Chapter Thirteen
Amelie
Today I’m meeting with Baxter to help me choose some women to join The Order. He has a list of potential candidates. I’ve decided that I’m going to ask Elsie to join, and if she says no then I will take that risk because she should have a choice.
I sent her a text a few minutes ago to meet me in my room.
I’m actually really nervous about talking to her.
Right on time she walks through my door.
She no longer knocks if the door is unlocked, and I love that about our friendship.
I never expected to have a relationship like that with anyone other than Smalls and Aadi.
Typical Elsie, she is up, dressed and ready to start every day. I might have my uniform on, but I’m seriously dragging ass before coffee.
“Is everything okay?” she asks nervously. She usually has to bang down the door to get me to wake up.
“Hey, sit. I need to talk to you.”
She comes and sits at my desk chair and spins to face me.
“Can you say something? You’re making me nervous,” she whispers, picking at her nails. “Did I do something wrong?”
“What? No! Never.”
“Okay, what is it then?”
“You know when I first came here and there were so many mysteries surrounding me. I needed answers and you were brilliant at helping me with those theories.” She nods. “Well, I figured it out. Most of it.”
“I mean, that’s amazing. But I kind of figured that out by now.” She laughs. “The power suits and limitless credit card were a bit of a giveaway.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s amazing, but you’re right, it’s definitely been life-changing. I know you know some things. But I can’t tell you everything.”
“Okay…”
“But I want to. You know the guys belong to an organisation, and that suddenly I’m important to it. I need you to understand that if I ask you to join, there is no turning back ever. It's a lifetime membership.”
“Amelie, you are my only friend and if you’re in I’m in, no questions asked.”
“It’s not that simple. You can never get out, it will change your entire life.”
“It is that simple. I know that you know what I did to be here and why. You had the files. And yet you still wanted to be my friend. Without you, I don’t have a family.
Even those Knox boys have grown on me. Frost and…
Jasper too. I feel like we’re already a part of something.
So if that means that I am led even further into something, no matter how blind I am, I trust you. ”
“There will be an initiation and it will target all your fears.”
“I don’t care. I’m in.”
I sigh in relief. She says she needs me, but I need her just as much.
“I found out that I’m a double blood line for a secret society.
The first ever to exist – or maybe I should say the first to survive – and in the rules, that person will take over the entire Order.
My first born will be the legacy to take my position and so on.
My position can never be taken back or away from me.
There are some ancient rules, and basically it has been run by men since it started, so they’re not exactly welcoming me with open arms. My first agenda was to abolish the no women rule.
And I have to initiate some women. I want your help. ”
“Holy shit, that is a lot to take in! Who else is in this secret society? I’m presuming all your boyfriends?” I nod.
“And Baxter, Monty, Jasper and Frost.”
“Jasper?” she whispers, looking crestfallen.
“Yes. Now hopefully his need for secrets makes sense to you. Once you’re officially in, you can talk to him about it, but not before. You will need to be an official member before he’s allowed to tell you anything. It’s the rules he has to follow or an execution team could be sent after him.”
“Execution team,” she parrots. I can tell she’s in shock, so I take her hand in mine and give it a gentle squeeze.
Again, I find myself nodding. “Like I said, once you’re in, you’re in. The only way out is in a wooden box.”
“Shit, well I guess I’m in, so long as I can pass that test.”
“You will pass, I’ll make sure of it. But we need to go and meet Baxter. I’ve finally tracked him down, and he wants to meet this morning. He likes to hide in the shadows, so I guess we’d better go get coffee and then find him.”
He has a dingy ass shack just outside the school boundary and I’m sure that is where he’ll be.
We both stand, and Elsie grabs my hand and pulls me into a hug. She doesn’t say anything and holds me tight, until the door flies open and we pull apart. Adrianne is standing in the doorway looking between us.
“Um, sorry boss but I was summoned. If I’m interrupting, I can wait outside.”
“No need, we’re heading out now. So let’s go.”
We all exit the room, and Elsie glances over at Jasper. She turns away quickly and her and Adrianne walk ahead of us. Jasper falls back with me.
