Page 172 of Vicious Addictions

I gave her the chess pendant and, I shit you not, the way that she smiled at me brought me to my knees.

I’m so fucked.

I’m beyond fucked.

That fucking smile.

Still drunk on her smile, she baited me to play another chess game. Only this one came with strings attached.

If she won, she wanted another present from me.

I said yes.

Of course I said yes.

Mostly because I honestly thought that there was nothing she could have asked of me that I would ever deny her.

Then the brat asked me to kiss her.

I’m in hell.

Literal hell.

Because deep down, that’s what I’ve been dying to do for more time than I care to admit.

So yeah…she kissed me.

And yeah…I kissed her right back.

And now I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if that one kiss has ruined me completely.

With my heart beating like a jackhammer in my chest, I quickly flip the page, desperate to know more.

August 17th Kent, England.

There was no birthday party.

Instead, Mina was officially inducted into the Firm.

Fuck.

I had been in attendance when the psycho twins had their initiation a year or so ago.

But it didn’t hold a candle to Mina’s.

The twins’ initiation was done in an old factory where the Cranes like to get creative with their hostages and enemies.

Mina’s induction was celebrated in the grand foyer of her home.

If you can even call what I saw tonight a celebration.

Fuckers!

I’m still pissed no one told me what was about to go down.

But I guess no one thought to bother since I’m just a guest to the Crane home as well as to The Firm.

I should have known something was up when, instead of London’s elite, the manor was filled to the brim with every made man I’ve ever met while working for Crane. Even a few female associates attended too, all eager to see the young princess finally take the necessary steps to become queen.