Drayton
Elite games came a dime a dozen, but no game was ever cheap.
When the world rested at your fingertips, and billions were at stake, risking it all held appeal.
I knew this which was exactly why I’d been dreading this moment since Elec told me my title was being reinstated.
It was nice to not have a target on my back, but there was no denying who I was.
This was my birthright. This bloodline belonged to me, and I’d be damned if I was going to let anyone take it from me again.
The car came to a stop, and Quinn looked between us.
He smoothed down his dark gray suit, adjusting the heavy coat as he leaned forward to grab to the handle.
Snow dusted the grass, only making the large, white and brown brick mansion appear even more looming than I remembered.
Quinn opened the door, stepping onto the cobblestone driveway.
I leaned in, kissing Marian as I gave her a reassuring nod.
She was afraid. She couldn’t hide that from me as I followed Quinton out.
My family stood a good twenty feet away.
All were wearing semi-formal wear and in their dress coats.
My mother was in her pearls, and the chestnut hair I had last saw was now speckled with gray.
Her smile was gone. She looked just as cold as the Chicago winter chill.
But I saw her confusion, along with the puzzlement taking over all of the two dozen members of my family that had come.
“My wife,” I said, reaching my hand out to the opened door.
Within seconds a hand gripped onto mine and Marian stepped out of the SUV.
My mother reached out to my father, and she swayed as color drained from her face.
She was silent, just as they all were, but my father couldn’t contain the dark red that tinted his cheeks as his glare stayed on Marian.
Whispering filled the space but died as my mother’s hand shot up.
Repeatedly, my father’s jaw flexed, and at my mother’s nudge, he headed forward with her holding onto his bicep.
My brothers and sisters followed behind, and the tension rose as they got closer.
I drew Marian against me, not able to ignore how Quinton was slightly between me and my father. He was ready to interject if he had to.
“Drayton.” My dad’s glare went to Marian, fixated on her as his nostrils flared with anger.
“I’m right here, father. You can direct the intimidation my way and take it off my wife.”
“You’re wife—”
“Congratulations to both of you. It’s good to have you home,” my mother rushed out. “Will you be staying long?”
I looked between them. “No. Just long enough to straighten things out. I’ll be running this family from Los Angeles. I’m more than capable of doing that.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You expect to control Pennington from half the world away?” My father still kept putting his attention on Marian, and I felt my pulse hit hard as a tightness seemed to coat around my mind. The slight pain that came with it almost had me wincing.
I eased Marian behind me, stepping into my father’s space until he couldn’t look at anything but me. For seconds, I stared him down. My brother shifted behind him, and I scanned over my father’s aging face, feeling… nothing. Nothing but my need to root in my rule.
“I’m going to do a lot more than that. What you’re going to do is listen and take notes. We’ll take care of this in my office. I assume it’s in the same place?”
Heavy breaths were leaving my father, but he ultimately nodded, leading the way. I pulled Marian back to my side, following as my parents headed to the front door. Quinton took his place behind me and Marian, protecting our backs from the threats that followed.
“Marian, would you like to come with us while—"
“She stays with me.”
My mother’s opened mouth quickly shut as she nodded and faced the front again.
The front door was opened, and we swept through, making a sharp left as we headed to the far end of the wing.
Where my father and mother continued ahead, I glanced back only seeing my brother, Jaxson, the replacement heir, following.
“The nerve,” my father grumbled, going faster. “To think you—For you to—”
“Edward, enough.” My mother’s voice held power as she glared up at him. “We talked about this.”
“The boy never learns.”
“That boy is a man, and he’s right here. Do you want to turn around and face me as you say it, or are you just going to keep turning your back on me like you always have.”
My father spun, but it was Quinn’s bump into me as he deflected Jaxson’s advance that had me turning to face them.
It wasn’t fast enough. Jaxon was pulling at Quinton as he tried to get to me, throwing his weight around to the side, right into Marian.
She hit the wall hard, and I knew nothing but the need to spill blood.
The color of the room wavered, and I reared back, smashing my fist into Jaxson’s mouth with everything I had.
