“None of us knew.”

  “Drew knew. And he was trying to fix it this whole time. He and I tried a million ways to fix it, but with Edgerton making a play to instate Francis, we thought it was finally the perfect time. The lads were old enough and powerful enough to do something substantial, to really change things. We could help support them. I thought we’d be able to take them all out at once, but it took longer than we thought.”

  “All this time, all these secrets, how did you survive?”

  “I had you and your Mum on the outside, and it was my job to keep you safe the best I could. My heart broke when your mum told me she couldn’t see me anymore right before Toby died. I think it was breaking her heart, too, but we still wrote letters to each other.”

  I blushed as I glanced at him. “You and mum have dirty letters to each other? That sounds so much better than sexting.”

  He laughed at that. “Better than what?”

  “Never mind. You don’t want to know.”

  “No, I know what it is. I’m just shocked it never occurred to me.”

  I gasped and let out a shriek of laughter. “Oh my God.”

  “What? Your mother’s very sexy.”

  “Eww, so gross.”

  He chuckled then, his smile brightening his whole face. Looking at him made my heart hurt a little. He looked like an older, more rugged version of my brother. “Did you know Toby looked like you?”

  He grinned at that. “Yeah, the moment he was born. Your mother was so furious that he didn’t look like her at all. Well, except the skin. He took her coloring, and so did you for that matter.”

  "Toby’s facial expressions… I didn’t see it until you laughed just now, but he looked exactly like you.” I said.

  "Meanwhile, you look just like your mum.”

  “You think? Auntie Pinky says my features have been watered down.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Pinky’s always hated me.”

  “I noticed that. Why?”

  “I insulted her cooking one time. I said Pamma's vindaloo was better than hers, and she’s never forgiven me.”

  “Well, mum can actually cook.”

  It felt so good to sit there with my father, laughing and talking. I caught him up on life with Bridge and Darcy and the lads, and after we ate some light appetizers and finished our drinks, he asked me the one question I had an easy answer to. “So what happens now? Are you and Bridge over?”

  “No. We got married under duress, but I’ve been in love with him since I was a teenager. And he’s the best man I could ask for.”

  My father nodded. “He loves you very much. I can see it. It’s written all over his face when he talks about you.”

  I grinned. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Then he glanced at the table. “So, have I passed the main interview? Will you let your dad buy you dinner?”

  I glanced at my empty wine glass and considered the man I’d spent so many years running from. “You know what? I think I’d like that.”

  Epilogue

  Emma

  "Honestly, I thought we would never have to come back here.”

  Bridge slid his gaze over me as we pulled into the long drive of the Elite mansion.

  I looked at it differently now. Before, it had always been a little ominous and foreboding, certainly unwelcome. But after having lived here for several weeks, while it still wasn't my favorite place on the planet, it felt familiar. When I peered down the drive, I noticed other familiar cars. Ben's, East's, Amelia's. "What is Amelia doing here?" I asked.

  Bridge laughed. "You really can't let anything go, can you?"

  "Nope. Can't. What's happening?"

  "Oh just relax."

  "Sure. I'm relaxed, but tell me what's happening, Bridge."

  He just got out of the car and led me to the front door.

  Inside, Telly was standing in the middle of the foyer twirling around. "Holy fucking shit. If you people don't want to live here, I'm moving in."

  I laughed at that. "I think there are enough rooms to make that happen."

  Her head snapped up when she heard me. "Hello, you two. What took you guys so long? I’m trying to determine if you are freshly fucked and if I should be jealous or not."

  I laughed. "Well, now that you mention it, I wish I was."

  She wrapped me in a hug and then pulled back as I assessed her.

  "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

  She shook her head. "Nope. I have had strict instructions not to. Besides, he threatened,"—she pointed at Bridge—"to let East gain access to my company records. East rooting around in my shit. Can you imagine that? That’s horrible."

  I couldn't help but laugh. "If East wanted to root around in your shit, couldn't he have done it already?"

  Telly staggered back. “You take that shit back right now, or I will tickle you until you squeal."

  I put my hands up. "Okay, okay. No, he couldn't break in any time he wanted." Though he likely could. Probably already had.

  "And I'm the better hacker," she added.

  I laughed. "Oh come on, you know you can't make me choose."

  "Well, you will have to choose one of us eventually. There can be only one."

  Immediately the two of us broke out into a rendition of Queen's “Princes of the Universe” at the top of our lungs. "I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings."

  Bridge plugged his ears. "Please, please, God, stop."

  Telly wrapped her arm around my waist, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder as she led me around the corner into the massive expanse of the sitting room and dining area. I found all of my friends waiting in there.

  "You know my birthday's not until August. What's everyone doing here?"

