Page 125 of Sinner

She cocked her head to the side. “Maybe you’ll have a family of your own one day. But you’ll need a strong woman by your side.”

“Yes, I will. Are you volunteering?”

“Whatever would my father say?”

“You might be surprised. But you’ll need to ask him.”

“We’ve already talked. I told him I was living my life my way.”

“Just remember, he’s your family.”

The look remained as she tilted her head, searching my eyes. “You talked to him.”

“Let’s just say he came to see me.”

“Interesting. Did you sort things out with your relationship?”

I took a deep breath. “To some degree. He wants what is best for his daughter. I can’t blame him.”

“What if he’d told you to leave me alone?”

“Let me give you an important hint about me, little lamb. I never do what anyone tells me to do. The niceties of doing so ended years ago.”

“Ah, yes, you take what you want.”

“Yes, I do.” I offered a sly grin and she blushed all over again. Keeping her wasn’t an issue, but protecting her was something that did weigh heavily on my mind. Dorn wasn’t the only man who’d played us. He wasn’t smart enough to be working alone.

“Never forget, my little lamb, that you now belong to me. There is no exception, no termination clause. And no way you can leave. You’re mine.”

It was only a matter of time until the person responsible for providing Dorn with his jaded information would be found.

And when they were, the person would pray for salvation and none would be given.

CHAPTER 35

Jessica

“You’re mine.”

Xander’s words had reverberated in my mind several times since our night of passion. I’d been consumed by his act of possession, constantly quivering whenever I thought of him. The night had been amazing, the conversation we’d had so different than anything I’d believed could occur between us.

Yet the man was still a mystery, the darkness enshrouding him providing a perfect backdrop for the obsession I felt.

In the world of shadows, the art of make believe was vital.

I’d read that somewhere many years before. Xander was masterful as a visual artist, capable of making his consumers believe anything he wanted them to believe. He was a strong, dominating figure and not only women gravitated toward his intense personality. So did men.

Granted, I had a feeling most men were terrified of him not only because of his large frame, but also his powerful persona. I wasn’t frightened of him, other than being caught up in the reality of his games.

The way I felt about him was all encompassing, but whatever horrors he’d endured in his past had shaped him much like a Hallmark-type family did to someone else. I was somewhere in between, appreciating the light and the dark sides of morality. My father would call me crazy, but from what he’d admitted, he’d challenged the concept of morally gray more than once.

I finished my makeup, eager to meet the girls for a nice lunch. It might be my last if the schedule I anticipated came to pass.

I’d gotten my dream job.

I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t expected the offer and I wasn’t entirely certain how I felt about it. Xander hadn’t been forthcoming about the details as he hadn’t been about his life in general. That only made me want to know more about him.

Whatever he’d endured had shaped the darkness, the violence, and his desire to protect those who couldn’t do so for themselves. It would be called admirable if his actions didn’t include…

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