roaming down her body. She’s wearing nothing but a worn out black t-shirt, her torn panties still tucked away in my back pocket.

Gently, I slide the arm closest to me away from her body and feel along the upper section until I find a spot near the back where she’s least likely to mess with it.

I flip open the box and tear the disinfectant wipe open with my teeth. After cleaning the area thoroughly, I pull out the needle, preloaded with the tracking device, and uncap it.

It doesn’t take long for me to inject the tracker and clean the area one more time, putting a butterfly bandage over the spot.

When she asks about it, I’ll tell her a spider bit her while she slept in my arms back at the park.

I’m willing to lie to her about this, if it means she won’t do something stupid like dig it out and disappear.

Once everything’s safely packed away, I carry the box into the kitchen to dispose of it. When I return, I pull out my phone and climb into bed beside her, slipping beneath the cool sheets.

I open the custom tracking app Ghost designed for the four of us. Four pins pulse on the map—our own implants. A fail-safe: none of us can be taken without the others knowing exactly where to find us.

I open a new tab and generate a private map with one singular pin.

A twisted smile creeps across my lips. From now on, I’ll always know where she is. Even if she loses her phone, or tries everything she can think of to escape me.

I’ll be with her always, when she wants it, and even when she doesn’t. She’ll never have to be alone again, not with her psychopathic stalker future husband to keep her safe.

I brush a stray tendril of hair away from her face, her lips parting slightly as a sigh slips from her mouth.

The propofol must be fully flushing from her system now, but hopefully the warmth and comfort of my bed keeps her relaxed enough to sleep off the grogginess that’ll hit once she’s fully awake.

I wonder when she last slept in a bed like this—one that didn’t squeak or sag, one that smelled like comfort instead of mildew and fear. I’ve always been a sucker for an expensive mattress, and mine is as lush as they come.

She’ll sleep so well, she’ll never want to leave it.

The thought warms my cold, dark soul like a slow-burning fire.

My eyes flick around the room, the curtains are drawn to keep most of the morning light out, and a new idea begins to take shape in my mind.

This place isn’t good enough for her. I’m going to find a property out in the middle of nowhere, surround it with prison-grade fencing and build her the home of her dreams.

Maybe I’ll get a couple more dogs. I may even move my brothers in, because the four of us are more efficient for defense than anyone I could hire.

Rolling onto my back, I grab my phone from the nightstand and open up the Brotherhood group chat.

RYKER