Elite

by Madison Stevens

  “Let’s get going,” he said.

  When I turned back to the house, Judy and Ryan were standing at the door. I gave a wave and climbed into the car.

  We drove through the black of night. It was two our time but three back home. Several times I tried to get service, but we were just too far away from anything.

  I just hoped that Nicky was able to get her there in time.

  My stomach rolled at the idea of her taking some random pills. She’d never been one to do anything like that before all of this. She was just a normal girl doing normal girl things.

  I thought back to the night she told me. She kept saying the same thing and had even said it to Chance. No one believed her. At the time I assumed she meant that we wouldn’t believe her, and she just needed encouragement.

  “No one believed her,” I said aloud.

  Dean looked over to me. I leaned my head over to catch my breath.

  “How could I have been so stupid?” I said and tried to suck in air. I rolled down the window a little and then turned back to Dean.

  “In high school, when something bad happens to you,” I shook as I spoke, “who are the first people you’re going to tell?”

  Dean shrugged his shoulder. “My friends?”

  I nodded. “And that’s what she did.” A cold laugh came out as I tried to keep the tears in. “But in our fucked up world, feelings don’t matter. People don’t matter. It’s money. All about fucking money. And money talks.” I banged my hand on the dash as it all came together. “They knew. They all knew. How could they not?”

  “Want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Dean turned to look at me. The blue light from the dash intensified the worry lines on his face.

  I leaned back and closed my mind. It didn’t matter if Dean knew. Everyone already knew. The one person Vivien was trying to protect was Chance, and he didn’t even know it.

  “A young girl goes to a party with her friends. It’s going to be fun. She’s going to meet a boy and fall in love. Instead she meets Robert. Someone who doesn’t care that she’s a virgin. Someone who won’t stop when she says no.” I choked out the words. Tears leaked from my eyes. “And as terrible as it is, the worst is yet to come.” I turn to Dean. “She does what any girl would do. Tells her friends. But in our world, some people are just more important than others. And Robert’s family must be very important.”

  I thought for a moment. There was really only one family that would fit the bill that I remembered having a son.

  “The Montgomerys.” I sighed. It made sense why no one would touch them.

  “Who are the Montgomerys?” Dean asked, startling me from my thoughts.

  “The top of the wealthy food chain in my parents’ circle.”

  “So I get this rapist doesn’t get charged, but why would everyone know?” He turned, and the lights from the city could be seen in the distance.

  “There are no secrets with these people. Most of the time it’s about trying to climb your way to the top. Emma was different and paid for it every day at that school.” I smiled. “It’s what drew me to her. I stared out the window for a moment before continuing. “But it’s so much worse than it would seem. She tells some friends who say to let it go, but she doesn’t.” I grunted. “Or likely couldn’t. Suddenly everyone at the school knows. And in that world, knowing dirt is how you climb the social ladder. Or more pointedly, how your parents climb the ladder.”

  I could hear the steering wheel creak as Dean gripped it harder.

  “They knew,” he bit out.

  “They all knew, but I’m going to make sure they pay,” I said and leaned back. “I can’t save Vivien Sinclair from what she’s been through, but I sure as hell make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

  Anger burned in me as I thought about what I would do, but I swept it to the side. First, I had to make sure Vivien was going to be okay.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  We reached the hospital just after six. Grandmother met us outside.

  “She was having seizures earlier, but they have stabilized her now,” Grandmother said as we walked to the waiting room down the hall.

  We turned the corner, and Chance was talking with one of the doctors.

  “He’s having a hard time coping with all this,” she said in my ear. “His parents called the hospital and gave him the power to make the decisions.”

  I nodded. In the end, it was better he was making the call. Compared to his parents, he was leaps and bounds more responsible.

  I found Nicky and Ben seated in the corner.

  I went and gave Nicky a hug. “I’m so glad you were there,” I said.

  He grunted. His face was hard, and I imagined he was thinking on Tom’s role in all of this.

  “She was pretty bad off when we brought her in, but they’ve been taking real good care of her,” Ben said.

  “They had better,” Grandmother said. “Or I’ll have their asses out on the street.”

  Ben leaned forward. “Does she really have the power to do that?” he whispered.

  “You bet your ass I do,” she said to him. “I own the controlling shares of this place.”

  Ben nearly choked and looked at me in horror.

  I nodded. Grandmother wasn’t someone many people messed with.

  Chance finished talking and came over to where we were seated. His face was pale and drawn out. He looked like he had aged years in just one night.

  “They think she also has meningitis,” he said and sat down next to Nicky. “It’s likely what was causing the seizures.”

  “What does that mean?” I looked over at him.

  He sighed and leaned back. “They say it was lucky she came in tonight. It’s very easy to die from, and there are lots of other side effects that can happen.”

  “What sort of side effects?” I glanced over at Dean. He sat quietly next to me, just taking it all in. I put my hand in his.

