Page 48 of Sweet Misery

She visibly swallowed but said nothing.

“That must mean he liked doing it.” I continued to watch her, taking in the way her breathing increased with her anger, the tightness of her fists, the way her eyes narrowed.

“Do you think your father to be a good man?” she asked. “He steals women and forces them to be your plaything.”

I let out a soft laugh. “My father is a monster who deserves to die. We all know that. Even he knows that.”

“Then why haven’t you?” she asked, her voice strong. “You’re Massimo Saconne. Do you not want freedom?”

I blinked at her, her words hitting a little too close for comfort. I even shifted slightly in my chair, the impacted making me suck down my fourth glass of scotch.

I smacked my lips for a moment before sliding my glass onto the side table, my head a little fuzzy from the buzz of alcohol swimming through veins.

I reached out and wrapped my hand around her throat, taking in the way her pretty eyes widened in fear. I didn’t squeeze too hard. Just enough so she knew I wasn’t playing.

“Don’t you want freedom?” she repeated, wincing at the grip I had on her. “I want you to be free too.”

Her words stunned me. I released her, my throat tight.

“I don’t deserve to be free,” I said, sitting back in my seat, my head more than spinning. “I’m a worse monster than my father is.”

I closed my eyes, truly feeling that way. How many women had I killed as afuck youto him when he sent them here? How many men under his orders? How many crimes had I committed since I was just a boy?

Warm hands landed on my thighs. I snapped my eyes open to see Misery staring back at me, her pretty green eyes holding a sheen of sadness in them.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. She really was perfect. Roman had said as much earlier in the day when there was a lull in the screaming at the warehouse. Sever had grunted, a sour look on his face.

And me.

I’d scoffed, but now as I stared back at the sweet girl in front of me, I was beginning to believe my brothers.

“Maybe I’m a monster too,” she said, her voice so soft and sweet. “Because I want to kill both our fathers.”

I breathed out, her words hitting me right in the heart.

“You’re too pretty to be a killer,” I murmured, drinking in her beauty. I shifted forward and reached for her braid. It only took me a moment until I decided what I wanted to do. Carefully, I pulled the band out holding it together and tossed it aside. I allowed my fingers to unravel the braid. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, so soft and shiny. Adjusting it over her shoulders, I stared at her, in awe of how such a sweet creature could come to me. How she’d still be kind even though I was cruel.

“I don’t like to be cruel,” I whispered, running my fingers through her soft hair.

“Then don’t be,” she whispered back.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Her words. Her sweet lips. The way her eyes wavered as she stared back at me. But I wrapped my hand around her throat and tugged her to me, my lips meeting hers in a soft crash of warm flesh.

Immediately, she let me take the lead, her lips parting for me. I tasted her, my tongue slipping against hers.

I never kissed.

Ever.

It was too intimate, but I couldn’t resist her. I needed her. In only a matter of minutes, I’d caved just like my brothers had.

She really was a sorceress.

I’d gone from wanting to kill her to wanting to fuck her in moments. And it was more than fucking, but I shoved it out of my head because it was too crazy a thought to even have.

“You taste like sin,” she whispered against my lips.

I kissed her again, earning a soft moan from her.

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