The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(126)

More than me.

I haven’t given you a ton of advice here. You’re either feeling better, and you’re laughing, or I’ve fucked it, and you can no longer read the words from distress.

Just remember, you’re the motherfucking main character, princess.

You don’t need anything but a catchy beat and a dress made of magic flowers.

Elliot.

Tears run freely down my face, and although I want to focus on the words, my mind is doing its thing, and all I can think about is how I’ve had this letter since the day I left for New York and never opened it.

“I can barely look at you right now. It hurts my face to cry.” My head snaps up at Murley’s voice, and I find her cheeks lined with her own tears. “You never told me about Elliot.”

“I wasn’t sure you even liked me some days.” I chuckle, taking her hand. “Do you want me to get someone? Bishop?”

She smiles and looks away, emotion taking over her face as it screws up. “Did they get away?”

I shake my head, but she doesn’t see. I scoot closer and squeeze her hand in mine. “No, no, Pol, they got them. You did it. They got all of them.”

She turns back to look at me. “What?”

I nod and wipe my face. “You did it. I heard the police officers talking, bigging you up about how you pulled it off.”

“Felix, too?”

I smile and nod again. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up. Thank you, Murley.”

She laughs, but I can sense her pain as she winces slightly before trying to move up the bed. “You weren’t part of the plan, Lucy. When I met you in that bar that first night I wanted to tell you to run far and wide.”

“Why didn’t you?” I question unapologetically.

“You brought me closer. I never had a good reason to stay out with them in the evenings, and I definitely didn’t have the same access to Maxwell that I’ve had since you showed up. My superiors looked at you as the perfect in. When Maxwell suggested we move into the house, I should’ve said no. I’m sorry for that.”

“Are you?” I ask, looking between us. “It set it up perfectly, right?”

“It meant I got them quicker. But you were always to be left out of it.”

“It worked out in the end and—”

“A word when you’re done here, Wright.”

My eyes widen, and I don’t dare turn. I bite my bottom lip at the tone of his voice, smiling through it at Murley. “You never told me about Bishop.” I pop a brow.

She rolls her eyes and composes herself while I block her from view. When she gives me the nod, I stand and leave.

“They want you to stay the night to keep an eye on you. Your family will arrive shortly, and I imagine they will be able to help you with the house?”

The house. I forgot about the state it was left in after everything happened.

“Uh, yeah, my family will help me,” I mutter, turning on the threshold.

“I’ll be over once I get out of here. I can help you.”

Bishop frowns as he looks back at Murley. He faces me again, that annoyance firmly back on his handsome face. “Thank you, Lucy.” He nods, dismissing me.

As the door creeps closed, I hear, “It’s wild to me that you think I’d let you out of my sight in the next decade, let alone a week from now.”

I smile to myself as I disappear down the corridor.





My parents arrived in New York early this morning after catching the first available flight out of London. They’ve been trying their hardest to hold it together, but the moment we walked into the house and Mum saw the mess left behind, she broke.

So did I.

Dad sent me to bed to rest, but I opted for the sofa instead. Truth is, I don’t want to go upstairs just yet. I know the police cleared away the surface mess and the drugs. They took pictures and checked the entire house for anything that could’ve been hidden away.

The idea that Maxwell is a criminal doesn’t seem real to me even now. How could I live with him, spend my mornings, nights, and weekends with him, and not know?

Drugs. Fucking drugs stored in the basement of this house. The police told me it was the perfect opportunity for them living here. Quiet, out of the way, and private. It makes me wonder if Maxwell used me for that very reason.

Maxwell. Alec. Polly.

Not one of them was who I thought they were.

“This is Ralph and Elsie?”

I peer over the sofa at the frame my mum is holding. A smile slides into place, and I stand, walking over to her and taking the picture.

“I need to get new frames.”

“Will insurance cover all the damages?”

I shake my head, my temples throbbing with the movement. “I don’t know. I should call him.”

It’s been weeks since I’ve checked in with Ralph. I told him I’d call after Bora Bora, and I know this is something that has to come from me.

“From what you’ve told me, he will understand this, Lucy.”

“He will.” I look up at my mum with tears in my eyes, giving her a sad smile. “It’s the type of person he is.”

“Go lie down. You’ve had a scary couple of days.”

I go back to the sofa and pull out more tissues, anticipating what’s coming. “Mum?”