Page 67 of Sinner

“Sshhh… Everything will be just fine,” a deep voice said from the shadows, the tone providing another gentle blanket of comfort.

I knew who was sitting behind the wheel, the man driving me to God knew where. “Xander.” My body ached, my head throbbing, but I wasn’t tied into the seat, able to move my arms and legs.

A weight covered my shoulders and arms and it took me a few seconds to realize he’d placed his tuxedo jacket around me. Had he carried me to the car? I couldn’t remember getting inside by myself. That was almost as unnerving as what I’d endured.

The coat smelled like him, the deep musk and citrus strangely appealing.

He glanced over, a neon sign on his side of the vehicle providing an illuminated glance at his enraged face. But his features softened and he smiled. “Try and relax. You’re safe now.”

I was processing the events and every detail was starting to come back to me. Safe. My life had been anything but safe in the last couple of weeks. “What did you do to him?” My voice was shaky and I hated the rasp in the tone. Yet I remained frightened. Of all the men who’d come to my rescue, it had to be the single man I wanted to loathe.

“You were accosted by an asshole and you’re worried about his physical condition?”

“I…” I wasn’t certain how to give an honest answer. “He was just drunk.”

Xander laughed as if I’d made a hysterical joke. “He was perfectly lucid, Sophie. I assure you that man has taken advantage of more women than I can count in his past.”

“Then why hasn’t he been arrested?”

He twisted his hand around the steering wheel. “Let’s just say often the number of connections and their influence can help mitigate certain issues.”

“In other words, he has powerful friends in all the right places.” The thought was chilling, but perfectly plausible.

“Very good,” he hissed. I could hear the repulsion in his voice. “Including his father.”

“Were you following me?”

Chuckling, he made a turn and suddenly there were no longer any lit-up businesses to illuminate the cab of his car. I looked around, trying to determine where I was.

“I watched him follow you and given I know what the man is capable of, I made certain he hadn’t determined you belonged to him.”

“I belong to no one.”

He chuckled a second time and the sound sent shivers all through me. “Some men think differently.”

“You didn’t answer the question. Did you kill him?”

“I’m a businessman, not a monster. However, I will never allow anyone to hurt a woman or children for that matter. I simply gave him reason to rethink his position in life.”

“How chivalrous.” Sighing, I glanced out the window. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. Thank you for what you did.”

“Of course and don’t worry, Sophie. I’m not insulted easily.”

With his jacket removed, I was able to gather a much better view of his muscular chest and arms, the shirt incapable of shadowing how muscular he was. In fact, every inch of his six foot four inch or so body was finely honed. In my mind a work of art. But I couldn’t think of him that way.

In the years since I’d seen him only in glossy photographs on the internet, he’d changed significantly from the lanky young man with eyes the color of the most vibrant green grass to something much darker. More hardened.

“Why in God’s name did you invite him to your fancy party knowing what he was capable of?”

“I didn’t invite him, the CEO of the company did. And it was necessary.”

“Your brother. For ratings. Of course. It’s all about the business.”

“A necessary evil, but I assure you Dorn won’t be bothering you again.”

I felt a sense of relief by what he was saying yet the entire moment was surreal. How was I supposed to openly destroy a man who’d saved my body from harm if not my life in totality? “Where are you taking me?”

“To my house.”

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