Sinful Pleasure (Sinful #1)

CHAPTER 38

C HAPTER 38

MADDOX

I returned to New York the next day.

The flight was a shitshow. My head feels like it’s about to explode. I’m barely holding it together, fighting the urge to do something stupid.

I walked into the penthouse where Angelo and I had agreed to meet. But before I could even settle in, I heard Angelo and Allyn talking in the living room.

So I stayed behind the door, listening.

“I’m sick of this, Angelo,” I heard her say. “I’m sick of all this.”

“I know. I don’t like putting you in this situation either, but it’s for your safety.”

“Why? What are you protecting me from? I don’t understand.”

I closed my eyes, clenching my jaw.

“Some things are better left unknown.”

I didn’t like the way he was talking to her. So gentle, so kind—as if he actually gave a shit about her. It bugged the hell out of me.

Before I could think my legs moved, carrying me into the living room just as I caught Angelo hugging her.

I forced my gaze away.

“Angelo, let’s go.”

I focused on Angelo, though my real attention was on the woman standing next to him. I could feel her eyes on me, and it’s painful to pretend I don’t.

Angelo nodded— without asking any unnecessary questions, kissed Allyn on the cheek, and like the masochist I am, I watched it all unfold. It felt wrong seeing it. It made me sick—knowing I had her first. It was like a punch in the stomach.

Angelo patted me on the shoulder as he headed out to grab his things, leaving me alone with Allyn. I had no choice but to face her. I didn’t want to, but I did anyway.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her cheeks flushed, and I wanted to know what had her so worked up. Was it Angelo kissing her? Or the fact that I saw it? I decided to play dumb.

“For what?”

“For that with Angelo,” she bit her lip. “It’s weird.”

I almost laughed— but held it in. Such a petty excuse.

“I don’t care, Allyn,” I cut her off, even though I very much did. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“Yeah, I know.” She nodded, her hands clasped behind her back. “I just felt the need to say it.”

And I felt the need to pull her closer and kiss her, but I guess we both shouldn’t act on what’s running through our minds.

I nodded, forcing a swallow. “It’s fine, Allyn.”

Her eyes lingered on me, longer than they should for just her fucking bodyguard. My gaze stayed on her longer than it should for a woman I should only be protecting.

But she isn’t mine to take. Fuck, she’s not even mine to look at.

“I’ll see you later, Allyn. Take care of yourself.”

And like a real pussy, I just left the room, unable to bear being there with her, unable to touch her.

I bumped into Angelo on the way out. For a moment, I forgot why we were even meeting. I forgot everything when I saw Allyn in his arms.

But I need answers before I do something really stupid.

We got in my car, and as I drove off, I threw the folder in his lap, wanting him to see the truth for himself.

Our father is supposed to be in a “Deadro,” a hotel a few blocks from the penthouse, and that’s where we are heading.

Angelo looked up from the folder, his eyes widening as he went through it. “That’s some fucking joke, right?”

I shook my head. “I wish it was.”

“And you think our father is involved in this shit?”

“We’re about to find out.”

After my conversation with Alicent, I was left with more questions than answers. Answers she couldn’t give me, but she was smart enough to tell me everything she knew.

I need to know if my father is behind all of this.

I need those fucking answers. He owes me this—after everything I’ve done to protect him and this damn family. I never had the chance to be a normal kid, playing with friends or growing up in a normal household.

Instead, I played with guns and knives.

He turned me into this monster. All these years, I’ve spilled blood on his behalf, only to realize I’ve been nothing but a stupid pawn in his sick games.

“So, what now?” Angelo asked, leaning back in his seat.

“We’ll get our answers,” I muttered, pressing the gas pedal down with rage. “One way or another.” I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles went white, imagining how it would feel to suffocate my father instead.

He had played me like a puppet all these years, like I was just one of his dogs. He turned me into a weapon—depriving me of all compassion, all mercy. He made me turn against the fucking world just to protect his own ass.

“You’re not thinking straight, Maddox,” Angelo began. “It’s fucked up, yeah. But we both knew what we were signing up for when we swore an oath to him to carry on the family legacy. We knew this world was ugly, and yet we agreed.”

I glared at him, my gaze cutting through him like a blade. Right now, I was ready to kill anyone without hesitation, and Angelo was definitely on the wrong side of that line.

