Page 280 of The Sinner: James

I lift my hand to his face and slowly stroke his cheek.

His eyes glint and my heart hurts.

“I wish it were you, Lex,” I say quietly.

“Me too, baby. Me too…”

He kisses me softly on my lips and flashes a warm smile, his fingers gently brushing away a few stray tears.

“Things will be good again. You’ll see,” he says, stroking my hair before kissing me on my cheek.

For a moment, I get lost in his arms and hug him tightly, relishing the feel of his lips pressed against my hair.

“Call me if you need anything. All right?” he says.

I nod.

Smoothly, he breaks away.

6

RAIN

My gaze followshim as he vanishes down the stairs.

A few moments pass before I turn around, walk into my apartment and lock the door.

The phone vibrates on the kitchen counter with an incoming call.

I grab my cell and answer the call just as someone knocks on the door.

“Neil. I’m sorry… Can you wait a second?” I ask before tearing my phone away from my ear and striding back to the door.

Expecting to see Lex again, I open the door without looking through the peephole first.

A gasp falls from my lips as I lay my eyes on the brown-haired woman standing in front of me.

Her smug smile makes me sick.

“My, my... Look who I found,” she says.

“Miss Rain, there’s a woman in the building,” Neil screams, agitated.

I lift my cell to my ear, my eyes trained on the woman’s face.

“Her name is Daria Morgan,” he says, panic surging through his voice. “She was here a moment ago, and now she’s gone. She said she’s your sister, but something doesn’t add up. I’m afraid she might be heading to your apartment. Do you want me to call security?”

“No, it’s okay. She is my sister, and she’s here with me already. Thank you,” I say dryly as I take her in.

Annoyed with her, I hang up the phone.

A smirk pulls to her lips, prompting me to roll my eyes. Everything has become so damn predictable.

Pushing me to the side, she invites herself in. I glance up and down the hallway and at the stairs.

Did she see him leaving?

Even more irritated, I pivot and shut the door behind me.

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