Page 207 of Chandelier Sin
“Come on.”
We entered a private drawing room, empty for now, but soon the chamber would be thriving with guests—tuxedo-wearingbillionaires who loved their drinks chilled and their submissives on their knees.
Atticus nudged me up against the wall, pinning me there with his arms on either side of me. “That was fucking dangerous.”
“Getting her out?”
“You’ve jeopardized us.”
“I couldn’t let them do that to her.”
He caressed my arm. “If we make one mistake, they’ll move the others.”
“They were going to hurt her.”
“Then you should have come to me.”
“I didn’t have much time. I couldn’t think of what else to do.”
He cupped my face. “This is why I’m here. You know that.”
“It’s taking me a while to…”
“Trust me? Feeling’s mutual, but both of us have proven time and time again we are there for each other. Right?”
I let out a long breath, finally realizing that my future could be different.
He grimaced as though in pain. There was a bruise on his chin.
“What happened?” I reached out to touch his face.
He leaned his head back to avoid contact. “You should see the other guy.”
“I’m serious,” I snapped.
He looked thoughtful, as though considering how much to share. “I tried to stop Dean Hersey from getting into the back of Lance’s car.”
“What? You went to the harbor?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It was something I needed to do.”
“So, Lance’s men did this?” I frowned at him. “You need to see a doctor?”
His lips curled in amusement. “I’m fine.”
Atticus held up his phone.
My heart stuttered when I saw the photograph on his screen. My Eloise, a few months older, but it was her. She was wearing a pink dress, seemingly lost in a sea of other children.
I felt light-headed.
“She’s in a playground?” I asked, squeezing back tears. “You found her.”
Now I realized how risky my actions had just been, when I was so close to reuniting with her. “I have to go to her.”
