Page 54 of Sinner

“You can steer clear of him. No biggie. I can help with that. Maybe I’ll even flirt with him a little. Or a lot.” She was giggling far too much. “Remember that there are four other board members.”

Yes, there were. Including Elizabeth. She’d been very nice, receptive to my ideas even after I’d been a bitch while making my recommendations. I’d allowed Xander to push my buttons because of the past. Not the present. And certainly not the future. Was it possible I could ignore the electricity I’d felt with the man?

I thought about the offer, weighing the pros and cons. While I wasn’t in the right mindset at all, the idea wasn’t bad. As long as I wanted to be conniving, why not thrive on chaos along the way? Oh, I could already tell I was in way over my head. All the years of thinking about the terrible things I’d do to the man and his entire world suddenly seemed childish. What I was doing wouldn’t bring my sister back nor would it alleviate the pain. I had my future to think about.

“Fine, I’ll go, but if this backfires on me, your ass is grass,” I told her.

“Bring it, baby. By the way. Have you heard about this secret society thing with Blackwell?”

A small knot formed in my stomach. “You’re talking about the frequent flyers who get glorious perks? Every company has them.”

“No, silly. The Obsidian Society.”

I closed my eyes. “No, I have no clue what you’re talking about. What society and how did you hear about it?” I’d been terrible at being honest with myself lately, but I’d continued to dig for information on the possibility it existed. What was it I hoped to find other than an easier way of bringing Xander down?

“Oh, my father hears things.”

I would never tell her, but from the little experience I’d had with the man, her father had meddled in things he shouldn’t stick his nose in. I’d heard certain rumors about him as well. He wasn’t the down to earth guy from Kentucky he liked to portray himself as. “What things?”

“Let’s see. There’s very little known, but the people in the club are all required to wear obsidian stone rings at all times. Did you notice one on Xander’s finger?”

I pictured the man in my mind, but I wasn’t wasting time looking at his fingers. I’d been stupid enough to remain mesmerized by the man’s stunning good looks. “Not really.”

“Well, that can be our mission. If the board is all wearing them, it’s confirmation this society exists. Daddy told me the ring signifies their loyalty to the organization. Only death is an acceptable out. Can you believe that?” I wasn’t certain if Steph was just trying to get a reaction.

“You know how people like to talk and make up shit. Your father might have fallen prey to sensationalism. Even if it’s true, maybe it’s for those in the company who achieve certain goals.”

“Maybe, but from what Daddy said, the initiation into this great society is very suspect and highly dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How so?”

“I heard people have died going through the tests.”

The bratty part of me was curious and wanted to ask if her father had applied and failed. Nope. I couldn’t sink that low.

“And how would your father know?” I had more of a demanding tone in my voice than I’d wanted.

“He knows things. You said so yourself he knows people. Daddy mentioned the company is highly suspect and the three brothers deadly dangerous. They use predatory methods to get what they want. Not just in business.”

“Are you attempting to talk me out of going after the position?”

“I’m suggesting you might not know what you’re getting yourself into. But I know you well enough even after only being your friend for three years. You’re going to stop at nothing to get what you want. I just don’t understand why you’re willing to play their games. Or to play by their rules. Make your own.”

Now that was one decent piece of advice.

Stephanie didn’t often mince words, but she was attempting to be polite, including the use of metaphors. “The reward is worth the effort.”

“If you say so.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to get back to work. Right now, I couldn’t think about the Blackwell Group. The entire situation had unnerved me to the point where I was wired beyond normalcy. “Well, then I’ll keep that in mind. Just try not to fall prey to gossip. Tell your father that as well.”

“Ri-ight. You, the current gossip queen. And my daddy would kick my butt. Plus, remember. He’s providing the tickets.”

“I am not a gossip hound, but if he’s so worried about the three men being so damn dangerous, why did he give you the tickets in the first place?” When she didn’t answer, I sat back in my seat, closing my eyes and holding my hand over them. “You stole them. Didn’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh, my God. You’re worse than I am.”

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