Chapter Eleven #3
“What the fuck is that?” Monty snaps, and it catches me off guard. He doesn’t swear very often, or at least not in front of me. He is always so put together. I turn back to face him.
“It’s my tattoo.”
“I can see that, but we have a left rule and you changed the design. You can’t do that.”
“Well, technically I can. Kalen has his on the wrong side and that has never been a huge issue for you. I decided that women have been told for way too long what we can and can’t do by men.
I’ve decided we should have the right to pick a more feminine option if that’s what we want.
So both designs are now available to new recruits, and from all the damn research that I’ve spent weeks doing, there is no official rule on where the tattoo needs to be situated on the body so long as it is there. ”
Everyone just stares at me.
“Well, Amelie, I believe you are ready to take over your role. I am organising your graduation early, along with everyone else, but there are hoops I need to jump through to make that happen. However, it won’t be too far away.
Onyx, Slate and Baxter will be easier to organise, and I have started with them.
You will all take over official roles once it’s been done.
So, boys, you need to start deciding what divisions you want to be in, or if you plan to take a side role and get yourselves a real job.
Either option is fine. Both come with advantages and disadvantages.
But I will support you whatever choice you make. ”
I did read in one of those ancient books that people from the founding families get first choice for positions within The Order as long as they’re qualified or can be trained for the position.
Others tend to go into fields that benefit The Order.
It can be as simple as a family connection or a skill set or expertise in a certain field, but basically, the more you have to offer, the better chances you have within The Order.
“We’ll talk about it and let you know,” Sawyer answers.
“Your job at the school is yours if you want it,” Monty responds, and Sawyer seems undecided. Weird. I thought he would for sure want to teach again.
“I’ll think about it,” he begrudgingly agrees and Monty nods. I guess we have a lot to think about.
“We also need to talk about what is happening with Harold. Is anyone even looking for him?” I ask.
“We have our best on it, but he knows the workings of The Order and how we operate. Which is why he won’t be easy to find if he has gone underground. We’ve captured Sebastian and will have an official board meeting to decide his fate.”
“I want Baxter on it.”
“On what?”
“All of it,” I reply and Monty sighs.
“You can’t just insist on putting him on everything because you’re friends with him. Lord only knows why anyway. But—”
“With all due respect, I have my reasons. You say Harold knows how The Order operates, so he’ll know exactly who you’ve sent looking for him and how they work.
We all know Baxter is a law unto himself, which is why Harold wouldn’t see him coming.
Secondly, the board has not been finalised.
If Sebastian’s ruling can wait until it is, fine.
But if not, I want Baxter there whatever the outcome.
If Sebastian dies, it’s at the hands of my most loyal and fiercest protector.
” I say that last bit as a dig at the Knox brothers.
Yes I love them, but they can be real assholes at times, and throwing Baxter in their faces like that sends a clear message about just how badly they’ve hurt me.
“She has a point. About the board, and Harold,” Kalen points out. I knew he’d be the first to jump to my defence. Like a puppy, he can’t stand the idea of anyone being mad at him for long.
“Fine. I do understand your logic, and it can’t hurt to try and have Baxter hunting Harold.
But he’s not all powerful or invincible.
I honestly don’t know why you’ve placed him on such a high pedestal.
” Monty shakes his head at me, and although I have an urge to jump to my friend’s defence, I simply raise a brow at Monty and refuse to comment.
It riles him. He knows Baxter is one of the best assets within The Order because he has a ruthlessness that the others don’t.
Monty saw that for himself when Baxter was younger, and Monty went out of his way to bring him to Knox Academy and to start grooming him for The Order.
I bet he would have loved to adopt Baxter, I just can’t figure out why he never did, or what truly went wrong between them all.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “Tell me what you know about Debbie.”
Monty sighs again. “I don’t know a great deal, you would need to talk to your father. We were all close friends. We all suspected that they had feelings for each other, and one day your father left. Without permission I might add.”
“I thought you couldn’t leave The Order?” I interrupt.
“You can’t. But arrangements can be made when it’s mutually beneficial.
Baxter’s grandfather for example, takes more of a backseat role, in exchange for Baxter being inducted early.
The Order will always operate with its own best interests at heart.
It must. And you have to get on board with that…
Anyway, your father had no such arrangement.
He simply disappeared. Deserted. It might have been because of Debbie, but he never really contacted us again unless we had business to talk about.
We knew where he was of course, and who his mother was, and so at the time it suited us to leave him be.
Once he received his official pardon I never heard from him again. ”
“His pardon…how does someone get one of those?” I ask, curious as to how that works.
“That I don’t know. They’re not granted often and he’s still technically in The Order, but not in the same way as someone like Baxter’s grandfather is.
There’s no deal or agreement. A pardon works differently and is even rarer.
I do know that he would have to fulfil any outstanding favours before leaving, and that he can’t ask for any ever again.
Only your father could explain the terms of his pardon, because you have to take it up with the board, and at the time I wasn’t on it.
Records are sealed for everyone but the head of the organisation.
Now that area falls on you, and if you can’t decide, you can use the board members for a majority vote.
But you can’t just grant them without a very good cause.
I know what you’re thinking, Amelie, because it’s no secret that Baxter wants out by any means necessary.
And I understand wanting to help your friend, but I meant what I said before.
We always act with our best interests at heart.
Letting an asset like Baxter loose would be far too dangerous.
Especially with people like your grandmother on the prowl with undisclosed agendas. ”
I understand exactly what Monty is saying, and know instinctively to keep my mouth shut about Baxter’s involvement already with my grandmother. So instead I simply nod to show my understanding.
“I’ll take it into consideration,” I say.
“There will be transcripts for the few pardons that have been granted that you will have access to now that even board members don’t.
Those files were sealed but you have access to everything historical.
The board is essentially useless, but they’re there for you to delegate things to.
I suggest you do, or your plate will overfill. ”
We spend the rest of the evening eating great food cooked by Frost and talking about the organisation with Monty.
It gives me time to thaw towards my men, especially when they regale me with funny stories about assignments that went wrong, and they have my sides hurting from laughing so much.
Monty even joins in, sharing anecdotes from his initiation alongside my dad.
It makes me want to see him.
I also learn that there will be an official event to celebrate me taking over the full reins of The Order.
Every living founding member has to attend.
Monty explains that those outside of the founding families might get an invite if they are deemed worthy enough.
I’m pretty sure he just gave me that option so I’m able to invite a few women.
I’ll definitely want the female pledges there, as I suspect the event will be before they’re fully initiated.
I don’t disclose to any of them who I’m thinking of choosing to join because I honestly have no idea.
Next year I can pass the picking on to someone else.
Kalen will probably pick based on looks or their ability to drink him under the table, and no one would be worthy enough in Onyx’s eyes, but maybe Slate would do a good job. He’s fair and level-headed enough.
But that doesn’t help me now.
Baxter better move his ass and get back here so I can pick a solid group to initiate this year. These women have to be right, after all, we’re making history.