Page 68 of Sinner

“Whoa. Hold on. Just take me back to my car.”

“You’re not capable of driving. You could have a mild concussion.”

He was right—my head hurt. “Then is it too much to ask if you take me home?”

“Do you not think if Dorn is determined to have a piece of you that he hasn’t learned who you are and where you live?”

“Even after youexplainedthings to him?”

His exhale was heavy. “I wasn’t willing to take the chance. I’ll take you back to your car in the morning. By then, he will understand that I mean what I said to him.”

I had the distinct feeling he’d explained more than what I’d heard to Dorn. And I was glad. In fact, I hoped the fucker woke up hurting the way he’d hurt me. I bit my lower lip, trying to keep the single sob from exposing how terrified I was.

But staying at his house? I wasn’t certain what to make of his insistence I do.

“Why the Phantom mask?” What did it matter other than I was a nervous wreck.

“Because it appealed to my senses at the time.”

“Since I doubt you’re facing any act of injustice, was the choice based on your need to hide your true appearance from the rest of the world?”

He turned his head toward me once again, his nostrils flaring. “Hiding isn’t necessary, Sophie. However, I do enjoy seeing and experiencing the reactions of those who I come into contact with.”

His answer was chilling and I wasn’t certain what to make of it.

“I think Dorn has been following me. I also believe he broke into my house.”

Xander was instantly on edge. “Why would you think that?”

“Because he mentioned it’s been a thrill getting to know all the dark secrets.”

“Interesting.”

“Why do men enjoy tormenting women?” I asked, although I wasn’t expecting an answer.

“For some, they believe they are the superior being.”

“For others?” I studied him even in the darkness. His chiseled features were delineated. He had a strong, square jaw with high, full cheekbones and an aristocratic nose. He was a gorgeousspecimen of a man. But I had to remember what he’d done to my family. Hero or no hero, I would still destroy him.

“Others realize when they find their equal that enjoying the game of cat and mouse can be an explosive and very sensual act of foreplay.”

“Like your computer games.”

“Exactly. Our games provide a safe method of enjoying a taste in the ultimate of sins, kinks, and longings that the majority of people in this world will never admit to craving.”

I closed my eyes, envisioning the scenes from the game. Even from what little I’d managed to show Stephanie, I’d fallen into the pull that had occurred years before, a hunger so intense I was incapable of expressing my need for the games without sounding crazy. “Every one of us has the very darkness you’ve managed to capitalize on buried deep within their psyche.”

“You’re an excellent student, Sophie. And you are correct. Once unleashed, they feed off the hunger.”

“You mean they become addicted to the rush of emotions and adrenaline. And the need for sex and violence.” I should be horrified at my own admittance.

But I wasn’t.

“Addicted is a perfect word, which is why our company does everything in our power to build additional worlds, to create experiences that can be found nowhere else.”

“Which is why you’re successful.”

“We’re successful because we’ve worked our asses off, learning about human psyche, intuition, and the will to survive.” Hemade another turn and suddenly, I was faced with huge homes on tree-lined streets where every house kept their front light on as if eager to invite in strangers. It was another surreal moment. These estates were for the rich and famous.

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