The Benefactor

by Nana Malone

  I gasped. “Was the bloody latch broken?”

  Bridge stalked over for a closer look. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

  East slowed down the frame and then peered closer. “Yeah, it’s not opening. Fuck.”

  “He was trying to get out,” I breathed, my voice merely an echo of its usual strength.

  “Who was on watch that night?” Drew asked.

  East shifted to another video. Everyone was getting their assignments. Bram Van Linsted was on the screen. He was on overwatch. Meant to be monitoring the videos.

  “I’m going to fucking kill him.” The rage that sat on simmer most of the time when I thought about him turned to full boil.

  East nodded his chin at the screen. “You’ll have to kill Garreth Jameson too. He was supposed to be listening in. All the coffins were mic’ed.”

  “Why didn’t they do something? He was calling out. He was trying to get out.”

  Bridge ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck. I knew it. I knew something was fucking wrong with this.”

  I stared at him. “How the fuck could you know? None of us knew a thing.”

  There was a final video. East scrolled down and clicked it. Francis Middleton. He was the oldest son of Jake Middleton. Father and son had the biggest crisis management firm in the country. It was the video of the members discussing how they’d spin it. Lord Middleton was giving everyone their marching orders. “It’s a great tragedy, but we can’t let this tarnish the name of the Elite. So we will run our standard spin campaign. A great tragedy, an accident. Marcus, you keep the rest of the recruits under control. Not a word about this incident leaks.”

  I was going to be sick. Bile burned the back of my throat and I dragged in long deep breaths.

  “They did this to Toby. Van Linsted, Jameson, Middleton. They did this to him.”

  Bridge shouted, “Fuck! They killed our friend. They murdered him. And we let them get away with it.”

  For the first time since I’d known him, Bridge was well and truly shattered. I was well and truly shattered. But he wasn’t wrong. Emma hadn’t been wrong either. We hadn’t looked very hard into this. That made us complicit too.

  My voice shook as I struggled against my churning gut.

  “We didn’t question their story. We didn’t question what we were told. They told us Toby had suffered a heart attack of an unknown origin. We didn’t know he’d tried to get out. They didn’t tell us that. They didn’t tell us that his coffin was locked. They didn’t tell us he died afraid, that they could have stopped this. So at the very least, they are culpable. They let our friend die, and we didn’t ask enough questions. He loved us the most, and we didn’t take care of him.”

  Bridge leaned against the wall and slid down until his arse met wood. “He was just like me, unwanted. And I turned my back on him.”

  “We have to make this right.” I wasn’t going to just accept this.

  Bridge lifted his head. “What the fuck are we going to do?”

  I met his gaze. “We’re going to strip them of the one thing they think they have. Power. All of them. They’re going to pay, starting with fucking Van Linsted. The one thing he wants most is to become Director Prime, and we already have a plan to rob him of that. When we’re done, he’s going to want to trade places with Toby. And when we’ve taken care of him, we’ll take care of the others too.”

  I stared at the television screen. I hadn’t known it until that moment, but I’d been waiting for this day for over ten years.

  My so-called brothers had killed Toby.

  Ben

  I was too keyed up after our meeting to work.

  Between Livy and that bomb Emma dropped on us, no way I was getting any work done. So I asked Alyssa to move the rest of my meetings, and I headed out to Surrey to find a needle in a rugby haystack.

  No point in sticking around if I couldn’t focus. Focus? More like you kept thinking you saw her around every corner.

  Fair point. So better I was doing something constructive than willing her to show up in my office telling me what a pain in the arse I was.

  The hour-long drive hadn’t done much to cool me down. I’d replayed every damn conversation I’d ever had with any member of the Elite. I wondered how many of them were power-hungry arseholes. I wondered who had known, what they’d known, and who was complicit in Toby’s death.

  But the truth was, we were all complicit.

  I parked in the visitor lot then headed first to the pitch. I walked out onto the grass, and the injection of adrenaline in my blood made a smile tug at my lips. One of the few fond memories I had from my childhood was my parents taking me to my first game. I must have been five, maybe six.

  But now, as I marched through the front doors, my soul was far heavier.

  The receptionist took my name when I checked in, and to my surprise Taron Davies agreed to see me right away. I’d expected him to posture and make me wait, but then he probably knew why I was there. We were already behind the curve compared to Van Linsted. Bram had probably already beat us to him.

  I was led through the expansive main lobby. Up above, there was a balcony where I could see members of the office staff milling about, off to meetings, doing whatever it was that they did to manage sports teams. I was led to the back to an elevator that I took up three floors and then down the hall to the left. There were photos of famous rugby players from Australia, New Zealand, and England covering the walls in sports action shots.

  There were also various images of his team, together with Davies, looking young and happy.

  And all it had taken to attain that happiness was a little nudge from the Elite. There really was nowhere that they couldn’t touch.

  I knocked on the door of his suite, and a receptionist opened it for me with a smile. “Hello, Mr. Covington. Mr. Davies will see you now. Would you like some coffee? Tea? Biscuits?”

  “No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

  “Fair enough, come with me.”

