Page 62 of Chandelier Sin
I’d heard of him, though his name had never come up in conversation. I’d never had a reason to discuss arms dealing. Fate had finally brought us face to face.
Shivers slithered down my spine as I took in the stocky man. He was one of Pendulum’s VIPs—the man who drenched his wife in rare diamonds.
My mind scattered in a thousand directions. I wondered what he liked to do to the subs at Pendulum.
Did Eve know their dirty secret of where they sourced their submissives?
Dread filled me at that thought.
I didn’t want to add her to my list of enemies, but she might just deserve it.
“This is not the place.” Her husband’s mouth twisted in rage. “We talked about this, remember? I’m dealing with all the business matters.”
“I just wanted to help,” she said.
He looked at her with disappointed astonishment.
Watching the dynamics, I could see she had no power in their relationship.
Recalling the conversation I’d had with Elle in that lower room, with her sharing a little of her situation, I was able to read between the lines. Her eyes had told me everything I needed to know.
This proved that Roper and his friends were abhorrent, using Pendulum to satiate sick desires.
But displaying my revulsion would be unwise.
Glancing from him and then back to Eve, I could see she appeared terrified of him. Or maybe it was because of what he could do to me. Knowing the extent of Ben’s injuries, I could see why.
“My wife called and here you are,” he said. “Convenient.”
“I had the time.” Willing to take the hit for her sake, I played along. “Now that I’m here, we might as well talk business.”
“They don’t pay you enough at Cedars?” he said, his tone sarcastic.
I shrugged.
“The sale of Pendulum isn’t going to happen,” said Eve, putting on a brave face.
It was hard to see this strong woman shrink into a smaller version of herself as though wanting to disappear.
Having just kissed her, I still had the taste of her on my lips. I’d connected with Eve in the best kind of way, and that had to win me points with her, some semblance of loyalty, perhaps giving me the chance to walk out of here unscathed.
Even as her husband glowered at us.
This man didn’t see her the way I did, as a woman who shouldbe treated with dignity. Her strikingly beautiful face reflected a sweetness.
Yet he kept her hidden away back here.
“I should have told you he was coming,” she said to him.
I nodded. “Your wife did the right thing.”
He didn’t look convinced.
Reaching out to shake his hand, I said, “Good to finally meet you.”
He stared at my hand for a beat and then gripped it. “Dr. Sinclair.”
I was shaking hands with the arms dealer himself, noticing how he squeezed my palm as a warning. Here was a man who garnered extensive military contracts with foreign countries and made a killing—quite literally.
