Page 221 of The Sinner: James

“I want to go home. My home,” she says, tears glinting in her eyes.

I grab her by the elbow and pull her up.

Her chair scrapes against the floor, summoning a few pairs of eyes to us.

Unfocused, her gaze hovers over my face.

She seems removed from everything, myself included, and a blaze burns through my skin.

Studying her, I grow furious by the second.

“Let’s go home then,” I growl through locked teeth, hauling her away.

“James?” Lex barks. “You’re not doing that again.”

He quickly closes the space between us, and his hand curls around my shoulder.

More people flick their eyes to us.

“I’m not doing anything, Lex,” I shoot at him.

“Take it easy, then... All right?”

I glare at him.

“I will. Just back off, for fuck’s sake,” I growl quietly.

He steps aside before I lead Rain out of the room.

Half an hour later, the car pulls up in front of my place.

“What are we doing here?” she asks, glancing up at the building.

“You get your things before you go home,” I say, having a hard time containing my anger.

Reluctantly, she gives me her hand, and I help her out of the car. We ride the elevator to the top floor, both lost in thought, her gaze pinned to the floor.

The doors open before we step out and stop in front of my suite.

She doesn’t look at me as I hold the door open for her.

As soon as she slips in, I shut and lock it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she barks, spinning to me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I say, cold as ice.

Fury simmers in her eyes.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“I just fucking did,” I snap. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuss was all about.”

“I don’t need to tell you anything,” she retorts, glowering at me.

“Oh, yes. You fucking do. What the hell do you think you’re doing? You ran into some dick from the past, and suddenly you bail out on me? No fucking way. You wouldn’t do that to anyone else, would you? Why do you always change the rules when it comes to me? Why am I so fucking special?” I thunder.

Balling her hands into fists, she meets my eyes with a death glare before she changes her mind and spins away from me, avoiding an open confrontation.

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