Page 41 of The Sinners Gambit

“No champagne?” I ask as we all get up.

“Champagne is disgusting!” Axel makes a revolted face. “I wouldn’t do that to you both. You’ve been through enough today.”

I lean in to give Axel a side hug as we walk to the dining room. “Thank you, Axe.”

“Anything for you, Belle.” He kisses my cheek. I turn to see Killian with a big smile on his face. You can clearly see the care he has for both of us and the happiness he feels in this moment.

“I have a question for you, Naomi,” Axel says after wiping his mouth with the napkin. I nod to encourage him to continue as I finish chewing the food in my mouth. “Why did you think it was Killian who killed your mother?”

“Axe!” Killian says.

“What?” He shrugs. “It’s the elephant in the room.”

Killian looks to me in apology, but he’s clearly curious too.

“It’s okay. I’m honestly a bit puzzled, myself,” I say.

They both furrow their eyebrows.

“No, it just doesn’t make sense. When my mom was murdered, they found a handkerchief with a bloodstain. At first it was linked to my mom’s DNA, but I had a feeling that something was off. So I used one of my Society favors, and they said that it was yours.”

Killian freezes mid-bite, and Axel almost chokes on his wine. “You called in one of your chits?”

I shrug, giving them a fake grin that scrunches my nose. “Finding out who killed my mom would’ve been worth all three of them.”

“I thought you were cool before we kidnapped you, but you’re my hero. Such a badass. I can’t believe it.”

“That I’m a badass?” I tease Axel.

“No, that we were so dumb.”

I wink at him as I cheers the air in his direction with my wine glass. “I believe it.”

“I never asked before because of the shock of finding everything out, but how did you know that I was part of it?” Killian asks. “It’s all top secret, everyone’s identities within the Society, even their rank and role.”

She shrugs. “I didn’t fully, but I guessed based on the DNA evidence and you coming from a line of Morels. My Paps always suspected some of the old money families.”

“That’s how you knew I’d be coming soon,” Killian says with a perplexed look.

“I was hopeful. I figured you’d want a big monumental moment to show me off, and what better way than the ball?” I reach over the table and touch his hand. “Are you okay?”

He shakes his head but says, “Yeah, I am. But why would they lie to you? How did you get in?”

“Woah, rude! I’m not sure why they lied. But Paps was a member, and he asked both Quinnly and me. She said no, because she dances to the beat of her own drum and wanted none of it. But I need help with my quest for answers, so I agreed. I assume they watched me at one of my surgeries. No one questions the minuscule number of failures in the OR as long as the biggest proportion are successes.”

“You killed people on the table?” Axel asks. “How do you know who to—?”

“Is that judgement I hear?” I tease. “I only kill complete assholes.”

“I think I’m here for your villain era,” Axel says beaming. “Even if we’re late to the party.”

“I am too,” Killian growls. My cheeks feel flush seeing him look directly into my eyes.

“Ugh, save that for later.” Axel rolls his eyes.

Killian doesn’t look away from me when he answers, “Oh, I plan to. If you cock-block again, I promise you that you won’t be using yours because I’ll have kicked it so far into your body—”

Axel goes to cover his crotch area. “Ouch, sir!”

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