Page 156 of Sinful Pleasure

Almost as if he’d been haunted by thoughts of me for the past few months. Almost as if my absence had been as painful for him as his had been for me, even after everything he’d done.

But I gathered my strength and looked him straight in the eyes.

“If I have to.”

I came here with a plan.I came here on a mission, and I won’t let my attraction and confused, fucked-up feelings get in the way.

Not this time.

Maddox’s grin vanished the moment my guards burst into the room, triggered by the button I pressed. A little button hidden in my bracelet.

Before he could even reach for his gun, my men had him, pushing him to the ground in the same position he’d had me in not long ago.

One ofmy men pressed a towel to his mouth, intoxicating him.His eyes stayed locked on mine the whole time, shifting with each second—hurt, surprise, betrayal, and finally, mostly, hatred. Chills ran down my spine at the coldness in his stare.

I was freed from his gaze when he closed his eyes, surrendering to the chemicals. I watched his unconscious body fall to the floor as my men lifted him to take him out of the room.

I could almost hear Mikael’s voice in my head saying

“Good job, Allyn.”

I did this for him. For us.

I did this for Lara.

But why, deep down inside, do I feel like I did something wrong?Why did my body shatter into pieces when I saw the shock and betrayal on Maddox’s face before he lost consciousness?

You did good, Allyn. You did what you had to fucking do.

Maybe if I keep repeating it to myself, I’ll believe it eventually.

CHAPTER46

MADDOX

Drop. Drop. Drop.

I watch my blood pool on the floor around the chair I’m chained to.

Every breath is agony.

Every attempt to open my eyes feels like a struggle against something heavier. I stare at myself in the mirror across from me. My suit is torn, stained with a mix of dried and fresh blood.

My face is adorned with deep cuts, my lips split open and my nose dripping. My hands, chest, and stomach are covered in wounds, each one a testament to theirbrutality. These assholes took their time, beating the shit out of me and introducing a knife to their sick torture.

After the tenth punch and the countless cuts from the blade, everything inside me went numb.

I felt nothing as the knife sliced through my flesh or as their fists hammered into my face again and again.It went on for hours—until they were satisfied with their twisted masterpiece on me.

Then, the room fell silent, leaving me alone with my blood draining out.

Drop. Drop. Drop.

The door creaked open again.

I thought it was just these bastards coming back for round two, but when I forced myself to lift my head, I was surprised to see who entered.

My fucking eyes are swollen and red and I can barely see, but I could never mistake Allyn Fucking Romano.I saw the horrified grimace on her face, her eyes wide as she gripped the door for dear life.

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