Page 31 of Ashes of Sin

When I turn, I find both Parker and Travis standing in the doorway.

“Cool. An intervention,” I say, then pour a third glass. “You both shouldn’t be here. Go home.”

“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” Travis asks, tossing his jacket over the back of the sofa and taking the offered glass.

Parker does the same, shaking his head at me.

Like me, the two of them are large men. Over six foot two and at least two hundred and thirty pounds each. Hitting the gym and making our bodies strong was a survival technique, and then we realized it attracted women. Something teenage boys are very happy about.

Now it’s a way of life.

It was a choice.

Become fat, pathetic fuckers or strong, powerful men.

Then add a few tattoos and you pretty much get the image of who we are. I’ve got the darkest hair, longer on top. Parker’s has a hint of chocolate brown; Travis, much like me; Zayne on the blonder size; and Killian already has flicks of gray through his at almost thirty-two.

Apparently, it’s distinguished.

And gets him laid more than us.

It’s all bullshit.

We could have pussy every night if we wanted. And sometimes I do.

I sit down in my armchair and prop my ankle on my knee.

“What am I doing? Taking revenge, like I’ve always planned. This was too good an opportunity to ignore.”

“By kidnapping an innocent woman?” Travis drops down onto the sofa while Parker takes the other armchair.

I sip the golden liquid and almost moan as it slides down my throat.

“She’s not innocent,” I finally say.

Parker’s brows lift.

“She’s in love with my father. I believe. Something is going on. Just because she is young and beautiful does not make her innocent. You both know that.” I place my glass on the table beside me, then drop my foot, leaning forward and pressing my palms together, ignoring their incredulous looks. “Look, I have a plan.”

“Here we go,” Travis rolls his eyes.

“Why aren’t you at the fucking Alliance Club?” I snap.

“Because I fucking own it and have more money than God, so can do what I want.” Travis snorts. “Here’s a better question, why do you kidnap Kyra Fox?”

I sit back and let out a sigh.

“You know the rules, Maddox. We don’t hurt innocents.” Parker points at me with his glass.

“Which,” I remind them, “is yet to be determined.”

“Come on,” Parker drawls.

I feel the muscles in my jaw twitch. These assholes should have my back. We all have a clear goal of destroying the men and women who abused us as children.

It’s not like I fucking killed her.

She’s living in one of the most expensive penthouses in Manhattan, for god’s sakes. Unable to roam around, to be fair, but I’ve fed her, clothed her, and even administered first aid.

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