A chorus of oohs and ahhs erupt from the women around the table. The group swarms Bleu. My mum is tearful as she cups her hands over her mouth. She gets up from her seat and comes to me. She kisses the side of my face and whispers in my ear as she embraces me. “I knew it would work. I never doubted it for a moment.”
Jamie gives me a congratulatory slap on the back. “Breeding ’em quick, aren’t you? I suppose The Fellowship will be pleased about that.”
“Our decision to have a baby has nothing to do with the brotherhood.”
“I’m not judging. I’m happy for you and Bleu if it’s what you want.”
Jamie’s a good mate. Nothing like his father. If he says he’s happy for us, then he is. “Trust me. You find the right woman and it’ll be what you want too.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m pretty determined to be an eternal bachelor.”
“That’s because you haven’t found your Mrs. Breckenridge yet.”
Abram doesn’t appear happy but I guess he wouldn’t be. He wants Bleu gone. Her being pregnant with the next generation of Fellowship leaders only solidifies her place within our family.
“How can we be certain the baby is Sinclair’s?” Everyone around the table goes quiet and looks in Abram’s direction.
This is fucking unacceptable. “Are you suggesting my wife has been unfaithful?”
“No. I’m suggesting the clinic you used for your in vitro procedure might have made a mistake. It’s been known to happen before. If that’s the case, your wife isn’t carrying the next Fellowship leader.”
He shouldn’t know we used a fertility clinic. But he does so I can’t dispute the fact that we didn’t conceive naturally. “We used the best clinic available. There was no mistake.”
“But how can you be sure? There’s always room for human error in medicine,” he argues.
He’s being absurd. “Is there not the same risk with every wife of a Fellowship member? Couldn’t she be unfaithful and conceive a child with a non-Fellowship member? Do you paternity test every child born within the brotherhood?”
“Not every child born within The Fellowship is intended to be a leader as your child will be.”
“This is ridiculous!” Bleu tosses her napkin onto the table. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to his bullshit. Please take me home, Sin.”
I don’t try to convince Bleu to stay. I already know my words will be wasted. Frankly, I want to be away from Abram as much as she does. I’m afraid I might do something I’ll regret if I have to listen to him say anything else about the paternity of our child.
Without another word, we leave the celebratory dinner we organized.
I phone Sterling and he pulls to the curb to fetch us. We get in, neither of us saying a word on the short drive home.
We enter the front door and I pull Bleu into my arms. “I’m sorry.”
“He ruined what should have been a happy occasion with your family. Instead, he turned it into something ugly. I hate him.”
Right now, I hate him too.
Her hurt is my pain. I feel it in the center of my chest as tangible as someone squeezing my heart without mercy.
“I know adoptees can’t become leaders but is there some kind of stupid rule stating babies conceived with medical assistance can’t be head of The Fellowship?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why did he ensure everyone knows we didn’t conceive this baby on our own? Was he doing it to be cruel?”
It was a stab at Bleu. “Yes.”
“He’s a psychopath, Sin.”
I don’t think she’s joking. “That’s a strong accusation.”
“I’ve studied them. They can’t form emotional attachments or feel real empathy for anyone. That’s why he can say the things he does without regard for the way his words affect people. They often have very charming personalities, are very manipulative, and easily gain trust. They pretend to have emotions, yet they don’t feel them. Some are so good at manipulation that their families never suspect their true nature. I know what I’m talking about and he fits the profile perfectly.”
“I can’t argue with you.”
“A person exhibiting those characteristics has no place leading The Fellowship.”
I’m confused. She has said on numerous occasions that she wants us to have time together before I take my place. “You know what you’re suggesting?”
“Yes. As much as I’d like to postpone, it may be something you need to consider for the good of the brotherhood. To lead is to serve. He’s no servant. He hurts people. I’m not the only one.”
“What has he done?”
“He instructed Linsey to fuck you until you forgot me.”
It all fits now. Linsey never showed any interest in me. It’s one of the reasons I accepted her request to be my paralegal. I needed an assistant who was interested in working and doing a good job.
“He’s family. You want to see the best in him but he’s evil. Allowing him to be in control of the people who place their trust in him is irresponsible.”
My wife is right. Our people deserve better. Even loyalists like The Fellowship can be pushed too far. We can’t afford a rebellion. But am I ready to knock Abram out as a top runner?
“You can’t wear blinders and refuse to acknowledge his true nature forever. Or what he’s capable of.”
We’re back to her believing Abram could be her mother’s killer.
“I need proof, Bonny.”
“I understand. I’m working on it.”
“If it’s proven that he’s the murderer, my father will kill him without hesitation.” I have no doubt about that.
“No! I have to be the one to do it.”
I wouldn’t let her go through with it even if I hadn’t made a promise to Harry on his deathbed. “You’re pregnant. No way I’m letting you do that.”
“I won’t be pregnant forever.”
Is she even thinking ahead? “What’s the end result when you’re no longer pregnant? You’ll be a mother, and not to just any child. My child! There’s no way I’ll allow you to put yourself in a dangerous situation like that.”
She’s shaking her head in disagreement. “You’re my husband but that doesn’t mean you get to dictate what I do.”
“You’re wrong if you think I don’t get a vote.”