Jaxson hit the ground and Quinn grabbed onto me, right along with my father, but it was Marian’s booming voice that had me freezing into place.
“Enough!” My mother was helping her struggle to her feet.
“Can we get to the office before we start fighting over this? I’m sorry, normally I could handle getting knocked on my ass, but I can’t risk getting trampled and hurt in the hallway between all of you if I…
if I might be—” she looked between us. “We’re all adults.
Let’s act like it.” She turned back to my mother. “Thank you, Evelyn. Shall we?”
Her arm came out, and my mother took it. They started ahead, and I threw my father a glare as he stepped by me, helping my brother stand. I didn’t budge as my tone dropped and my eyes locked on Jaxson’s.
“Accident or not, if you get near my wife again and you hurt her—”
“It was an accident, Dray. I was after you.”
“I don’t give a shit. If anything happens to her, that hit will not compare to the wrath that will find you.”
His lip peeled back. “You’d hurt me for hurting a woman who destroyed our family?”
The yell was so loud, we all turned to see Marian and my mother looking at us at the office door.
“Marian may have accused me of those things, but anyone with a brain knows after watching the evidence that was released this morning that she did not act out of free will. Marian doesn’t even remember that night.”
My father grabbed my jacket. “What the hell are you talking about, Drayton?”
“I’m talking about the video evidence that was released this morning.
” I grabbed his wrist, prying his hand from me.
“Her mother drugged, manipulated, and then shipped her off to endure a hell none of you will begin to know. Did you think we were the only ones who were victims of Melissa LaRoe? Not even close.”
“I’ve watched the stories coming out but—”
“But, what?” I said, interrupting my dad.
“You all sit there and blame me and Marian for our demise, but you all had a part in the fall of this family. It was your duty to stay on top of these things, Father. The businesses are going to shit. No one is taking responsibility for anything. What the hell has happened to all of you?”
“I’ll tell you what’s happened,” my brother said, pointing. “Her. She’s what happened.”
“Are you not listening to me,” I exploded.
“You’re taking one night and blaming it for ten years of decline.
Marian was not responsible for what happened that night, but has she paid for what she’s done to us?
” I met my father and brother’s stare dead-on.
“You better fucking believe she did. And that was before the Elders publicly decided to end her line and give her to me for revenge. Before I knew of this innocence. She’s paid.
I made sure of it, and I never want to hear another word about it again.
If you want answers, I suggest you watch the video that was released, along with the documentation.
She’s innocent, and she’s my wife. You better find a way to accept that because the rest of the circle will. ”
I headed back for Marian, feeling Quinn move in behind. The moment I entered the office, I brought her to the far side of the room, drawing her in close and lowering my voice.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I just got the air knocked out of me.”
I searched her face, only now letting her words from before filter in. My hand lowered to her stomach, but I didn’t break my gaze from hers.
“We’re more careful from here on out. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
“I should have had you more in front of me. It has to be that way. I watch your back, and Quinn watches mine. You always have to be in front,” I breathed out. “It’s the only way.”
My father stormed through with my brother, but I saw his anger was diminished by the confusion that kept his face puzzled. He didn’t speak as he walked straight to the computer. Jaxson and my mother followed, but I didn’t need to go to know my father wanted to see this evidence, himself.
Quinton stepped in, lowering his voice. “I’m sorry, Dray. I should have expected the outburst from Jaxson. He’s never been one to hold back. I just thought… fuck. Marian, I’m really sorry. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine. I don’t even know how you reacted so quickly. I never saw him move.”
My lids lowered through the anger at the flashback of seeing Marian hit the wall.
“He’s lucky he can move at all right now. The more I think about it, the more I’m tempted to take the pieces that touched and hurt you.”
“Drayton, don’t do that. It was an accident.”
At Marian’s aghast tone, my lips twisted. “One more accident—”
“That’s it, Dad.” My brother was pointing. The look he gave me told me nothing. Jaxson had always looked out for himself. We’d never been close.
“He gave you alcohol, Marian. You were influenced. He raped you—”