Page 1 of Worthy

prologue

CASSIUS

“This is it. This property has everything we’ve been looking for.” My younger brother, Rhodes, pulled up the estate’s listing.

“It’s located in Harbor Crest, which is the most exclusive, affluent area in Rhode Island. It’s close to Boston and New York, which is what we’ve been looking for. It’s on ten acres, completely private. The closest neighbors are a mile away,” Rhodes explained. “There’s a long, private drive—no visibility from the street. There’s a main building, several outbuildings, a grotto, pool, and a helipad. It’s located on a private beach. It’s perfect.”

“How much?” my youngest brother, Sterling, asked.

“Three hundred million,” Rhodes said. “They’re looking for a quick closing.”

“I’m sure they are,” Sterling snorted.

I examined the pictures, which were impressive. “It’s beautiful. This was formerly one of the Vanderbilt homes, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Rhodes pulled up one of the images of the main house. It was majestic and opulent with a rose-gold exterior, a mansion from the glory days of America’s Gilded Age. “The new owners have maintained the character of the property, but they’ve upgraded it to have every modern amenity.”

“We’d still have to make significant modifications,” I reminded him.

“I’m aware,” Rhodes said. “But the main house has everything we’re looking for. The lower level will be perfect for our purposes.”

“Let me see.” A ripple of excitement surged through me as I scrolled through the pictures. There was a large, grand ballroom on the lower level of the structure. It was opulent and private—discreet. Rhodes was correct; it would suit our needs perfectly.

“How many bedrooms?” I asked.

Rhodes’s eyes lit up. “Fifty, each with a private bath.”

“That’s acceptable.” Being the oldest and the de facto leader of our family, I didn’t want to appear too eager. But my brother was right: the property was perfect.

“What’s the address?”

Rhodes grinned. “Four-forty-four Hawthorne Drive.”

Ah. Four-forty-four happened to be my lucky number, and my brother knew it. This was the property we’d been waiting for.

“We can call it Club 444,” I said. “See if they’ll accept an offer of two hundred fifty million in cash. We can close in the next thirty days.”

Rhodes and Sterling gaped at me.

“Do you mean it?” Sterling asked, his excitement palpable. “Are we actually doing this?”

I nodded. “There’s a huge demand for a private club like this. Between the three of us, we already know two dozen investors who will want to join as premier members. There’s plenty of housing for the guests. This will be the opulent retreat they’ve been looking for. We’ll probably sell out the day we announce—we’ll have to start a waiting list.”

“We have to hire a Madam,” Rhodes cautioned. “We won’t be able to do any of this unless we have the staff to accommodate our members’ needs.”

“Yes, about that…” I cleared my throat. “I’ve been in contact with an agency in Boston. I think I’ve found someone who can help us.”

“You have?” Sterling looked as excited as I felt.

I nodded. “I spoke with a woman who owns an escort agency. Her sister is looking for a new position, and this should suit her perfectly. She said they’ll begin the hiring process as soon as we give them the green light.”

“I can’t believe we’re finally going to have our own club.” Rhodes shook his head. “I always hoped, but I was never sure if it would happen.”

“We’re Blackwoods. Of course, we’re making this happen.” I got up and poured each of my brothers a bourbon and a water for myself. I passed out the drinks and raised my glass.

“To Club 444,” I said. We all drank in salute.

Later, after they’d left, I pulled up the listing again. I examined the grounds, the grotto, the infinity pool, the outbuildings, the beach, and the main house. My blood started to run hot. This was going to be my palace, my playground. This was where all my fantasies would come true, in total privacy.

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