Page 14 of Chandelier Enthralled
I refused to answer, and she turned away and climbed into the backseat of the taxi.
I watched it drive away with her in it.
Taking a few seconds, I breathed in the air, grateful I had found out now she was this person, not years down the line when the pain would be greater and harder to endure.
A part of me refused to believe she would willingly hurt me. Barbs of agony threatened to rip apart my soul.
I turned and slammed Pendulum’s door shut, unsure if I would ever return. I heard the door’s automatic lock engage, securing those inside and mercifully locking me out.
I tore off the mask and dragged off the cloak, heading away from Pendulum, throwing the disguise into a large dumpster as I turned the corner. I strolled back along the ocean front to where I’d parked Cameron’s car.
A long limo drove up beside me, keeping pace with my steps. A sinister threat to let me know I was being followed.
It pulled ahead of me and parked. The passenger door swung open, and Jewel Hadley stepped out onto the curb, impeccably dressed in a blue business suit, with that blonde chignon and an air of arrogance.
Jewel joined me on the sidewalk, striding briskly beside me to keep up with my pace, not missing a beat.
“You should be more careful,” she said. “Anything can happen at this time of night…walking alone.”
Jewel peered ahead. “You parked all the way down here?”
“New shade of lipstick?” I smirked. “Blood-red suits you.”
“You’re looking better, Greyson. Last time we met your brain melted.”
She had a remarkable talent for provoking others with her venomous cruelty.
Sad, but I was used to it.
The evening air carried a quiet charm, the kind that softened even the sharpest edges. It would be a nice walk if it wasn’t for the shrewish company.
“I heard you have a new architectural wonder you’re revealing this week,” she said. “Can’t wait to see it.”
Her threat was clear—she’d ruin the evening if she could.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
“You’re back at Pendulum.”
Technically, I was walking away from it. “I’m a member.”
“Yes, but last time things didn’t go well.”
I arched a brow, curious. “Matter of perspective.”
She had been relieved of a consignment of trafficked women, thanks to us rescuing them.
She’d lost, inspiring her bitterness. We’d confirmed what she was capable of, and now she just needed to fuck off and die.
She nudged a little closer, strolling next to me like we were old friends. “I heard you threw Amelia out of the club.”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“You may have been masked but I know it was you.”
“Allegedly.”
That made her smirk. “We’ve known each other long enough to sense each other’s moves.”
