Main Master

M inutes. Days. Weeks. Time and chaos were far from best friends. They didn’t work well together. Chaos stole time. It made time stop or stretch. Where I felt ten seconds, no doubt it felt like ten minutes to Keith Moore. He was sweating, pulling at his tie and the button at his throat. I knew facing him with my request wasn’t going to be easy. I also knew he didn’t have a choice but to accept my proposal. Not if he didn’t want his secrets exposed on his own accord. And we all had secrets. Being an Upper didn’t excuse his or make them disappear. They made them worse. A weapon. My weapon.

“Elec, what you’re saying can’t be done.”

“It can.”

“ Shouldn’t be done, then .”

The statement, just short of a yell, was more of a threat than it sounded. All I heard was panic and it fed me.

“There’s no other way. I showed you proof that Melissa has you under her spell, and you don’t want her killed for it? If I didn’t know any better, Keith, I’d say you liked it. It sure looked like it.”

“Fuck you.” He shifted angrily in the red and gold velvet embroidered chair. “That’s…” he pointed to my phone that still sat in my hand. “That video is not real. You made that up. You somehow got someone to?—”

At my head cocking to the side, he grew quiet, pushing to his feet to pace.

“You remember it happening. I saw your expression when you watched it. You may not remember much, but something triggered your memory. You fucked her. And she made you. You saw the proof for yourself.”

Fingers pushed through mostly gray hair. The hints of the once dark color stood out prominently as he held it fisted at the top.

“You said this was a few years back? How did you find the footage?”

My lips slightly twisted.

“It wasn’t easy, to be honest. It wouldn’t have even come to be had you not invited me to your estate the Christmas before. You mentioned property you’d acquired in the Keys. A few months later I can recall Melissa mentioning coming into a home there as well. I thought perhaps it was coincidental…but it wasn’t, was it. You gave her your house.”

His mouth opened, and his hand dropped. Again, he pulled at his tie, finally ripping it down and popping the button loose.

“I didn’t need it anymore. I…” He cursed, fisting his hand as he stared ahead in a daze. “That sounds preposterous when I say it out loud. Don’t need it. Yet, I told others I sold it. That makes no sense. Why would I do that?”

At my silence, his gaze came back to me.

“She did that. Just like— Fuck . How am I going to hide this from my wife, Elec? From the others? ”

“You’re not going to. You’re going to tell them.”

His eyes widened.

“Are you fucking crazy?”

“Clinically?” I laughed as his lids lowered in a glare. “Keith, breathe. You’re not going to get in trouble by your wife or anyone else. I’ll talk to Bella. She’ll understand. I promise.” I said, deepening my tone. “The others have to know. They’re victims as well, and I will find more proof that will condemn her even more. But we have to be honest. This goes beyond sex or money. It’s downright dangerous. If she can get to you and the others, to me , what’s to stop her from taking over the very council that runs us? She can ruin everything. Melissa must be stopped. Death is the only way.”

Silence.

“And you want me to show them that video, along with stating my case?”

“They have to see, or they won’t believe. It might even trigger their own memories. Jett is in Hell Row, Keith. He broke into Sebastian Rivers apartment and nearly killed his slave. He will die. The repercussions of Melissa’s actions far exceed her son’s crime. She and Ronald must die too. We don’t have a choice.”

“But Ron can start a new line. He has Marian. Aren’t they innocent in this?”

At my head shaking, he got quiet.

“Marian belongs to Drayton. He may have fucked up in his youth, but we all know who it was that started him on that path.”

He made a sound. “Marian was just a girl, Elec. She was about to head to college. She made a mistake. She was scared and young. I don’t blame her for what happened. This is not the eighteen hundreds where virginity equals marriage. We’re far beyond those times. You should know that.”

