She smiled against my lips. "Yes, Bridge?"

  "Your turn."

  "Oh now, I was really hoping you were going to say that."

  Chapter Twelve

  Bridge

  “Shut up. What kind of bloody bollocks is that?”

  It was the most British thing I’d ever heard Drew say, honestly. The day after meeting with the solicitors, we reconvened at Ben and Liv’s. Covington House was our new unofficial club house. I hadn’t been able to speak with my mates after the meeting the day before, and I felt like a schoolgirl with a desperate secret to share.

  East echoed the sentiment. “No, mate. That's taking the piss for sure.”

  Ben just stared at me. “The solicitor told you this?”

  Emma squeezed my hand and answered for me when all I could do was nod. “He confirmed everything.”

  Drew, as usual, tried to be funny. “Mate, your dad needs a proper rubber. Is he breaking them on purpose? That has to be it. Because if he’s just going without, it’s a wonder he’s not diseased. Maybe he is. I don’t know, but this is out of order.”

  I sagged. “Can we please not talk about my fucking father and his rubber habits?”

  East shrugged. “Man, he has a point. Fucking Middleton, you, Darcy. How many other kids does he have?”

  “I don’t even know. To hear mum tell it, he made her feel like they were in love. Like everything was going to be great. Like they were going to get married.”

  Emma frowned as she sat forward. “You know actually that’s a good point. We need to ask your mum for details about your father and grandfather. Because if your granddad was clear that you had more of your mother in you, then maybe your dad was going to marry her. Maybe his feelings for her were real and something happened."

  I frowned at that. It hadn’t occurred to me to ask my mum. I just wanted her as far away from this bullshit as possible. I knew how much he’d hurt her. How he left her destitute and alone with a child to raise.

  “Yeah, I think I’m going to have to talk to both of them, actually.”

  Emma wrinkled her nose. “He’s a fucking twat. I swear to God if I get to see him, I’m giving him a proper piece of my mind.”

  My gaze snapped to hers. "You're coming with me, right?"

  Her brows lifted ever so slightly then a soft smile broke free, and I knew she’d thought I’d keep her out of it. I was done with that. She was my rock, the only one managing to keep me together. The only person who didn’t need me to be… well, me. I’d broken apart after the lawyer’s office, and she patched me up. Got me the fuck out of the city at the very least and made sure that I was okay. I loved her.

  “I don’t think I can do it without you.”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  Ben tapped the coffee table. “All right, what’s the play? Talk to the old man and ask him what?”

  “Well, verification for one.” I said. “Then try and pry out Middleton’s secrets from him. Which will probably go nowhere."

  East, ever practical, said, “Mate, obviously you go in with recording devices just in case it should get extra spicy in there. And we want to know about the fucking inheritance.”

  I wrinkled my nose at that. “I don’t want it.”

  Drew laughed. “Mate, are you fucking joking? You will be Lord Edgerton. If you don’t take it, it goes to fucking Middleton.”

  “I don’t want it. I don’t know what else to say. I want nothing of the fucking legacy.”

  Emma squeezed my hand then. “It’s not your father’s legacy because he is not Lord Edgerton. Everyone just assumes he is. Technically you are Lord Edgerton. He is just a proxy. All these years, no one has been paying fucking attention because nobody knew. You had to be thirty to claim it. Thirty and married. Which, God, all those years he kept you dangling with Mina."

  I cursed under my breath. “You know what’s funny? I asked her to elope more than once.”

  Across the table from me, Ben shuddered. He had always hated her. And now I knew why. He was the only one who had tried to warn me on more than one occasion, and I hadn’t wanted to hear it. I’d never properly thanked him for that.

  “Main goal is a location,” Ben reminded us. “Suss out if he knows somewhere Middleton might be tucked away.”

  Emma nodded. “I’m on it. Bridge, all you handle is telling him he’s a fuckwit of a father. I will glean out the other information we need.”

  East grinned at her. "I have full faith."

  Emma nodded enthusiastically. "Are you sure I’m not allowed to stab him? Because I have these ideas and fantasies about a little knife play. But knowing him, he likes it kinky. All you Elite boys do.”

  Ben turned bright red, and I had to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing out loud. East shrugged. “I just like to watch. What’s the problem with that?”

  And Drew, well Drew turned away and hit the scotch again. Fucking hell. We did not have time to deal with this. But if he kept drinking so heavily, we were going to have to deal with it right now before dealing with anything else.

  “Wow. I love how each and every one of you just told on yourselves,” Emma said with a laugh.

  I just shrugged. “You already know how I like it.”

  She blushed then, and I couldn’t help but think of how I’d ask her to bite me. To make it hurt. God, just thinking about it made me hard again. Fucking hell.

  “We’ve got to come up with a better plan. Trying to take Middleton down the way we’ve been going about it isn’t working. We’re playing by the rules. Arrest, capture. He is not playing by those rules. Interpol is on it. The police are on it. We’ve got all these resources at our disposal, so why are we still playing catch-up?”

  East nodded. “You’re right. We have been playing by the rules. Telly and I are going to hopscotch and dig around the Intelligence Services mainframe.”

