Page 188 of Sinful Pleasure

“Try me,” he challenged, taking a step closer.

“Stop this madness, Maddox,” I growled, anger surging in my chest as he circled me like a lion eyeing its prey. “You’ve done enough.”

He stopped behind me. I heard his wicked laugh.Low and sinister— reverberating in the room, sending a chill down my spine.

“Oh, baby, I’m just getting started,” he whispered into my ear, his chest brushing against my bare back.

“Your people missed.” I tried to keep my voice strong, deep. “My father is alive and well.”His breath spilled over my shoulder, sending shivers through my body.

“I never miss, princess.”

His voice was husky against my ear as I kept my eyes fixed on the wall in front of me, my breath ragged.

“If I wanted him dead, he’d be lying on the fucking floor with his skull shattered. He’s alivebecause I want him to be.”

“You’re a coward, just like your father,” I muttered, turning my head slightly, catching only a glimpse of him.

“Hiding in the shadows, torturing people for your own amusement. But you, too, will end up dead, just like him.”

“Is that a promise, princess?” His voice was laced with amusement, his hand grazing my waist through the towel, burning my skin.

“I hate empty words.”

“So do I,” I hissed, shooting back at him. His touch froze, allowing me to spin around and face him. His gaze locked onto mine.

We were so close now, I could smell his cologne, could almost taste his lips as he breathed against me. His expression was unreadable—no reaction, nothing.

“Don’t talk to me about empty promises,” I bit out, my voice low but firm. “You gave me your word to take revenge for Lara’s murder. Yet the moment you found out your father was behind it all, you decided to just forget it and move on, didn’t you?”

I wasn’t going to let him walk all over me again.

Not after everything he’d done. Yes, I wasn’t a saint, but he is worse.

His brows furrowed in confusion, almost convincing me. He was good at that—too good.

“Family comes first, right?” I laughed bitterly, mocking their pathetic family motto. With one hand, I pushed his body away from mine, holding the towel tightly around my body with the other.

Rage surged through me the moment I mentioned Lara.

I had countless reasons to want Martin King dead, but his role in killing my friend was the most personal.

“I see things haven’t changed much. Only lies spill from your fucking mouth,” he muttered, his eyes darkening with anger. “Maybe I should shut you up and put that mouth to better use.”

“When hell freezes over, then I’ll let you have me again, Maddox,” I hissed, my body trembling with rage. “I’ll get my revenge, even if it means going through you first.”

“My father has nothing to do with Lara’s death.”

I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief.

Of course, Martin would lie to his own family. It was second nature to him.

“Of course, your daddy didn’t tell you the truth. You’re just another stupid pawn in his hands,” I sneered. “Pathetic.”

For a split second, my body was slammed against the nearby wall, my breath caught in my throat as Maddox’s hand wrapped around it, tightening, choking me.

His black irises bored into mine, cold and merciless.

“Just like I was a pawn in your games, yeah, princess?” he growled, his grip tightening further. “You have no right to talk about honesty.”

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