Page 54 of The Sinner: James

Soon, the noise remains behind, a narrow footpath taking me to a flowery meadow, where I stop and catch my breath.

And then I hear his footsteps.

“Rain?”

His voice is hollow and cold, bludgeoning my heart.

There’s not an ounce of regret or dejection in his tone, let alone the promise of an apology.

Seething with fury, I turn around to face him.

“Get away from me, Sexton,” I growl through my teeth, spitting fire.

The arrogance glinting in his gaze reminds me of how cruel he is, fueling my resentment toward him.

“Get the hell away from me,” I snarl, shoving my fist into his chest.

The sunset drips with light, enveloping the low-hanging branches, a coppery red glow sliding over his face, and yet, his eyes remain dark and stormy like the most unforgiving night.

I attempt to hit his chest again.

“Stop it,” he barks, grabbing my arm, but my free hand jabs at him faster, slapping him hard.

He freezes, a menacing look shooting from his eyes, yet he doesn’t bat a lash.

If it wasn’t for his flushed cheek, the muscle ticking in his jaw, and a killer death stare pointed at me, I wouldn’t know I hit him.

“What’s your problem, Rain?” he thunders.

“What’s my problem? Are you really asking me that?” I shriek, voicing my frustration. “You didn’t even want to talk to me.”

He narrows his eyes at me, his stare glinting with dissatisfaction, his lips pressed into a severe, tight line.

He surely isn’t the man to cross.

“How old is she, James?”

He stays quiet, struggling to push back his retort while the color of his eyes shifts from dark green to moss green.

They look dipped in poison.

“Huh?? Answer me,” I bark, suffocated with uncontrollable anger. “And why her and not me?” I demand, my emotions spinning out of control.

“You couldn’t possibly understand,” he says dryly.

“Oh, okay. Then why don’t you help me understand?” I say, yanking my arm out of his grip. “Tell me. I’m dying to hear.”

“She’s someone I fuck,” he says, his voice frosted and cold like a deep lake in the winter.

His words put daggers in my heart.

“That’s it?” I ask, disheartened, grappling with disbelief. “That’s all she is to you? And I wasn’t even that?” I mutter, tears pooling in my eyes. “So everything I felt that night... Was that a lie?”

He watches me in silence, his eyes impossible to read.

“Tell me,” I shout, my fists crashing into his chest again.

He cuffs my wrists midair as I swing my hands at him again.

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