Big Ben (See No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,12

years. There was always an even number of recruits. In our class, there had been five pairs. Bridge and East had been paired. Drew had been paired with someone else. There had been two other pairs, and I had been paired with Toby. Since Toby had died, I’d had to make my confessions to my father. That awkward moment when my biggest confession was that I hated him was one I would never forget.

One by one, in a sea of black and gold, all the brothers filed into the vestibules to hang their cloaks and shelve their masks, then up the spiral staircase at the end of the darkened hall to the level that was composed of elevator banks to the upper floor. There was no other way up to the estate.

The clipped sounds of our polished oxfords on the marble floor built like an orchestra crescendo while we loaded onto the elevators. I never felt I breathed more freely than when the stainless-steel elevators gave way to the white marble, chrome, and glass of the massive foyer.

I was free once again.

Above us, the enormous crystal chandelier gleamed. The cool forced air reminded me that I would not die in that tomb after all. Beyond the wide expanse of marble and the glass wall, I could see into the acres of garden, lit up with tea lights for the occasion. The miniature fountains lining either side of the double Olympic sized koi pond also had all the lights turned on. And the drawbridge leading from the house to the mini island in the middle, complete with seating and a Champagne bar, was drawn to allow guests use of the outdoors.

To the left was what the family used as their receiving room. It was more intimate than their ballroom. The furniture was plush and designer. Many pieces were handcrafted. Every five years or so the décor would change to keep up with the times. The Van Linsteds couldn’t be behind the times in any way.

I grabbed a scotch and headed for the balcony. Now that the ritual was done, senior brothers weren’t required to stay. One more hour and I could head back to the city. I hated the fucking Van Linsted estate.

We’d been dragged there for workshops and to be inducted into the brotherhood of the Elite properly. I’d been tattooed there, lost my friend there, and I had also been tortured there. Induction was only the first step.

After you celebrated becoming a brother was when the real work began. They had trained us like we were military. Deprived us of food and sleep, preparing us for the harsh realities of the world outside. ‘Molded us into gentlemen,’ they said. Refined us to be strategists. Prepared us to be leaders. And I wanted to burn it all to the ground.

When I thought back to it, I thought it was absolutely insane some of the things they’d made us do. We’d only been kids.

It was hard to not wonder what would have happened if Toby had lived. I tried to shrug it off, but then the hairs on the back of my neck prickled, not so much for danger but with awareness, and I asked, “How long have you been standing there, mate?”

Bridge sauntered over. “I knew I’d find you out here.”

“Where are the others?”

“East is involved in a tight conversation with his father. Drew is enjoying the ass kissing of the new recruits. Why does no one understand that when free booze is offered, you need to temper yourself because you don’t know what’s coming next?”

I shrugged. “Because everyone loves a party, and no one ever thinks they’ll have to pay for it.”

“I feel bad for them. They have no idea what they’re in for.”

“We certainly didn’t.”

He shook his head. “No, we didn’t, did we?”

I turned to him, watching as he lit up his cigar. “Do you regret this?”

He shrugged. “Oh, I hate every single one of these fuckers, aside from you lot. But I’m not an idiot. I know that as much as we aimed to build London Lords without them, the skills that they taught us got us where we are now. So I can’t say I regret it.”

I turned back to stare over the expanse of grounds lit by the crystal lights to give atmosphere.

“Yeah, well, I think we would have made it on our own.” I drained my scotch, letting the burn warm me from the inside as it hit my gut. “You ever think about