  Her hair was pinned back in a tidy bun that reminded me of the one that Livy wore often in the office. It was the kind of bun that made me want to grab into her hair, loosen the pins, and let her curls bounce free.

  The woman in front of me had no curls. Get your head in the game, stop thinking about Livy.

  When she reached Davies’ office, she knocked brusquely and then opened it. “Mr. Davies, Mr. Covington is here.”

  She stepped aside to let me pass and then closed the door behind me.

  Taron Davies.

  I knew only a little about him from Elite meetings. He looked good for fifty. That sort of movie star fifty that included expensive creams and the occasional touch up at the plastic surgeon. Nothing quite so extensive that he would be unrecognizable but just small little changes along the way. His skin was tanned, and his hair was still blacker than pitch. Clearly, he dyed it, but it moved easily, and his face still moved, so I didn’t think Botox was his thing.

  “Thank you for seeing me.”

  He stood, marched around his desk, and gave me a good hearty handshake. The kind that was supposed to convey reassurance and trust. I trusted nothing.

  “Covington. I don’t think we’ve had much of an opportunity to speak. Come in. Come in. Have a seat.”

  He was dressed casually, trousers, long-sleeved button-down, but no tie. The sort of thing an owner would wear to appear not to be stuffy, but still having to wear the suit because of reporters and meetings.

  “Thank you for making the time to see me.”

  “Well, of course. I mean your father and I go way back.”

  I ground my teeth. “Well, come on, don’t hold him against me.”

  Davies flashed a grin. “Yeah, he’s a right pain in the ass but good at the core. I remember you when you joined. You were watchful. Quiet. You and your mates, you’ve done a remarkable job while taking as minimal help as possible.”

  I shrugged. “Well, in my experience, everyone needs help sometimes. But the key is not to keep reac
hing your hand out to take it.”

  The smile was more genuine now. It reached his eyes as he gave a low chuckle. “And that’s how you have stayed so independent. That’s how I’ve stayed independent too. I don’t go back to the till asking for more slippery slope.”

  We understood each other. “I agree.”

  He sat back and crossed his arms over his abdomen which, considering his age, was still flat. He was still clearly fit. “What can I do for you?”

  I glanced around at the trophies in the glass cases and the medals on the wall. Photos with celebrities and beautiful woman. And then I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “Let’s cut the shit. You know why I’m here. I assume Bram’s already beat me to it, but let me make my pitch, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

  He chuckled softly. “Secrets whispered are never revealed. What do you need?”

  “What I need is a new fucking Director Prime.”

  His brows lifted. “You’re serious?

  “Would I be here if I wasn’t serious?”

  “You mean to unseat the Van Linsteds?”

  “I’m surprised Bram didn’t mention that.”

  He shook his head. “Bram came here, told me he assumed I was one of the Five, that I was influential. He wanted to be sure he had my support for Director Prime. As he’s running unopposed, if I were one of the Five, there’d be no reason to cast my support. But it seemed important to him to have it.”

  I couldn’t determine if I was excited Bram saw me as a threat or not.

  “And if he weren’t running unopposed?”

  Davies smiled. “That would make things more interesting, wouldn’t it? But the Five rumor… I’m not one of them.”

  This dance again. “I thought we were mates and were going to cut the shit.“

  The corners of his lips twitched as his gaze stayed steady. He wasn’t going to give away much of anything. “Okay. If we were cutting the shit. I, as a sole member, am more than willing to hear you out. I can only cast my own vote.”

  I hated this game. It was like playing an elaborate hide and seek where participants could lie about playing the game. Only to find out a few minutes later that they were, in fact, playing. “I don’t want to play circle jerk with you. You’re one of the Five. We’ll have an alternate candidate.”

  “We?” His brow lifted.

  “If we give you an alternative to Van Linsted, what do you need to vote against him?”

  His gray eyes searched mine. “Like I said, son, I’m not one of the Five. But as a singular member, what you could do to sway my vote is a favor.”

  I sat back. “So is this the part where you tell me your favor, I hear you out, I give you what you want, and you shrug and tell me, well, okay, you’re a singular member but you’re going to do everything in your power to talk to other singular members and see what they can do?”

  He chuckled low. “Something like that.”

  “Fine. We’ll present a candidate at the next meeting. All you have to do is not back Van Linsted.”

  He rubbed his jaw, studying me. “The Van Linsteds have held that ultimate seat of power for a long damn time. I’m interested to see what could happen if somebody different held the position. What new allegiances would be formed.”

  “I’m not interested in allegiances. As long as they’re not on the seat of power, it doesn’t fucking matter to me.” What I didn’t add was that as long as I could kill Bram Van Linsted with my bare fucking hands, I’d be happy.

  He leaned forward. “All right. A favor for a favor, right?”

  “That’s how this goes, or so I’m told.”

  “Fine. There’s a woman, Estella Korinthos.”

  “Who is she?”

  “She is an old fling. I’m told she never married or had any children. I’d like her to move on from our relationship if possible and find someone.”

  I blinked at him. Surely not. A member of the Five wasn’t asking me to play fucking matchmaker. “You want me to set her up with someone?”