  Ben tsked. “Mate, I don’t want to get called in for a meeting with Intelligence Services this week.”

  East grinned. “Mate, stop worrying. I have a light touch.”

  From the corner, Drew muttered, “That’s not what Nyla says.”

  And we all laughed. It felt good to laugh. Good to release that knot that was sitting in my gut. That knot had drowned out all the good in my life just yesterday. After Emma and I had talked about it, I had started to reconsider burning everything to the ground and not taking the money. But she reminded me that I could do something amazing with it and should keep my grandfather’s legacy alive. A man who had apparently loved me. I still hadn’t read his letter. I needed to, but I still couldn’t bring myself to open it.

  I glanced around at my mates. “So yeah, that’s it? We’re going to do this?”

  Ben laughed. "It's your call. Your father is our best bet. We stand by whatever you want to do. Especially if you choose annihilation." Ben's evil smile came out. The one that was all cocky confidence. "Look no further. The lot of us are going to stop playing fucking defense and hit them all where it bloody hurts."

  East nodded. "So, are we going to call in some help?"

  I nodded. "Too fucking right."

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bridge

  I’d only been to my father’s house a handful of times.

  My house.

  Most of those times were to spend a week in the summer with my grandfather when a car would pick me up from Mum's house in East London. While our house was compact, consisting of one bedroom and a pull-up couch, tiny living room, and even smaller kitchen, Mum had done her best to fill that place with toys and love. And even though she worked her fingers to the bones in many different kitchens, she made sure I was always looked after.

  Mrs. O'Doul, our neighbor across the way, had watched me when Mum worked. Her place smelled like cats. I’d hated that smell. Still, I would’ve taken it over my father’s sprawling mansion.

  It had a massive, circular stone drive with a sprawling lawn and garden, and it set far enough away from the main road that you had to drive up a long, single-lane paved road to get to it.

  Mum hadn’t been allowed to come with me the first time I visited. I’d been so small in the back of the car. The driver hadn’t even given me his name. He just called me ‘young master’ as he put on my seatbelt. And he’d driven me away from everything I’d ever known. Mum had been crying, but she still let me go.

  I’d been wearing jeans and a jumper, the cleanest, nicest thing I had. It was what I’d normally go to church in. And I felt like I didn’t belong there. I’d been dropped off at the servants’ quarters. I still remembered that. I was met by the butler and then taken to the study. My grandfather had been waiting.

  I hated to think about it now, but I decorated my own study much like his. Dark paneled wood. Massive oak desk. Books all over the shelves. The room I hadn’t been wanted in, I'd recreated. Deliberately sat in it, even though I hated everything about it. How fucked up was that?

  Looking up at the house now, I was conflicted. Because at the end of the day, this was my house now. I needed to make it do something worthwhile.

  Emma glanced around. “Well, it certainly is big.”

  I laughed. “That's what she said.”

  She snorted a laugh and playfully hit me on the shoulder. “Ha-ha. It lacks a feminine touch.”

  I nodded. “Gran died before I was born, so there’s that.”

  “Well, I’m sure she would’ve done something with this place.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I find it interesting that gramps kept the house the same after she died. And Dad hasn’t really done any major renovations since my grandfather passed. Granted, he probably wasn’t allowed to without the trust, and the trust would have a problem with that.”

  When I pulled the car up to the front door, I glanced up at the house. “Do you know, I’ve never been allowed to walk in the front door?”

  Next to me, Emma gasped. “What are you talking about?”

  “They always let me in through the servants’ entrance.”

  She firmly took my hand. “Fuck ‘em, yeah?”

  I had to smile down at her. “Yeah, fuck ‘em.” And then I leaned forward and grazed my lips over hers.

  The door opened, and the butler appeared. “Oh, sir. Mr. Edgerton, we were not expecting you today. Your father—“

  “You can forget the lie, Smithers. I know he’s here.”

  “It’s not Smithers, sir. I am—“

  I dismissed him with a quick wave of my hand. “Ugh, relax. I don’t want to actually learn your name. Is he in the study?”

  I might not have spent much time there, but I did know it like the back of my hand. I found my father’s study easily enough, more toward the back of the house, overlooking the expansive garden and golf course. I didn’t knock when I barged in.

  He was on the phone, and he sputtered, “Daniel, I’ll call you back.”

  “Dad. How’s it going?”

  He pushed to his feet. “You will explain yourself. How dare you walk through these doors?”

  I laughed then, turning my gaze to Emma. “Ah, you see what he’s doing there. He’s trying to establish the rules. Establish that he is in charge. He’s not. Apparently never has been.”

  Emma wasn’t looking at me though. She was staring at my father, glowering at him.

  “What is the purpose of this visit, Bridge?”

  “I've spoken to the lawyers. Turns out all this is mine.”

  He scowled. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “When were you going to tell me that all of this was mine?”

  His face went ashen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is bullshit.”

  “No.” I started pacing around the room, and Emma perched herself prettily on the corner of his desk as he scowled at her. “No, no, no. I will tell you what’s bullshit though. Making me believe that nobody wanted me. I know you didn’t want me, but that’s only because I stood in the path of the son you actually care about. Who is a full-on psychopath by the way, but you know, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I guess in this case though, I’m more like my mum. Isn’t that what Granddad said?”

