I clasped a hand to my chest and gave her a beatific smile. “Oh, I didn’t say he was in an open relationship. I’m just saying the only way they could possibly be so public about their affair would be if that was what was happening. This is one of those times I’m supposed to say allegedly, right?” I winked at her. “But I mean it wasn't alleged. I did see them making out.”

  “Chloe Markum, you said.”

  I nodded. “Yes. Necking like teenagers. Can you imagine?”

  “Well, I did see Chloe at Wilshire House. And you know what? That’s the same day that Austin was reported to be there too.”

  Of course we knew this. We were just sowing the seeds. Who knew if Chloe and her boy toy were actually fucking or if it was an open relationship or what? I didn’t give a fuck. At this point it was open season, and everyone was going to catch the smoke. We had specific targets. They were all married to men in the Elite.

  And so it went. We ended up having lunch with her. I felt bad for Camila, but the stories were true, so we weren’t lying. And we were comfortable she wouldn’t reveal her sources. We also hit up our contacts at The Sun as well as The Independent, and it was a day of let’s do lunches and catch-ups and drinks. And we had seeded the land with gossip and with truths. And we had announced to the world that none of the men in the Elite and none of their wives were safe. And even if they could shut down one story, they wouldn’t be able to shut down the myriad of stories that were going to make it on to the internet. That was particularly genius of Penny.

  When we’d been at drinks after we were done with Camila, Penny narrowed her gaze and swallowed hard. “I’ll be right back. Just making a run to the loo.”

  Jessa frowned up at her. “I know that face. You’re my sister, and I know that face. What is happening?"

  Ariel glanced up at her too. “Oh God, I know that face too. She’s up to no good. Take a guard, would you?”

  Penny waved at her. “I don’t need a guard. I’ll be right back.”

  Ariel scooted herself out after her, but Penny gave her a hard look. “Oh my God. When you have two children, your pelvic floor isn’t what it used to be, although I practice my kegels as often as possible.”

  Jessa rolled her eyes and gave us a muffled ewww. Ariel just laughed.

  “I’m literally just going to the loo. And I’ll come back with a surprise. I promise.”

  I could tell Ariel didn’t like it, but there were guards in the restaurant. Just because we looked like we were unencumbered, did not mean we actually were. We’d known exactly the restaurant we were going to, made reservations, and guards had already been posted. It was a seamless stretch from the cars to the restaurant. We were okay. We’d all been living on the edge for so long.

  And sure enough, Penny kept her promise. Because she came right back with a young woman in tow. She didn’t look much older than nineteen. "Guys, this is Tiffany.”

  Tiffany waved. “Hi. I’m sorry, but I have to say, you’re the princess, aren’t you?” she asked as she pointed at Jessa.

  Jessa blinked rapidly. “What princess?” Playing dumb.

  Tiffany laughed. “Of the islands.” She turned to Penny. “And you’re the queen. I recognized you the moment you walked in. Can I get a picture?”

  Penny beamed at her. “I’m not really allowed to do selfies. But how about we get a group photo?"

  So we accommodated Tiffany for a group photo. And she was so excited to meet actual royalty that she squealed. And then Penny dropped the bomb. “I saw you doing videos for Tiki Toki or whatever it’s called.”

  Tiffany laughed. “Yeah, I was just prepping some content.”

  “You run a fashion and lifestyle blog, right?”

  “Yeah, mostly lifestyle content and some celebrity stuff.”

  Penny scooted over, giving her room to sit down. “Why don’t you join us?”

  And then I knew Penny was diabolical. She’d seen the girl taking content photos in the hallway and had decided to ask her to help us.

  We told her what we were trying to do, and she was more than happy to have content for the next few weeks. She had a blog too, and several friends who were also in a lifestyle celebrity space. And they were more than happy to also disseminate information. The Elite might be able to shut down the news outlets if they really wanted to throw around their power, but once it was on the internet, it was on the internet forever. I gave Penny a wide smile. “You are amazing.”

