Page 213 of Chandelier Sin
As I took in the faces of those on the dais, I had the sense I knew the man on the right, the one with his face covered—even with him robed there came a familiarity.
Lance once again drew my attention.
“I came here with a gift for you.” He gestured toward Stella.
That fucker was throwing Stella to the wolves.
He stepped toward the dais. “I’ve brought someone who knows the identity of the fourth partner. Jake, Atticus, and Greyson have been protecting him. But this girl knows his name. She won’t tell me. But I’m sure with some persuasion she’ll tell you.”
I arched a brow at Lance for dropping my name.
He didn’t know I was here. Entering with Eve had validated me, even though it placed her at risk.
Lance turned and pointed. “This is Stella, Jake’s submissive.”
Aemon motioned for Stella to speak.
It was too late for me to warn her to be silent. She stood there exposed and out of reach.
Stella hesitated, then said, “It’s true!”
From behind her I whispered, “Don’t.”
Stella moved farther away, making sure I couldn’t reach her.
“Well?” Jewel encouraged her. “Did you become De Sade’s submissive?”
At that lunch at the Marina, where we’d seen them together, it certainly appeared as though that was the objective.
“I don’t like pain all that much,” Stella said. “So, no. I’d never be good enough for De Sade. No matter how much I wish I were.”
My heart sank. Stella was about to betray Jake.
Inhaling sharply, she added, “But I was with De Sade for a while. Until he got bored with me.”
That wasn’t true. Jake had fallen for her. Put his life at risk to save her brother. There was no way Stella knew A.J. was safe. People did things they often regretted when they felt trapped.
Or maybe, just maybe, her loyalty to Jake had been a ruse.
“Go on,” said Aemon.
Stella’s lips moved but no words escaped, as though she was forming the thoughts in her mind carefully, grasping the consequences of what she was about to say.
Betrayal slithers in, as silent as it is destructive. It coils around the heart, squeezing, until one’s breath goes shallow. A wound of the heart bleeds unseen, deeper than any blade. It selfishly disregards the pain of others.
Stella was going to betray us, and then betray Cameron. She was about to destroy the very people who’d been there for her.
If she shared Cole’s name…
None of us would recover from this calamity, least of all Cameron. The one man who’d dedicated his life to others, doing everything within his power to make the world a safer place.
Had I unwittingly led him into danger?
Stella clenched her fists.
“It’s me,” she said with vivid determination. “I’m the secret partner.”
What the fuck.
