by Nana Malone
Ben
For the first time in years, my robe didn’t weigh down my shoulders, the mask didn’t suffocate me, and my ring didn’t feel like it was burning a hole in my thumb. In just a few moments, the steps would be set into motion, our freedom would be secured, and then it would finally be over.
Ten years was a long span to live on borrowed time. As soon as this was over, I was planning to take Liv and get the hell out of town for a couple of months, starting with a week in the Winston Isles for Telly’s wedding. Then I’d take her to each of our properties and spoil her rotten. She could work still if she wanted to, and I could just breathe.
When the meeting started, the Director Prime’s second in line, Arthur Moore, called things to order. For years, his sole job and purpose had been to take over in case the Director Prime was unavailable. But in the ten years since I’d been in, and as far as I knew, in the twenty years that Marcus Van Linsted had served, he’d never missed a meeting.
Arthur stood solemnly and banged the gavel, his lips pressed firmly into a frown. “As all of you are aware, our Director Prime has had some difficulty befall him.” I bit my tongue. What I wanted to do was shout and scream and yell about the downfall of the most powerful man in Britain. He shouldn’t be able to weasel out of this.
Thanks to Liv and the evidence she’d found, he was cooling his jets in jail. Not a single favor he could call in would help him. He was a pariah now. The Director Prime, the most powerful man in the world, the man who controlled commerce and politics, had no real friends. They had all abandoned him once his secrets came out. Those who were wise were trying to distance themselves. Those less so were too busy scrambling to save their own asses.
Arthur continued. “So it falls upon me to continue our storied tradition. Though the Elite has seen controversy lately, we must remember that we are the extraordinary. The organization continues. We always live on. The Elite continues to rule, regardless of what befalls any single brother. We’re in a unique spot as we have an opening for a new Director Prime. I would like to call for an early vote so we are not leaderless.”
Someone stepped forward. “I call to keep our schedule intact. Now is not the time to eschew traditions. Now is the time to hold fast.”
Was that Davies?
I recognized the firm set of his mouth. He’d frowned at me enough at our last meeting that I could probably pick his frown out of a lineup.
Arthur looked like he wanted to argue. “We can call a quick vote.”
But Davies wasn’t letting up. “No, beyond established tradition, we are only leaderless for one month. We have a second, and you can manage things for the next month until we have elected a new Prime.”
Arthur shifted on his feet. I could tell the last thing on earth he wanted was to direct the organization. Van Linsted had held tight reins. He’d picked a second who didn’t want it, who had no thirst for power. Someone who wouldn’t be in a hurry to oust him. Someone who didn’t question him. Arthur Moore wanted nothing to do with power and ruling. Even for a month, he did not want that responsibility. “I’d like to put a vote forward to the membership now.”
But Davies wasn’t going to be deterred. “No, we only have one candidate. What if we’d like to put forth others?”
Arthur cleared his throat. “There’s been plenty of time for anyone to put forth others. No one has done so. I say that we call for a vote.”
Davies smiled then. “To all my brothers, I ask you, does anyone have someone that they would like to nominate for Director Prime?”
Three brothers down from him, Bram shifted on his feet. His face turned toward me. I’d know that petulant scowl anywhere, even behind his mask. Yeah, that’s right motherfucker. We’re coming for you.
Arthur was caught. He couldn’t deny someone else if they wanted to put forth a name for the vote. “Does anyone have a name to put forth?”
Davies smiled then. “Funny you should ask. I just happen to have a candidate in mind.”
Bridge shifted on his feet next to me. This was it. But when Davies opened his mouth, what he said was not what I expected. “I put forth for Director Prime Bennett James Covington.”
I waited for Drew’s name to be said, and waited, and waited some more. What I expected, I did not hear.
Bridge nudged me. “What the hell? Why didn’t he say Drew’s name?”
There were murmurs, shuffling of feet. What the hell?
Arthur seemed confused. “Covington?” His voice was full of questions.
Van Linsted scowled at me.
I blinked in surprise. I couldn’t help but look left to my mate. He looked unperturbed though.
What the hell? We’d had a deal. Arthur swallowed hard before saying, “The nomination has to be seconded.”
And then a voice that I knew all too well sounded. “I second it.” My own fucking father. What the hell had just happened? We’d had a plan, a perfectly viable plan. When did everyone come up with this, and why didn’t they involve me?
What the fuck?
I’d been screwed over by one of the very men who had said he was helping me. Downs, however, lived up to his bargain. “I’ll put forth another name. Drew Wilcox.”
That was the name I had expected. Davies was supposed to have done the job. There was more murmuring and pats on the back of Drew’s father. When it came time to second it, Bridge stepped forward and said, “I second.” But his gaze was on me as he said it. At least my friends could be counted on, but not my own father.
The rest of the meeting went on as expected, but I didn’t pay much attention. When it was finally over, I couldn’t wait to get the mask off, to yank off my cloak, to breathe.
