Page 161 of Sinful Pleasure

A freaking bullet.

Mikael must’ve noticed the shock and anger etched across my face as I stared at Maddox’s leg. His hand roughly gripped my shoulder— as if trying to pull me away from the sight.

But I couldn’t.

Maddox was gasping for air, each breath a struggle, but he didn’t lift his head. His swollen eyes didn’t even flicker toward us, as if giving us any attention was the last thing he thought I deserved.

And he was right.

Mikael circled around me, his voice low and calm as he moved closer to Maddox’s battered form lying on the floor.

“You’re stubborn. Under other circumstances, I’d admire that.”

“Fuck you, Mikael,” Maddox spat with venom, his voice hoarse, still refusing to look up.

His head remained lowered, his dirty black hair hanging over his face like a curtain, hiding him from us.Mikael wasn’t fazed.

“One way or another, you’ll help us find Martin,” he said, his words carrying the weight of a promise. “It’s up to you whether you meet my good side or my bad one.”

Maddox let out a laugh—dark, cold, and wicked. It was the kind of laugh that froze you in place. Maddox shook his head. All I could see was the smirk tugging at his lips, and that alone sent a shiver through my entire body.

“I’ll have so much fun killing you, Mikael.”

It wasn’t just a threat—it sounded like a promise.

My father’s expression remained carefully neutral, but I knew him too well. Maddox’s words were digging under his skin, unsettling him in ways he wouldn’t show.

“You won’t live long enough to do that,” Mikael spat back, waving a dismissive hand toward his men. “Lock him in the room on the second floor. Guard it round the clock.”

The guards moved quickly, grabbing him by the arms and dragging him toward the exit. But just before they left, his black, unforgiving eyes locked onto mine—not my father’s, not Daphne’s—mine.

They were cold and merciless, filled with a darkness that made my stomach twist. The scars on his face only amplified the deadly promise in his stare.

And even though every part of me wanted to hold that gaze, I was the one who looked away first. Like a coward.

The door slammed shut, leaving the room in a tense silence.

“You shot him?” I snapped, my voice sharp and accusing as I turned to Mikael. My anger was immediate, my skin burning with it. Mikael shrugged, his indifference only stoking the fire inside me.

“You promised me you wouldn’t hurt him again!”

“I shot him before making any promises to you.’’

“Why?”

“Because he needs to learn to keep his stupid mouth shut.”

I let out a harsh, humorless laugh, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

“You’re kidding me, right?” I hissed, taking a step closer to him. Pointing a finger at him, I spat, “Don’t you dare touch him again, or you’ll have to deal with me. That’s a fucking promise, Mikael.”

His eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor finally cracking.

“You’re protecting a man who wouldn’t think twice before killing you if he had the chance.” he hissed, his words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit.I faltered, stepping back as his harsh words stabbed straight into my chest.

“Stop showing weakness,” he continued, his tone laced with disdain. “And start acting like a real Romano.”

His words echoed in my head, leaving a trail of doubt and pain in their wake. Because deep down, I knew he was right.

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