  “Funny, Sebastian says the same thing.”

  “We are going to be the best of friends.”

  She grinned back. “ I certainly hope so.”

  And I knew it in that moment. We were going to do this. We were going to take all of them down.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Emma

  I loved having the whole team back. Especially the girls. The guys were great too. Especially Lucas. I fucking loved Lucas. He was a handful. I always had to check my wallet when I was around him. My phone too. The other day it was my keys. But he was my favorite.

  The girls were like sisters, and their energy was electric. But I was worried about what was happening with Bridge. He had a singular focus. The plan was consuming him. Even at night when I would go to bed, he’d stay up strategizing and planning. In the morning, he’d include me in everything. But the more that it went on, the more dangerous things sounded, and the more I worried.

  He crawled into bed late that night. Or more accurately, at three in the morning. That hadn't stopped him from wrapping an arm around me and sliding a hand straight into my knickers. Which I didn’t mind altogether. It was just since everyone arrived, he’d been in focus mode, which was great and exactly what I wanted. But it was changing something about him.

  This wasn’t just about Toby or what Middleton had done to us; this was about something more. About his own vengeance, which I could respect, but he was being reckless. I'd had a marketing meeting first thing in the morning, but it was a package I could whip together in my sleep. Not nearly as exciting as crisis management, but these clients didn’t have skeletons. At least not the kind that belonged to human beings. Afterward, I headed to the executive floor to find Bridge, only to discover he was in a meeting. From the window, I watched as his eyes connected with mine. He gave me a smirk, no doubt remembering what we had done in the shower that morning to save water and time.

  Since he was in a meeting, I wasn’t going to be able to talk to him. I headed for the lift. In the hallway, I found Nyla and Amelia, and both of them gave me a wave before walking over. “Looking for the lads? They’re in a meeting I think,” I said.

  Amelia shook her head. “No. Livy actually. We’re going to do some background digging about our problem.”

  I nodded. “Okay, I should help, right?”

  Nyla shrugged. “You’re welcome to, but you look like you are worried about something.”

  I sighed. “I’m just not sure this all-out war is exactly what we want.”

  Nyla nodded. “Well, we can at least arm ourselves with information.”

  “ Of course. I’ll see you guys later. I’ll probably join you after I grab a coffee.”

  I’d hoped to talk to him. Let him know I was worried. But he wasn’t available. And everyone else seemed to think this course of action was great. Not completely insane. Peachy. For once, I was the one thinking maybe we should exercise a little caution.

  Or is that your fear talking?

  Last time we talked about this, he told me he’d be careful. He’d made it a point to make me feel like he had a plan. And he did. I trusted his plan. It's just that I was worried about the same things that he worried about with me. That he couldn’t see the danger for the goals.

  Because he was so focused on Middleton, on making him pay. Which I was behind one hundred percent. Maybe this was what he was always talking about with me, my unpredictability. I did not enjoy the turned tables, not at all, and I had to get him to see things from my point of view.

  I didn’t realize I’d made the decision until I was headed downstairs. This could be a mistake, but at least I knew I wouldn’t be in danger. That much was true. But if Bridge was in danger going after Middleton, I needed to make him see that he had a big target on his chest, and I could at least gather information.

  Downstairs in the lobby, I saw Jacob and Ryan. Both looked slightly alarmed to see me, but I nodded at them. "I have an impromptu meeting, can one of you drive me?”

  Ryan stood. “We’ll both take you.”

  I smiled. “Thanks guys. I know this wasn’t planned, and it should have been on the schedule.”

  Jacob shrugged. “It’s no big deal. We don’t mind.”

  I nodded. “I appreciate it.”

  Once we were in the garage and I was settling in my seat, Jacob asked. “Where are we headed, miss?”

  I gave him a warm smile. “Off to see Lord Winthrop.” And then I gave them the address.

