Page 75 of Sinner

In delving into the intense needs so many had to indulge in playing games instead of living their lives, I’d finally been forced to face certain facts that had haunted me to this day.

My sister Shanna hadn’t been the model of virtue that I’d believed.

After the tragedy had settled and years later, I’d learned how involved in the gaming world she’d been during the latter years of her life.

I’d also remembered she’d once told me shifting into virtual reality had helped ease her pain and suffering from chemotherapy. She’d only grazed over the adventures she’d enjoyed, likely to keep a young girl from the potential harm the games could do.

During the last few days, I’d been further intrigued by the fact we’d both been drawn to another world that had nothing to do with real life. Maybe I’d overlooked the darker side of someone I’d come close to worshipping. Shanna had been my best friend, and a mother figure after our mama had died. She’d helped me with homework, listened when I’d been sobbing because some boy didn’t like me.

She’d been there when our father had checked out of life.

After she was gone, I’d fallen into deep despair. That had led to all of this.

Yes, I’d been very reflective on sin, but there were various levels from sultry to treacherous. What I couldn’t determine was the plateau Xander was on or how far he’d go to keep secrets. To hide the past. To pretend he was a decent man when I sensed there was an underlying evil lurking inside of him.

But had my dad lied to me? I obviously wasn’t the best judge of character, but I’d sensed during the phone call the deep abyss he’d been in was beginning to destroy his life. And Xander. He’d been so kind, so protective that I was still in a fog about how I felt about him.

Maybe I’d been playing too many games over the last few years in my attempt to find myself and to crucify the man for what he’d done. Oh, God. Why was this suddenly all so muddled? The only way I’d learn the truth was by finding out more about Xander the man before learning about the past.

I’d seen the horrible look of sadness in his eyes the moment I’d accused him, which I hadn’t intended on doing. He was a master manipulator, but I could tell without any shadow of a doubt what I’d said had both shocked and hurt him.

With my hand over his shirt on my leg, I stood, still shaky but longing to see one of the paintings up close. I lumbered toward it, allowing my eyes to take in every inch. My God. What I hadn’t seen from where I’d been sitting was the muted effects that completely drew me in while standing only inches away.

The nearly naked man depicted was wearing a terrifying mask gilded in gold. The woman? Instead of an expression of horror as she lay writhing, almost completely naked beneath him, she had a look that screamed of utter ecstasy.

A chill slithered down my spine as it had done before. But this time, it was different. It was as if a light had popped on over my head, one so bright and alluring that I couldn’t breathe for a few seconds.

Sinner.

I’d been blinded by the fact I’d gotten so close to the man I’d hated for years I’d lost sight of what had been staring me in the face.

I was in a sense a captive in Xander’s house, previously lounging on his massive leather chair with his four-hundred-dollar shirt splattered with my blood. I’d been brought here for protection yet also for another reason.

Because this was an extension of the game, a trial to see if I had what it took to be a part of the Obsidian Society.

And my teacher and master?

Xander Blackwell, aka Sinner.

Of that I had no doubt in my mind.

The comprehension wasn’t as startling as it should be. Perhaps I’d suspected the truth all along, more drawn to the masked man because of it. I couldn’t deny the strong attraction to him, the longing that I’d felt from the moment we’d stood only inches away. Or all the times I’d looked at his photograph on the internet. He was a beautiful man in every sense of the word.

Granted, his laugh was different than the man in the woods. The voice was not as deep, but the inflections were the same. All disguised by a system that would be easy to develop for a man like Xander. However, there were certain human traits that couldn’t be hidden no matter how hard anyone tried.

Like his height, for one thing. Few men stood at six foot four, fewer men still with a chiseled physique like the one both Xander and Sinner had.

I didn’t know why I’d been blinded in the first place. Other than at the top of the first sheets of information I’d been sent hadbeen a notification the owners of the company only made the final decisions. Maybe I’d wanted to buy the story so my mind wouldn’t be fractured by the intense connection we shared.

The art drew my attention, but I couldn’t stop envisioning Xander’s face, a true masterpiece of creation. Angular without being sharp, a hint of stubble where I swear it hadn’t been before. Full lips that could either be used for a sensual gesture or a command of death.

Yes, I needed to remind myself for all his accomplishments, if I was correct in my assumptions, he was also a murderer. A fact that was no more horrifying than anything else.

I perused the painting for a few additional seconds before turning away, uncertain about my future and how I was going to move forward with destroying him.

Or if I could do so.

No, if I wanted to.

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