Page 119 of Sinful Pleasure

What was more twisted was why the hell I wasn’t running for my life.

Why wasn’t I fleeing from him after this confession?

Why did I feel safe around a killer?

Maybe it was because I was about to become one myself.A single tear rolled down my cheek.

“I want revenge. You owe me that.”

Maddox arched a brow, studying me.

“A life for a life,” I clarified. “I want to know who took Lara’s life, and I want to take his.”

He shook his head, dismissing my words without a second thought.

“You know I can’t let you do that.”

“Why?”

I stood from the bed, squaring off against him. I might have been a head shorter, but in that moment, my anger made me feel ten feet tall.

“You don’t see anything wrong with killing people, so why not?”

He stared down at me, his jaw clenched.

“That’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“Because it’s me,” he spat, the words laced with self-loathing. But then his gaze softened as it met mine. “I won’t let you turn into me.”

His large hands cupped my face, and for the first time, I felt a hint of gentleness in his touch. As if he was trying to piece me back together, to mend the cracks he knew were there.

His eyes stayed locked on mine.

“But I will give you the revenge you want,” he said with a firm nod, his voice steady, his eyes unyielding. “I’ll take the life of the person who killed Lara.”

My lips parted. “You’d do that for me?”

He nodded again, his fingers brushing softly against my cheeks. His gazelingered on my lips, and I saw him run his tongue over his own, almost like he wanted to kiss me.

Almost like I wanted him to.

“Even if it’s the last thing I do. I promise. You have my word.”

My hands found his, pressing them against my cheeks as I broke down, crumbling into his chest.

And he let me.He held me like that for hours while I cried, his arms a steady fortress against the storm inside me.

Until my tears dried, my vision blurred, and I was too exhausted to cry anymore.Maddox King stayed with me through the night, holding me in his arms until morning.

CHAPTER35

MADDOX

Two days later, the urge to deliver the promised revenge burned hotter.I never thought I’d live to see the day when I felt remorse, where I blamed everything on myself to the point where I wanted to smash my own fucking head.

Seeing Allyn collapse on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably in front of Lara’s grave, unlocked something in me.

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