Page 65 of Sinners Retreat

He doesn’t press me to continue. Instead, he grabs my glass and goes to the bar for a refill. Cat also helps things along by reminding me that it’s my turn.

“Right,” I say with a forced smile. “Bennett, truth or dare?”

“I’ll go with a dare this time.” He knocks back his beer, then sends the empty bottle rolling across the concrete.

Ezra returns with my wine, and I’m grateful that he’s brought the bottle with him this time. I take a long sip directly from the glass neck as I consider what to do to Bennett.

Cat scoots closer and cups my ear with her hand before whispering, “Dare him to take off his swim trunks and jump into the pool.”

I nod my head and turn to face him. “Strip and give Cat a good eyeful of your junk.”

Cat swats my arm. “That’s not what I said!”

But it’s too late. Bennett has already pulled off his trunks and brought his flaccid cock within an inch of Cat’s nose. He pretends to stretch his back as she squirms and squeals beside me, trying to escape the impressive (and pierced) penis that threatens her sanity.

“Why is it looking at me like that?” she squeals.

“Put it away,” I say through a belly laugh. “She’s seen enough, and so have I!”

I sit back and relax as the four of us share our first laugh as a group, but life has taught me that laughter only lasts for so long. Like a storm cloud, Bennett brings the mood down once again.

“Kindra, I’m shooting it back to you,” he says. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” I say, unwilling to race down the beach while baring it all.

He thinks for a moment, then says, “Did anything stand out about your brother’s death? Anything strange?”

Ezra places his hand on my arm. “You don’t have to answer that. I never should have started that line of questioning.”

“But you did,” Bennett says. “Now inquiring minds want to know.”

“No, it’s fine.” I take a deep breath and relay the dirty details, including the missing eyes and the number scrawled into his cold skin.

“Oof, he was mutilated?” Bennett says. “Whoever killed your brother was a real asshole.”

No one is laughing now. The topic of my brother’s death has effectively killed the vibe. Ezra stares at me. Bennett gulps his beer. Cat sits back, unable to meet my eyes. Yeah, no one is having fun anymore.

“On that note, Kindra, I’m going to go to bed,” Bennett says, wiping spilled beer off his chin.

“I guess I am too,” Cat says.

They climb out of the hot tub and head opposite ways as they start toward their respective villas.

“I guess I should go to bed too,” I say to Ezra. “We accomplished a lot tonight.”

He nods, but he’s stopped staring at me. Now, much like Cat, he won’t even look at me. “I’ll walk you to your villa.”

We trudge through the sand and head back toward my villa. After lounging in the steaming water, the air feels like ice. The thin wrap doesn’t help, so I wrap a towel around my shoulders to keep some heat close to my skin.

Ezra doesn’t even notice. His gaze is glued to the ground, and he nearly takes himself out on a sign in front of him. I didn’t think talking about a murder at a retreat full of killers wouldmake everyone so uncomfortable. You’d think they’d all have enough experience with death by now.

We hit the edge of the light from the bulb above the doorway. Bugs circle above our heads.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask.

I hope he does, as I could use the company. I’ve brought myself down just as much as them. More, probably.

Ezra steps into me and kisses my forehead, and it’s not a yes-I’ll-come-in kind of kiss.

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