Page 172 of Innocent Intentions

“Who… who are you? How did you get in?” His voice trembles.

“I’m Matthias Montclair.”

Recognition hits him fast. His eyes widen, then his brows furrow. Confusion flickers across his face.

He knows the name. From Syndicate Enterprises. Not the real Syndicate.

For the first time, I regret turning our name from crime lords into businessmen.

“Mr. Montclair, what are you doing here?”

“And this is my brother, Roman Montclair.”

At Roman’s name, he pales. I guess he knows of him from his Bratva connections.

“Your… brother?” His voice cracks. “Take whatever you want.”

Roman growls, “We wantyou.”

“Please. I didn’t do anything. I don’t know anything!”

I step into the light.

“I think you know exactly what you did.”

His eyes widen again.

“You’re the one who was with Margot.” He whispers, white as a ghost.

“She’s mine,” I say softly. Calmly. Steadily. “She’s my everything. And you took her from me.”

I get closer. Roman moves around the other side of the bed, boxing him in.

“Please. I didn’t know she was connected to the Syndicate. I didn’t know!”

“You took my woman and handed her over to murderers. Rapists. How much did you get for her?”

“I didn’t know–”

“How much?”

His voice shakes. “Fifty thousand.”

He actually has the nerve to look ashamed.

“I need the money. I had a few bad runs… I thought I’d get lucky again.”

He sold my sweet girl to feed his gambling addiction.

I roar an inhuman sound and launch myself on him.

“You fucking hit my Margot.” My voice cracks on her name.

My fists crash into his face. Over and over. I hear apop,then acrunch.Blood sprays on the bed. His teeth shatter under my knuckles. I don’t stop. Not even after he does.

Eventually, Roman grips my shoulder.

“We need him alive. For now.”

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