  If they knew who Lord Winthrop was, they said nothing. Granted they were security. They were paid to know who Lord Winthrop was. And I appreciated the professionalism, showing absolutely no response to the news. They were very, very good at their jobs.

  It took about ten minutes to reach my father’s office. While Jacob parked the car, Ryan escorted me inside.

  Over the years, I sometimes sat across the road and watched the building, waiting for a sign of him. Just a glimpse. The Winthrops were in finance. That’s why they were connected to the Wilcoxes. But my dad had always had an interest in teaching. I remembered that. He’d always gotten so excited when we wanted to learn something. When Ben had told me that he’d been a counselor on campus at Eton, scouting for the Elite, I’d been so jealous that Toby had gotten to spend some time with him. Such a stupid thing to be jealous of. At least one of us got to see him and had some connection with him.

  Though I didn’t know how much. I knew whatever he got, he probably needed.

  There was a middle-aged woman sitting at the desk, and she smiled at me. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Edgerton.”

  My steps faltered, and I stared at her. “Um, excuse me?”

  “You’re Emma Edgerton."

  “Oh. Said like that it sounds like I’m in an Austen novel. But yeah, I guess I am Emma Edgerton.”

  “You’re here to see your father?”

  What in the twilight zone was happening here? Not only did this woman know my name, knew me on sight, knew I was married, but her just referring to Winthrop as my father? I didn’t even know how to take that. “Right. Yes."

  She shook her head. “He’s always said if you ever walked through those doors to show you straight in.”

  My gut twisted at that. “Oh?”

  She smiled at me softly. “I’ve been your father’s right hand for over twenty years. I knew you when you were little. I’m sure you don’t remember.”

  I tried to place her warm smile, but couldn't. “Uh, no. You must’ve been very young when you started working for him.”

  She nodded. “Yes, just twenty. But anyway, when you would stand across the street watching, he would stand in here willing you to cross the road, but you never did. And I used to get on him about how he never crossed the road. He told me it was the one thing he always wanted but that he wasn’t allowed to. I’m glad you decided to cross the road today.”

  My gut clenched, and tears welled in my eyes. I was not going to cry, goddamn it. I was not going to cry. The prick of the first tear surprised me, and I blinked it away rapidly. “Right. Sure, let’s go see my father.”

  She smiled. “I’m Lynn Wong, by the way.”

  “Hi, Lynn. It’s lovely to meet you.”

  “And it's lovely to see you again.”

  “You’ll forgive my shock.”

  Her smile was kind. “Of course.”

  She led me into a waiting room where I sat nervously, my leg bouncing up and down. Eventually, she returned and told me my father would see me.

  The corridors at Winthrop Estates were sleek, a little traditional. Some modern elements, but nothing too wild. There was some modern art on the walls. It looked like it was decorated more for someone who liked the art than for someone who collected. I frowned up at the painting of daisies juxtaposed on the London skyline. It was one of my mother's.

  His office looked like a library. I immediately went to the shelves, looking through the books because I couldn’t help myself.

  Before I knew it, in walked my father with his easy stride. “Emma, I’m really happy you came to see me.”

  And as I turned around, I met my father’s gaze directly. That same kick in the gut I’d gotten from when Bridge and I went to see his father was there again. Years of pain and trauma built in. “Let’s not make this a big thing, but I need your help.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Emma

  I still couldn’t believe I was doing this. But I needed help.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Emma.”

  I lifted my brows. “You’re kidding, right?” Why was he so calm? I was far from calm.

  “No, I’m not kidding. Of course I’m happy you’re here. Is Bridge with you?”

  I shook my head. “No, he had a meeting, and I wanted to talk to you about him, actually.”

  His brow furrowed. “Oh? About what?”

  Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to say. 'Hey, I know you’re deep in the Elite, and I need help with one of your brothers who is trying to kill me and my husband, and my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law.’ I couldn’t say that, so what I said was, “This Middleton thing, it’s getting out of hand. And if I’m saying that, it’s getting really out of hand.”

