Page 97 of Sinners Retreat

In more ways than this.

We file from the villa and drip onto the boardwalk in silence. It seems no one knows what to say, least of all me. Because all of this is my doing. I can try to pin blame on everyone else, but I’m the lynchpin holding this flaming fiasco together.

I want to cry, but no tears will come. I want to rage and break something, and the boardwalk railing looks mighty tempting.

Instead, I ask a single question.

“Maverick, what happened?”

He explains everything. Jim handed him the keys to the villa. Upon discovering the meat hooks, he thought I left it as a sign to come see me as soon as he got here. Being none the wiser, he told Kindra the truth about my identity.

“Where did she go?” I ask. Some small piece of me still hopes I can fix this mess.

“I don’t know, man. She grabbed her bag and said she needed to get back to her place, so I can only assume she meant her villa.” Maverick covers his face and groans. “Bennett explained how bad I fucked up. I’m sorry.”

I sigh and look out at the horizon. “No, you didn’t fuck up. And neither did you, Bennett. You were right. The blame rests squarely on my shoulders.”

“So what do you plan to do now?” Bennett asks. “The hunt is in an hour, and as much as I’d love to sit around and eat a pint of Ben and Jerry’s while we commiserate, I’m not missing my chance to end Gary.”

“I’m not going on the hunt,” I say. “I need to pick up the pieces and try to put this back together. There’s always next year’s hunt, but there will never be another Kindra.”

Bennett nods his head and slaps his hand on my shoulder. “I figured you might say that. Go get your girl.”

Shocked, I can only blink and stare at him. Hasn’t he been against this the entire time?

“I know what you’re thinking,” he says. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like the girl, though. I just didn’t like the lying. Why do you think I haven’t gotten into a relationship? You have to tell chicks everything, and I am not an open book.”

“Neither was I,” I say.

“Yeah, she ripped your cover wide open.” Bennett laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll miss having you as my wingman, but I won’t stand in the way of your happiness. So go get her. You have my blessing.”

“Sorry again!” Maverick shouts at my retreating back as I race toward Kindra’s villa.

I pass the entrance to the jungle path just as a line of Cattle disappears into the greenery. Jim brings up the procession’s rear. The Cattle wear masks to cover their eyes so they don’t know where they are, and their wrists are shackled around their waists. An old-school chain connects their ankles to the Cattle in front of and behind them.

“It’s too early to head in just now,” Jim says as I race past him.

I raise a hand to acknowledge him, then keep running. The hunt is the furthest thing from my mind. Hell, if Kindra commanded me to never kill again, I would give it up without a second thought. I will pay whatever price I must to earn her forgiveness.

Her villa appears around the next bend. I’m out of breath as I nearly fall up the stairs and rap my knuckles against the wooden door.

“Kindra, please let me speak to you! There’s more to the story than what you believe!” I open my fist and slam my palm against the door. “Just let me tell my side. If you never want to speak to me again, I’ll respect that.”

I say this last to myself more than her. Because it’s futile. If anything, she probably needs more time to come to terms with things before she’ll be open to hearing anything I have to say.

Then, just as I’m turning to leave, I spot something fluttering against the porch banister. It’s a piece of paper, held against the wood by the tip of a knife.

Kindra’s knife.

I pluck the blade from the paper and set it on the railing, then grip the note before the summer breeze can blow it away. As I read, each word taps a stake through my soul.

AA,

Thanks for ruining my fucking life, you absolute sack of dog shit. If Cat can go home early, so can I. Do not contact me. Ever. If you see me on the street, keep walking.

Also, fuck you.

HBK

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