Page 36 of Bound By Crimson

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“He’s not to come near you. From now on, Thomas will drive you. Everywhere.”

“Kai—”

“No arguments.” His tone gentled, but the possessiveness didn’t ease. “It’s for my peace of mind. I won’t let him have any chance to upset you. You’re mine now.”

Lyric hesitated—it should have sounded terrifying. Instead, it calmed something deep in her.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Good.”

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By mid-July, Thomas had become part of her day.

He drove her to work in the mornings, waited while she picked up coffee, dropped her at the Velvet Cauldron, and took her home at night after her usual visit to the cemetery.

At first, it had felt excessive.

But soon it felt… safe.

For the first time in a while, someone was taking care of her.

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Mid-August.

That morning had started like any other.

Thomas waited at the curb as Lyric grabbed her usual coffee.

But as she stepped outside, Eric was waiting.

“Lyric.” His voice was strained, desperate. “Please. Just five minutes. You can’t keep avoiding me.”

She stiffened. “Yes. I can.”

“We had something. You know we did. I can’t believe I let Rowan get in between us. She’s gone now. It’s just us.”

Lyric moved to step around him, but he blocked her path.

“You owe me that much.”

Lyric narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I owe you?”

Thomas appeared at her side. Silent. Solid.

Relief flooded her veins for a split second. She hadn’t known how to get past Eric without causing a scene. Thomas had solved it without a word.

“This way, ma’am.” His voice was polite but unmovable.

Eric sneered. “What the hell? You’ve got a driver now? What, you some big shot or something?”

Lyric didn’t reply. She brushed past him and slid into the car.

As Thomas pulled away, she allowed herself a faint smile.

For once, Eric was the one being left behind.

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