Page 274 of The Sinner: James

“You carved a piece out of his heart and took it with you. That’s why he can let go of you. Do you think he’d waste his time with a woman who means nothing to him? Do you think he has nothing better to do than mess with some old flame’s life and teach her a lesson unless she means something to him? Do you think there’s a short supply of women he could pay or talk them into his bed? There’s so much stuff that he could do. Why would he mess with you if you mean nothing to him? You are his poison, Rain. You are the only woman who’s ever had him.”

5

JAMES

A door opensand closes behind me.

“James?”

A few steps bring Lex closer to me.

“What the hell are you doing here, man?” he throws at me.

He stops next to me, waiting for an answer.

I shoot a side-eyed glance at him as he takes inventory of the glass of scotch in my hand and the burning cigarette tucked between my fingers.

A moment later, we both swing our eyes to the spectacle unfolding in front of us–– our clientele celebrating New Year's Eve in Red’s largest private event room.

Naked dancers shake their hips on the tables while the men throw hundred-dollar bills at their feet.

I take another swig of my scotch, a big gulp this time, and my throat burns like hell, as does everything else inside me.

“Where is she?”

“At the hotel. She’s going home...”

“Home?? Why? How…?”

I shrug.

He grabs my arm, and I yank it out of his grip, spilling the rest of my drink over my sleeve.

In one motion, I swing my arm and hurl the empty glass against the wall. The sound of glass shattering ripples through the air.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, James?”

I take a long drag on my cigarette and blow the smoke out in a long stream.

It does nothing to calm me down.

“Have you talked to her?”

Silently, I nod.

“And?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“And this is better?” he retorts.

I flick my eyes to him, blazing with fury.

“What’s your problem, Lex?”

His eyes narrow, and cold steel glints in his gaze, yet he pushes his words back, choosing to stay silent.

Wise choice indeed.

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