“Dad will be happy,” I admit, because I know how much he hates that he’s leaving me all alone. Now, I have Charlie and Abby and Drew.
“You should talk to your dad about the past,” he suggests, and I eye him circumspectly. I’m sensing there is something he’s not telling me, but before I can pry, Drew speaks.
“Did you receive your invitation to the elite ball?” Drew asks Charlie from across the table.
“I did.” Charlie tosses his napkin on the table. “They sent Mom one too.” His jaw tightens, and fire blazes in his eyes.
“She’s the widow of a descendant of a founding father,” Olivia says. “Of course, they would send her one. We both got one too,” she adds, glancing at Sylvia.
“I thought the elite looked down their noses at women,” Xavier says, popping a piece of carrot in his mouth and chewing noisily.
“They do,” Olivia agrees. “But with Michael and Charles gone, and Christian still on the run from the authorities, their responsibilities pass to us until our children assume full membership within the order.”
“Which is something William Hamilton will no doubt address at the ball now he’s been voted into the vacant president’s chair,” Kaiden says. His arm is around Abby’s shoulder, and he’s absently playing with strands of her hair. I’ve noticed they are always subtly touching one another, and it’s obvious they are crazy in love.
“What are you going to do about Joaquin and Harley?” Olivia asks.
Kaiden’s nostrils flare. “There is no way they are attending that ball or accepting the invitation to train at Parkhurst. Rick and I will cover in Atticus’s absence, but hell will freeze before we let our younger brothers get pulled into things.” He scrubs a hand over his prickly jawline. “Rick is talking to a guy today. It’s why he couldn’t be here. He’s one of the few senior elite members who wants to use this opportunity to restructure the order for good. He’s on the reorganizing committee, so we’re hoping he’s a sympathetic ear.”
“What do we know about the new president?” Drew asks Xavier.
“William Hamilton is the eldest son of a founding father from Texas. Family comes from oil. He’s married with two daughters. He was one of the men swindled by Christian and one of the very few who publicly opposed Michael Hearst for president. He has spoken out about the archaic rules and asserted his desire to modernize the elite.”
“Sounds squeaky clean,” Jackson says. “I’m not buying it.”
“Neither did we,” Sawyer says, putting his glass down. “So, we did some investigating on the darknet—”
“And this guy makes Michael Hearst look like the fairy fucking godmother,” Xavier finishes.
“Do you have to cut across me every time?” Sawyer purses his lips, drilling a look at Xavier.
“No need to get your panties in a bunch. We play for the same team, remember?” Xavier smirks, and everyone catches the innuendo.
Ah, now it makes sense. They’re together or hooking up, or there’s some history between them.
“Just tell us what you discovered,” Abby says. “And keep your foreplay confined to the bedroom.”
Sawyer glares at Abby, and Kaiden glares at him.
Charlie winks at me, grinning. He presses his mouth to my ear. “This shit happens all the time. I’ve kind of missed it.”
I grin at him as Xavier clears his throat and finishes explaining. “It’s the usual elite bullshit. Professional businessman with legit businesses that are all a front for a host of illegal activities, but this guy is into everything.”
“And we mean everything,” Sawyer says, jumping in and taking the mantle. Xavier meets Sawyer’s smug grin with an amused one, further incensing him. A muscle ticks in Sawyer’s jaw as he speaks. “Drugs, guns, sex, and it’s a global operation worth billions.”
“This is like déjà vu,” Abby says, leaning back into her husband’s chest.
“Round two is due to begin,” Drew agrees. “And we need to get battle ready.”
“He’s going to be careful,” Charlie says, rubbing his hand up and down my thigh. “Because the FBI is still sniffing around, right?”
Kaiden nods. “Yes, but, according to Keven Kennedy, the investigation is winding down. They’ve gotten some high-profile arrests, and they found the girls Hearst had kidnapped and put an end to his sex ring, but we all know that’s only the tip of the iceberg. However, the elite has covered their tracks well and planned for this eventuality. They gave them some scapegoats, and the powers that be are happy with that.”
“Sounds fishy,” Charlie says.
“One hundred percent,” Drew agrees. “Keven is convinced they have powerful allies in the FBI and government who are guiding this behind the scenes.”
“This shitshow is about to start up again, and none of us know how it’s going to affect us,” Abby says.
“We thought for sure they would kick us out because of the stunt we pulled, but they seem determined to reel us back in,” Drew says with a frown. “Which can’t be good.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Jackson says, rolling his eyes. Drew scowls at him.
“They’re not going to let our interference go unpunished,” Kaiden agrees. “Not when it brought the FBI down on them.”
I’m completely lost, and I’ve no idea what they are talking about, but I’m picking up on the anxious energy in the room, and I know it’s nothing good.
Abby’s eyes land on mine, and then, she moves her gaze to Charlie. “Have you explained any of this to Demi?”
“Not yet,” he admits, squeezing my thigh.
“Well, you need to do it sooner than later. Definitely before the ball so she’s prepared for what she’s walking into.”
Charlie lifts his hand from my thigh, running it through his hair. He’s let it grow out in recent months, and it’s much longer on top now. When he’s at the office, he wears it slicked back and neat, but today, he hasn’t put product in, and I adore the tumble of messy waves falling over his forehead and into his eyes. He’s like a hotter version of Shawn Mendes, and that’s saying a lot because Shawn is hot as fuck.
But my man is hotter.
Tension oozes from Charlie, and he looks pained as he glances at me. “I’m not sure you should attend,” he tells me.
“Demi is in your life, Charlie,” Abby says, leaning forward and placing her elbows on the table. “We need to start thinking about protection. I can help with self-defense and gun lessons.” She looks to me, and I nod, because I don’t have any issue with that. “We have a month until the ball. That’s enough time to get you ready.”
Charlie shifts in his seat, averting his eyes as he reluctantly nods. His chest heaves, and his expression is troubled. A lump forms at the base of my throat. I don’t like the vibes he’s emitting, and I’m determined to get to the bottom of this when we leave.
The conversation turns more casual after that, and the guys clear the table around the women as we drink wine and talk. The girls go out of their way to include me, and a warmth spreads over my chest, eliminating the chill left behind from the previous discussion.