“I never agreed to be made a fucking fool of.” My voice dropped another ten degrees as I sped up, the rage fueling every second.

“Family comes first, Maddox. Don’t forget that.”

His words echoed in my head—the same ones my father drilled into me over and over until they were inked into my fucking brain.

I laughed bitterly at his words now.

Family.

That word felt so far away from me, like it belonged to someone else.

We reached our destination shortly after that.

The hotel was surrounded by his guards, just like his room. His men nodded, clearing the way for us to enter and as soon as I saw my father’s smug smile, the blood in my veins surged with rage.

Angelo gave me a quick glance. He knew what was coming next.

“Maddox, Angelo, I—”

I raised my finger to cut him off, and the room fell into a chilling silence. The temperature dropped to absolute zero in a heartbeat.

“Shut the fuck up and tell your pathetic men to leave the room before I kill every one of them.”

His smile vanished quickly. His men stared at each other, no one daring to say a word . Martin raised a hand, and with a simple gesture told them to leave the room. We were left alone after seconds.

My father glanced at me, raising an eyebrow.

“What’s this all about?” he asked, having the audacity to look confused. “You need to learn to control your mood swings, Maddox.”

I laughed, but we both knew nothing good followed that laugh.

“Did you take Allyn away from her real family?”

I went straight to the point. I wasn’t here for bullshit family bonding talks. My anger sliced through the silence, catching my father off guard.

“For once in your fucking life, don’t be a pussy and tell the fucking truth.”

Martin King isn’t the most honest man you’ll come across— I know that from experience. But I never expected him to stoop so low—to lie and manipulate his own family like this.

He looked completely stunned, caught off guard, and that only fueled my anger more. My father said nothing, refusing to confirm or deny it, his silence making the weight of his guilt even heavier.

I narrowed my eyes, my fist clenched so tight it almost hurt.

“Allyn Romano,” I hissed, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “That’s her real name, isn’t it, father?”

He blinked a few times, likely weighing his words carefully. He knew what was coming next—just like a guilty man would.

Not today. I’d had enough of his lies.

In an instant, I grabbed him by the collar of his suit, slamming his body into the nearest wall. Rage consumed me. Everything around me went dark.

I heard Angelo’s voice behind me, but he knew better than to interfere. He knew what I was capable of. My father knew too. He turned me into this monster, and now he was paying the price.

I slammed him harder into the wall, and he hissed in pain.

“Talk,” I growled, my voice cold and dangerous. “Or I swear I’ll break your skull.”

My hands shook, aching to hurt him. It was as if something else took over my body—something darker, something that made Martin King the center of my wrath.

“Yes.” The single word fell from his lips, a confession that confirmed everything I already knew, but I needed to hear it from his pathetic, lying mouth.

No more “family first” bullshit.

I laughed bitterly under my breath, the sound barely recognizable to my own ears, as I tightened my grip on his collar.

All these years, he’d wanted me to spill blood.

And now, it was his blood I wanted to spill.

“You made us look like idiots all these years?” I screamed, slamming his body against the wall again, our faces inches apart. But this time, he didn’t flinch. His gaze was unwavering, his head held high, like a man who had no fear left.

“I was protecting you,” he said, his voice steady.

“Oh yeah?” I sneered, clenching my jaw so tight it hurt. “Or were we protecting yourself, because that sure as hell looks more like the truth.”

“Let me go, Maddox,” he said slowly, his tone laced with false calm, as if he thought that would work. He had trained me well—made me one of his dogs. But not this time.

Not anymore.

‘’Why did you do it?’’ I asked, ignoring his attempt at manipulation. I wasn’t going to fall for his shit again.

“Call it revenge,” he answered, unbothered. “Mikael stole from me.”

“And you kidnapped his daughter?” I shot back, my voice rising in disbelief. “You’re even more fucked up than I thought. What did he steal, huh? Money?”

He tried to push me away, but I didn’t budge—not even an inch.

He didn’t stand a fucking chance.

‘’Doesn’t matter,’’ he hissed. “I was trying to protect this family,” he muttered, almost as if he believed it.

‘‘Oh, really?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “By arranging a marriage between Angelo and Allyn? That’s your idea of protection? You weren’t trying to protect the family—you were trying to protect your own ass.”

