Page 130 of Sinful Pleasure

My hands shook, aching to hurt him. It was as if something else took over my body—something darker, something that made Martin King the center of my wrath.

“Yes.”The single word fell from his lips, a confession that confirmed everything I already knew, but I needed to hear it from his pathetic, lying mouth.

No more “family first” bullshit.

I laughed bitterly under my breath, the sound barely recognizable to my own ears, as I tightened my grip on his collar.

All these years, he’d wanted me to spill blood.

And now, it was his blood I wanted to spill.

“You made us look like idiots all these years?” I screamed, slamming his body against the wall again, our faces inches apart.But this time, he didn’t flinch. His gaze was unwavering, his head held high, like a man who had no fear left.

“I was protecting you,” he said, his voice steady.

“Oh yeah?” I sneered, clenching my jaw so tight it hurt. “Or were we protecting yourself, because that sure as hell looks more like the truth.”

“Let me go, Maddox,” he said slowly, his tone laced with false calm, as if he thought that would work. He had trained me well—made me one of his dogs. But not this time.

Not anymore.

‘’Why did you do it?’’I asked, ignoring his attempt at manipulation. I wasn’t going to fall for his shit again.

“Call it revenge,” he answered, unbothered. “Mikael stole from me.”

“And you kidnapped his daughter?” I shot back, my voice rising in disbelief. “You’re even more fucked up than I thought. What did he steal, huh? Money?”

He tried to push me away, but I didn’t budge—not even an inch.

He didn’t stand a fucking chance.

‘’Doesn’t matter,’’ he hissed. “I was trying to protect this family,” he muttered, almost as if he believedit.

‘‘Oh, really?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “By arranging a marriage between Angelo and Allyn? That’s your idea of protection? You weren’t trying to protect the family—you were trying to protect your own ass.”

“Let him go, Maddox!”

Angelo’s voice came from behind me, a shout of concern—but he didn’t move closer. I shot him a cold, deadly look over my shoulder.

“Shut the fuck up.”

Turning my attention back to Martin, I lowered my voice, making it razor-sharp.

“You knew Mikael wouldn’t lay a finger on you if Allyn became a King.”

I watched as that disgusting smile slowly crept onto his ugly face, confirming everything I had suspected.

“As I said,” he replied, like he was the one in control, “I was protecting all of us.” Then, with a smug edge to his voice, he added, “And Angelo personally gave his consent to this marriage.”

Now, it was my turn to look at Angelo.

He was already watching me, lips pressed together in a straight line.

“You did?” My voice came out almost a whisper, the surprise thick in my words.

Angelo just shrugged— as if it was no big deal. What the fuck?

Last time I checked, Angelo wanted nothing to do with this goddamn marriage.Then Martin’s laugh cut through the tension in the room, cold and mocking—like a nightmare that wouldn’t let go.

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