Page 38 of Chandelier Sin
“Doesn’t look like nothing. Have you been crying?”
“It’s just allergies from the pollen. Oak trees, I think. How long have you been home?”
A stream of daylight danced over his face. “Why?”
The years were etched on his face, his hair mostly gray now. I could see a hint of the handsome man he’d been before time had taken him down the path of over-indulgence. Now, he was stocky, and exertion made him breathless.
“I missed you.” I studied his face to see if he believed my lie.
His mouth twitched. “What happened last night?”
Did he mean when I’d avoided him by hiding out on the roof, when the hour was late, and the play had turned dark in the lower-level chamber?
Was that the moment he meant?
I rallied my courage. “Jewel is your favorite anyway.”
“Don’t complain about her,” he said. “She’s done more for Pendulum than anyone.”
My expression told him what I really thought of Jewel.
“You need to respect her.” He defended his most treasured asset. The woman who found the finest submissives to serve him.
Her motive wasn’t money, as far as I could tell. Her family had plenty of that. It had to be her depraved fetish that kept her serving these men. Finding homecoming queens. Promising them more money than they’d make in a regular job. Then watching the torrid scenes from the sidelines. Sessions born out of the wickedest mind.
“What happened after I brought you your champagne?’ I reached out and brushed his sleeve like it was easy for me to touch him. “You thought I’d spoil your fun.”
“You don’t enjoy those things.”
True, but he needed to believe there was some jealousy within me. His ego depended on it.
He narrowed his focus. “What did you find out from your little chat with Elle and Rachel?”
My throat tightened. “They didn’t really talk that much with Atticus.”
“You’re sure?”
Shrugging, I added, “Lance Merrill interrupted my conversation.”
“And then they ran off.” His gaze tore into me searching for the truth. “The subs told you nothing?”
“They deny sharing anything with him,” I said. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“They didn’t tell Atticus about the sixth floor?”
“No.”
“They told you that?”
“They know the rules, Aemon.”
“They know the consequences.”
“Of course, they know how serious this is.” I raised my chin. “Jewel has them well-trained. You know that.”
He narrowed his gaze on me. “How about you?”
“Me?”
