Page 221 of Chandelier Sin
“You could have run away with Eloise when she was a baby.”
“How?”
“You walk out and don’t come back.”
He didn’t know, couldn’t know, the truth. Shame flooded my soul, along with the fear that the first man who’d showed me compassion was losing his respect for me.
In the end, what did it matter? I had one goal, and nothing could derail that. If I had to tolerate this mercurial man, then so be it.
I’d fallen for Atticus. His touch, his kiss, had become the only good things in my life. But if I’d lost him after tonight’s charade in the High Chamber, nothing I did or said would reverse that.
This was the first time I’d had a chance to get Eloise back.
“I’ll do anything you say,” I whispered.
“No, Eve, don’t say that.” He gripped the steering wheel. “You’re free now. You get to choose what you want to do and where you want to go.”
“Only when I have Eloise in my arms.”
He reached over and rested his hand on mine. “I’m sorry I was angry. It’s a lot to take in.”
“Lance was an asshole.”
He looked astonished. “I mean, he was, but no one deserves to go out that way. There is a matter of the law—innocent until proven guilty.”
“We know he was guilty.”
“The right to be judged by your peers,” he continued.
“You’re an idealist.”
“Is that meant to be an insult?”
“At least he can’t hurt anyone else.”
He let out a sigh. “I know.”
We sped toward the airport in silence. Both of us were already tired from the evening’s events. Atticus had actually seen the extent of Aemon’s perversions.
There was no denying I had played a part in their games, even though I’d been coerced.
We drove through the airport entrance toward a large plane sitting on the tarmac. “We’re not going through the main entrance?”
Atticus stopped the car close to the 747. I saw the name Cole emblazoned on the side of the plane.
Wait, is this Cameron Cole’s plane? The man who’d gifted them all their flashy wristwatches.
The fourth partner.
Atticus got out and threw his car keys to a ruggedly handsome man, and then came around to my side of the jeep.
He opened the door for me and held my hand to assist me out.
“This plane belongs to Cameron Cole?” I asked.
“What gave it away?”
“He just loaned it to you?”
