Page 56 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)

Hours Before

The day started out hellish. With no leads on the pedophile organization, I dove into the reports on Ramon.

An hour and a half later, my head was about to explode, and I was certain I was going to kill him.

My thirst for the blood of those I consider enemies hasn't lessened just because I have an angel in my life. On the contrary. To protect her, there are no limits to what I would do.

I started by reviewing the reports on the other victims of that son of a bitch, leaving Lilly’s file for last.

I didn’t need to get past the first report to know what I was dealing with. He not only sexually exploits minors in his escort houses but also films and photographs them during the acts, and profits from it around the world.

According to what my guy found out, just like in Maria’s organization, the footage is sold on the dark web and, so far, hasn’t been traced. I intend to change that very soon.

I finally worked up the courage to open the file with Lilly’s name on it.

I was caught off-guard when I found subfolders inside the main folder. They were organized by year, each representing a phase of her teenage years. But of course, this was nothing like the kind of keepsakes a stepfather would have of his daughter.

The bastard had installed cameras in her bedroom and bathroom.

I nearly lost it when I confirmed that it was him entering her suite at night and filming her in moments of intimacy without her knowledge—while she was in the shower, changing her clothes.

He watched her. He wanted her. And I have no doubt that the only reason he didn’t make a move was because Lilly wasn’t one of the unprotected girls he abused.

Ethan would kill him if he ever laid a hand on his sister.

Too bad for the bastard she’s mine now, as his days are numbered.

My stomach clenches when I see that there were cameras in the shower and also outside the glass door. Three or four of them, positioned at various angles around the room.

Lilly had no idea she was being watched. The sick fuck even filmed himself standing next to her bed, watching her sleep while he masturbated.

That’s what haunted her throughout her teenage years. That fucking depravity—that pile of shit—is what caused the nightmares she told me about.

From what I’ve seen so far, he never laid a hand on her. And I’m going to hold on to that thought so I can keep moving forward with my plan. Otherwise, I’d kill him today.

No. Death alone would be way too easy.

I want his disgrace to go public. And for that, I’ll follow a very careful step-by-step plan. Only when his reputation is in the gutter will I take his life.

I’ll need to plan this carefully to avoid risking the safety of the girls still trapped in the brothels.

They’re living proof that the businessman who supposedly donates millions each year to cancer hospitals and builds schools for underprivileged children is nothing but a scumbag with twisted tastes.

I grab my phone and call Blood.

There’s no one I trust more than him—except for Ethan. But as much as it bothers me not to share this with my friend, I know him. He’d blow the whole thing. If he finds out about the files, he’ll confront the stepfather immediately, probably over the phone, and there’s too much at stake.

“I just finished watching all the footage,” I say, skipping the pleasantries.

“And what do you want to do?” Blood asks.

I know he’s seen it all—except for Lilly’s part.

As for the rest, there was no way I could leave him out. After me and my partner, he’s third in command.

“I already have everything planned. We don’t know if he’s got anyone in the police force—or someone higher up—on his payroll, so we’re going to make two anonymous drops: one to the authorities and one to the press.

I want the material handed over to a trustworthy journalist, someone beyond reproach.

Arresting him won’t be enough. We need to destroy his public image. ”

“I already have someone in mind. When do you want it done?”

“As soon as possible. But we need to have some men watching the brothels. I’m worried about the girls’ safety.

Get the material out by this afternoon. The faster the scandal breaks, the better.

I want everything exposed before Ethan gets back.

Ramon can’t have the slightest clue about what’s coming for him. ”

“Got it. We’ll do it your way.”

“Blood?”

“Yeah?”

“Nothing about Lilly goes in.”

“Are you going to destroy her file?”

“Not yet.”

“You don’t want him to pay for that?”

“He’ll never stand trial for any of this. We’ll make sure he gets out on probation—and then he’ll be mine.”

“Then why bother having him arrested?”

“Because that way, the world will know who he really is. For all the lives he destroyed, he deserves to be exposed. But he’s not going to enjoy the safety of a prison cell. We’ll need to reinforce protection around Lilly, assuming Ramon has partners in these criminal operations.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll be protected.”

Once, I told Lilly about my sixth sense.

I never knew how to explain it, but even though ninety-nine percent of me doesn’t believe in anything that can’t be scientifically proven, contradictorily enough, I trust my intuition.

So when a weird-ass feeling starts to tighten my chest in sharp little spasms, I know something’s wrong. I shoot a message to the security team.

When they tell me they’ve lost track of the car she’s in with Argyros, I call her.

“Lilly, where are you? Security just told me they lost sight of you.”

“On the way to Theo’s place, why?”

“Yeah, I know the Greek picked you up, but he shouldn’t be driving that fast. Tell him to slow down; the security team will catch up with you.”

“Amos, it’s the middle of the afternoon. I’m fine.”

“I don’t want you taking any chances. You should know by now you can’t let your guard down. You’re my woman, Lillyana, and I have enemies.”

“It’s four o’clock, handsome. What could possibly happen in broad daylight?”

