Page 110 of Sinful Lord

The realization isn’t immediate, but I can see the horror melt her face as it dawns on her.

“Tytus, no…” she steps forward and I take a big step back into the hall.

“I’m sorry, angel. This is for you own safety. If you want me to leave, then it’s what needs to be done.”

I pick the key out of my pocket and Melina’s hazel eyes go wide.

“You can’t lock me in here!” she yelps, moving towards the door.

I lift my palm and command her to stop.

To my surprise, she listens.

But that only makes this harder.

I grab the doorknob and take one last long look at my captive angel. The heartbreak and betrayal in her eyes is so intense it’s painful. But I know there’s no going back. Not now.

What I can do, though, is push forward. I can take a stupid leap. Maybe that will make her feel better.

“I’m falling for you,” I blurt out. “That’s never happened before. Excuse me if I’m not handling it with grace. It’s not from lack of trying.”

With that, I start to shut the door. But I stop when Melina responds.

“If you’re falling for me, then why are you locking me up?”

A deep breath fills my lungs.

“Because I have to make sure you’re safe,” I grunt, my skin already hardening. “But you were right. I can’t just sit back and wait for trouble to come to us. I need to go out and find it. I need to snuff it out before it can interrupt… this.”

My eyes scan the comfortable room.

“What is this?” Melina asks.

“I’m not sure yet, are you?”

“I thought I was starting to figure it out…”

Her sigh is like a knife through my chest. But I don’t let it deter me. In fact, I let the pain push me in the direction I know I need to go.

“Sleep well, princess,” I say, slowly closing the door. “Paint hard. Don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon, and then we can figure everything out.”

The door clicks shut, and I’m met by silence as I turn the key and lock my angel into her new cage.

“Fuck…” I grumble, tucking the key into my pocket.

Guilt threatens to bolt my feet to the floor. I fight through it. These human emotions can’t win. I won’t let them.

This is for the best, I tell myself. You were getting too comfortable. And in this world, that’s a death sentence.

Turning my back on the bedroom, I start down the hallway. The warmth I’m leaving behind fades even faster than I expected, and a cold darkness washes over me. I let it encompass every inch of my being.

If this story is going to have a happy ending, I need to become the villain I truly am.

But can Melina survive that monster? Or will she shatter beneath my tightening grip?

Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out.

The devil of Berlin needs to be dealt with. For Melina’s sake.