The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(101)

“Go.”

I turn and look at Maxwell. He’s pulled out his phone, and his eyes are glued to it. “Huh?”

“Go spend time with your friends. It’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

“I don’t want to leave you alone…It’s not far to the house.” I eye Mason getting into the car with Charlie. Vinny has the only other empty car, which would be the car we’d ride in. There’s no way Mason will want Max in with him.

I should have thought about this.

It was too easy for Nina to talk me into it.

“You don’t think I can look after myself? I have a call to make. I’ll ride with the old guy. ” He nods towards Vinny.

I stare at the side of his head, trying to see if he means what he says. I don’t want anything to be misconstrued and turned into an argument later.

“You’re sure?”

He nods before flashing his eyes up from his phone in answer.

“I’ll see you at the house then.”

“Luce, I’m fine.”

I nod and smile at him. “Thank you.”

I quickly rush to the girl’s car before they drive away, and my eyes lift to Nina as I slide in.

“Hey, you.” She smiles.

I settle in the seat and blow out a breath as I pick up Waverly’s small hand. “Hey, girls.”

“Here.” Megan hands me a glass of something bubbly, her face screwed up in an awkward contortion. “You’ll be alright.”

I take a sip and look around at them all. I have so much to say, so much to ask, yet with Ellis in the car with us, I know it has to wait.

“Happy holiday, whores!” Megan toasts, clearly not concerned for little ears.





We arrive in Bora Bora just after three in the afternoon, and the sun is still burning hot. Both the Lowells and Mongomerys own properties out here, and although Mason’s is closer to the village and we’ve never used Elliot’s parents’, I know that it is just as grand and boasts beautiful views.

The house sits on the cliff tops, with glass windows stretching its entire face. There’s an infinity pool and terrace for lounging, and then two more terraces for dining on.

“Holy shit,” Maxwell steps up beside me, taking in the building before him in awe. He turns to me and smiles. “This is all private?”

It really is something special.

“Yeah. Family only.” My eyes close, and I bite my tongue as Mason strolls in past us.

“What’s his fucking problem?”

“Shhh,” I snap. “Seriously, you do not want to piss off that man. Think rottweiler on steroids and then make it vicious.” I shake my head and huff.

I can’t go home now. That would mean telling Mason to call his people to have him turn the plane around, and that’s just… worse. So much worse. I have to make the next week work.

And then I can only hope Elliot will be ready to talk when I get home.

We set up in our rooms and make ourselves comfortable. Mine and Maxwell’s room is at the other end of the lodge. I’m not used to sharing with anyone other than the girls when we come away, and the idea I might be missing out on their antics makes me sad.

“Do you guys come out here often?” Maxwell asks while I unpack my suitcase.

“I’ve been twice, but as a family it was always their go-to.” I look over my shoulder at him, finding him at the double doors that lead to the terrace, looking out over the ocean.

“They have some money,” he remarks. “The Lowells.”

The Lowells do have money, and maybe at times, it shows. Mason has had his share of moments since I’ve known him, throwing his money around to get what he wants. And Elliot lives life exactly how he wants to, with no limits.

“The other guy.” I look up to find him turned around and facing me. “Who is he?”

“The other guy?” I swallow.

“Yeah, the one who actually said hello to me.”

“Charlie.” I smile. “He’s a friend of the family. A lawyer.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

I hold up a floral bralette to my chest. “You didn’t ask.”

“What’s your relationship with him?”

The top bunches in my lap, and I lift my gaze to his. “My relationship?” I frown. “Charlie is a friend. A very, very good friend.”

His face tightens, and I can tell he doesn’t like that answer.

I don’t know if it’s the bubbly I had in the car or the fact my girls are just down the hall, but for the first time in a long time, I want to call him out.

“Why do you think it’s okay for you to be friendly with women, but I can’t be with men?” My eyes don’t leave his, and the way his glare down at me tells me that he knew what I was about to say before I uttered the words. “I don’t want to start an argument. But we made it very clear what we wanted from this,” I gesture between us. “Before you moved in.”

“You want to sleep with him?”

I recoil. “What? No.”

“Then what’s the problem? Why would you say that if you didn’t want to fuck around?”

“Max—”

“And when you give me fuck all, it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, Lucy. I don’t know what you expect, but if I’m not getting it from you, then I’m going to get it from somewhere.” He places his hands on his hips as I rise to my feet, not liking the stance he has above me. “You said yourself that we knew what this was when I moved in.”