Page 124 of Sinful Pleasure

“Actually, I don’t,” he said with a lazy wave of his hand. “Please, enlighten me.”

I leaned forward, resting my hands on the table, my eyes boring into his old, smirking face.

“I don’t like playing games, Mikael. They’re a waste of fucking time. We did what you asked us, and yet you still have the nerve to send your people after us, taking innocent lives on our estate?”

Mikael exhaled a plume of smoke and smirked wider, a grin I wanted to wipe off his face.

“Oh yes, I heard about,” he nodded, his disgusting voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Such a tragedy. A pity for all those lost lives.”

I slammed my hand down on the table. His dogs immediately reached for their pistols, but Mikael stopped them with a single finger lifted in the air.

“Maddox, Maddox, Maddox,” Mikael sighed, his voice tinged with frustration, which only made my blood boil more. “Don’t be stupid like your father.”

He tapped his finger on the armrest of his chair, studying me carefully.

“I sent people after you, yes,” he continued, lighting another cigarette. “And by the way, I got your gift. A little rotten and delayed, but it stillreached me.” He laughed.

The fucker I’d killed and sent to him as a gift. He didn’t seem to care about the life taken because of him.No remorse, no hesitation.

“But please, enlighten me,’’ he smiled. ‘’What good does it do me to slaughter innocent people on your estate?”

“You tell me.”

“I’m telling you — absolutely nothing.” He shook his head, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. “I knew your location, your pathetic mansion in Scarlet Vale wasn’t worth my time—or the people who work there. I’m a killer, not a waster. And that? A waste of lives I have no interestin.”

Mikael Romano had built a reputation in society as a man of honor, which was laughable considering he was the head of an underground criminal family. But there was one thing my father always said about him, aside from being a piece of shit.

Mikael wasn’t a liar.

He wore his decisions on his face, spoke with brutal honesty, and used his words as a weapon. But right now, it’s hard to believe him.

“Why should I believe you?”

Mikael shrugged casually.

“I think you should ask your father about that,” he smirked. “I’m sure he has the answers to this very important question of yours.”

“Are you accusing my father of being behind this?” I scoffed.

The absurdity of his statement was almost too much to handle, but his gaze remained unshaken. The humor slowly bled from my laughter.

“I’m not accusing, Maddox,” he said, his voice casual as he took a sip of his drink. “I’m just offering you my thoughtful opinion.”

“As if I want your fucking opinion.”

Mikael raised his hands in mock surrender, shrugging his shoulders, but something about his words nagged at me.

What could my father know about what happened at the mansion? He was just as shocked as we were. He’s clueless—just like all of us.

“You know you’re not going to get what you want, right?” I leaned back in my chair, flashing a cold smile. “No matter how many sick games you play.”

Mikael’s sneer deepened.

“And what exactly do I want, boy?” His voice dripped with condescension as he leaned forward, locking eyes with me.

“Allyn Delgado,” I said, clenching my jaw. “For some fucked-up reason. Find another way to mess with my family, but don’t drag her into it. She has nothing to do with this.”

“She has everything to do with it,” Mikael shot back, his tone rising withsudden intensity. “You think this is just a game? That it’s about power, money, territory?”

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