Page 205 of Chandelier Sin
“They won’t miss her,” I reasoned.
“What happened?”
“She’s going to be showcased.”
He clenched his teeth. “Then they’ll miss her.”
“She can’t stay,” I said. “You know that.”
Atticus studied her. “You want to leave?”
“I have nowhere to go,” she whispered.
He gave her a reassuring nod. “Yes, you do.” Atticus reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. I glared at him. The rules were painfully strict, and no phones was the least of them.
He tilted his head. “You know me and rules.”
“Who are you texting?” I asked.
A message appeared on his phone.
He raised his gaze to mine. “We have to move. Now.”
“What’s happening?” asked Inaya.
Shit, I really was doing this—sneaking out a submissive, sending her out into the night, saving her.
“We can trust him,” I said, towing her along.
Terror shone in her eyes.
I pulled her into a hug. “Be brave.”
She softened against me. “I don’t know where to go.”
“We’re taking you to safety.” Attics stepped back. “How many are there of you?”
“You mean brought over on the yacht?” She paused, thinking. “Twenty-three.”
“All against your will?” I asked.
“Many of the subs want to be here. We’re integrated, so they can’t tell us apart.”
I stared at Atticus over the obviousness of it.
That way, when members became suspicious of the submissives’ origin they just swapped them out with a confident female who presented as a professional sub. The others, the ones bought and paid for, would remain undetected. Which was why I’d never suspected any of them were here against their will.
“I need you to write down their names,” said Atticus. “Later tonight.”
She looked at me with confusion in her eyes. “Will you help them?”
“Yes,” I reassured her. “We will.”
Atticus stepped toward her. “This is how you help them.”
Inaya panicked. “How do I know I can trust you!”
Dragging my bracelet up my arm, I let her see the barcode tattooed there.
