Page 76 of Chandelier Sin
Our lunch had taken a turn when Stella had set her sights on our mutual friend.
“Jake’s aware of the threat,” he said. “I spoke with him this morning. We have a plan.”
“Look forward to hearing it,” I said, not surprised Jake had called Cameron and not me.
Because Cole was the center of everyone’s universe.
Jake and I were best friends. Maybe he was pissed off because I’d not approached him privately about his ex, Rylee, turning up at my door and spilling what had happened on Mulholland, and sharing news of how Jake had taken a swing at Lance.
Or maybe we were just trying to protect each other.
Since that lunch, things had gone downhill fast with drama of my own making. I took full responsibility for crossing paths with Aemon Roper.
Escalating the danger no one wanted.
The only man I knew who had twenty-four-hour security was Cole. Discreet bodyguards kept him safe. Which was why he was my first port of call.
I’d taken the rest of Sunday to consider my options. Now that Monday had rolled around, I was no less shaken.
All this time I’d been considering how best to deal with Eve—if I saw her again. Maybe she was still my way inside the hive.
The last few seconds with her outside the house had been agony. Leaving her there, with him,after that,wasthe hardest thing I’d ever done.
The gunshot we’d heard was on fucking replay inside my mind.
“That’s not good,” said Cameron.
“What?”
“That thought.”
His insight made my shoulders slump with relief. I felt as though I could offload the trauma.
Still, I wanted to protect Cole. That was our directive because this man was too damn important.
“I’ve made an executive decision,” I said. “I don’t want to bring in a Dominatrix from Chrysalis.”
He processed that. “We’ve been interviewing.”
“I know.”
“Penny is interested.”
I shook my head. “Not her.”
“She’s the most qualified.” His brows rose. “After Lotte.”
“Who turned us down to be with your brother, Henry.”
“I’m aware.”
I pulled back on my terseness. “Lotte seems happy.”
“What do you want to ask me?”
I tucked my hands into my pockets. “You don’t need the money from Pendulum. Or the hassle. I want you out of the deal, Cole.”
Cameron’s expression intensified. “Someone got to you.”