  The old geezer lunged at Emma, and fucking beauty that she was, she had his letter opener right at his jugular with the flick of a wrist. He froze.

  “Tsk, tsk. My bride, she does get a bit temperamental when you don’t feed her on time. I left her deliberately hungry so she could deal with you herself. And she’s pretty excited about it.”

  As if on cue, Emma’s stomach grumbled. I wanted to kiss her. She licked her lips and leaned close to my father. “And I’ve been dying to find out what roasted cock tastes like.”

  It was an exercise in controlling my face. Because dear lord I wanted to laugh. This fucking woman was nutters. Off her rocker, completely mental. And I loved her.

  My father paled. “Of course, you’d bring a street urchin to my house.”

  "You will call her Lady Edgerton. Isn’t that right, Dad? I get the title, the house, the lands. The first thing I’m going to do is pour cement over your golf course. I’ve always hated that thing. I’m going to put a sports complex out there, you know, for underprivileged kids to come and play.”

  I hadn’t even realized I would want to do something like that. But as I said it, the idea formed, and I liked it. I could do something good with the money, with this house. All the things I hated about him, I could put them to good use.

  “The trust won’t stand. I have it on good authority that your wedding’s a sham.”

  “On whose authority? We got married in a small ceremony. We love each other, and we shag each other senseless, and whether it’s a business arrangement or not, those weren't actually the terms of Granddad's will. Not that it matters to you or is any of your business, but I’m keeping her. She’s just my kind of crazy.”

  Emma flashed me a grin and deliberately pressed the letter opener just a little into his skin. The old man hissed, and she laughed that low, raspy laugh of hers.

  “So, brother dearest, where is he?”

  “You won’t find anything. All these years you didn’t fucking know. And you won’t know. He is my son. He understands the scale of power and money. You are your mother’s son. Weak. So I pawned off that girl on you.”

  “Her name is Darcy.”

  “I don’t care."

  “Well, you should care. Because when this is all over, she will be richer than you are. I will personally see to it.”

  My father laughed. “I will fight you for it.”

  “You can feel free to try, but Burks and Associates already gave me the details. We already have our forensic accountants working on the books. Every dime you’ve earned for the estate belongs to the estate, which means it belongs to me. So thanks, Dad. Now where’s Middleton?”

  “I'll never tell you. You don't even understand what's going on here. You don't understand the lengths I would go to in order to protect my son. I’ve had a lot of practice hiding all these secrets. You will not find him until he decides to strike.”

  Emma stared at him then. “You are a blowhard. We’re busy telling you that we’re going to take all your money. If I were you, I’d be trying to save as much of it as possible. But instead, you think you can maintain what was never yours. If I were you, I’d take a cool mil, go find myself an island, and hang there. Hope no one ever finds me. Live out the rest of my old days like that. A king on my very own little island. But no, you’re sitting here arguing with your son. Tell us where Middleton is. He’s a psychopath, and I want him dead.”

  He turned on her. Before he could slap her, I had a hand around his throat so fast he didn’t see it coming, and I squeezed.

  He wrapped a hand around my wrist and tried to tug me free. But I shook my head at him. “No, no. We don’t touch my wife. Not now, not ever. Where is he?”

  The old man’s eyes went wide. He clawed at my grip, but all I did was squeeze harder.

  It was Emma’s voice that stopped me. “Bridge, he’s not going to tell us anything. And he’s already confirmed what we know. Time to go.”

  My gaze met hers, and I loosened my grip. “After my birthday you should probably run. Take as much as you can and get off my property.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll fight you or kill you. One of those two things is going to happen. Which means your brother gets everything. And him I can control.”

  I smiled then. Even as Emma jumped off the edge of the desk and took my hand. “You can control him? So what you’re saying is that you’re responsible for the murders of all those women in Barcelona?”

  His brows lifted and his lips parted. And I could see the truth in there. Middleton’s little murder havoc was the one thing the old man could not control, and he’d been trying for years. And that was information we could use.

  “Old man, if I were you, I’d start packing.”

  Then I took Emma’s hand and we strolled out. It was game on. I knew exactly how to make them pay.

  Expose them all.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Bridge

  “You want to do what?”

  I glanced around at my mates. My family really. I’d asked Mum to come because we hadn’t had a chance to talk yet. Darcy too, because she'd wanted to be included in everything. Which seemed dangerous. But she’d been kidnapped and felt helpless, so I wanted to include her. Unfortunately, my mother was showing some signs of squeamishness already.

  “Like I said, I want to hit them on all angles. Give them nowhere to hide. Expose every secret we can find. We go after Middleton and Edgerton simultaneously. We will go after the senior Middleton as well. And we ferret out every single member of the Elite that’s been helping them. This conspiracy isn’t just two men. Ever since Ben took over, there have been forces working against us. It's time that we take steps to stop that."

  Emma sighed. “That means we go after my father too. We need to know what he knows. I will go and see him tomorrow.”