Lust (The Elite Seven #1)(46)

“I would never. I’m so sorry this happened.”

Nodding her head, she frowns. “I know you are. I don’t understand all this. Tasks…and was I a dare or something?”

Sitting up despite my skull cracking into two, I reach for her and almost cry like a bitch when she doesn’t pull away. Her little body lowers to the bed, and she studies my hands holding hers.

“Have you ever heard of The Elite?” I ask, laying it all out there.

Her eyes snap up to mine, then she closes them.

“Of course you’re part of The Elite.” She exhales a shuddering breath.

So she has heard of it.

“My father spoke about The Elite to me. I was to tell him If they ever approached me.”

“Have they?”

“No.” She shakes her head.

“When you’re recruited by them, you’re given a task to complete.”

“Okay.”

“I met you before I was ever given my task. It was pure coincidence the two mixed.”

I’m not explaining this well.

“Getting into The Elite meant everything to me, Chas. It was all I wanted—until you. I gave my chance up because I refused to hurt you like that.”

“I don’t understand why they would want you to hurt me?”

“Me either. I’m sorry. But you should know, Lillian is a member, Chas, she wears their mark.”

Sighing heavy she shakes her head. “That doesn’t surprise me even though it should. Her family, her brother, is a very powerful man.”

Gripping her hands tighter I implore.

“I didn’t know initiation would be something so …”

“Disgusting? Degrading? Personal? Illegal?” She says, pulling her hands free from my hold.

No. She can’t leave me.

“Please don’t leave me.” I put my vulnerability out there. Raw and true.

“Your best friend’s an asshole and I’m not okay with what he did or you being a part of this Elite. They’re bad news, Rhett. But those few hours without there being an us was like death. Never again. Let’s make a pact now that nothing will come between us again.”

“I promise.”

My world centers when she crawls into my lap and allows me to hold her.

I inhale her scent, touching every inch of her. I’m never letting go.

I know God wasn’t the one who filmed us. He wouldn’t stoop to that shit. He only told her that to bring her back to me.

And I’m never letting her go.





“You need to forgive him.” I tell my mom as she picks at her food, sat opposite me in the restaurant. We’re finally having our dinner together, minus my father.

“He trashed my car, Rhett. I’ve known that boy his whole life, love him like my own.”

I stop eating and implore her. “I know and that’s why you need to offer him a little slack, he would never intentionally do anything to hurt you.”

Holding up her hand she nods. “I know that, and of course his father can be persuasive into letting things go.” She rolls her eyes.

“Four even offered to pay off your school fees.” She snorts offended.

“Like I need him to put my son through school.”

“Not when I have my own father to make me earn the tuition fees.” I mock.

“I pay your fees and all I expect is effort with classes, Rhett, that’s not too much to ask.” She scoffs sipping her drink.

Wait, wait… “What?” I ask, bewildered.

My mother sits opposite me, looking a little confused.

“I paid your school fees at the start of term. Why would you think your father was paying?”

Motherfucker.

She doesn’t give me time to answer before she speaks again.

“I’ve also invested in a property I want you to consider moving into. I’ll stay there too, if you’ll have me?”

Is she for real?

“I’ve missed you, Mom.”

Tears fill her eyes.

“I’ve missed you too, so much. I know you thought I was being harsh on you leaving like I did, and I don’t blame you for not wanting to see me, but—”

“Wait,” I blurt, cutting her off.

“You thought I didn’t want to see you?”

She plays with her napkin, tearing it into tiny pieces. “Your father said you were angry that I left.”

“That piece of shit,” I growl. “He told me you weren’t ready to see me!”

My mother turns white as a sheet. “You’re my son. I wouldn’t never not want to see you.”

Reaching across the table, she grabs my hand. “I love you, Rhett. More than anything in this world.”

Emotion clogs my throat. I didn’t know how bad I needed to hear that from her until she said it. My own tears build in my eyes, and I squeeze them closed to will away the salty drops.

“You wouldn’t believe what I went through to try to get out of Dad paying for my school.” I chuckle, but it’s strained.

Her body stiffens, and she takes a sip of her wine.

“I do, actually. Your father informed me about The Elite. I’m not going to lie, Rhett, it breaks my heart you’re involved with them.”