Page 118 of Sinful Pleasure

“There’s a bloodbath, Allyn,” Angelo snapped, his gaze angry. “It’s not safe. We’re trying to protect you.”

“The way you protected Lara?”

“Lara?” Angelo looked bewildered, making my tears fall even harder.

To him, she was just one of his servants—no one important. He doesn’t care that innocent lives were sacrificed for their mistakes.

“Enough, Angelo,” Maddox’s deep, husky voice cut into the conversation, drawing attention to him. “Leave her to rest. I’ll watch over her.”

Angelo sighed but nodded, leaving the room with Lydia.

“Leave, Maddox,” I mumbled, lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling. “I want to be alone.”

I couldn’t see him, but I felt his gaze locked on me.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Allyn,” he said after some time, his voice uncharacteristically soft. It didn’t sound like Maddox at all.

I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and let them fall, collapsing into the bed.

“She was so young,” I whimpered, burying my face in my hands. “She didn’t deserve this.”

“I know.”

“You and your family put her in a situation that took her life.”

“I know.”

He didn’t try to argue or make excuses. His voice sounded raw, almost as if I could hear regret, remorse.

When I looked at him, his head was lowered.

“Why? What have you done that so many people had to lose their lives?” I cried.

Maddox opened his mouth several times, as if to speak, but each time he stayed silent.

He eventually spoke.

“Nothing good, Allyn,” he said. “We are not good people.”

“That doesn’t mean innocent people have to pay with their lives for your mistakes,” I shot back, my anger rising with every word.

Maddox nodded.

“That’s right,” he replied simply. “But it’s inevitable.”

I scoffed through my tears. “You’re joking, right?”

“What do you want me to say, Allyn?” he hissed, stepping closer to the bed. “It’s fucked up. So fucked up. But that’s our life. If you haven’t noticed, we’re all fucked up.”

And that was all the proof I needed.

These people weren’t just flawed— they were beyond redemption. Their enemies were no better. It was an endless, vicious cycle with no escape. I swallowed hard.

“When you told me you’ve killed people for less,” I began, my throat tightening, “Was that the truth?”

“Yes.” he didn’t hesitate.

Maddox wasn’t trying to hide it. He spat the truth in my face without flinching, his expression devoid of emotion.

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