Page 7 of Chandelier Sin
Shepromised the best kind of party.
The exquisite tension I’d felt between us had left me craving more time with her.
At the end of the hall, I found nothing but a small cupboard; odd to find nothing inside. The lavish wallpaper was proof that special thought went into every corner of Pendulum.
Checking the fire escape, I listened for the sound of stilettoes on stones steps.
Hearing nothing but the echo of silence, I closed the door again and stared down the endless hallway, trying to figure out where the hell she’d gone.
Eve had literally vanished into thin air.
Iwas gripped by a rush of panic—afraid I’d never see her again.
Which made no damn sense.
Eve had me enamored like no one ever had before.
I bolted up the staircase, taking two steps at a time until I reached the top, and then was hit by a wave of cool air when I exited onto the roof. She wasn’t up here, either.
Eve, where did you go?
I’d been a little freaked out earlier when I discovered all the doors in the stairwell were locked from the other side.
I’d counted the floors as I went up, having been told there were only eight—but there were clearly nine. From the outside you’d never guess the discrepancy.
What were they hiding?
I returned to the great hall with more questions than answers.
Approaching the long glass window of the Key Chamber, Ipeered in at the tuxedo- wearing crowd of VIPs taking their seats in the row of chairs.
In the center of the dimly lit chamber sat a St. Andrew’s Cross. A session was about to begin, and the rest of us got to observe the action from behind glass, proving there was a class system here. Or a financial incentive at the very least.
A few of the masked men in the chamber noticed me. Their eyes darted away with concern.
Yeah, motherfuckers, there’s a new sheriff in town.
We’d already sensed their fear of us slithering around in the darkest corners, a collective of rising concerns that we were about to ruin their fun and cease their reign of terror.
Just the outlandish play; it wasn’t like we didn’t like a dash of weird—just not the questionable kind.
I braced myself for the imagery they were about to serve up in there. Probably the kind of kink that shouldn’t be offered anywhere.
To my left, Jake and Greyson entered through a side door and then came over to join me.
I’d keep Eve a secret, for now. There was nothing to report. Didn’t want anyone tainting my memory of her with their questions.
Greyson had escorted Jake to a private room to deliver the bad news. I wondered how it had gone.
Their black-tie suits were a little ruffled, making me wonder if they’d scuffled over Amelia, the pretty submissive who they both wanted. At first, I’d assumed it was a dick waving contest, but after seeing Greyson, I sensed his affection for her went deeper.
As though picking up on my thoughts and not wanting to discuss it, Greyson said, “How did it go with you?”
I turned to face him. “Curious and curiouser.”
This place really was like Alice’s adventures down the rabbit hole—the erotic edition.
“Anything interesting?” asked Greyson.
