Main Master

H ad I suspected the press would go crazy at my arrival? Of course. Had I suspected their shock when I took Lilian Lowe on my arm? Absolutely . One thing I hadn’t prepared for was coming face to face with the devil, himself. Not in front of the countless cameras flashing. Not so soon. After all, he hadn’t had any news of my impending arrival. And Drayton hadn’t seen me in close to a decade. Our last meeting wasn’t one he wanted to remember. In truth, neither did I, but we didn’t have a choice.

“What the fuck are you doing here? I should knock your ass out in front of all these bastards taking pictures.”

I gave him a big smile, not able to stop the laugh that came. “You could try. If I recall, the last time wasn’t in your favor.”

“We can put it to the test. I’d love to see you bleed.”

“A lot of people would. Smile and shake my free hand, Dray. You can apologize to my date now or afterward.” I glanced to Lilian, who was trying to keep her composure as she looked between us. “Might be best to do it now.”

Drayton’s green eyes went from Lilian to the paparazzi just outside of the ropes. The smile he was famous for appeared, and despite leaning forward to bring her hand to his lips, his dark hair stayed combed back.

“Date, my ass. You’ll never move on. Everyone knows that.” He stared Lilian up and down. “You’re as gorgeous as ever, Ms. Lowe. You look like a treat. Did you come to take me up on my first deal, or maybe you want to play on the dark side tonight?” His hand let go of hers and his head cocked to the side as a smart-ass grin appeared. “Oh wait. That’s right, you went behind my back. Besides, we’re probably not dark enough for you here, Mistress . I wouldn’t know, though. Did I ever say I’m sorry for your…career-ending bad luck? I’m truly sorry.”

Lilian’s forced grin stayed, but her eyes said everything as they came to me, pleading for help. I took a deep breath, stepping in closer.

“You really are looking for a fight. You know better than to push me. You’re walking the edge of my patience. Drayton, be nice .”

He straightened, throwing me a glare as he waved his hand towards the double-doors he was standing next to.

“You know me better than that, Elec. I’m being so fucking nice.” His eyes cut over and his tone turned to satin. “My apologies, Ms. Lowe. Sometimes this job is just too much fun. I forget myself.”

“Good enough,” she hissed, following me as we headed inside. “Can I sneak out the back now? I’m not sure I want to sit in on whatever the two of you have going on. He makes my skin crawl.”

Drayton glanced back. “The music’s loud, but I’m not deaf. Elec and I need to speak in private, so yes, you can leave us. But not the club. Pistol is waiting for you in a booth in the back. Apparently, we’re going over an upcoming world tour for the two of you. One I didn’t plan,” Drayton said between clenched teeth. “Find Loverboy, and we’ll return when we’re finished. Elec. Follow me.”

I turned to Lilian, leaning next to her ear.

“We won’t be long. Relax. It’s okay.”

She nodded, and I watched as she headed for the booths across the room. When I turned, murder was all that was within Drayton’s eyes. It brought my smile back.

“You look like you missed me. Aren’t you happy I’m here?”

“Don’t bullshit me, Elec. Why are you here, and why is there a man in my private room saying he has a meeting with you? This isn’t your fucking office, it’s mine.”

“Not tonight.” My tone deepened. “You’re going to want to find that niceness again and put it on real thick. I’m about to change your life.”

“Bullshit. There’s nothing you can do to undo what’s been done.”

“You did this to yourself. “I gestured ahead, and he took the lead. “But you underestimate my power. That man in your back room is more important than you can even fathom. By the time we’re finished, you’re going to want to rethink your feelings towards me. I’m not your enemy. I never was.”

“Your position was mine. That should have been me taking over after Whitlock.”

I grabbed his arm, spinning him to face me.

“You were already settled here. Besides, it was always mine. You’re lucky you’re even alive after the stunt you pulled. Plenty in the circle wanted you dead.”

Drayton jerked his arm free. “Yeah, yeah. But for the wrong reasons. I damaged my family’s reputation. Fuck them .”

“That’s the attitude that got you sent here to begin with.” My eyes narrowed. “You’ve been here for almost as long as we’ve been out of college. It’s time you accept this life. It’s the best you’re going to get. It doesn’t have to be bad.”

“Doesn’t have to be bad?” He gave a sarcastic laugh. “Babysitting celebrities. Making them. Breaking them. It doesn’t have to be bad?”

“What do you think I do?”

Drayton’s jaw tightened. “You get the good parts. The fun parts. I get the bullshit dramatic parts. Our positions are not the same. Not even close.”

“You’re wrong. They’re a lot more similar than you know. Accept. You wanted to party, ruin your life and everyone else’s, and we gave it to you. You killed your cousin, and almost killed three other elites from your foolish actions. How many accidents did you have before that night? How many fights? Still, you’re ungrateful and haven’t learned.”

His hard features loosened and became lax. “You’re wrong. I never meant to hurt anyone.” His hand rose and flattened in my direction. “I’m not getting into this with you. I made my bed; I’ll lie in it. I’ve done my duty and will continue to do so because although I hate my family, I do respect what we all stand for. I just…this is not what I wanted for my life.”

I stepped closer, scanning the room before my gaze connected back with his.

“I know it can’t be easy for you. You’re a Pennington. You were the heir. You’re pissed; I get that. But things are about to change. For better or worse, I don’t know yet.”

Interest sparked and Drayton’s hand came to rest on the back of my shoulder as he unlocked and led me through a thick wooden door. The music was barely existent in the nearly silent hall as he locked it behind us.

“Change? What sort of change? I talked to my father this morning. He mentioned nothing.”

“Because he doesn’t know. No one does yet.”

More interest.

