Page 157 of Sinful Pleasure

“You came to finish me off, huh, princess?”

I tried to laugh, but it came out as a grunt of pain, a sharp stab in my stomach. I looked down—my shirt torn apart, the deep wound on my stomach bleeding with each breath.

“Do it.”

I leaned back in the chair, each breath a fresh wave of agony. The pain is cutting me in two, but it doesn’t even compare to what’s tearing me up inside.Fuck, it’s not even close.

“Maddox—”

“Save it,” I cut her off. “I don’t want to hear it. Finish your job.”

“I’m not here to kill you.”

I almost laughed at her words, but I quickly swallowed it down, using the laugh to mask the raw sting of betrayal twisting in my chest.

All of it was caused by Allyn Romano. The woman I couldn’t shake off for months. And now, she’s going to be the cause of my death.

Laughable, wasn’t it?

“So, you’re weaker than I thought.”I spat those words with venom. I saw her grip the handle tighter, a flicker of something in hereyes.

“You won’t get under my skin, Maddox,” she said, shaking her head. “You can’t provoke me anymore.”

She said it like she was trying to convince herself.

I tilted my head, studying her. “Then why are you here?” I shot back. “To watch me suffer? Is that what you want?”

I bet she’s relishing seeing me chained to this chair, beaten down by her men after she so carefully set this trap for me.

“No,” she blurted, her voice trembling. It was almost as if seeing me in pain was the last thing she wants.

Pretty little liar.

That only fueled the storm raging inside me.

Bring those bastards back to beat the shit out of me again—I’m fine with that. But Allyn being here?

That’s a different kind of pain, a hundred times worse, knowing she’s the one who put me here. I clenched my jaw.

“Using your pussy to make me vulnerable? Smart move.” I smirked at her, blood staining my teeth, but I didn’t fucking care.

I needed her to see what she’d done to me.

“Your daddy must be proud.”

The pain in her eyes shifted, quickly masked by something darker, deeper—as if I’d just struck a chord.

She closed the distance between us, her face twisted in fury as she slapped me. My head snapped to the side, a hiss escaping my lips, mixing with a groan from the searing pain of another wound breaking open.

But I laughed, facing her again, my eyes locking with hers like a death sentence.

“That all you got?” I challenged. “Come on, princess, hit me harder.”

I’m fucking with her head— the same way she’s been fucking with mine and she has no idea.

It’s my fault for letting her get so close.

My fucking fault. Now I’m paying for it.

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