“Let him go, Maddox!”

Angelo’s voice came from behind me, a shout of concern—but he didn’t move closer. I shot him a cold, deadly look over my shoulder.

“Shut the fuck up.”

Turning my attention back to Martin, I lowered my voice, making it razor-sharp.

“You knew Mikael wouldn’t lay a finger on you if Allyn became a King.”

I watched as that disgusting smile slowly crept onto his ugly face, confirming everything I had suspected.

“As I said,” he replied, like he was the one in control, “I was protecting all of us.” Then, with a smug edge to his voice, he added, “And Angelo personally gave his consent to this marriage.”

Now, it was my turn to look at Angelo.

He was already watching me, lips pressed together in a straight line.

“You did?” My voice came out almost a whisper, the surprise thick in my words.

Angelo just shrugged— as if it was no big deal. What the fuck?

Last time I checked, Angelo wanted nothing to do with this goddamn marriage. Then Martin’s laugh cut through the tension in the room, cold and mocking—like a nightmare that wouldn’t let go.

“Angelo growing a soft spot for the little bitch wasn’t part of the plan, but it does make things easier for us.”

It felt like a slap across the face. I turned, desperate for answers, but Angelo didn’t say a word.

No denial.

He just shot our father a look, his gaze narrowing, eyes filled with something. Anger? Jealousy?

Whatever the hell it was, it didn’t sit right. Martin wasn’t lying.

Angelo had feelings for Allyn.

No. He can’t.

He fucking can’t.

The idea of knowing the answer to this question makes my gut twist.

I’m not ready yet for that reality. Not now. Not ever maybe.

And Martin? He just used my weakness to push me aside, and this time, I let him. It’s like he just drained every ounce of fight out of me.

I feel… fucking defeated. Martin straightened his suit, his eyes locking onto mine, that smug expression not leaving his face.

“That’s why the wedding’s happening tomorrow. The sooner they’re married, the better.”

“What?” Angelo and I both blurted it out at the same time.

Martin just waved his hand dismissively, his phone ringing right on cue, his attention already shifting elsewhere.

Tomorrow? That’s way too fucking soon.

I knew Allyn had to eventually marry Angelo. That was always the plan.

But when I was inside her, when I felt her—really felt her—those thoughts seemed to disappear.

She was calling my name. Mine . Not Angelo’s.

Every part of her was mine, and the thought of seeing her with him, as his wife, twisted something dark inside me.

It doesn’t fucking feel right.

I don’t want to watch her next to him. Not after I’ve had her. Not after I know what she looks like when she’s mine.

But when I looked at Angelo, I couldn’t bring myself to blame him even if I wanted to. I don’t blame him for having feelings for Allyn. It’s easy to fall for someone like her— if you’re capable of feeling anything at all.

She’s feisty, bossy, and a fucking brat, but she’s also sharp, beautiful, and has the kindest soul I’ve ever crossed paths with.

She brings a light to everything she touches.

She brought that light to me.

Deep down, I always knew she was different from the others. And instead of facing it, I used it to fuel another reason to hate her.

The truth is that I don’t really hate her.

I hate that I can’t have her.

And somehow, convincing myself to feel hatred toward her is the only thing that’s keeping me sane every time I see her with my brother.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing the bitterness of that truth. It wasn’t my place to speak up, to do anything at all. I had no right to interfere.

I could only accept it.

She’s his. Simple as that.

After tomorrow, Allyn will be a King. My brother’s legal wife.

My father, oblivious to the mess brewing inside me, put the phone on speaker once it rang, scanning through documents with his back to us.

Then, my father’s voice broke the stillness.

“I’m listening, Lydia.”

From the other side of the phone, we heard a crashing sound, then a woman’s scream.

The kind of scream you never expect to hear from Lydia.

“I need backup,” Lydia’s voice came through, frantic and breathless. “They broke into the apartment. I’ve been shot. Hurry the fuck up.”

Angelo and I exchanged a glance. My father froze, his usual composure slipping as he dropped the documents, his expression shifting to something far darker.

He grabbed the phone with urgency.

“What the hell happened?” he barked.

Lydia’s voice came again, strained and pained.

“They took Allyn,’’ She said. ‘’They took her.”

Then the line cut out.