“What was all that about?” he asks.
“Elsie’s in.”
“Do you think that’s wise? She’ll never pass initiation.”
“Are you questioning my authority?” I frown at him and he quickly shakes his head.
“Good.”
I speed up to catch up with the girls. We end up in the cafeteria and get our coffees and Elsie grabs a juice.
“Where are we meeting the sinfully sexy man meat?” Adrianne asks, and I snort. Baxter isn’t going to like that I’m bringing her but tough shit, this is his punishment for disappearing on me.
I fill her in on where we’re going and we all head off.
It doesn’t take us that long to find the damn shack.
Jasper heads up the stairs and pushes the door open before motioning for us to come up.
Baxter is leaning against a wall, and he takes in everyone with a look of confusion, but doesn’t say anything about them. He instead looks at Jasper.
“Wait outside and make sure the area is secure.”
Jasper nods and leaves.
We all take a seat on the dusty chairs. There isn’t much else in here besides them and a table. Baxter joins us and lumps a pile of folders onto the table in front of me.
“Let’s get this done because I have places to be and, honestly, better shit to do.”
Adrianne coughs suddenly, choking on her saliva or something. She’s obviously shocked by Baxter being his usual delightful, lovely self. Elsie is used to him and just smiles.
“You can’t speak to her like that, you know who she is,” Adrianne stage whispers in fear, like I’m not sitting right there able to hear her. It’s kind of cute that she wants to protect and warn him like that. I snort.
“You do realise you’re not an official member yet?” he snaps at Adrianne. “I could kill you and there would be no repercussions. I’ve been feeling super stabby lately and wouldn’t lose any sleep over your brother being left with no family.”
“Baxter,” I chastise. “That’s a horrible thing to say. Let’s focus on what we’re here to do.”
He mumbles under his breath, and I don’t miss him grumbling that it’s true.
“Fine,” he huffs. “Do you have anyone in mind?”
“I have Elsie and Adrianne, obviously.”
“I could think of better candidates... No offence Elsie.”
“Baxter, back on track. They’re here to stay. Show me some of your top choices.”
He picks up a folder and opens it. “Belle Lucas from Westchester Prep. She isn’t much to look at but her family is extremely affluent. She graduates soon, and on track to do it with very good grades. She’s sharp and smart, but obviously having wealthy connections is important to The Order.”
He closes her file and opens another. “From St. Julian’s.”
St. Julian’s is the rich, elite school not far from here. We have Adrianne's brother enrolled in their junior school campus. “Emmerson Bailey, she runs in the same circle as Chester and Taco, which is a stupid name if you ask me. She’s a bit scrappy, but her skills in the ring could be an asset.”
“So that’s four. What about Debbie?”
Baxter is quick to throw back “No, absolutely not. We don’t know anything about her or who she’s been associating with, we can’t be sure that she’s trustworthy.”
“What about Bex then?”
“Your brother’s weird girlfriend?”
“She isn’t his girlfriend, they hate each other.”
Elsie and Adrianne just watch Baxter and I go back and forth.
“They fuck enough to be something,” he states.
“Eww, I don’t want to know that.”
“Well, we can’t initiate anyone from Australia without your grandmother's permission, and we currently don’t know her agenda either. It isn’t a pressing matter to figure out.”
“Fine, not Bex yet then.” I sigh, wondering why Sawyer didn’t mention the Australia rule when I ran the idea of Bex joining past him. Surely it’s something he would have known. Did he forget, or was he just humouring me?
“What about Maggie?” I ask.
“Ms Davis?” Elsie gasps.
“Yeah.”
“Monty would hate that.” Baxter points out. I’m about to argue why it’s still a good idea but he surprises me by saying, “It’s a good idea. Ask her. Here are some other options.”
Baxter hands out folders to everyone and we all read through them.
He says they all have some good connections and could be useful in their own ways, but right now it is more about just picking so that we have some women to bring in.
He thinks we can be more specific and picky next year when we do a dual initiation, but I feel like my first selections are most important.
It’s a defining moment for both The Order and my leadership.
