Page 124 of Chandelier Sin
He stared at me, and then, with a reluctant nod, he turned and walked in the direction of the kitchen.
Listening carefully, I acted quickly, hurrying over to the glass sliding door. As quietly as possible, I slid it open.
I didn’t want to leave, not after our love making, not after he’dshowed me how good it could be when a man cared about my pleasure.
“Eve.”
Atticus was standing behind me, not that far away, holding the glass of water I’d asked for.
“Goodbye.” I rushed onto the balcony and opened the gate.
I scurried across the pathway, hoping he didn’t follow me back to my car.
I made it to the street and climbed into my silver Mercedes. Hands trembling, I started the engine.
He was letting me go without a fight.
I dragged my bracelet down my forearm to cover that shameful branding that evoked sadness every time I looked at it.
I was haunted by Atticus’ words.“You’re not the only one.”
He’d meant Pendulum.
Was that his way of letting me know Aemon had numerous affairs? Something I already knew…
Then, as my mind quieted and the storm of emotions settled, my focus snapped to my bracelet, tracing over it with a curious fingertip, hoping to God he didn’t mean what my mind suggested. That there were women at Pendulum with a similar history.
A cold, stark terror gripped me that I’d missed it.
They’d appeared as though they wanted to be there. As my mind replayed thousands of interactions, I realized I was rarely left alone in a room with anyone. They were never given a chance to be honest with me about their situation.
Cupping my mouth hard with a shaky hand, I suppressed a gasp of horror over the dark terror I’d never seen beyond the night.
Dear God, what am I a part of?
Being back at Pendulum hit different.
I’d not seen Eve for a fucking decade. That’s what it felt like, anyway—even though it had only been four days since she’d walked out of my condo.
And out of my life.
With each interaction I had a new memory of her to cherish, a new experience to replay, marveling how I, this cold-hearted man, was beginning to care.
I should have handled our encounter better—forced Eve to spill more details about her past. Should have manipulated her into sharing more about her Hell-bound husband.
Still, knowing what he did to her made my blood boil.
She was too indoctrinated to see the cage door was now open.
Several members strolled by barely making eye contact. One of them, a silver- haired fox, reminded me I needed to hunt down Lance Merrill and confront the bastard.
If Lance had ordered his men to run me offthe road, I’d know it when I saw him. His smug expression wouldn’t hide his sick pleasure.
As though sensing she was here, the hair on my nape prickled and my flesh ignited with thoughts of shoving her into a private corner and stealing a kiss.
The delights of the forbidden, an exhilarating facet of what made me want her more.
During this stolen time, I’d get it through her stubborn skull that staying with her abuser was a form of insanity.
