“Do you really think a movie like The Skulls gets made without our approval?”
“I never thought about it.”
He says, “It’s one of many ways we address rumors. Movies. TV shows. Books. Things that can be played off as fiction but are real. We control the narrative.”
“That’s kind of sexy.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Is it, Angel? Please, feel free to tell Daddy all about it.”
And just like that, everything fades away except for the two of us.
Brooks and I arrive at the Brotherhood’s meeting an hour late. My body is still tingling from all the naughty things we did before we left the house. And in the SUV.
Brooks winks at me as we walk into the venue.
“Careful, Angel, or I’ll whisk you away before we make it to the table.”
“You won’t get any complaints from me. I’d love to finish what we started in the SUV.”
“Naughty girl.” He lowers his head, kissing my lips. “We don’t have to stay long.”
“Okay.”
He gives me one last kiss before turning to the attendant next to the door. The man dips his head and the doors in front of us swing open. It feels like everyone inside stares at us as we enter. I’m shocked at the amount of people that I recognize around the room. Holy cow. Are all of these people in the Brotherhood?
Grant Carter calls out, “Elite Member Henderson, who is the beauty at your side?”
Brooks answers, “Hannah Henderson. My wife.”
Murmurs fill the room, but Brooks ignores them. I wish I was as confident.
Grant Carter lifts his glass. “To Elite Member Henderson and his wife, Hannah.”
Others around the room raise their glasses, toasting us, too. I spot Buffy and Isa at a table in the front of the room. There are two other women that I don’t recognize, but must be the infamous Aimée and Vivian, the two women who were supposed to be in Jacqueline’s wedding party, but never made it to the dress fitting for the bride’s maids. None of the men at the table look happy, except for Alessandro, who’s at Isa’s side.
Brooks says, “Time to rub it in their faces.”
“You mean the news story that aired earlier about our wedding and fairytale romance wasn’t enough?”
He grins. “Fuck no. I want them to eat crow.”
I snort and let him lead me to the table where the other Elite Members sit.
Brooks smiles and says, “Good evening, gentlemen. Ladies. I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Hannah.”
I smile, too. “A pleasure to meet you all.”
An older man with grey hair looks me up and down. “The infamous Hannah Foster. It seems you didn’t learn your lesson the first time with Henderson.”
Keeping the smile on my face, I say, “It’s Hannah Henderson, and no, I guess I didn’t.” I touch Brooks’ chest. “And I’m glad for it.”
“You won’t be glad when this marriage ends.”
Brooks says, “It’s not going to end, Blanc, and if it does, Hannah gets everything.”
“What?” Blanc and I ask at the same time.
Brooks winks at me. “Guess I should have mentioned that, Angel.”