Page 151 of Chandelier Sin
Was he dismissing me?
Aemon gave a nod of agreement. “Eve, leave us.”
No, I wouldn’t walk out, couldn’t walk away when he needed me. Had he not believed my warning? Had I not made myself clear?
So damn stubborn.
“Up.” Atticus said to his two Dominatrices.
They rose slowly, and at his nod of permission, they walked toward me.
In that moment, I knew I was about to be escorted out.
The thought of anyone hurting Eve heated my blood and shattered my once impenetrable stony heart.
I wanted to protect her from my conversation with Aemon.
Getting Eve out of here was the wisest decision. I’d done it in a way that didn’t arouse suspicion. I couldn’t reveal that she was my first thought after stepping inside this chamber.
Her gaze had found me from behind the pillar where she stood, and her expression was one of concern. Even after the way I’d treated her.
I did all this for you.
Some part of her knew that.
Wrangling two of Pendulum’s finest Dominatrices in less than sixty seconds proved I worked well under pressure. Though to Eve I must have appeared barbaric.
They’d exited the chamber with Eve displaying the same panache as whenthey’d entered.
Now, I was free to decide how to deal with Aemon. I’d gotten into the beating heart of Pendulum, now all I had to do was try not to kill him.
Because this was a monster who hit his wife. He was a bully and a selfish asshole who’d been given too much power—and used it with a psychopathic flair.
With only Jewel and a mystery man hiding behind his masquerade mask close by, there was no one else to stop me from storming towards Aemon.
The air crackled with tension.
Opening my arms wide I said, “I’m sure your method of killing a guest is a lot more imaginative than Lance’s. His are messy. He paid men to drive me off the road, and that left a trail. He’s a liability. I’m sure your standards are higher.”
Aemon’s curiosity had him standing now. “I’m listening.”
“We can do better than that,” said Jewel. “We’ll bring our guests back in and give them something to remember you by.”
Her threat lingered in the echo of her voice, giving her the illusion of power.
“You’re known for your showmanship,” I said. “Perhaps a fish tank filled with piranhas would meet your high standards. Except, when startled piranhas refuse to eat, that would be a colossal waste of time. No one wants a killing to fall flat. Ruins the mood.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a proposal coming,” said Aemon.
“You invited me to work for you. I’m ready to discuss the specifics.”
“That had nothing to do with Pendulum,” he said.
I threw in a dashing smile. “Should have been more specific.”
“Give me one good reason to let you live?”
“You have a Board seat and three members who want it,” I said. “I’m here to tell you that Board seat is mine.”