“Oh, shit!” I hear the guy yell, followed by the sound of a crash.

“Amos!”

“Lilly, what’s wrong?”

My heart jumps into my throat as I start typing to check the security team’s location.

“I don’t know! Someone hit us! Theo lost control and we went off the road!”

“Stay in the car. Look around. What do you see?”

“Another car’s pulled over. There’s a man coming toward us. He probably wants to apologize and give us his insurance card. Theo’s gotten out to talk to him.”

“Tell him to get back in the car.”

“He’s already out there.”

“Lock the door!”

“Amos—”

“Lock the fucking door, Lilly! My men will be there in two minutes.”

“I can’t lock him out!”

“Do what I’m telling you.”

“I’m sorry,” I hear someone say—I think it’s the Greek.

“Lilly? Lilly, stay in the fucking car!” I shout.

“You’re even prettier in person, sweetheart,” a man’s voice says, and my blood runs cold.

“Lillyana, talk to me. Who’s there?” I ask.

“Amos . . .” she whimpers, and the fear in her voice drives me insane.

“Hello, little boy. Did you miss Daddy?”

Jonathan.

He got her because of me.

I tried to keep him on the phone as long as possible, but the bastard is too smart—he soon realized I was stalling.

We were on the call for no more than a minute, and I pray it was enough to save her life, because then the line went dead.

I jump into my car, and as soon as I start it, the security team calls to tell me they’ve found her and send me the location.

I drive like a maniac toward the site of the ambush after confirming she’s not hurt.

An accident blocking the road today of all days kept the bodyguards from reaching Argyros’s car sooner, giving that miserable bastard Jonathan just enough of an edge to get to them.

My phone rings, and for a second, I hesitate to answer.

“I’m with them,” Blood says.

“Tell me she’s okay.”

“She’s fine. But the friend was shot trying to protect her.” There’s a tone of regret in his voice like I’ve never heard before.

“Is he going to make it?” I ask, already thinking about what this will do to Lilly if something happens to Theodoro.

“Yeah. The bullet just grazed his shoulder. The kid’s a little suicidal, if you ask me.

He could’ve been killed.” Blood doesn’t sound like himself.

Usually, nothing shakes him. “Get here fast. I need to get Jonathan out of here if you still want him, because once the police take him into custody, it’ll be like opening Pandora’s box.

No doubt accusations will start flying from every direction.

I’ll stage a getaway—make it look like he escaped after shooting Theodoro, but I need your go-ahead to leave Lilly in our guys’ care. ”

“You have it. Get that son of a bitch out of there, but don’t do anything, Blood. Jonathan is mine.”

Theodoro was taken to the hospital with a bullet graze to his arm. I got a message from Blood saying my target was secured and that whenever I was ready, he’d be mine.

It’s what I’ve waited for my entire adult life—but now, I’m in no rush. I need to take care of my woman first.

When I finally get my hands on Jonathan, he’ll wish he were dead.

My head is spinning from everything that’s happened.

Lilly is in the shower in her suite while I pace back and forth like a caged animal.

No matter how hard I try to stay balanced, I can’t process how crazy our lives have become in such a short time.

As soon as I got to the scene and made sure Theodoro wasn’t in danger, I got her out of there. She tried to fight me on it, insisted on going with him to the hospital. but I didn’t budge.

Only after I guaranteed Theo would be protected by a team and promised no harm would come to him did she finally give in.

Lilly hasn’t said much since we reunited. She hasn’t asked any questions either. I know she’s waiting for me to explain, but I’m not ready yet. I just want to hold her for a while. Make sure she’s really okay.

“Amos.”

In a split second, I open the shower door. “Are you okay?” I ask.

She looks at me—like a goddess of the water. Pure. Clean. More different from me than ever. “Come,” she says, making space. “I need you here with me.”

I strip and join her, pulling her into my arms.

“I love you,” she says, and I feel more and more like an addict whose doses need to be constantly increased. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Don’t blame yourself.”

“How do you know I’m blaming myself?”

“He called you son,” she says. “That man . . . was he one of your foster parents?”

“Yes. And one of the people responsible for hurting Bruno.”

“ One of them?”

“He has an accomplice who’s still out there. But the worst part is there’s an entire criminal organization behind him.”

“They’re pedophiles?” she asks softly.

“That too,” I reveal. “But mostly, human traffickers.”

“Children?”

“Yes.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Stay safe. I can’t risk losing you, Lilly.”

“Don’t push me away, please. Don’t send me away from you.”

“Lilly—”

“No, Amos. I’m not running.”

“We’ll talk about this later.”

“Okay,” she agrees. “Now hold me. Help me forget.” She rests her head against my chest. “I’m not afraid for myself, but I need you to promise me something.”

“I don’t know if I can . . .”

“Please,” she pleads, and all I can think is that she might not even be here with me right now. “I need you to be careful. I know you have to hunt them down, but promise me you’ll come back to me—no matter what.”

“Baby . . .”

“Promise. Give me your word.”

“I promise.”