Page 324 of The Sinner: James

He glances at me as I absorb the view, fascinated by the spinning lights.

Moments later, we drive past the grand hotel entrance and slowly roll into a private parking lot.

Bodyguards patrol the area, two men nodding a discreet greeting as we pull in.

Metallic doors slide open, giving us access to the indoor garage. White and silver walls encase a large space where several cars are parked.

He rolls his red LaFerrari next to his black Bugatti Chiron before smoothly bringing it to a stop.

At least a dozen cars are here, all speaking of opulence and power. I step out of his car and rise, looking around the place.

“You surely know how to collect luxury cars. Am I supposed to be impressed?” I ask, walking next to him.

We enter the glass elevator.

“No. You just need to know what I do,” he says, pressing the only button on the panel, briefly looking at me.

The elevator takes us to the top of the building, where we walk straight into a lavish suite.

A curved glass wall filters the cinematic view of the buildings, the road, the pools, and the helipad.

This looks like a kingdom. His kingdom.

I walk to the window, my eyes moving over the colorful lights.

Ice cubes clink in a glass as he pours himself a drink.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asks.

I glance over my shoulder.

“No. I’m good.”

He pours bourbon over ice.

My gaze shifts away from him.

In a corner, I spot an alcove and a bed dressed in red satin. It looks like a movie set.

“What’s with you and red? It seems to be a constant theme,” I say.

A mysterious smile glints across his lips.

“And you sure are fascinated by it... Red,” he says, testing me, anticipating a retort perhaps.

But I don’t give him one, so he speaks again.

“I love life in general, and red is the color of passion and torment. Sometimes it’s blood. Sometimes it’s roses. And sometimes it’s…”

“Love...” I murmur.

“Yeah… Love.”

He takes a swig of his drink before he sets his glass on a side table and stops next to me in front of the window.

“Are you still a non-believer?” I ask.

A smile twinkles in his eyes.

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