Page 266 of The Sinner: James

“Rain?”

I don’t stop.

I don’t even look in their direction.

I hear the steps behind me, rushing as I run down the stairs and reach the front of the building, wearing nothing but my sleeveless evening gown, my coat now abandoned inside.

The valet springs into action, rushing to fetch the limo for me.

“Rain?”

Lex’s hand lands on my shoulder. I spin around as if bitten by a snake.

“Don’t you fucking touch me,” I snarl.

He pulls his hand away from me, looking at me, bewildered.

The hatred spewing from my eyes makes him step back.

“It’s not what you think,” he says.

I close the space between us, a grim rictus creeping up my lips.

“What exactly is not what I think?” I growl through clenched teeth.

His eyes dip to my bare shoulders.

“Come inside. I’ll explain to you.”

“There’s nothing to explain, Lex. I don’t want to hear your explanation. And you know what? I shouldn’t hear it. I don’t deserve it. I’m nothing but a whore James hired for all of you to enjoy. If he wanted to teach me a lesson, well, he surely succeeded. Consider it a huge success. I finally got it.”

“It was nothing like that,” he thunders behind me as I pivot toward the limo. “Not for us, and not for him,” he says, and I turn around to face him again.

I erase the gap between us and finger his chest.

“Fuck you, Lex. And fuck him. I’m sick of your fucking games.”

I swivel to move away, and he grabs my elbow.

“It was not a game,” he rasps, his voice heavy with frustration. “Not for Ed and not for me, and it wasn’t a game for James, either. You have to believe me.”

I look at him, stunned, before breathing a sardonic laugh.

“Believe you?”

My eyes shoot daggers.

“Believe what, Lex?”

A muscle twitches in his jaw, and his blue eyes glisten in the dimness as he stifles his emotions.

“I can’t elaborate. He’s the only one who can clear things out for you. I don’t want to get between the two of you.”

I yank my arm out of his grip and jerk back.

Hands clasped on my hips, I toss my head back and flash a sarcastic grin dipped in bitterness.

“Getting between the two of us? Now you’re worried?” My lips tremble with fury. “Isn’t it a bit too late for that... Lex?”

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