Page 120 of The Sinner: James

The moments tick by, yet she’s nowhere in sight.

A foreboding sensation hovers over me.

“I’ll be back,” I say before striding back to the foyer.

I reach the stairs when I hear Veronica’s voice.

“I’m sorry. Guests are not allowed in this part of the house.”

* * *

RAIN

After James leaves.

His image stays lockedin my mind––his face handsome and relaxed, his eyes shadowed and mysterious––while I imagine a story I don’t know if we’ll ever get to live.

Absently, I look out the window, the party barely registering with me as my gaze sweeps the crowd.

Moments later, I pull my focus away from the event and walk to the door.

Quietly, I slide it open and step out.

I barely get the chance to close the door and pivot away and a silhouette propped against the railing catches my eye.

I whip my head in that direction, and my heart stops.

“Surprise... surprise,” Daria says, a twisted smile clinging to her lips.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, wrestling with panic.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she says, wicked satisfaction glowing in her eyes.

Instantly, I realize.

She must’ve seen him.

“How did you get here?” I ask, scanning the empty corridor.

“Same way you did, although not escorted by two handsome men.”

The blood draws from my body.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure... You seem to be quite the prize these days. Oh, this will make for an interesting dinner conversation. I can’t wait to share the news with our mother. Her little angel is now the slut of the Kings.”

“How long have you been waiting here?” I ask, ignoring her mean comment.

“Long enough to see him coming... and leaving. No pun intended,” she says, grinning, entertained. “He can sure stay hard for a while. I’ve heard stories about him, but as you know, I’ve never had the chance to get to know him better.”

My teeth grind.

“What do you want, Daria?”

“It’s not what I want. It’s what I’ll do. I’ll tell Mom and Dad about your secret affair. And then, perhaps your sabbatical will end, and your sweet princess ass will get kicked out of their house. This will teach you something about life. You know... The stuff that regular folk like me do to survive. College, jobs, and marrying someone for extra money.”

“Nobody forced you to marry, Daria.”

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