Page 31 of The Sinners Gambit

Tears sting my eyes, I can’t hear any more of this—it just further confuses my brain. I rush down to the training room.

What would closure look like? Does that mean he’s telling the truth and didn’t kill my mom? Does that mean he’s lying to trick me? I don’t fucking know.

“Hey, Belle!” I hear Axel call out as he enters the gym.

My heart’s beating fast, and my breathing is slightly erratic from running on the treadmill. “Hi,” I say back, but I can’t look in his direction after yesterday or with all of these questions swirling around in my head.

Without another word he puts a workout playlist on the speakers and jumps on another treadmill near me. The only noise is from the beat of the music. And we run.

Not sure what he’s running from. But my feet move faster and faster as my brain crushes me with the guilt I have. Guilt for not finishing this for my mother. Guilt for potentially hurting Axel for no reason.

When we stop thirty minutes later, we’ve run in silence to the point of exhaustion.

My muscles ache, but what hurts more is the feeling of letting my mom down. Instead of focusing on that, I focus on what I can control and fix in this moment to subside my guilt. “Axel,” I say as I jump off the treadmill and grab a towel to wipe my face. “I’m sorry for yesterday.”

“Nai—” he starts as he climbs off his treadmill.

I hold up my hand. “No, I was angry. And yes, you and Killian are utter assholes for keeping me here, but I have my own shit to work through. And neither of those things excuse how I treated you after you confided in me.” I move closer to him and reach for his hand to hold. “You do deserve love. Just maybe don’t kidnap the person to find it.”

He smiles at me. “What ever will I do instead?” he jokes.

“I don’t know, maybe ask them out like a normal person? Or one of a million other things?”

“I don’t do normal, Belle. I don’t think you do either.”

I shrug. “Maybe not. Normal’s overrated.”

“That it is.”

We both head to the fridge to grab some bottles of water. “Do you still talk to any of your family?”

“No, I used to talk to my great-aunt only, but she passed away a few years ago. She didn’t like any of the family, so it was us black sheep herded together.” He snorts a pitiful laugh.

“That sounds nice. Like your own club.” I tap on the water bottle before asking the next question, not sure if I should. “If your parents basically disowned you, how are you rich? Or is it just—”

“Killian funding my life?” he laughs out. “No, my great-aunt named me the beneficiary for all of her assets and estate. So, even through all the loss and abandonment, I ended up staying filthy rich.”

“I guess that’s a plus.” I laugh too. Looking toward him with sincere eyes I add, “It’s hard losing people you love.” His family may not have died, but that abandonment still hurts, even when they’re assholes. “But it’s nice to have someone who’s your person. Quinnly is that for me.” I miss her and wish she was here to help me through this.

“Thinking of it that way isn’t so bad.” Axel smiles as he seems to have a distant thought—probably memories of his aunt. “Your sister seems like a good time.”

I raise my eyebrows at him in warning.

“I didn’t mean it like that, not that she wouldn’t be. It’s just that we’ve seen her around while looking into you. I meant she looks like a fun friend to have,” he says, throwing his arms up.

“She’s the absolute best friend to have. The most judgmental non-judgmental person to have in your corner.”

“Sounds like Killian for me—my found family.”

I smile at the masterpiece I created in the form of the brutally beaten man tied to a chair. It’s been so hard to get away to kill this asshole with Killian watching my every move, but I made sure to do it when he and Axel were away for a conference. I knew he wouldn’t trust anyone else to watch me, but even so, I took extra precautions and am away myself.

“Wake up!” I demand.

Martin’s eyes flutter open. “Please,” he mutters softly.

“No. I asked you three times.”

“I’m sorry,” he cries out.

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