Page 76 of Sinful Pleasure

“That’s why I did what I did.” He watched my every move like he was bracing for the explosion he knew was coming. “We can’t take any risks right now.”

I grabbed the whiskey bottle from the corner of his desk and poured myself a glass. My hand trembled slightly, but not from fear—never that. It was the sheer force of holding back the urge to destroy something.

“Why is she so important to them?” I demanded, my patience wearingthin as I downed the drink in one gulp.Angelo sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted, defeated.

“I have no fucking idea,” he admitted. “But they knew her name, Maddox. They knew where she lived, her parents’ names—everything. We need to back off, at least for now. Until we figure out why they’re targeting her.”

Blackmail. Cowardly threats.

“We’ll play it your way for now,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice barely more than a growl. “But hear me, Angelo—when the time comes, I’ll make them regret. I’ll make their deaths an example, a lesson carved in blood that no one will forget.”

“You need to keep a clear head, Maddox,” Angelo said, standing up from his chair and walking toward me. His cautious tone only fueled my irritation.

I shot him a cold glare, one that should’ve been enough to stop him in his tracks, but he pressed on. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he tried to steady me, his face laced with misplaced concern.

“I know what can help you right now,” he said, almost smiling as if he had the solution to my rage. “I’ll send you one of my girls, yeah? She’lltake the pressure off you.”

I laughed, but there was nothing humorous in it—only sharp, mocking venom. It was the kind of laugh that made people uneasy.With a swift motion, I yanked his hand off my shoulder, my grip tightening just enough to make my point clear.

“You think offering me some whore is the solution?”

Why am I not surprised by his offer?

A quick fuck might be enough to take the edge off for Angelo, but me? No. I need more than that.

“Fuck off, brother.”

Without waiting for a response, I downed the rest of my whiskey in one breath, the burn barely registering in the chaos of my thoughts. I slammed the empty glass down onto his desk and turned to leave.

My fists clenched at my sides as I walked out of his office, the urge to destroy everything in my path nearly overwhelming.

Right now, there’s only one thing that will put me at ease—breaking the necks of those motherfuckers who think they can threaten my family.

And when I finally get my hands on them, they’ll wish they’d never even heard the name Maddox King.

CHAPTER22

ALLYN

The myth is that people make the worst mistakes after midnight.

Maybe that’s true, because here I am—three in the morning, walking quietly toward Maddox’s office, my heart pounding with every step.

I found out from Lara that Maddox would be working through the night in his office, and a decision made in the heat of the moment had me pushing forward with this visit.

I haven’t seen him since we returned from Italy, and I’m not sure if I should feel relieved or annoyed about that.

Angelo’s not home, which, considering everything that happened, might be a blessing.

I still haven’t gotten around to finishing that conversation with him, but I push it to the back of my mind.

The mansion is eerily quiet, as always at this hour, and I pause outside his door, seeing the faint glow of light coming from beneath it.

I take a deep breath and knock on the door.

The muffled sound of his voice reaches me first, low but laced with an edge like he’s frustrated or angry.

Then, just as quickly, the room falls silent.

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