“She did more than lose her virginity to Drayton. That is not my story to tell. What she did, she’ll pay for. Whether that’s with her life or with her ring finger, that’s up to Dray. But I will deliver her, and Ronald will answer for his role in letting this continue. He knows what his wife is doing, Keith. He has to. No one is that blind or stupid.”

“I’m done arguing. I feel sick. Melissa has crossed the line. I’m not saying she hasn’t. But do you really want to start this war? There are those who will take their side. Who will not budge due to tradition. You know ending a line comes with a price.”

I stood. “It’s a price I’m willing to pay. Speaking of lines, did you hear my cousin has an heir on the way? A Whitlock. Isn’t that great news?”

The weariness that etched into Keith’s already tight features wasn’t missed.

“Great for the circle. Not great for you. Are you not afraid he’ll pick up where he left off? Just with his heir?”

My laugh was genuine. “He most definitely will not. My cousin isn’t cut for this life, nor would he allow his heir to be. Let us rejoice in Bram’s good news.”

“And what of the new lines you’ve pushed through the Council? Don’t think I haven’t heard about that. Draper? Former of Red Island? You’re adding a cold-blooded killer to our ranks. One whose money is made from blood.”

“Does he not fit in? Speaking of which, we need a new foundation. His happens to come with connections in our world. Not to mention he’s loyal to our ways. You’d be amazed how perfect he is for us.”

“Perhaps. I guess in time I’ll find out. Will I get to meet him and his family soon?”

“Hmm.” I placed my phone in my pocket, adjusting my jacket. “I’ll call him and set up a meeting. A dinner, perhaps. I think you’ll come to see you get along well with Gavin. Put some trust in me. I know what I’m doing.”

“We’ll find out soon enough.”

“We will,” I agreed. “I have to get back to the front. I have another meeting before I head home. I expect to hear something from the Uppers in the next forty-eight hours. Don’t sit on this, Keith. Don’t even leave this room until you make the necessary calls. I want my phone ringing with news from the Collective High Council soon.”

I didn’t wait for his answer. I barely caught his nod as I gave my own and spun for the door. I threw Drayton a look as he took up pace at my side.

“I need a date, Elec. Soon’s not going to cut it.”

“You always were impatient. I should have known you were going to wait for me.”

“I have to plan. I can’t just— We’re talking about Marian .”

I slowed, stopping us not far from the door separating us from the club.

“I can’t give you a date. I’m juggling a lot of things right now. The Council will have to propose a timeline. When they do, I’ll call. I don’t think it’ll take long. What happens above isn’t on the same timeline as what happens below. Marian and Ronald will be the easy part. The rest…well, that’s mine to deal with.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’ve hated the LaRoe family ever since they turned on me, but what did Melissa do to warrant an end to not just her line, but Ronald’s as well?”

I glanced at the door, not wanting to think about pieces of memory I’d barely managed to uncover buried between the layers of brainwashing and persuasion. Hypnosis. Inevitable victory fucking mindset. I was far from uncovering the entire truth. I probably never would. No amount of regression or mind tricks I tried to do to myself worked. I sure as fuck wasn’t going to try to get her to do it. And maybe I didn’t want to know the real truth. It was the mystery that ate at me. The not knowing. The lies and deceit she must have infused with my memories. It’s what I would have done. It’s what she taught me to do.

“That talk is for another time. Until the trials begin, anything I say can be used against me. Do you understand?”

He nodded. “I’ve dreamed about their downfall now for years. I never thought I’d live to see the day. Am I sad Melissa’s going to die?” Drayton made a deep growl. “She called my father the trash of the Penningtons for the way they raised me. That anyone related to us was better at leading than him. Trash, Elec. Because of me . She turned everyone against my parents. For years she made them outcasts. I mean, fuck, look at me. Look at the job I was given to stay in the circle. It’s an embarrassment as a Pennington. I’ve taken it because I know what I did was wrong. I’ve apologized to those involved a million times. I was a kid. I was stupid and…heartbroken. But there’s no excuse for what happened.” He swallowed hard, shifting, and looking back up to me. “I can’t get over what I saw when Marian and her parents came to our home that night. Her eyes. The hate and disgust at what we shared. Marian held such shame. But…maybe…fear? Remorse? I can’t be sure. I’m probably trying to justify it so I don’t feel even stupider. It was all so confusing. She said she loved me, Elec. That she wanted to be with me. The next thing I know, she’s—She wasn’t the same. She was just so hateful. What she said I did to her. The lies she told my parents. She was so cold. So…different. Those fucking lies . I guess I should be grateful for this life. I could be in jail or worse.”