  Bridge shrugged. "Well, we have a little something for you."

  It was then that Ben, East, Liam, Alex, and Ollie stepped forward, and Bridge joined them. The six of them formed a semicircle around me.

  I laughed nervously. "You guys, this is not how the strip show fantasy works. First of all, you guys are further back, and you've learned a whole routine, and you're suddenly really in the pocket dancing hip-hop, and then you start to take off clothes. But you can only go down to boxer briefs. Anything else is actually really gross."

  Alex, bless him, started to unbutton his shirt and went for his tie.

  East clamped a hand on his chest. "No. She's kidding."

  I shook my head. "I'm not."

  Alex looked at me and deftly avoided Bridge's glare.

  My husband, now irritated, growled at me. "Behave yourself, Ems, or I'll make you behave later."

  I raised my chin. "As if you could."

  "Is that a dare?" His brow lifted.

  Ben and East stepped forward immediately, both of them shouting.

  "Oh, enough. Gross.”

  “Can we get the show on the road please?"

  Bridge winked at me, the corner of his lip tipping into a smirk.

  His mother came out of the kitchen. "Can you hurry up and move this along? I've got a lasagna ready. It's piping hot and should be eaten that way. And the bread is about to come out. So make this quick, would you?"

  I laughed at that. The scent of garlic and sauce in the air made my stomach rumble. "Okay, what is happening, you guys?"

  It wasn't my husband that stepped forward. It was Ben. In his palm, he had a letter which he proffered to me. There was a stamp sealing it shut with what looked like wax. "Emma Varma Edgerton. We, the senior members of the Elite and the new blood, would like to formally invite you to become Elite."

  My gaze snapped to Bridge's.

  He was stoic.

  I couldn't see any of my other friends because the lads had pulled their circle too tight around me. My heart beat too fast in my chest. That thing that I'd never dared to want, the thing that made me so jealous of Toby, the thing that was impossible, they were offering it to me. "Why?"

  With a level of gravity in his voice that I rarely heard, Ben said, "Without you, we wouldn't be standing here. We wouldn't have embarked on this journey. We wouldn't have gotten justice or vengeance for Toby. You were the catalyst that brought us all to this point. If you aren't deserving of a spot in the Elite, no one is. Do you accept the call?"

  My breathing came too shallow. I knew there would be no going back on this if I said yes. I knew if I accepted, Bridge and I would be locked forever. Could I do that?

  If you join, you can help fix this. You can make it better. You can make it what it should have been.

  I realized I really wanted this. "Isn't this going to be a problem for the other members? Can you do this without them?"

  East nodded his head. "We already talked to the Five. It's solely their prerogative after nominations to elect the new blood. The vote was unanimous. If you want it, it's yours."

  As I stared at the men, my soon-to-be brothers, one of them my husband, I smiled. "I accept."

  Bridge didn't even let me snap the letter out of Ben's hands. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, picking me up and tossing me over his shoulder. "Give us thirty. I'm going to go shag my wife really quick."

  East called after us. "Bridge, honestly, I thought you could do better. Only thirty minutes? That's disappointing."

  When I giggled, Bridge slapped me on the arse. And then he carried me straight upstairs to our old room.

  Inside, he sat me down and watched me.

  "Got something to say, Mr. Edgerton?"

  "Are you sure? Are you sure you can do this?"

  "You are my family. Everyone downstairs is my family. Francis tried to steal that from both of us, and I don't want to let him or anyone else do that.” My voice quavered with emotion. “This is something I wanted when I was small and didn't know any better. Thank you for trying to give it to me."

  "This won't be easy. You've already had more first-hand experience with how difficult it can be than we ever had. I just want to make sure you want this."

  "Let me be really clear, mostly I want to help change it. Mold it. Make it something good, something Toby would have been proud of. But really, I just want you. I've always wanted you. Anything else that comes with you is just an added bonus."

  He tugged me to him, kissing me hard. "You are incredible. I love you so much."

  "I love you too, Mr. Edgerton. Now, I've heard about these hazing rituals. Please do elaborate. I was reading that sometimes the hazing is sexual in nature. What am I going to have to do? What kind of favor do I have to offer you to become a member of the Elite?"

  "You are so naughty. Do you know that?"

  I nodded. I reached for his hand then smiled at him. "Very naughty, Mr. Edgerton. Why don't you show me just what those sexual favors entail."

  I have loved every moment of writing the London Lords and this is not the last you will see of them, I promise, they will show up again in m next series GENTLEMEN ROGUES.

  * * *

  The Billionaire Playboy Who Has Lost His Way!” “Scandal Rocks King Family… Again!”

  Yeah, I’ve seen the headlines too.

