Page 50 of The Sinners Gambit

“No, I’m only Belle to Axel. But we figured saying my real name would put you on edge.”

His smirk disappears. “We?”

“Did you not realize that I just said the womanyoukilled? I know what you did, Andres. Or should I say Wildcat?” I stand up tall.

He takes his bottom lip in with his teeth. “Well, it looks like it’s just us and a whole lot of forest for you to run.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. Are you ready to run, Andres?” I say.

The front two doors of the limousine open. “Are you, Uncle Andres?” says Killian.

“I do love a good chase,” Axel chimes in.

“Killian! What?”

“Oh, save it,” he says. “You killed my parents and I know it. Then tried to get Naomi to kill me. Who fucking does that shit to their own family?”

“The world was better off without them. No one deserves to be that happy. Fucking perfect company. Perfect marriage. And their perfect fucking son,” Andres spits out.

“Well now you’ll get to experience first-hand how it feels to be prey,” I say.

“And how it feels to be betrayed by your own family,” Killian adds.

Andres looks at us before turning to Axel. “And you?”

“I’m just here to help.” He shrugs. “I don’t like when my friends are upset. And what you did was far beyond that.”

“It’ll take more than you three to take me down. You’re forgetting I’ve been around longer than two of you combined.”

“I think you’re forgetting that’s the exact reason why we’ll have better stamina than you. You’re used to drugging your victims more recently, no?” Killian asks.

“I-I can take you,” he stammers, while trying to seem like he’s able to hold his ground.

“We’ll give you a running head start,” I say mischievously.

“Wh-what?” Andres stumbles back a step.

“Run!” I yell. “Since you do love a good chase, we thought we’d comply.”

“Fuck!” he screams as he bolts toward the trees and into the Forest of Malmaison.

“This’ll be fun!” Axel exclaims. “I can’t wait.” I take a moment to remove the bottom of my dress to reveal shorts and grab a pair of sneakers from the trunk. We all also grab a few weapons that will be easy to carry.

“FUCK!” Andres screams as I hear the world’s deadliest giggle.Perfect.I slam the trunk closed.

The men look in my direction, confused, as I start jogging in the direction of the scream. They follow behind as I say, “I think Quinnly found him.”

“Your sister Quinnly?” Killian asks.

“Yeah, loser. You think I’d miss this?” Quinn comes out from behind a tree holding a bloody knife.

Axel’s jaw drops. “You’re magnificent. I think I’m in love. ”

Quinnly tilts her head at him. “Of course you are.”

“We’re definitely becoming best friends.” Axel smiles at her.

Killian waves at her. “Nice to meet you.”

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