Page 90 of Sinners Retreat

The chairs across from us still remain empty.

With an uneasy feeling in my gut, I guide Kindra toward the front of the mansion. Jim’s butler nods as we pass, then closes the door behind us as we step into the cool evening air.

“You enjoyed that, didn’t you?” I say as I place my hand on the small of her back and lead her toward the walkway lit by tiki torches.

“Your torment? Absolutely. It’s payback for the first night.”

I grip her hand and spin her so that she’s pressed against my body. Her chest heaves against me as I lean closer for a kiss.

“No, Ezra, gross!” she says with a laugh. She squirms in my grasp, but I only kiss her harder, spreading her lips with my tongue. If I have to have the taste of a human being on my tongue, so does she.

Her fight diminishes, and soon we both forget about my betrayal of humanity in the dining hall.

“Get a room!” Bennett says as he comes up behind me.

We turn to face him, and I expect to see Cat beside him, her claws fully extended, but he’s alone.

Kindra’s smile falls as she stares past Bennett, looking for her friend. “Where’s Cat?”

“Gone.”

“Gone like . . . you killed her?” I ask.

Kindra sucks in a sharp breath as her hands press against her stomach. Before she can launch herself at him, he scoffs and shakes his head.

“What? No, asshole. She’s gone, as in, she left the island. I just got back from taking her to the airstrip.”

Kindra swallows loud enough for me to hear, and my heart hurts for her. “She’s gone?”

“Yeah. Said she didn’t want to be on the island anymore. I was happy to get rid of her, honestly. Did I miss dinner?”

“You did,” I say.

“Well, hopefully they have that banging cream pie for dessert again tonight,” Bennett says.

Kindra doesn’t move. She doesn’t speak. She just stares at the jungle as the darkness deepens.

“Kindra,” I begin, but her hand rises to silence me.

“I’m not feeling well. I’m going to go back to my villa.”

Before I can argue, she starts down the path. She doesn’t even give me a chance to beg her to stay.

My head rotates on a swivel, glancing between Kindra’s retreating figure and my brother. I need to comfort her, but I also need to talk to Bennett.

“I’ll meet you back at your villa!” I yell toward Kindra.

Her hand rises in a half-hearted acknowledgment as she keeps walking.

By the time I turn around, Bennett has already made it up the mansion’s steps. I rush to his side before he can open the door.

“Why the fuck are you running up on me?” he asks as he turns to face me. “Don’t you have something you’re supposed to be telling someone?”

I reach his side and lower my voice. “What did you tell Cat?”

A crease forms between Bennett’s eyebrows as he tries to puzzle out what I’m referring to. “When I dropped her off? I told her I hope the plane crashes.”

“That’s horrible, but no, not when you dropped her off. What did you say to her after you’d drugged her?”

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