Page 95 of Sinner

I nodded. “An unlikely pairing given he ended up becoming a doctor and I could easily provide him with material to work on or dissect at any given time.”

“So he knew about your penchant for collecting bodies.”

“Let’s just say he provided some assistance on two occasions. It’s something he stopped talking about and even denied his participation.”

Wilder grinned. “Some men can’t take the heat of acting on their dark proclivities.”

“True enough.”

“That’s interesting. So you’re getting back at him for abandoning you by taking his daughter?”

I powered back the rest of my drink, immediately needing another. “That wasn’t my intent and keep in mind, I had no clue. Even worse, I was dating Jessica’s older sister at the time.”

“Double ouch. You’re a bad boy.” He was laughing at the situation while I was still uncertain what the fuck I was doing at this point. That was so unlike me I’d remained on edge for three days. That usually made me sloppy and right now, that wasn’t acceptable.

“Yeah, well, Jessica figured out I’m Sinner.” Not that I actually minded. We were still a game with each other, pretending as if we had two distinct personalities.

He spit out a portion of his drink. “How in the hell did that happen?”

“Because she’s the best gamer I’ve ever come into contact with. We sparred with each other for months. She knew what I wascapable of, although until recently she only believed while hiding behind a computer screen.”

Wilder leaned forward on the table, narrowing his eyes. “Oh, my God. You also had an experience with her in real life. Didn’t you?”

The gaming talk had become annoying.

Sighing, I glanced into the restaurant portion of the bar we frequented. The place was jammed full even on a Sunday night. I continued to find it interesting I had no use for the typical enjoyment while spending time with friends. Getting drunk held no appeal.

“She needed protection against a thug. I provided it. Then I played a little.”

“Because you have such insatiable desires.”

“As if you don’t,” I bit back.

I could tell he wasn’t certain whether to burst into laughter or chastise me, as if he could dare do that. I’d bailed his ass out of a situation he’d gotten himself into less than six months before. He’d underestimated a man who’d betrayed us and had almost gotten himself arrested.

I’d been the fucking executioner as well as the goddamn cleanup crew. The entire situation had been messy.

And while I appreciated blood, spilling my share of it over the years, I preferred my kills neat and tidy. Wilder wasn’t like me in that way. Maybe he truly had an affinity for being labeled a monster.

It was funny how in just about everything else we were exactly alike.

“Okay, I gotta ask. What happened to the sister?” Wilder wasn’t even looking at me at this point.

A waiter presented us both with another drink. We came here often enough he knew what to expect. I took a deep swallow before answering. The memory had been one I’d tried very hard to ignore. “She drowned.”

“Well, shit. Did you have anything to do with it?”

“No. She had everything to do with her own death.” A tragedy that I blamed her father for.

How had I been so fucking stupid or blind with Jessica? I had no clue what Michael had told her, but whatever it was, Jessica blamed me for Shanna’s death. Just like the man I would have died to protect. The memory tore at me, but I couldn’t lose the hunger I felt, the need for possession of the woman who’d awakened me from the death.

“Well, shit. Has Jessica put the pieces together?”

“Obviously she had long before she arrived in town. Thanks to whatever her father told her.”

He took a deep breath. “Well, holy crap. You think she’s worked with Sam Carter on infiltrating our operation?”

“The jury is still out.” The thought had crossed my mind, but I wasn’t convinced. Her actions and sadness had indicated her hatred of me was completely personal.

---