Page 12 of The Sinners Gambit

Not missing a beat, he says, “Don’t forget that I’m your stalker too. The conditionsareall of your favorite things. For example, that bed is the one you marked in your browser to buy yourself, but never did.”

I want to hate this man, and in many ways I do. But the insane amount of thought he put into all he did makes me feel more seen than I have in years. Which is a scary, twirling thought process I don’t want to tumble down.

“Stalker turned kidnapper,” I scoff at him. “Better?”

“Much.” He smiles at me. “Goodnight, little firecracker.”

“Bad night,Killer.” Without turning to look at him, I go into my room and slam the door. Not that it does much, considering he has cameras watching my every move.

“I’ll see you in the morning. Be dressed for training,” he laughs out as he walks back down the hallway.

I take a deep exhale. This is more difficult than I thought. To normal people this would be so black and white, and terrifying. Unfortunately, in reality, my trauma-ridden brain feels an odd comfort here.

I slowly open my eyes as I stretch across the smooth bed. Killian wasn’t wrong, this mattress is absolutely divine. I’ll never tell him that though. Seeing the triumph flashing across his green eyes and devilish smirk on his sexy lips is not a visual that’s going to help me with my plan. I guess that means I wasn’t wrong when I picked it out all those months ago. There, that’s what I’ll tell him if he asks.Fucking hot asshole.

As I go to sit up, I notice that the door to my room is slightly ajar.

Freedom?

I quickly jump out of bed and bolt for the door, slowing down only once I get there. As quietly as I can, I open the door all the way and peer out, but there’s no one in the long hallway, and I don’t hear any noise. “Hmph.” This is odd. I turn back to my bed and the cameras. I guess there’s nowhere I could really run without them noticing. That’s when I notice there’s another card with a note on my nightstand.

The way he signed his name makes me snort and smile. Leave it to him to find a snide comment endearing. I quickly feel my body go rigid with the realization that I allowed myself a moment of warmth thinking about that monster.

I’m here for one focus—and one focus alone.

To kill him.

He’s not the only killer in the house.

You don’t get to stalk me, kidnap me, wrong me, and get away with it. I’m coming for him and will take every opportunity he gives me to get an extra edge.

I grab a random set of workout gear and head downstairs. I follow the hallway I went down with Axel last night. Even with this mansion being so massive, it seems pretty easy to map out. My nerves are invigorated at the prospect of exploring more of this place and planning out my escape and my captors’ demise.

“Good morning, Naomi,” says Axel.

“Good morning,” I mumble.

Killian parrots, “Good morning.”

“Bad morning, Killer,” I spit as I look at the nearly empty dining room table.

This only makes both of them smile. “We have a green smoothie and a banana for you.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course, it’s my go-to pre-workout snack.”

“And your breakfast, ‘cause you’re not a fan of anything. Maybe coffee.”

“Always coffee,” I grumble out.

“He knew that,” Axel says, sipping his own smoothie.

Killian smiles. “I did, but didn’t want to creep you out.”

“That’s complete bullshit. This whole situation is absolutely deranged and creepy.”

Axel chuckles before drinking more of his smoothie. “But you like deranged, don't you?”

“Shut up!” I yell.

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