Sinful Pleasure (Sinful #1)

CHAPTER 7

C HAPTER 7

ALLYN

“We’ve arrived.”

I nodded at Angelo, my eyes fixed on the massive mansion behind the gates.

I always knew The Kings were rich, but I never imagined they were this filthy rich. I also never imagined moving in with my husband-to-be so soon, but I guess my mother had plans of her own—plans she never bothered to share with me.

A man dressed in all black opened the door. Angelo stepped out first, extending his hand to me.

“Miss Delgado.”

The same man greeted me, his face as expressionless as ever, eyes cold and dead. He nodded in my direction.

Why are all the people connected to this family so emotionless, and built like assassins? Is that some kind of “requirement” if you want to work for them?

I stole a quick glance at Maddox, stepping out of the front seat of the car, adjusting his suit. He nodded to the guards before walking away.

I should’ve known from the start that Maddox was part of this family. It was written all over his damn face, but I just chose to ignore the signs.

And my mind would never let me forget that night of humiliation when I was drunk, and almost tried to kiss him.

Then Angelo’s arrival only made things worse.

I thought he was just visiting for dinner, not planning on taking me to this massive house the very next day.

But this morning, my mother burst into my room, telling me to pack my things and that I was leaving with Angelo for Scarlet Vale.

I didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Tamara or the shelter. I had to leave everything behind—everything I loved, everything that made me happy.

We walked in silence toward the entrance of the massive castle when Angelo turned to me.

“You’ll have a personal assistant. If you need anything, she’ll be at your disposal.”

“How long are we staying here?”

I had to quicken my pace to catch up with him. My steps were shorter compared to his.

“I have work that needs urgent attention.” He glanced down at me. “We’ll stay here for a little while. It’s my family’s residence.”

As I said, it’s more like a freaking castle.

One thing I’ll give the Kings credit for is that they know how to spend their money when it comes to choosing a property.

Oh, did I mention the enormous garden with massive lion statues adorning the courtyard? All I could see was hundreds of feet of land.

The inside was just as magnificent. A grand, two-part staircase split at both ends of the entrance. A beautiful designer chandelier hung from the ceiling. Turning my head left and right, I saw at least seven doors leading to God knows where.

People moved around the house. I assumed they were staff because every time someone passed us, they greeted Angelo, who only nodded in response.

‘‘Am I expected to stay inside this house all the time?” I asked, glancing around the mansion. “I’ve never been to Scarlet Vale, and I’d love to explore it.”

“That can be arranged,” he nodded. “If Maddox accompanies you.”

My smile immediately dropped.

Angelo glanced at the expensive gold watch on his wrist.

“I have to go, but be ready by 8 for our dinner reservation.”

I mumbled a quiet “okay” under my breath.

Angelo flashed me something that resembled a failed smile before pulling out his phone to answer a call. Then, he simply turned his back and walked away without saying a word.

The lack of communication clearly runs in the family, I see.

Just as Angelo disappeared from my sight around a corner of this goddamn castle, which looks like a labyrinth, a young blonde girl dressed in a black-and-white dress approached me.

“Miss Delgado,” she greeted me, tilting her head down. “My name is Lara, and I will be your assistant during your stay here.”

I only managed to smile. Lara gestured toward the stairs.

“Follow me, Miss. I’ll take you to your room.”

“My room, you say?”

She nodded. “Yes, your room, Miss.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I wouldn’t be forced to share a room with Angelo.

I nodded, letting Lara lead the way to my room.

After settling in and taking a much-needed long bath, I dressed in a little pink casual dress, left my room, and headed downstairs.

Angelo had definitely made sure I had everything I needed in my room. From a full wardrobe with new clothes and shoes to a freshly prepared meal waiting for me on the small table, complete with a whole bottle of wine. The room was at least triple the size of my room back home. I have my own bathroom, a wardrobe, and a king-size bed.

It’s literally like a huge apartment that’s all mine.

On my way down, I bumped into Lara—thank God. I had been looking for her.

“Do you need anything, Miss Delgado?”

‘‘Yes, I need to find Maddox.” I glanced around as she stared at me for a few seconds.

“Mr. King?”

Hearing Maddox being called Mr. King it’s like another punch to the stomach.

“Yes, Mr. King,” I drawled slowly, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

“He’s in his office. I’ll take you there.”

She walked off, and I followed her.

We passed through at least three doors and walked for another two minutes down these endless hallways before stopping in front of a massive black door.

Lara stepped back, allowing me to pass.

“Thank you, Lara.”

She dismissed herself, leaving me alone in the lair of the beast himself.

Lara is young—probably even younger than me—and that only leaves me wondering about the circumstances that led her to work for this messed-up family.

She seems too normal, too sweet for their corrupt world. But I shake off these thoughts, saving them for later.

I knocked on the door.

The silence in the hallway is overwhelming, so I can easily hear the multiple voices coming from behind it. Male voices.

It sounds like they’re arguing about something.

I knocked again, this time more firmly.

The door flew open, and Maddox came into view, his expression furious. Just to piss him off even more, I flashed him a grin.

“Allyn,” he spat my name like it was poison. “I’m in the middle of an important meeting.”

I tried to look over his broad shoulder, and eventually, I saw three men staring at me as if they’d never seen a woman before. All of them were at least in their thirties, with disgusting smiles on their faces and glasses of something brown in their hands.

I switched my gaze back to Maddox and crossed my arms over my chest.

“I don’t care, I’m bored.”

He scoffed, though his expression remained unimpressed.

“Are you fucking kidding me?’’

“Angelo said I can leave the house only if you accompany me. And I want to leave this house right now.”

I tilted my head to the side, narrowing my eyes, challenging him.

He, on the other hand, clenched his jaw, as if considering killing me for a split second, his eyes as dark as his nonexistent soul. I heard laughter coming from behind him.

Maddox turned over his shoulder, shooting them a murderous glare, making all of them freeze in place. Then he turned his attention back to me.

“Wait for me upstairs.”

I shook my head. “No, I want to go now.”

He groaned, running a hand through his dark hair.

“Fucking damn it.”

Then he slammed the door in my face.

He. Slammed. The. Door. In. My. Face.

I stared at the black door for a few seconds, my cheeks red from anger. Just as I was thinking about how I’d slap him in the face, the door opened again, and all three men left the room, their gazes fixed forward as if not daring to look at me. Maddox followed behind them, roughly grabbing my arm and rushing me into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Oh, he is furious. I can see his shirt stretching across his back with each quick breath he takes. He spun toward me, staring with his icy black eyes.

“You can’t disrespect me like that in front of my partners, Allyn.”

“Why? You disrespected me enough when you willingly hid the fact that you’re Angelo’s brother, watching me make a fool of myself for a week.”

“I don’t owe you any explanations. My job there was to protect you, and that’s exactly what I did.”

“You could’ve at least been honest with me.”

“I don’t owe you honesty. I don’t owe you shit.”

‘‘Then I don’t owe you respect, jackass.”

He turned his back to me, opening the door.

“In ten minutes, I’ll be waiting for you by the gates.”

He was patiently waiting for me to leave.

I scoffed, making my way out, purposely bumping into him as I walked by.

Then he slammed the door even harder than before.

Well, since my life is already miserable, why not make Maddox King’s life miserable, too?