The Joker (House of Sinners #1)

1. Chapter 1

Addy

Dear Sasha,

Hi. Hello. Greetings from the outside world. I’m currently sitting on my kitchen floor because I spilled coffee on the counter and then slipped in it like a cartoon character on a freaking banana peel.

I suppose I should introduce myself, but the instructions didn’t specify how honest I should be, and that’s usually where I end up getting into trouble.

Here goes nothing…

I’m Adelaide, but everyone calls me Addy. If you don’t, I’ll assume you’re pissed at me.

I don’t have a moral speech in me, but I do have a pretty strong suspicion that humans are more complicated than their worst day. I don’t have any grand statements about justice or redemption, either.

What I do know is I’ve never met anyone who could be summed up in one sentence — and I doubt you’re an exception.

I’m doing this pen pal thing as part of community service, which sounds worse than it is. (It’s a long story involving a dating profile, a fake love of hiking, and a man named Greg who absolutely deserved what happened to him emotionally.)

I don’t expect you to write back. I mean, you can if you want, but no pressure. Honestly, I talk enough for both of us. If you do write back, though, I promise not to ask anything invasive or weird.

Okay, that’s a lie. I will absolutely ask invasive and weird things, but I’ll try to balance it out with jokes and baked goods recipes I’m not legally allowed to sell anymore.

I hope today is … manageable. Feels like the safest word to use.

— Addy

P.S. If you hate this letter, please feel free to pretend it never existed. I’m very good at pretending embarrassing things never happened.

P.P.S. On the other hand, if you don’t write back, I’d have to write to someone else and I kind of really don’t want to do that. So, if you could … please write back.