“Elec, what are you doing? You could have met this man anywhere. You’re at my club. You showed up with fucking Lilian Lowe, rock goddess. You wanted people to know you were here, and you’re bringing me into this as if I support whatever you’re about to do. What’s going on?”

Slowly, we began to walk.

“I’m here to make a deal with you, Dray. Tonight, we’re going to put the past to rest and start over. We used to be friends, but you let your anger ruin your life. We can at least become partners.”

“Partners in what? You have all the good celebrities right where you want them. You showed me up over Lilian, which was a bitch move, by the way. You’re running the show. You made that clear to everyone. What could I possibly do that you can’t do on your own?”

My lips tugged back, but I stared ahead as we continued in a slow pace.

“I’m going to give you something you’ve only dreamed about. …Prayed for. Bled for .” I glanced over. “I’m going to end the LaRoe line by tying its only living relative in with yours.”

Drayton slowed at my side, coming to a stop. The confusion twisted with horror. With rage.

“Repeat that?”

I let out a deep breath. “I’m ending the LaRoe line. I’m giving Marian to you. As a gift. You can do whatever you want to her. I’ll let you get your revenge for what she did to you. But for that, you’ll give us a child. You don’t even have to raise it. You know how it goes. All we need is for it to exist.”

He pulled at his dark gray tie, clearing his throat.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“No?” My lips twisted. “Okay, I can sell her at the Gardens. She won’t bring in much. Not with you taking her virginity all those years ago, but I’m sure someone can get use of her. The LaRoes’ had plenty of enemies. I’m afraid there will be more when news gets out about what Melissa’s done, but?—”

“ You can’t sell her .”

“Sure I can.”

Drayton’s fingers pushed through his dark hair. “She’s one of us. You can’t do that. Besides, what you’re saying is impossible. You can’t end their line. Nothing Melissa’s done could be that bad.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. The line will end, and Marian will come to an end with it. Whether that’s by you or someone else, that’s your call.”

Back and forth, Drayton shook his head. “If I see her, I’ll kill her.”

“Exactly. But not before a child is conceived. I could do that medically without her consent, but don’t you want the last word? You deserve that after what she did.”

“You don’t understand. I—Fuck. Why? Why give this to me?”

“I have more to give than just revenge. You want into the Gardens.” His eyes went round as they shot to me. “I’ll lift the lifetime ban for you. I’ll allow you in. Not only that, I’ll bring you in with Alpha status. I can reinstate you as heir. I don’t need your father’s consent. I have sway in the Council. I’ll make it all better, Drayton. All you have to do is just a few little things for me. Keep your status as the Devil. Take Marian. Kill her. Marry her. Do with her whatever you want. Embrace your life. Grow with it. Open your doors and services to me; to those I take under my wing. And stop fucking fighting me at every turn,” I ground out. “You’re an asshole, but you’re loyal. I need that around me. I need you,” I said, deepening my tone. “Say yes to my deal. That man I’m meeting will give the approval on ending the LaRoe line. He will pass on the message to the other Uppers, but you play a bigger part than you even realize. I need you to step into your power. Can you do that for me? As the Pennington.”

Silence. Sweat was starting to bead on Drayton’s forehead, but he quickly wiped it away.

“Don’t fucking lie to me. Is this real? You’re not fucking me over for some other agenda?”

“No. I want you back by my side. Back in the circle. We’ll be partners, connecting your world and mine. You’ll have more power than you ever dreamed.”

“What goes into admittance to the Gardens? There’s a catch. I know that for a fact. What is it?”

I shrugged. “There’s not really much of a catch. It’s a simple process. You fill out some paperwork. There are some tapes you need to watch here and at our location. Basically, me explaining the rules. You’ll have key words to listen for. There are a few neurological tests you’ll have to take. Nothing too bad. I’ll need your blood. Your sperm. All precautionary, of course. We can’t have you dying before you can produce an heir. The Gardens can be a dangerous place, but it’s everything you’re looking for and more.”

He nodded, shifting and swallowing hard. “That’s it?”

“That’s it. My guess is you’ll breeze right through the process. Here, let me see something.” I lifted my hand, curling all my digits in but my index finger. “Follow my movements.”

“For what?” I threw him a look and he rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

Slowly, I began going back and forth, watching as Drayton’s gaze stayed glued to the tip of my finger as I moved it into rhythm.

“Excellent. Just like that. Now, we’re just going to talk. You said Keith’s in the back? How long has he been here?”

Drayton’s lips parted through the slight delay.

“Thirty, forty-five minutes?”

“The wait will do him good. Is he far from here?”

“No. …He’s a few rooms down.”

“And how far away is your secret entrance? I know you have one. You can’t be too cautious these days. Especially someone as important and hated as you.”

A smile slowly appeared as his eyes continued in the back-and-forth movements. His speech became more fluid, less thought about.

“I’m not a fool. I have more than one entrance.”

“And it leads underground?”

“Doesn’t everything?”

I lowered my finger, starting a new path, up and down.

“Yes. There’s an area just outside of the city. I hear it’s used on occasion. They whisper of secret societies and hooded figures. It’s a tunnel that used to tie into Whitlock, but we don’t use that way anymore. You use it though, don’t you, Dray.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Me and my friends have to get our fun somehow. Although, maybe not so much anymore if I can get into the Gardens. I deserve to be there. I do. Marian?—”

The last was nearly whispered.

“You do, and you will. I’ll have Marian brought to your secret spot.” I snapped to the side of his eye, once, twice. The blinking was delayed. “Such a perfect candidate…for the Gardens. I’ll give you the date soon. You ready?”

Drayton shook his head, blinking hard.

“What the hell was that?”

“A relaxing method I like to use on friends. You feel better now, right?”

“Yeah…I think I do.”

“Of course. I always know best. Let’s go make history. Welcome back home, Drayton.”