  “We won’t know until she’s feeling a little better,” he said. “She’s resting now. They pumped her stomach since we don’t know what sort of drugs she took. For now, they just want her to rest and let the antibiotics take effect.”

  “It had to be bars,” Ben said. “It’s all that little fucker has.” He looked sheepishly at my grandmother. “Sorry.”

  She raised a brow. “No, I’d say fucker is the right word for him.”

  My eyebrows nearly lifted off my head.

  “What are bars?” Dean asked.

  “Xanax,” Nicky said. “It’s popular with the kids that come in.”

  I nodded but didn’t really understand. Xanax was more common with moms than kids.

  Chance stood and stretched. “I’m going to get some coffee. Anyone need any?”

  Everyone else shook their heads.

  “You should all go home and get some rest.” He yawned. “She’s stable now, and that’s as good as it gets.”

  Nicky and Ben stood.

  “Call if anything changes or you need anything,” Nicky said.

  Chance nodded. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “She wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for you.”

  Nicky grunted and gave a nod to the rest of us before leaving.

  Grandmother was the next to stand. “I’m too old to wait all night.” She smiled at Chance. “I’ll be in tomorrow to check on you both. Are you staying here?”

  Chance nodded. “I can’t leave her.”

  Grandmother nodded. “I’ll have them bring a cot to the room.”

  Chance’s smile was so weary, I wondered if he would even be able to stand much longer.

  She turned and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “He’s as handsome as the painting,” she whispered in my ear. I blushed and watched her leave.

  For a moment, Chance stared at us and then turned toward the coffee machine.

  “Just give me a minute,” I said to Dean and followed Chance around the corner.

  When I stopped next to him, he stared ahead at the machi
ne.

  “So you brought him,” he said quietly. “It’s serious?”

  He looked at me with such sadness. It tore me up to have to do this to him.

  I nodded.

  He gave a sad smile.

  “I’m sorry for yelling at you,” he said and leaned against the machine. “It’s not your fault.”

  I held up a hand. “Let’s save all of this for tomorrow.” I took the coffee out of his hand. “What you need is sleep.”

  He laughed a little. “Were you always this bossy?”

  I smiled. “It’s new.”

  I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug.

  “Thanks for coming,” he said.

  “Always,” I whispered.

  Chance leaned back and smiled. “Will I see you later?”

  “You can count on it,” I said. “Just call if you need to.”

  He nodded and made his way down the hall to his sister.

  When I came back in the room, Dean was dozing in a chair. It had been a long day, and he had been amazing on all fronts.

  I nudged his foot. “Let’s go to the dorm and get some sleep.”

  He smiled and followed me to the rental.

  * * *

  It was mid-day before we were able to get back to the hospital. I phoned Gavin to let him know. They were spending time with Emma’s parents but said they could be in later in the day.

  Grandmother waited for us in the hall.

  “How is she?” I asked.

  “Good. The antibiotics are working.” She smiled. “They were both sleeping when I first got here. The nurse said he was up on and off all morning so to just let them both sleep.”

  I nodded and turned to Dean. “Could you get us some coffee?”

  He smiled, and when he was out of the room, I turned to Grandmother.

  “Has she talked to anyone?” I asked quickly.

  “Not that I know of,” she said in surprise.

  “I think we’re going to need to call in someone.” I chewed my lip.

  “What’s this all about, Grace?” she asked.

  “Oh, it’s just so terrible,” I said.

  I told her what I had been able to guess. Her face fell, and she turned pale the more I talked.

  “Are you sure?” she whispered.

  I shook my head. “No, but it makes sense.”

  Grandmother grew quiet.

  We jumped when shouting came from down the hall. Vivien’s voice was loud and slightly slurred. I wondered if it had anything to do with her seizures.

  I shot out of my seat and raced to where the shouting was. There stood Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, stunned by the reception they were currently receiving.

  “Get out!” she screamed, trembling. Two nurses looked between Vivien and her parents, clearly at a loss.

  Chance left his sister’s bed and marched to the door. He pointed to outside the room. Once everyone was out of the room except for the nurses, he slammed the door behind him.

  The nurses looked between each other. Grandmother waved them off, and they hesitated for a moment before leaving.

  “You have a lot of nerve showing up here,” he said, the rage from yesterday just under control.

  “I beg your pardon,” Mr. Sinclair said, his plastic face showing no signs of any emotion.

  “You heard me. You pushed her to this,” he hissed at them.

  “All she had to do was let it go,” Mrs. Sinclair said. Her mouth was pinched in irritation.

  “Let it go?” Chance yelled. “Get out!”

  “That’s our daughter. You can’t make us leave.” His father puffed out his chest. Like he would even take the risk of having his plastic face hit.

  “He can’t, but I can,” my grandmother said. “Haven’t you already put this child through enough?”

  They huffed at my grandmother but seemed to back down.

  “When she told you,” I said finally, “were you surprised?”

  They looked between each other and then back at me.

  “What are you getting at?” Mr. Sinclair asked.

