Page 1 of Chandelier Sin
Before
In a fevered moment, I stepped out into the hallway and tore off the devil masquerade mask, glad to be out of that room.
This damnplace, with its sordid secrets. Like the chamber I’d managed to gatecrash—the stage set like any other session, bespoke black-tie observers mingling and sipping cocktails. Only after the drinks were served, a new dimension of indulgence intensified.
The dynamics were a little too rough for my taste.
I knew they inclined toward controversy.
All three of us knew, but we remained within its walls. Pendulum, this clandestine club, ostensibly didn’t exist. Even as I pressed on, delving into its more private spaces, that rumor persisted.
Soon, we would seize power.
Greyson, Jake, and I had agreed to cut out the evil here and make Pendulum safe. Our intentions were noble, but the risingmalevolence made us question whether we had what it took to see this takeover through.
Over the years, I’d learned to detect when the play turned sinister. But within that room I’d witnessed the lines of control blurring. It wasn’t so much the submissives’ reactions, but the Dom’s. He’d held all the responsibility without having the authority. His eyes reflected fear, but of what?
Having walked the labyrinth of its intricate hallways, I’d observed the quiet business scheming in unlit corners, too. VIPs trading favors like they were not at a club.
Amidst all this, I’d overheard an infamous arms dealer who frequently made headlines for some atrocity or another, held private sessions that brought everyone to their knees. Apparently, it was a big-ticket event. If you could get in.
I hoped it wasn’t true.
If it was, I needed to bleach my fucking soul.
Pendulum offered controversial games that challenged morality. This escalation of the forbidden was the reason it attracted the underground aristocracy. The wealthy indulged in these lavish parties, where erotic diversions welcomed those with deep pockets.
The kind of play other clubs refused to offer.
That was about to change.
This, the ultimate endgame—to create another sanctuary like Chrysalis.
It wasn’t just our reputations on the line. Cameron Cole’s involvement as our fourth partner was a closely guarded secret. He’d become an essential member of our crew. A genius, lending his brilliant insight into every situation.
I needed to mull over how to handle moments like this—ask Jake and Greyson what they thought, too. Put a call into Cameron and get his input on whether we just burned the place to the ground.
That option had my vote.
An exquisite blonde came into view halfway down the dimly lit hallway. She was statuesque, with a sophisticated demeanor, andclad only in a thong. Her eyes were covered with a Venetian mask, and she wore a dramatic headdress of feathers like it was a crown.
She serenely strolled away from me, turning the corner out of sight.
I followed her, enjoying this momentary reprieve from precarious play—she, too, was a mysterious allure waiting to be unraveled. Intrigued, but keeping a safe distance, I strode after her with no plan to engage. I just wanted to observe her, curious as to what ignited her passions.
The seductress turned another corner.
As did I, admiring the breathtaking vision of her nakedness. Her high heels elongated her long bare legs, like a runway model commanding each stride, exuding a refinement that transcended mere sophistication.
My momentary hesitation to continue felt like a dark cloud threatening to disrupt this need—I had toknowher.
She sensed my presence.
Her head turned, and her chestnut eyes met mine with an evocative spark of interest as she peered at me from behind her elaborate mask, her mouth softly rouged and naturally pouty, showing a hint of a smile.
She showed no fear, merely amusement.
Intriguing.
