Page 38 of Sinner

I adjusted my jacket as I followed Zach down the length of the hallway toward the specialized gaming rooms. We’d learned much from allowing players to enjoy the process of our creation. However, they’d been supplied with notes regarding the game.

Only the top contenders could anticipate what would unfold with any sense of accuracy.

Elizabeth was standing with the three young women, debriefing them after the finish. Perhaps the other two had done equally as well, but I couldn’t give a shit. While I’d expected Jessica would do very well, I hadn’t known the outcome until she’d picked up the spear she’d unlocked during the fellatio I’d required her to perform.

She’d become the aggressor. Not a surprise in the least.

“Ah, ladies. These gentlemen are two of the three moguls behind our incredible games,” Elizabeth started the moment we walked into the room. “The fabulous Blackwell brothers, Zachariah and Xander.”

We’d been twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three respectively when we’d found each other. Wilder had reached out first after hiring a private investigator to find any records containing our birth name along with any other information locked away. Each of us had tried once turning eighteen to determine our heritage, only to be shut down as if our parents didn’t exist.

From the stories Wilder had told us years before, the PI had used very unscrupulous methods in locating sealed records containing only our last names.

And that we’d been born in Chicago. But there’d been no hospital mentioned on the sparse forms. We’d decided collectively to use our correct surnames.

When a snarky prosecutor had attempted to place a cease and desist for unknown reasons, Wilder had handled the problem. Imade a mental note to ask him how the poor man had ended up skewered on a steel post at a construction site.

Chuckling, I nodded toward the other two women who were both acting impressed that we’d come to see them off.

When I turned my attention toward Jessica, there was nothing but contempt in her eyes. Yet I instantly knew it had nothing to do with knowledge of my extracurricular activities. She was genuinely unimpressed by our accomplishments.

“Mr. Blackwell,” she said as she extended her arm. “Sophie Turner.”

Ah, yes. I had to remind myself I would play the name game for a little while longer. “Ms. Turner. I heard your scores were impressive.” I took Jessica’s hand and the instant our fingers touched, I was brought back to the night I’d met her officially. Or I should say the first time I’d tasted her. The jolt of electricity affected both of us, Jessica hating herself for it.

“Very impressive,” Elizabeth answered for her and that annoyed the fuck out of me. I gave my employee a stern look. “So did Ms. Jeffries and Ms. Markum,” she added.

“How were your experiences?” Zach asked. While I didn’t need to glance in his direction, I could tell he was paying close attention to my sweet Desdemona.

Jessica pulled her hand away first. Her eyes narrowed as she gave me a heated onceover that lingered.

Fascinating. The woman didn’t like me very much. Likely given my rather disturbing reputation. All three of the Blackwell brothers had been labeled demented by various news sources. We held the title with pride. None of us cared about what othersthought of us. We weren’t into a popularity contest unless it had dollars attached to it.

“Incredible,” one of the women said.

“Honestly? The most terrifying game I’ve ever played, but I loved it.” The second was very enthusiastic.

But I was barely paying any attention. I tipped my head to the side and Jessica noticed, lifting her chin almost immediately.

“And your thoughts, Ms. Turner?” I asked, rather off the cuff.

She brushed the hand she’d shaken mine with down her jeans as if touching me had been reprehensible. Every action she took only made me want her that much more. “I believe you have a decent product that will ultimately sell well after you’ve worked out the kinks. I’m certain you’re eager to have Dark Nights be the star of the show, not fall underneath your second class works.”

I’ll be damned if the woman wasn’t baiting me.

The other two candidates distanced themselves from her physically. It was quite comical actually.

I was certain Elizabeth would have a heart attack based on the way she was staring at me. No, I wasn’t known for handling such open criticism well. It wasn’t like I’d expected Jessica to evangelize all we offered, but usually the women in her position were interested in getting the job.

Not pissing off the owners.

Zach was highly amused. “I understand not only do you work for one of our competitors, but you’ve also developed a couple games yourself.”

“Yes, I do and yes, I have.” She was quite proud of herself, but wasn’t interested in providing any clues about her thoughts.

The woman was shockingly able to get under my skin. However, the strongest feeling was one of desire.

I had the urge to ask her if she knew how horrifyingly easy it had been to pick the locks on her house. Maybe I should offer her security advice while she was in the process of bashing my company.

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