Page 129 of Sinner

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Stephanie said.

“Me too,” Ashley piped in. “Xander Blackwell is hot, but this is just… weird. If this is his idea of romance, you need to run far away. There are plenty of hot guys out there.”

I took a deep breath, still uncertain about what I wanted to do. What I did know is that the invitation was exactly the kind of romance Xander enjoyed.

Me too.

Yet I was still asking the same question.

Was I completely out of my mind?

CHAPTER 36

Xander

The winter air howled with bitterness, ominous shadows embracing me as I stared at the shadowed trees of the dense forest. Yet I wasn’t cold, thriving in the cooler temperatures. I stared up at the sky, the moonless night unforgiving for those not used to the rough terrain.

This was my playground. Hers too.

“Amy. Where are you?”

I moved through the trees, stumbling twice from the fallen limbs. I was certain she’d come this way. The woods were her safe place like they were mine. I stopped to catch my breath, listening for any sign of her. It wasn’t like her to be gone this long.

She’d told me just the night before she was so afraid, but wouldn’t tell me why. “Amy. Where are you?” I had to keep my voice down. He might hear and if he did, he’d hurt both of us.I pushed forward into the shadows, the air already frigid as night set in.

I should have brought a coat, but I hadn’t been thinking. I had to find her. That’s all that had been on my mind.

My feet were almost numb, but I forged on, pushing my way toward her favorite spot by the river. After going a few more steps, I pulled out the flashlight I’d stolen from his garage. He’d punish me for it, but I didn’t care. Amy was all I could think about.

I’d told her I’d always be her protector. I’d told her I would care for her when no one else would. I made a promise I had to keep.

The beam highlighted just how dense the forest, the recent storms blowing down trees in almost every direction. Even as limbs slashed against my face, I continued pushing forward. I was almost there.

The sweet taste of copper assaulted my mouth as a trickle of blood slipped past my lips. My exhales were fogged as the night air settled in. I swung the beam from one side to the other, thankful I was almost at the lake. She had to be freezing by now. I’d need to get her home quickly before anyone noticed we were missing.

I wouldn’t allow her to get another beating. I’d kill the bastard first. The sound of running water pushed me even harder. I moved through a club of thick foliage. “Amy. Are you here? We gotta go home. Ralph will be looking for us.”

Other than the water trickling over rocks, there was no other sound but the light breeze floating through the remaining leaves on the trees. I swung the light, walking closer to thewater. When the beam caught sight of something, I jogged toward whatever it was.

“Amy?” I lowered the beam so that the light was concentrated on the ground. “Amy?” I dropped to my knees, struggling to breathe as I peered down at her. “Amy!”

Her little face was covered with dirt, her vacant eyes staring up at me. Her dress was torn, her panties ripped away. “Amy. Wake up. Please. I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”

Only my promises could never be fulfilled. As I pulled her head into my hands, I realized how much blood was everywhere. My sweet Amy, my best friend and the girl I’d promised to protect was dead.

“No! No!”

Push harder.

Move faster.

Remain invisible.

The basic mantras had kept me going during my childhood, the reminders typically keeping me from enduring brutal acts of punishment. Every challenge I’d faced I’d met head on, every brutal savagery done to my body providing inspiration to hone my skills.

I closed my eyes and lifted the weighted bar several times, hoping the exertion would drive the ugliness away. Usually, it did, but not tonight.

Why had I thought of Amy right now? It had been years. Fucking years.

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