Page 207 of Sinful Pleasure

The air in this abandoned building feels suffocating—whether it’s the limited ventilation or my own panic, I can’t seem to catch a breath. Though it’s a warm night outside, the temperature inside has dropped to freezing.

My gaze shifted to the men surrounding us, weapons drawn, waiting for a signal from Maddox. Unlike me, he was visibly calm, his posture relaxed. His hands rest casually in his pockets, and his dark, lifeless eyes are fixed on the man across the field, encircled by his soldiers.

My father—Mikael Romano.

Mikael barely glanced at Maddox. His eyes were locked on me, cold as ice, filled with murderous intent.

Seeing me beside Maddox was a bitter sight for him— it’s written all over his face. His men, too, are armed, their weapons raised and ready to fire.

But I forced myself to appear confident, keeping my head high despite the terror twisting in my gut.

“Maddox King,” Mikael drawled, his icy voice breaking the silence as he acknowledged Maddox’s presence.

“Such a pleasure seeing you again,” he added, the sarcasm dripping from his tone. “Still, I must admit, I preferred you beaten and bathed in your ownblood,” my father said, stepping forward. His men followed, prompting Maddox’s soldiers to advance, weapons raised.

Men against men. Guns against guns.

Blood against blood.

“I bet you do, Mikael,” Maddox replied, his voice low and cold. “Where is my sister?”

Mikael took a step closer with his men trailing behind him.

“Bring me Lydia alive, and I’ll be generous enough to overlook your foolish actions and spare your miserable life,”

Maddox’s voice was calm and steady, yet cold enough to pierce the silence of the night.

“Believe it or not, Mikael, we’re on the same side.”

“Are we?” Mikael sneered, his face twisting in disdain.

“You want my father dead. I want the same thing.”

Maddox stepped forward, standing at the head of his men like a true leader. I followed closely, moving to his side. His gaze shifted to me, softening for a fleeting moment— as though my presence gave him strength.

“That’s where you’re wrong, King. I want you dead.”

Everything happened in a blur. The sound of guns being cocked echoed sharply as Mikael drew his weapon. But before he could aim it at Maddox, I stepped forward, placing myself in front of him, shielding him with my body.

Mikael’s gun was trained on me now.Our eyes locked, and I held my ground, waiting for him to pull the trigger.

I stood tall, my head high, even as my father’s gun aimed directly at me. Around us, at least twenty more weapons were pointed my way by his men, but I didn’t care.

Not when it came to Maddox.

Maddox tried to push me aside, his curses loud enough for everyone to hear, but I stood firm.

My father’s expression, once smug, had vanished, replaced by fury. Hisjaw clenched—his grip on the gun tightening as he stared at me.

“Enough,” I said. “If you want him, you’ll have to kill me first.”

For a moment, I glanced at Mikael’s men, their guns all trained on me, waiting for his order to fire—an order that never came.

But I knew Mikael too well— he would never harm me.

He would never pull the trigger while I stood in his way.

I was his only weakness.

---