Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
The Elder who first spoke said, “Is there opposition by any of the Elders why Montgomery Kingston should not be granted his right and his claim?”
“I do,” my father said as he stood from his seat. “Mr. Kingston has broken one of the rules of the Initiation, hence disqualifying him. He has failed on the final day.”
What? If it were possible to be punched in the gut from afar, then it just occurred. I could barely breathe as a shooting pain ran from my heart to my spine.
My father… my own father…
The physical pain caused by betrayal nearly buckled my knees. I’d risked everything to go out to the docks to save him— How could he do this? How?
“He left The Oleander at approximately 3:30 a.m. today. It specifically states in our bylaws that no recruit going through the Initiation may leave the manor for any reason. Due to his breach, he can no longer claim his stake in the business nor join our Order.”
“You asshole!” Grace shouted. “He left to save your stupid ass! If it weren’t for him, you’d be in jail right now. You owe him your life, you piece of shit!”
I reached for her hand to try to calm her down, but she just brushed it away in her rage.
“What kind of father are you? To betray your own son? After what he did for you?”
My father seemed unfazed by her words. “Regardless of what he did, or why he did it, my son did not follow the rules of the Order. It takes a strong man with a stronger disposition to fully complete the Initiation, and I knew that Montgomery would break eventually.” My father spoke with such a disgusted dismissiveness about me.
“And rules are rules. I’m sorry, Son,” he went on, not sounding sorry at all, “but you knew what was expected of you when you agreed to the terms of the Initiation. You broke the rules, and therefore the business will remain with me as the CEO and the one calling the shots.”
“The business is mine,” I snapped. “It’s been mine for years. I’m the only one who has busted his ass to try to keep it a legitimate business our forefathers would be proud of. You have done nothing but soil it all in the name of more money.”
“Money is what gives us power, Son. It’s a shame you’re too weak to realize that.” He looked around to some of the other Elders, laughing slightly as if he expected them all to agree with him before looking back at me.
“I had hoped you’d be strong enough to show me that you could indeed be a man and pass the Initiation, but my fears have come true. You aren’t cut out for it. You’ve always been softer than me. And I can’t protect you any longer. You made your choice when you left, and now it cost you everything.”
But someone had tipped me off this morning. My father’s position was more precarious than he knew. I refused to back down now. So, it was more to the room that I spoke than to the waste of space that was my father.
“Your money is dirty. You’re dirty. I left this morning because I believe in loyalty. I believe in family even though you don’t deserve it. You can go to hell. And if this is what the Order is all about, then you are right about one thing. I am not cut out to be a member of it.”
Mr. St. Claire pounded his cane against the ground to stop the back and forth argument. “Crime is not what the Order is about. Though our practices may be archaic, barbaric even, sinful in many ways, and ritualistic, the mission has always been to rise above the scours of the land. We are kings and dreammakers, not peasants and thieves. Only the most distinguished and powerful men are part of the Order. Our bloodlines represent respect, prestige, and wealth. Not dirty, back alley deals with men below our pedigree. Call it elite… call it whatever you choose.”
My father turned and shot daggers at the man. “St. Claire, with all due respect—”
“Yes, I do deserve respect,” St. Claire interrupted. “So kindly sit down and listen to what I say. I speak on behalf of the Elders.”
My father scanned the Elders looking for some kind of answer, but the faces of the men remained emotionless. I couldn’t read them probably any more than my father could.
St. Claire continued on. “I was the one who called Montgomery and warned him about the impending bust. And yes, the rules clearly state that no one is to leave the manor during the Initiation. But the Elders and I were prepared to make an exception to protect a fellow Elder of the Order.