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Luca and his brothers resumed their places at the table. He opened a new bottle of Macallan and passed around glasses.
“I think a toast is in order.” Alex raised her glass of ginger ale that had one sip left. “To Cole and Grace having their first child.”
“And to Grace becoming the next Elder of The Founders Society,” Bastian added.
Everyone lifted their glasses.
“Salute,” Luca said.
ChapterFifty-Seven
GRACE
Isat at the head of a table large enough to seat fifty men. All of them stared at me, eying the Elders key in my hand. Now that I possessed the Adams fortune, it made me the wealthiest woman in the world.
I didn’t want the money.
Or the power.
“Women are not allowed to become members of The Founders Society.” Carl Wellington was the highest-ranking Elder now that my grandfather was gone and spoke for the group. “But it seems Fitzy has left us with a bit of a predicament.” His gaze moved to the other three Elders. “However, The Devil’s Knights made an exception to allow my granddaughter to become their queen. And with that precedent set, I don’t see any reason we can’t allow Grace to maintain control of the Adams’ right to a seat at this table.”
A few of The Founders stiffened. Some shook their heads or cleared their throats to disagree. They didn’t like the idea of me joining their elite society. This was a rich boy’s club, and I didn’t fit their ideal of being a Founder.
The Elders made up the top five spots on the Forbes Billionaires list. I would never go back to being an Adams. Now, I was Grace Marshall.
“All in favor?” Carl asked the Elders.
Archibald glanced at me, one eyebrow raised. “Do you understand the power that key holds, young lady?”
Cole’s grandfather looked at me like I was a little girl. In his eyes, I was just a kid. The same as his grandson.
“Yes, I do.” My eyes drifted to Bastian, who sat at the opposite end of the table beside the Salvatore brothers and his adoptive father. “That’s why I want Bastian to take my place. He’s an Adams, too, and risked his life to steal this key from our grandfather. I’m only alive because of him. If not for his selflessness, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
An echo of shock rang out among the men at the table.
Gasps.
Whispers.
They couldn’t believe anyone would give away this much power. Even Bastian looked surprised, his mouth hanging open.
Luca Salvatore smirked as if he’d won. His family had just been admitted into The Founders Society because he married Alex. She was the only reason they were allowed to be members.
But now?
If Bastian were allowed to take my place, it would give the Salvatores the freedom they needed. The other Founders would no longer look down on them for not being descendants of the Founding Fathers. I understood what it was like not fitting into this world, even though I was born into it.
“I just want to know one thing,” I said to Bastian. “Why did you take the key and give it to me? You didn’t even know me.”
He leaned back in the leather chair and studied my face before saying, “A man approached me outside my high school. I was a kid and didn’t know any better. He said he would give me information about my parents’ deaths if I stole the key from Fitzy and gave it to you.”
I nodded. “I would have done the same thing to know more about my parents.”
“I also did it because he said it would save your life. Viktor’s information against Fitzy kept you alive.” He tipped his head at the key cradled between my fingers. “An Elders key is power, Grace. I hope you understand what you’re giving up.”
“I understand.” I opened my palm and held out the key. “You deserve it more than I do. It’s yours if you want it.”
“Don’t be an idiot. Take it,” Luca hissed under his breath, tapping Bastian on the back when he didn’t immediately respond.