  He nodded. “I know it’s a simple request. But do that for me, and I’ll cast my vote as a singular member anywhere you want it.”

  I laughed low. “Just find her love?”

  “That’s my only ask.”

  “What’s the catch?” I knew by now to trust no one.

  “You’re probably not used to dealing with anyone who’s actually honest. Hmm, maybe I’m not either.”

  “Did you give Van Linsted the same request?”

  He shook his head. “Pardon my saying so, but Bram Van Linsted’s a prick. So what do you say? Are you in or not?”

  “I don’t really have much choice.” Looked like Estella Korinthos was going to find love.

  When I left, I shot a brief message to East. I was going to have a poke around Todd’s place. He’d likely long since cleared out, but a look around would be worth my time.

  5

  Livy

  This was going to hurt. Eating crow always did. It tended to get stuck in your teeth. At least three times since turning onto Soho square, I’d considered turning back.

  I’d waited Ben out as long as possible, but I had to prep for a client meeting that afternoon. Luckily, I’d gotten some prime Carmen and Telly time in, so I felt ready. I was afraid I’d be in their way, but the lovebirds had been more than accommodating. I really liked Carmen. I hoped to God Telly kept her. I knew her track record with women. But to be fair, Carmen was different from Telly’s other girlfriends. She was warm, sane, and most importantly not territorial, jealous, or interested in me. All three had happened before. Telly looked happy. For once she wasn’t desperate to get someone out of her flat after a good shag.

  Since I knew Telly well, I figured this was reason enough to keep Carmen.

  Ovary up honey. The truth shall set you free… Or so they say.

  Erik had tried to make me ride with him and his team of Agent Smith look-alikes, but I’d ignored their generous offer and taken an Uber. Probably not as safe, but at least it was on my own terms. Fool me once.

  I was about to open the enormous glass doors of the London Lords corporate offices when my phone buzzed in my purse. The relief hit me with enough force to have me choke back a cry. Anything to avoid having to do this.

  Chickenshit.

  I stepped back against the cold concrete of the building, letting the commuter crowd in their drab khaki trenches and Burberry pass me by. “Hello, this is Livy.”

  “Oh, uhm, hello. This is Sadie Ritter. You called me a month ago. You wanted to speak about my aunt?”

  My brain was still reeling from the relief of not having to face the music, and it took a moment to process. Sadie Ritter. Caroline’s niece.

  “Oh my gosh, yes. Thank you for getting back to me.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. I was in South Africa for work.”

  “That’s okay. I’m just so relieved, er, excited to talk to you. Do you think we can meet sometime? I would like to ask you a few questions about your aunt.”

  “Sure. Although I’m not sure how much help I can be.”

  “Any insight to her life and the work she was doing would be great. How about I text you a couple of meeting options?” No way I wanted to scare her and tell her I first had to check with my security detail if it would be okay.

  “Okay. That will work. Hopefully I can be of some help.”

  If things went how I thought they were going to go in the office today, no way was Ben going to let me out of his sight, but I’d figure it out. “I hope so too.”

  After speaking with Sadie, I felt marginally more upbeat then when I’d left Telly’s. Glancing up at the high-rise, my stomach flipped. If I walked back in there today, I’d be under Ben’s roof again. Seeing him every day, knowing that he was a man with too many secrets. Knowing that he wasn’t someone I should have, let alone keep.

  I could do this separation of church and pussy thing, so to speak. I needed simplicity. Clarity. Ben was a man with t
oo many damn secrets. He’d keep me safe, and I’d appreciate that. But I needed to get back to normalcy when this was all over.

  And considering I’d made a huge production of my inability to trust him yesterday, this was really going to burn. And if I knew Ben even a little, he was going to make me feel it. But it was fine because I hadn’t been wrong. He’d used me. I had been a convenience to him, and that was fair enough. But taking charge of my own life was up to me. I could do that.

  I walked into the office armed with attitude, stilettos and a smile… with my guard trailing behind me.

  Like me, Ben liked to work early. I found him behind his desk, but he wasn’t already at the laptop. Instead, he leaned back on his seat facing the windows. I knocked softly and he rolled around slowly. In a low voice, he said, “Good morning. I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

  “You’ve had security on me since the moment I left Telly’s. Of course I’m safe.”

  He shrugged. “Well, I like to stay informed.”

  I shifted on my feet. “For the record, I didn’t overreact yesterday.”

  He frowned. “I know you didn’t.” He pushed to his feet then strolled around to the front of his desk before leaning against it. “I know I should have told you everything.”

  What? He wasn’t going to fight me on that? “Right. I just—it wasn’t right.”

  “I know that, Livy. I should have told you, prepared you or something. And absolutely, once we…” His gaze roamed over my body, setting off little fires everywhere. “Once things changed between us, I should have told you. I just hoped that I was wrong. I will never knowingly take a risk with your life like that again.”

  My sails completely deflated. No point in being indignant if the person you were angry with just accepted it. I gave him a brisk nod. “Thank you.” I marched over to his desk, and he straightened, he eyes flashing with heat as his gaze narrowed to focus only on me.