Page 1 of Sinful Lord

Prologue

Melina

1 year ago…

The moment I turn into the long dark hallway, the air shifts.

Something is wrong.

I’ve lived in this house all of my life, I know how it’s supposed to feel.

Not like this.

“… Hello?” I whisper, gazing into the shadows ahead. Pale moonlight drifts through the drapes, slicing the black carpet into pieces.

I squint harder, staring down the long column before me. Nothing moves.

Then, I see it.

A shape. A giant outline. It looms just feet away, tall and still and massive.

My heart stops. Every hair on my body lifts. The strange air is sucked from my lungs.

When it moves, I whimper in fear. But my body won’t budge.

Explanations race through my mind. Could it be one of my brother’s bodyguards?

No. I know where they station at night, and it’s not here. In fact, they’ve been given direct orders to stay away from this part of the mansion. The path from my basement studio to my upstairs bedroom is to remain clear of any reminders that I’m a captive in my own home.

My kingpin brother meant it as an act of mercy, but now it feels like a foolish mistake. Anyone could be lurking in these shadows.

My heart pounds as I blink back the darkness and try to focus on what I just saw. When I don’t immediately see anything, I almost manage to convince myself that it was all just a trick of my tired mind.

It would be understandable. I’ve been spending way too many hours in my studio, and there isn’t much ventilation in that place.

But when I see the colossal shadow move again, my doubts are dashed. I’m not hallucinating.

I’m ready to scream when a cool breeze wraps around my face. Directly in front of me, a pair of long drapes flutter harmlessly off the wall.

For a moment, I relax.

It’s just the drapes, I tell myself. That’s all. Just the—

But I stop when I realize what that means.

An open window.

When your family is part of the mafia, you learn to keep all windows locked and closed. It’s a cardinal rule—an unforgettable safety measure.

“Maksim?” I whisper, hoping beyond hope that my uncle is nearby. He could be coming down the hall to check up on me. It wouldn’t be the first time.

The drapes flap back into place.

“I’m afraid not,” a voice replies.

It’s so unexpected that my body reacts before my brain can. I jump back against the wall and hug it with all my might.

“Now, now, don’t be scared, little one. I’m not here to hurt you…”