  * * *

  Which is exactly why I didn’t plan to go out, tonight or maybe ever. My family will disown me if I get near even a whiff of scandal again.

  * * *

  So I’m staying out of trouble. Or trying to…until I catch the scent of sugar and temptation.

  * * *

  Saffron Abbot. The moment our gazes meet and lock across the crowded club, I can’t ignore the intense pull of desire. She may be dancing with someone else, but her gaze never leaves mine. In those stormy depths, I can see the challenge. She’s almost daring me to lose control. To claim her.

  * * *

  One night is all I’ll need.

  * * *

  Famous last words.

  * * *

  Read The Heir Now!

  * * *

  You can also read Nathan and Sophie’s story right now! Find out what happens when a seductive, jaded playboy with a filthy mouth meets his uptight neighbor and they strike a little ex payback bargain.

  One-click MR. DIRTY now!

  “Mr. Dirty is a fun and flirty romance with complex characters and a great storyline." - Amazon Reviewer

  Can’t get enough billionaires? Meet a cocky, billionaire prince that goes undercover in Cheeky Royal! He’s a prince with a secret to protect. The last distraction he can afford is his gorgeous as sin new neighbor.

  His secrets could get them killed, but still, he can’t stay away…

  Read Cheeky Royal now!

  Turn the page for an excerpt from Cheeky Royal…

  UPCOMING BOOKS

  * * *

  The Heir

  The King

  The Saint

  Also from Nana Malone

  Cheeky Royal

  “You make a really good model. I’m sure dozens of artists have volunteered to paint you before.”

  He shook his head. “Not that I can recall. Why? Are you offering?”

  * * *

  I grinned. “I usually do nudes.” Why did I say that? It wasn’t true. Because you’re hoping he’ll volunteer as tribute.

  * * *

  He shrugged then reached behind his back and pulled his shirt up, tugged it free, and tossed it aside. “How is this for nude?”

  * * *

  Fuck. Me. I stared for a moment, mouth open and looking like an idiot. Then, well, I snapped a picture. Okay fine, I snapped several. “Uh, that’s a start.”

  * * *

  He ran a hand through his hair and tussled it, so I snapped several of that. These were romance-cover gold. Getting into it, he started posing for me, making silly faces. I got closer to him, snapping more close-ups of his face. That incredible face.

  * * *

  Then suddenly he went deadly serious again, the intensity in his eyes going harder somehow, sharper. Like a razor. “You look nervous. I thought you said you were used to nudes.”

  * * *

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Yeah, at school whenever we had a model, they were always nude. I got used to it.”

  * * *

  He narrowed his gaze. “Are you sure about that?”

  Shit. He could tell. “Yeah, I am. It’s just a human form. Male. Female. No big deal.”

  * * *

  His lopsided grin flashed, and my stomach flipped. Stupid traitorous body…and damn him for being so damn good looking. I tried to keep the lens centered on his face, but I had to get several of his abs, for you know…research.

  But when his hand rubbed over his stomach and then slid to the button on his jeans, I gasped, “What are you doing?”

  “Well, you said you were used doing nudes. Will that make you more comfortable as a photographer?”

  * * *

  I swallowed again, unable to answer, wanting to know what he was doing, how far he would go. And how far would I go?

  * * *

  The button popped, and I swallowed the sawdust in my mouth. I snapped a picture of his hands.

  * * *

  Well yeah, and his abs. So sue me. He popped another button, giving me a hint of the forbidden thing I couldn’t have. I kept snapping away. We were locked in this odd, intimate game of chicken. I swung the lens up to capture his face. His gaze was slightly hooded. His lips parted…turned on. I stepped back a step to capture all of him. His jeans loose, his feet bare. Sitting on the stool, leaning back slightly and giving me the sex face, because that’s what it was—God’s honest truth—the sex face. And I was a total goner.

  * * *

  “You’re not taking pictures, Len.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

  * * *

  “Oh, sorry.” I snapped several in succession. Full body shots, face shots, torso shots. There were several torso shots. I wanted to fully capture what was happening.

  He unbuttoned another button, taunting me, tantalizing me. Then he reached into his jeans, and my gaze snapped to meet his. I wanted to say something. Intervene in some way…help maybe…ask him what he was doing. But I couldn’t. We were locked in a game that I couldn’t break free from. Now I wanted more. I wanted to know just how far he would go.

  * * *

  Would he go nude? Or would he stay in this half-undressed state, teasing me, tempting me to do the thing that I shouldn’t do?

  * * *

  I snapped more photos, but this time I was close. I was looking down on him with the camera, angling so I could see his perfectly sculpted abs as they flexed. His hand was inside his jeans. From the bulge, I knew he was touching himself. And then I snapped my gaze up to his face.