  “I’m just saying that Robert Montgomery’s parents carry a lot of weight in your circle.” I stepped forward a little. “And when Vivien told her friends at school what had happened, it had to have been making the circuit at the club.”

  Anger coursed through me, but it was Chance who delivered the final blow.

  “You knew?” he said quietly. “All the recent parties, trips, and pushing me with Grace. It was all because your status was tarnished.”

  He turned his back on them and faced the door. “You sicken me. Don’t come back here. Don’t call. Just don’t. You have no children.”

  “You can’t do this!” his father shouted.

  “No!” Chance whirled around and pointed a finger into his father’s face. “You can’t do this. All this time you’ve been pissing away what little money you have, I’ve kept my trust untouched. And Vivien turns eighteen in just a week. We don’t need you.”

  Chance opened the door to the room and slammed it shut behind him after entering.

  “He doesn’t mean it,” his father said to their mother. “We don’t have time for this.”

  He glared at the rest of us, before they hurried down the hall.

  “Are you okay?” Dean asked from behind me.

  I nodded and reached out my hand.

  “We didn’t get introduced last night,” Dean said to my grandmother. “I’m Dean.”

  “I’m the battle-ax grandmother,” she said and held out her hand.

  I snorted.

  “You two get acquainted while I check on them,” I said.

  I knocked on the door and opened it when I heard Chance. The two nurses nodded to me before stepping past me into the hall.

  Vivien sat on the bed. Her face was very pale, but she was alive, and that was something considering.

  I smiled at her. “How you feeling?”

  “Like I’m not dead,” she said, a faint slur in her voice.

  I looked over to Chance who was having trouble regaining control.

  I walked over and sat next to her on the bed. A bouquet of beautiful flowers lay beside the bed.

  “Nice flowers.” I nodded to the arrangement.

  She smiled a little. “They’re from Ben.”

  “Ben?” I laughed. It wasn’t who I was expecting.

  “Well, maybe Nicky too.” She looked out the window for a moment. I wondered what she thought after everything that had happened.

  “So a place with your brother?” I said and looked up to Chance.

  For the first time, she actually smiled, albeit weakly.

  “You two leave that world, and don’t look back,” I said quietly. “It’s poison.”

  “But aren’t you a part of that world?” Vivien looked at me with interest.

  I shook my head. “Not for long.” I stood and looked at Chance. “I’ve got some things to attend to. Otherwise, I’ll be back later.”

  Chance came around the bed and took me in a crushing hug.

  “What are you going to do?” he whispered in my ear.

  “I believe I’m going to crash a club,” I said and leaned back.

  His eyes widened with shock, and then he broke out in a wide smile.

  “Give ‘em hell.”

  I left the room feeling more sure than ever about where my life was headed.

  “So who feels like hitting the club?”

  ***

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I passed through the front entrance of the country club with every bit of confidence I could muster. Going from being a door mat to a bull was harder than it seemed.

  There they were, just like nearly every day, nestled in the back, trading all the latest gossip with the others around them. With Grandmother and Dean trailing behind, I led the charge.

  “Oh, Grace,” my mother said loudly. “What a surprise.”

  Speaking loudly only meant one of two things. They were talking about som
ething they didn’t want me to hear, or she was on martini number two.

  “Well, judging by the number of olives in your glass, you’re still on the first cocktail. So let me guess,” I sat down at the table and placed my chin in my hands, “we’re talking about poor Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair.”

  My mother shot my father a confused look.

  “What’s going on, Grace?” my father asked in a stern voice.

  “Well, Daddy dearest, we’re just having a little chat about the Sinclair family.” I gave them both my million-dollar smile.

  “Are you drunk? Who the hell is this?” he said, pointing to Dean.

  “This is my boyfriend,” I said loudly. “And let’s stay on task here.”

  I looked between the two of them, bile rising in my throat.

  “You know, I wanted to come in here and tell every one of you off.” I leaned forward. “But you aren’t worth it.”

  “Mother, what the hell is she going on about?” Father shouted.

  Grandmother stood next to me and stared down at her son.

  “When I told Grace to go find herself, I never thought that she would also help me find myself.” Her voice shook with emotion. “You knew Vivien was suffering, and you turned a blind eye.”

  “It wasn’t our problem,” Mother said. “Besides, if Grace had just been with Chance, it would have solved everything.”

  I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “I can’t even look at you.”

  “We’re done,” Dean said to Grandmother.

  She turned back to Father. “This is not the life I wanted for my grandchildren and until you can live life like it should be, you’ll not inherit a dime from me.”

  “Mother!” He stood and stared her down.

  “Grace, you can’t do this,” Mother said to my back. “Think of what it will do to your ability to meet the right kind of people.”

  I turned and smiled. “I’ve already met the right kind of people.”

  I pulled out my phone and hit dial.

  “Emma,” I said, staring at Mother the whole time. “Tell your mom that I’m giving Liv Blackstone the exposé of the century.”