He hands me a folder and watches as I open it. A picture of Maggie is clipped to the side. I look over at him and he nods. I’m actually impressed that he was already on the same page as me. I smile. I guess we’re besties for a reason.
I read over her file, wondering if her sons know her skillset. I wonder again if she would even be interested, and Baxter answers as if he can hear my thoughts.
“She would join just to get back at Monty and Laura, but at what cost? Will your boyfriends be pissed?”
“I doubt it. She already knows enough that Monty has to be responsible for her and she can’t go off and be free of him. If she was to join, she would be able to live her life without the watchful eye of her ex-husband.”
Baxter nods again, settling it. We’re in agreement then, Maggie is a definite pledge, if she wants to be.
“What about this girl?” Adrianne asks, holding out her folder. “She’s poor as dirt, but look at her rap sheet. She hacked into a government facility and is deemed too dangerous to be in the community.”
I take the folder and have a read through. Mackenzie Kennedy. I wonder if she would even be trainable…if she’s too rogue it might not be worth it. But then again, Monty handpicks his recruits from Knox Academy and they all have dubious pasts.
“It says she tried to re-route government missiles to take out a child sex ring operation. Someone with that kind of determination could be an asset,” she argues, and I nod. Her file gets added to the pile.
Elsie finds another girl from St. Julian’s and even though Precious Rae – yes that’s her actual name – may be an uppity princess, her father is one of the most sought after criminal attorneys in all of England.
And the last person I choose is not from a family with connections or even wealth or skills, unless you class her pouring beers at the local pub as a skill.
Baxter must have seen something in her but, her file is empty but for one news article.
She killed a man in self defense. For me there’s something in her eyes that draws me to her.
So I add Kathryn Spencer to the pile. They will each get a cryptic invite.
Most of the kids from the schools or universities around here will have heard rumours already, so we’ll see who turns up.
I’ll organise to go to Mackenzie’s and Kathryn’s court hearings, or possibly send Elsie or Adrianne.
First, I’ll have to look into the judge overseeing the case and find out if he’s part of The Order.
I’m presuming most of the people in power in this country will be, and if they’re not, they’re probably in our pockets, keen for one of our priceless favours for times of need.
“All that’s left is to organise initiation,” I say looking at Baxter with a smile.
“Hell, no. That’s Kalen’s specialty and we both know it. They would be killed if it was left up to me.”
“I have to pull rank here. If it is left up to Kalen they’d all be naked and jelly wrestling, and I can’t have the girls help me yet because they have to take part. So that leaves you because it has to be fair.”
“You do realise that you are pushing the friendship boundaries right now,” he growls from between clenched teeth.
“Good thing that I’m not asking as your friend, but telling you as your boss then isn’t it? Because I believe deep down in that chest cavity is a heart which can be fair and help me with this.”
“No, there’s not. You’ve just managed to find a muscle that likes you and have mistaken it for a heart,” he replies before winking at me. Elsie gasps. I guess not many people have seen this teasing, almost playful side to Baxter before.
I shake my head at him. He talks a big game, but I think if I threw myself at him now he would turn me down. He may complain about it, but he needed a friend.
“Keep telling yourself that, Batman.”
He screws up his face at me and lights a cigarette that he pulls from a packet he had stashed in his pocket.
“Just remember all of this because I have a favour to ask of you soon, and I will need you to come through for me.”
With that he stands and leaves, and as he exits Jasper walks back into the small, dusty room. Perfect timing and ever watchful.
I know Baxter wants out but I’m not sure if that’s something I can actually grant for him.
I need to pull some files on those who have managed to get a pardon.
I want to ask my father, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to know all about his past yet.
If he wanted me to know, he would have told me already.
I need to talk to him about Debbie, too, and see what his thoughts are, but is he ready to know she is alive?
And I don’t know how that will impact his relationship with Chelsea, because he cheated on Laura with Debbie, and although I can’t blame him for that, if they still have feelings for each other it would crush Chelsea.
Hell, it would crush me. I couldn’t bear it if I caused a chain reaction like that.
Surely there has to be someone else that I could look into?
I might go to the ‘headquarters’ and do some digging so I can be prepared for when Baxter comes to me.