Page 79 of Chandelier Sin
“How do I tell Jake and Greyson not to return to Pendulum?” I asked quietly. “Knowing they’re in danger, and yet, if they don’t go back, it’s potentially a bad decision.”
Cameron got the gist. “If you share what you know, they’ll adjust their behavior accordingly.”
“It could implicate them in a situation they had nothing to do with.”
He looked thoughtful, staring at the carpet as he mulled this over. “A new adversary?”
“Yesterday, I met the man who owns Pendulum.”
His gaze rose to meet mine, his eyes alight with interest.
“I’ll take the hit, Cameron.”
“I’m here if you need more from me.”
I gave him a grateful nod.
He studied my face. “You spent time at Chicago’s Trauma Center?”
“For a year.”
“Alongside military physicians ahead of their deployments.”
“Yes.” I sipped the chocolatey coffee, and it soothed a little. “I remember you were in Afghanistan.”
“As a civilian, yes.”
He’d flown there on a rescue mission for his brother. He, too, had been scarred from seeing all that trauma.
“When everything appears futile,” he said, “that’s the time to dig your heels in.”
I strolled over to his desk and set the mug on a coaster. The coffee tasted too sweet, too perfect.
I suddenly felt like I didn’t deserve to feel anything good.
Not after walking away from Ben and not guarding my patient with my own life. What kind of man did that make me?
I sighed. “Even if we withdraw our bid to own Pendulum, we’ll still be a target.”
“Because they know we know.”
“It does look like some of the submissives are being coerced.”
“Turning away isn’t an option,” he agreed.
“Yesterday, after lunch, I followed a lead.”
“I guessed as much.”
I gave a shrug. “We were going to reach the poison eventually.”
“You did well to get a name. Sounds like progress.”
“In a way.”
“Go on.”
“Yesterday, I was in the presence of evil.”