  My father sat down on one of the comfy leather chairs. “I tried to warn him.”

  “What? Who? When?”

  “Bridge. I went to the hotel to see him. Didn't he tell you?”

  I nodded. “He did. But I thought you were there about me, not Middleton.”

  My father sighed. "He didn’t have the whole picture, and it was going to get complicated once he did.”

  “Oh, you mean how Middleton is his brother? And how his father deliberately concealed it from Bridge to try and steal his estate? That complicated?”

  My father’s eyes widened. “So he knows.”

  I nodded. "Yes, we know. We also know that Middleton is a murderer who’s killed at least one woman that we can account for. Likely two. Probably more. He's in the ether. We need to find him. And right now, the way Bridge is going about it he’s going to poke the bear, and I am worried about him.”

  My father sighed. “I don’t know where Middleton is. I don’t have access to that kind of information.”

  “Then what do you have? The way I figure it, you’re my father. And you might not want me or Mum anymore, but you tried to talk to me once which means that maybe you care.”

  He watched me, his eyes soft. “I could see how you would think that I didn’t want you. And I’m sorry that’s how I made you feel. It was just very complicated at the time. But I have always loved your mum.”

  "You don’t leave your family if you love them.”

  The years of pain that had been stored up in this little trunk that I’d stored away behind my heart somewhere was cracking and threatening to break free. The tears were going to follow soon after.

  “I know, but it’s complicated.”

  “I wish every man I know would stop saying that to me. It’s not that complicated. Figure it out!” I realized I was shouting and forced myself to take a deep breath.

  “Right. You’re right. I’ll tell you what I can, what I know. The secrets have been going on for too long.” He ran a hand down his face. “For starters, I never wanted to leave your mother. That wasn’t the plan. I fell in love with your mother, and we jumped the trigger a little. Her family wasn’t entirely thrilled, but we were engaged and married pretty quickly. Ran off, essentially.”

  I frowned. “But I've seen you in all those photos from your wedding and all the ceremonies.”

  He nodded. “Those were done after we were already married. About two months.”

  My eyes went wide. “What?”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face. “We were young and in love, and we didn’t want to wait for anyone. I met her at uni and just… I knew I wanted her.”

  “Okay, so what happened?”

  “I was tapped for the Elite. My father was Elite. So was my uncle. My uncle held the Elite seat for our house. He wasn’t entirely thrilled with your mother as a choice. But there wasn’t anything he could do because I was twenty, finishing up Uni, and I was an adult. He couldn’t stop me, but the one person who could have, tried to.”

  I frowned. "Van Linsted?"

  “Yes. The senior. Once I was in the Elite, that was the leverage they could use. I’d gotten married without their consent, without their knowing. And I should’ve known then what I was getting myself in for. It’s a life sentence. The Elite made it very clear that your mother and I were not an advantageous pairing. That there was no way to build wealth and power."

  I rolled my eyes. “As if the Elite needs more money.”

  He laughed. “Correct. They don’t.”

  “So you were married, and then what?”

  “And then we had Toby and then you. By then the Elite had been in power too long, and things were complicated. He had someone better for me to marry.”

  I laughed. “That’s bullshit. You had a family.”

  “I know. And he used that as leverage to bring me to heel. Your mother and you two were going to be left destitute. They were going to allow a burn on her. And all I had to do to stop it was leave her and be with someone else and never see her again. It was that, or her life was going to be over.”

  I stared at him. “What is this burn? What is it?”

  “I’m sure Bridge and Ben can explain it better. But it’s basically you kill somebody in life. Sure their name exists, but their good name is gone. You give them an invisible death, make sure their job is gone, cripple them. Fuck with their IDs, put them on a no-fly list, anything to basically bring them from wherever they are to a subcutaneous level.”