Page 131 of Chandelier Sin
At least he knew the truth now.
Outside came the sound of hurried footsteps. They were searching for her. From Stella’s expression, she suspected that, too.
“What did you do?” I whispered.
She seemed too afraid to speak. Resting a hand on her shoulder, I reassured her they’d gone. Her attention snapped to my hand, and she focused on my tattoo.
“What are you doing at this end of the club?” I asked.
“I went to the bar to get a drink.”
“You shouldn’t be wandering around alone. We can’t protect you if you’re out of sight.”
“Don’t need protecting.”
She froze when someone yelled her name.
Putting my palm over her mouth, I warned her to be quiet.
Stella had drawn the attention of personnel. It would take a lot more than us to protect her.
She looked conflicted, as though questioning whether I was the greater hazard, or they were. Perhaps these were the men she was working for. Still, if that was the case, they terrified her.
I eased my hand away. “Talk.”
“That’s the truth.”
I felt a jolt of anger over the fact she’d been manipulating my friend. “Don’t make me hurt you, Stella.”
“I’m searching for a friend.”
I pressed her against the wall. “Elle?”
“Yes.”
“Where do you think she went?”
She shook her head. “They came for her.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping Jake could find Elle quickly.
She shuddered. “Will they hurt her?”
“Tell me what happened.”
“We went to a private bar.”
“Did it have a wine cellar?”
She nodded. “We hid but they found her. I tried to run after her. But they’d locked the door. Help me find her, please.”
Her pupils dilated, proving her fear was ratcheted up pretty high. I wanted to tell her that fear was a gift, and she should listen to it. That she should confess to Jake all she knew, all she’d been set up to do to him.
To us.
The space around us jolted.
“Atticus.” She grabbed my wrist to hold on. “Are we moving?”
