Page 117 of Sinner

But I’d given him a reprieve, yanking out his gag then lifting my mask, so he’d fully understand why someone was punishing him so severely. Just before I’d driven the blade through his eye into his brain, I would never forget what he’d said to me. His dying words.

“You’re just like your father, a fucking monster.”

I’d thought nothing of his proclamation.

Until tonight.

Had he known something about my biological parents? Maybe the man had been right, but what did it matter? Monsters weren’t born from DNA. They were created from acts of brutality.

Or so I’d believed the entirety of my life.

Perhaps Wilder was right and we needed to hunt down the man who’d spawned us. Maybe the knowledge would provide answers.

I laughed softly as I secured the helmet and pulled out my mask of choice. With it firmly in place, I pulled the single rose from the bag attached to the bike.

How many sins had I committed in my life? Enough I’d lost count twenty years before. Instilling fear and enjoying depravity were some of the greatest joys of my life. I’d used darkness toenshroud my activities many times, but had ultimately begun venturing into the light.

Perhaps that meant I was fearless or simply that I didn’t give a damn what happened to me. I wasn’t certain and had never taken the time to analyze my activities. Why bother? I was damn good at what I did and, in my mind, every act of violence and suffering was justified.

But tonight was all about sheer indulgence, a treat for the man. Whether Xander or Sinner, it didn’t really matter at this point. I was high on life and lust, a need so unbridled I couldn’t care less about the business at this moment.

What I needed was a strong fix, the only drug that truly squelched the demons. At least I’d learned something about myself over the last few days. I wasn’t unlike any other man.

Simply more powerful.

And more insatiable.

Countermeasures.

The thought was more than reasonable and I’d attempted to find Dorn for several hours, including slipping inside his modest and very messy home. While it had been impossible to tell for certain, it would seem the man’s private life had been interrupted by someone else unhappy with his article. But in the gaming magazine or in the spread in theTribune?

Perhaps someone else had been responsible for the man’s demise. Did I care? Only in that I hadn’t been allowed to enjoy the process of eliminating him my way.

The thought had brought out the worst side of me.

I’d followed my instincts my entire life. Doing so had kept me one step ahead of danger and members of law enforcement over the years. I’d prided myself in knowing when to quit whatever endeavor had furrowed into my mind and when to have patience. Tonight was something different altogether.

It was my attempt at throwing down an exclamation point.

With her.

With the woman I’d been unable to get off my mind.

I was certain Jessica had somehow convinced Dorn to retract his scathing article. The how had been easy to formulate.

Because she was more like me than I’d originally believed, even more so than when I’d shared the exact words with her.

Her brilliance and cunning were as attractive as her stunning, rounded body.

My visit was necessary and the only thing I’d been able to concentrate on.

It was late, her car not in the driveway as I’d expected. A strange and suffocating feeling of jealousy rolled into my system. She was mine. Wasn’t she aware that our lives were now forever intertwined?

The locks were in place, the keys I’d had made allowing me to slip inside within seconds. Once standing in the darkened interior, I listened for any sounds, breathing in the sweet scent of the various fragrances she’d placed around the house. As I moved from room to room, I fingered the appliances in the kitchen, still marveling at her organizational skills. I even stopped to plump a pillow on her cozy couch before brushing my fingers along the back edge of the sofa.

There was no need to wear gloves. The woman had already been imprinted with my DNA from my earlier touches. Soon she would be painted with my cum.

Even though I wondered where she’d gone, the wait wouldn’t bother me. With her, having patience was worth every moment spent.

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