I changed faster than I’d ever changed in my life. And I was one of the first ones at the elevators that took us back into the main floor of the Van Linsted estate. I went straight for Davies, and he angled me out toward the koi pond. The bridges had been lowered so there was a path to the island lanai. “Why did you fuck me over?”
“Well, if I fuck you, I promise you’ll know. This is for your own good. I told you I would make sure the Van Linsteds were out, and I have.”
“You told me you would support Drew.”
He shook his head. “I remember saying no such thing. I said that I would oust Van Linstead. To do that, we needed a viable candidate. I offered one up. One who the members will support, not one that’s wishful thinking.”
“Why would you do this?”
“Quit your bitching. You will have the support. Just accept that.”
“I don’t want this.”
“I know you don’t. Just like I don’t want Estella to tie herself to me.”
“So this is payback?”
“No, I just have the added benefit of feeling that way. This is actually a favor to you. Because you might have been right. I had no right to choose her life for her, a fact that she already knew.”
“This is bullshit.”
“I’m sure it feels that way, but your friend Wilcox is too weak. You are the better choice.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because I agree with you. The Van Linsteds have had the power for too long, and they have abused their power. For far too long they have enjoyed too many privileges and benefits. I take no pleasure in anyone’s pain, but they cannot continue to rule unchecked. You are a candidate of checks and balances. I know you will be fair and won’t abuse the powers that you have.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“Are you sure about that? Are you sure you aren’t exactly where you’re supposed to be?”
“I’m not supposed to be anywhere.”
“If you say so.”
“But why this? You never indicated you had a problem with the Van Linsteds.”
“It’s not my job to indicate. Listen, son, you walked in with a problem and a question. I asked you to do something innocuous in return for the favor you needed. But you were playing checkers, and I was playing chess.”
&nbs
p; “I’m not fucking manipulative.” This had been a game to him all along. “But why? Why do this now?”
He took a sip of his scotch. “Ten years ago, right after your initiation, my daughter took a trip to Prague with some friends. She didn’t tell her mother or me anything about it. She wanted to backpack, stay in the hostels, that sort of thing. You can imagine.”
The way he said the word ‘hostel’ was as if there were poison in it. “What does that have to do with me?”
“You’re very impatient, aren’t you?”
“I’m wondering why you ruined my life, that’s all.”
“I’m getting to it. My daughter, sweet as she may be, didn’t realize that my name could afford her things or could hurt her. She just wanted to do something all on her own, but she learned there’s a price to not having her safety and protection.”
I frowned, understanding where his story was headed, and my stomach churned.
“She was taken from a club with her friends, drugged, taken to a party house, and then I received the call. I could be Van Linsted’s puppet, or they were going to hurt my daughter.”
I shook my head. “No, God no.”
“Yes. I know what power we wield here at the Elite, and I called his bluff, not believing that he would do something so depraved. My daughter was innocent. She had nothing to do with our secrets.”
I wanted to vomit.
“You and Miss Ashong have already uncovered the kinds of things that happened. And I… My daughter has never been the same. She was returned, but she forever remains just a little bit out of reach. The light in her eyes is gone because I would not say yes to Marcus Van Linsted. He used my daughter against me, and I have to live with the regret that I could not protect her. I chose what I saw as virtue over her safety. And I pay that cost every damn day.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. What the hell is wrong with these people?”
“It’s a thing that is wrong with a lot of our brothers. But I think with you at the helm, you’re either going to fix it, or you’re going to burn it all to the ground. I could give a good fuck which it is. I knew I had to get rid of him, but I had to bide my time. Miss Varma proved quite the asset. She had an ax to grind about her brother, and I knew how much you loathed Van Linsted, so I sprinkled a few clues here and there. Now, Miss Ashong, she was a happy accident that worked to my advantage with no interference from me. I’m sorry to have to use you to avenge my daughter. I would do anything I could to protect her now. To do what I didn’t do for her then.”
I ran a hand over my stubble. “Jesus Christ, why didn’t you take your evidence to Interpol?”
“I had to bide my time and make sure that in future generations the Van Linsteds did not automatically get the throne, because then, Marcus would still rule through them. So, I exploited you. And for that, I wish I could say I was sorry, but I’m not.”
“Well, at least you’re honest.”
“Is that what honesty looks like? These standards that I chose to live by, they come with a price. One that cost me my daughter. If I had a choice again back then, knowing what I know now, I would have chosen differently.”
“Are there others still here who are involved in those wretched parties?”
He nodded. “I don’t know all their names. I’m hoping that Marcus will give them up to save his own skin, because that’s the kind of man that he is. But I don’t know. I can only hope.”
“Was it worth it? All of the lies, the manipulation? The bodies?”
“To see that man brought down? Yes.”
“You knew this was going to be a train wreck.”
He flattened his lips into a line. “I didn’t know about your woman. I didn’t know he’d go after her.”
“She could have died.”
“Yes, she could have, and I’m sorry. Hearing my daughter tell her tale… No one should ever be exposed to that kind of fear.” He drained his scotch and then turned and strolled away from me.
