Page 137 of Chandelier Sin
She lowered her gaze. “You’ve seen how he is.”
“Eve, come with me. Let’s leave, okay?”
“You and I can never be. You must see that?”
Maybe we were perfect for each other. We just needed time to explore that theory. Because so far, I’d become addicted to everything about her. “I’ll get you to a safe place. You don’t need to see me again.”
I set my glass down, having not touched a drop. Didn’t need booze to affect my focus.
She finished her drink and set the glass down, moving away. “The moment I saw you, I knew you’d mess up my life.”
“You came to me again that night.”
“A coincidence.”
I wanted to step closer but sensed her reticence.
Her mouth trembled. “If you’re here because you believe there’s any chance for us, then you are mistaken.”
“I genuinely care.”
“Return to where you belong.”
“Belong?”
“Where the lower classes are served.”
Her ploy came in the disguise of an insult. The kind of criticism that didn’t touch me. I knew my worth.
Eve could see that in my eyes. My strength, my courage, and my fire. Didn’t need to prove myself to anyone.
Or maybe there was an avoidance of the cold-hearted truth. I needed to prove one thing, that I was capable of saving someone I loved, if given the chance.
“You should go.”
“I refuse to let him hurt you anymore.”
She raised her chin with pride. “After what happened to Ben, maybe this is karma.”
“What does your husband have on you?” I asked sternly.
Eve twisted a strand of blonde hair with her delicate hand, trying to act unfazed. Acting as fake as the hair she wore to appeasehim.
“Don’t betray yourself one more time,” I said.
“You can’t interfere like this.” Her eyes teared up again.
I opened my arms. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prevent anything else from happening to you.”
“I don’t need saving.”
I’d followed the siren out to sea.
From her look of defeat, we shared that sentiment—that if I stayed, if I did the right thing, I might not make it out alive. She’d made that clear.
“I used you,” she said softly.
“I liked it.”