My jaw flexed repeatedly as I picked up the signs.

“It was a long time ago. Like I said, she’s yours to do whatever you want with. Maybe we were all wrong. Maybe we were right. Just know, her mother may have been responsible for her behavior. I won’t know until I have her taken. I’ll see for myself before I send her to you. If?—”

“Elec.” His hand came up to stop me as he continuously shook his head. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea. You want an heir as payment. Not to keep, I know that, but to be part of us. To have its place. I just don’t know if I can do that.”

“It’s you or the Gardens for Marian, Drayton. At least with marriage?—”

“ Marriage? You never said anything about getting married.”

For seconds I just stared.

“You can’t bring a child into our circle and expect it to be a legitimate heir if you don’t marry her. That’s not how it works, and you know it. Marry her. She’ll consent. She won’t have a choice. Bed her, willingly or not , and take back your rightful place. After she has the child, her fate is up to you. Maybe she dies in childbirth. Maybe you decide to keep her but don’t want to do it above ground as your wife anymore. Make her your slave in the Gardens for all I care. The privilege with her line is dying. Whether she does too is only up to you. Or,” I said, stepping in closer. “Maybe you’ll see her mother was responsible and Marian still loves you. Maybe the two of you will be the perfect match.”

Drayton’s top lip peeled back.

“Don’t count on that. We fought like hell back in the day. That night wasn’t the only night we got into it. She’s stubborn and pigheaded and…She runs her father’s businesses now. She’s undoubtedly worse. Probably intolerable.”

At his silence and faraway stare, I held in my smile.

“If I recall, her attitude didn’t bother you so much back then. Before they came to you, all you talked about was how you were going to speak to her parents about marriage.”

“I did speak to them,” he ground out. “Weeks before they came to my parents’ house. They didn’t know about us then. Her mother outright refused me. She wouldn’t even let me finish.”

My eyes widened. “Refused you? But you were the Pennington heir. The best match they could have hoped for.”

“I wasn’t a stupid title.” His eyes rolled. “Melissa had high hopes. International royalty hopes. Way higher than me. I guess stealing Marian’s virginity didn’t help the matter. Not that I see why the fuck it would ruin her chances. I’m still confused why she never got married or settled down after how hard they were supposedly pushing her to do it. I mean, that’s what they wanted. At least, that’s what she said before I asked for her hand. Hell, it’s the main reason why there was such a rush.”

“Interesting.” My eyes lowered to the floor as thoughts raced. If Marian didn’t marry, and Melissa had wanted her to at least be betrothed so young…perhaps Marian wasn’t as swayed by Melissa’s gifts as I thought. Marian had left the country to intern at her father’s firm quickly after, and she rarely returned. Was it to avoid Drayton and the scandal that had come from their entire situation? The guilt for what she drove Drayton to do? Or had she been running from her own mother?

I wasn’t sure, but I’d find out. In the meantime, I had a world tour to discuss. I had rockstars to set up for endless fame. But not without cost. My handlings were about to increase just as much above as below. I may have not lived in the outside world, but in time, I could very well find myself living out here. We all had to settle down at some point. Being didn’t excuse me from my duties, they just made them harder. Whether I wanted to think about it or not… Whether I wanted it…or not… Someday I’d have to settle down and start producing my own heirs. But not today.