Page 221 of Sinful Pleasure

ALLYN

The next morning, I was struck with the idea that I needed one last conversation with Mikael before we decided his fate.

I want a new fresh start, but I can’t move forward without that conversation. Maddox wasn’t thrilled about it, but he supported my decision nonetheless. He has every right to be bitter about it.

The list of things I could use as proof that Mikael deserves no mercy is endless.

But my gut tells me I’ll regret it if I let him die just like that.

Enough blood was spilled.

I took a deep breath, gathering strength before I turned the handle and entered the room.He was exactly where I’d left him yesterday, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

He looked tired, almost resigned.

As soon as he sensed my presence, he turned toward me. Something flickered in his eyes when he realized it was me.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“That was the plan,” I confirmed. “But it looks like I’m not as tough as I thought, even though you deserve it.”

“You got that from your mother,” he said, curling the edge of his mouth into a faint smile.

My heart sank at the mention of her, a woman I would never have the privilege of knowing. I didn’t want to dig into a wound I’d been trying to heal for so long.

That’s the reality—she’s gone, and nothing will change that.

“Don’t start with this,” I said, closing the door and leaning against it. “I didn’t come for that.”

“And what did you come for?” He raised an eyebrow. “To see me one last time before your boyfriend kills me?”

I approached him, but he didn’t meet my gaze. His eyes tracked my movements until I stopped right in front of him.

“You’ve done terrible things, Mikael. Things you’d kill a person over.”

“Things I’ve killed for,” he corrected me.

I closed my eyes for a moment. That didn’t help at all.

I pushed his words aside as if I hadn’t heard them. “I’m here to make you a proposition.”

That caught his attention.

I’d been discussing this with Maddox all morning, trying to gauge if he would be okay with my decision.

He didn’t like it, but he still supported me.

“You have two options,” I began, crouching down so that we were at eye level.Ifelt a surge of confidence now that I held the power in my hands. ‘’Make peace with The Kings, serve your punishment, and maybe you’ll live to see your grandchildren or refuse my offer and die.”

The words hung in the air, and I felt like the very breath had been sucked from my lungs as Mikael studied me.

“Why are you doing this?” His words cut through me, and I shrugged.

“You fought for me until the end.”

And it was true. If it hadn’t been for him, I would’ve spent my whole life living a lie.

“It’s only fair to do the same for you.’’

---