Because of that man, everything had been set into motion. But I’d gotten my wish. A chance to fight Bram. And that’s all I wanted. A chance to fight. A way to end this.
It was almost done. Perhaps not the way I’d envisioned it, but it was almost over.
Livy
“You want me to come in with you?”
I shook my head. “No, I can do this myself. I’m a big girl.”
“I will wait here like the dutiful boyfriend.”
I laughed. “When was the last time you were the dutiful anything?”
“I can pretend.”
I’d already sent Forest the digital files, but he wanted to meet to discuss them, and Ben had printed the book for me, galley style, so I could write all over it and make notes.
You have been on one hell of a journey.
Two weeks ago, the unexpected had happened and Ben’s name had been put forth for Director Prime. He still wasn’t okay with that. He was still pouting and trying to figure out how to get out of it.
He was still campaigning hard for Drew. But when Drew came to dinner and they were talking strategy, Drew didn’t seem nearly as interested in being Director Prime as Ben was interested in making him Director Prime.
I dare say, Ben was probably the best one suited to tear it all down or improve it, but that was the last thing he wanted to do. So of course, when he sulked around the house and complained about how it was all so terrible, I’d listen. Console. Encourage. Just like he’d done for me.
I stepped into Forest’s office, and he gave me a wide smile. “The woman of the hour.”
“I hardly think that.”
“Oh, but that’s the truth. This book and the things it exposed, rich men exploiting women, a scheme of revenge against the daughters of their enemies, it’s stuff for a movie, honestly.”
“I feel like there have already been quite a few secret society movies.”
“But nothing like this.”
“I don’t want to exploit the victims. I just wanted to put the words on paper.”
“And boy, did you. You’re amazing. You should really be proud of the work you’ve done.”
I swallowed hard. “Well, I’m trying. Honestly, it wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” And all I could think was that he didn’t even know the half of it. I’d kept the Elite out of it because I still didn’t know what Ben was going to do. But I had talked about the state of privilege and power and what that did to men who may be heading our nations.
“I want your photo on this and your face out there promoting it everywhere.”
My photo. Lord help me. “I appreciate that. And I don’t want to hide, but I don’t really think I’m a book tour kind of girl.”
“We’ll figure it out. But you wrote this book, so be proud of it. Shout it from the rooftops.”
I wasn’t sure what shouting from the rooftops was going to do to Ben if he decided he was going to be Director Prime. But I knew that he would support me, whatever my decision was.
“Can you give me some time to think about it?”
“Of course, no pressure.”
“I like a simple life. But also, I did this for my Mom. I wanted to make her proud and finish her legacy, but I didn’t do it on my own. I had help. And I’m grateful for it. At the same time, somewhere along the line, I realized that I enjoyed it, the writing, the work. It’s not over for me.”
He grinned. “I am so glad to hear that, because I have other ideas. You could have your pick of projects, you know.”
“Why don’t we wait until this book comes out first before we talk about me picking other projects? I’m going to need a breather. This took a toll on me.”
“Of course, it did. Your research was impeccable and smart. We’ll get the ball rolling. Obviously, we’re going to change the names to protect the innocent victims. And we’ll need an addendum from you when Marcus Van Linsted goes to trial.”
He kept saying words like ‘tour’ and ‘important work’ and all sorts of complimentary things. A
nd I couldn’t believe it was over. Or almost, anyway. I had survived, and I couldn’t be prouder of myself for that. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had more family than I could count now. And most importantly, I had Ben. Without him, the book probably would have never been finished, or at least it would have taken me a lot longer.
“Thank you for everything Forest. I don’t think I could have done this without your encouragement.”
“Oh, you and I both know that I didn’t do anything except push you to hurry up and finish the pages. Something tells me that man waiting outside is the one that you did this for.”
I shook my head. “Nope, I did this for me. I started doing it for my Mom, but in the end, this is what I needed.”
“I am thrilled to hear that. All right, get ready, there’s a lot of work to be done.”
“You know I have a full-time job, right?”
He laughed. “If you say so, but I’ll make you a full-time author yet. You think Covington will kill me if I steal you from him?”
I laughed. “I think he’ll kill you if you even try.”
“Noted. How about I stick to stealing you for the book then?”
“That’s probably in your best interest.”
When I walked out, Ben was typing something on his phone, but he looked up and smiled at me, full of happiness. It was the way he always looked at me, as if I hung the sun and the moon.
He leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. “Are you ready? Where to next?”
I nodded slowly. “I think it’s time to go visit my mother.”
I needed to say goodbye, and I was long overdue for a chat with her. With Ben’s hand wrapped around mine, I could finally lay her to rest now.
27
Ben
I was so over this shit. My nerves were getting the best of me, and I still couldn’t wrap my mind around how I had ended up in this position.
As I stood next to one of my best friends on the podium and stared across it at the man I despised, I wished to God I was anywhere other than there. We all had our masks on. It felt as though mine was choking me, cutting off all possible air, making it impossible to breathe.