Page 8 of The Sinners Gambit

“Hmm. ‘Cause you know my tastes so well, do you?” I ask, as I roll my eyes. “And why would I want training?”

“I actually do. Swimming is your favorite solitary activity, but you’d love the opportunity to play games with friends, though your friends don’t like them. You love to garden and almost exclusively eat your home-grown vegetables during the summer, and if you’re not reading you’re watching all the new movies with Quinnly.”

My mouth drops open.

“As for the training, you’re in a new place with strangers, and even thoughweknow we’re not here to harm you, you don’t know that.”

This sentiment only makes my eyebrows furrow further and my stomach flip in confusion. “You want to make me feel safe?” This isn’t what I was expecting at all.

“That’s the idea.” He winks at me.

“Well, maybe don’t kidnap people then lock them up and throw away the key, for starters.”

“At least we did away with the shackle bracelets. We thought it was too tacky,” he deadpans.

This makes me snort out loud. “What the fuck!?” He and Quinnly would definitely get along. You know, if he wasn’t part of a psycho duo.Or are there more of them?

I can’t help but give him a pursed smile.

Axel breaks out in a grin. “There’s a smile. Looks good on you.”

“You’re good. I’ll give you that.”

“More than you know, but you will.”

He moves to walk beside me now as I ask, “So, if you’re so good and you’re not here to hurt me, why the theatrics of kidnapping?”

“Well, for starters, the average person wouldn’t be as calm as you’re being right now,” he says, causing my spine to stiffen. “So, the theatrics are for both your benefit and Kill’s. You like the thrill.”

I shift nervously at his observation. “I just know acting erratic won’t help me in this situation. Using my brain calmly will.”

We get to a grand staircase, and he offers me his hand. Something about him makes me feel . . . safe? That can’t be it. But I’m not on edge, so I take it and allow him to help me onto the stairs. “You being your truest self will help you here. But not in the way you think, Nai.”

“Only my friends and family call me that.” I stare at him sharply. Although, the anger doesn’t flow through my body as it should.

“Oh we will be. But for now I’ll respect your wishes, Naomi.”

A cough catches our attention. “Good evening,Naomi,” says Killian, smirking at me. “I hope you’re hungry.”

I glare at him. “Famished.”Hungry to kill, that is.

“Perfect. We have all your favorites.”

“Why am I here?” I ask, keeping my eyes locked on his deep green eyes. Why do they even have to be my favorite shade? Every-fucking-thing in here seems to be perfectly curated just for me.

“Because we’re the perfect match, of course.”

“A match made in hell?” I snort, making fun of his delusional thoughts.

My sarcastic tone does nothing to mitigate his amusement. “Precisely. I’m your devil.”

I allow the corners of my lips to turn up in a sinister smile. “Well, then that makes me Lilith. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Killian.”

He offers his hand to escort me. “Oh, trust me, I know exactly what I’ve gotten myself into, my little firecracker. I will take anything and everything you have to throw my way.”

“You’ll regret that,” I say, taking his hand, which is nice and warm to the touch.

Killian pulls me closer to him, so his face is a breath away. “I don’t think I will.” The proximity makes me notice the bright green flecks in his eyes and how good his cologne smells—cedar and smoke. It makes me shudder down to my core.Why the fuck does he have to smell good?

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