Page 61 of Chandelier Sin
Women could be irrational at times, but this was beyond extraordinary.
“I’ll see you at Pendulum.” I pivoted to head through the door, and then jolted to a stop.
A tall man blocked the exit, his beige Savile Row suit looking pristine. The fifty-something’s steely expression grew even harsher when he entered the cottage.
I sensed I was looking at the cause of Ben’s injury.
Him.
He turned to face Eve. “Hello, darling.” His expression became terrifyingly serene. “I didn’t know you had a visitor.”
Me being alone with his wife in a secluded cottage was a bad look.
We all knew that.
His eyes were dark and unfathomable, his gaze unblinking. This had to be Eve’s husband.
I’d already witnessed the kind of thing this man was into at Pendulum. Though what happened behind the scenes was reportedly worse—the kind of activity where subs were apparently placed in danger. Something told me this man had influence there.
Malevolent bastard.
“Eve?” he snapped.
If I wasn’t here, how would he treat her? When no one else was around and she was defenseless? It was a haunting scenario to take with me.
If I got out of here.
She’d annoyed the hell out of me but now I had a wild guessas to why she’d made these choices. She was protecting Ben from this man.
My gut warned there was worse to come.
“He was just leaving,” Eve said softly.
“I can see that.” He gave me the side eye. “Ben’s here?”
She pressed her palm to her chest. “Yes, but…”
“I’m a doctor,” I said to reassure him.
The man’s nonplussed reaction provided a gnarly clue as to how Ben had ended up in that condition. He showed no empathy, merely annoyance.
“This is clearly a private matter.” I memorized his face. “I’m discreet, obviously.”
I was nobody’s fixer, but he didn’t need to know that.
Spittle formed in the corner of his mouth. “Who are you?”
“Darling, this is Dr. Sinclair.”
Eve’s use of that term of endearment cut deeper than it should.
He looked me up and down with a glimmer of recognition. We’d never met so either he’d seen my photo or caught a glimpse of me at the club.
“You were curious about the men behind the deal,” she said. “Now you get to speak with one of them.”
“Didn’t catch your name?” I said amiably.
“Aemon Roper.” He watched my reaction carefully.
