Page 48 of Cruel Legacy

I’m getting different expressions from each of them. Amusement from Finn, curiosity from Holden, and contempt from the head dick in charge.

I give them a look of my own. One accompanied by me holding my thumb and pointer finger close together to show I’m not the least bit impressed with what they’re working with.

I saunter back inside to watch my movie. They’re obviously doing this shit on purpose to keep me trapped indoors. I need to come up with a plan. I’m done letting them run me off my own balcony.

Chapter25

Pax

Iwatch as Holden tugs at his collar. Tonight, we’re attending a mixer at the Sandstone Social Club. Thursday night mixers are reserved for Initiates and League members. I look over at my father, trying to gauge his reasoning for bringing us here. Is this when they spring it on us? Reveal that they know about the car incident the night of the museum prank?

I keep my face neutral, so no one suspects I’m nervous about being here. Not much makes me nervous, but my father breaking routine always puts me on edge, because he rarely does it. We follow him through the front door of the club and across the massive foyer, into the ballroom. I get the impression we’re the last ones to arrive. My father acknowledges a few people we pass, but his face gives nothing away. I can’t tell if us arriving later than everyone else was just happenstance or intentional on his part. Probably the latter. Malcolm loves to be the center of attention.

We move to the center of the room, falling in beside a few prospects I recognize from last year’s graduating class. Carlisle Inglewood, who’s running for mayor, is standing on a platform at the front of the room. He’s a lower council member with very little political experience. Still, his campaign fund is bigger than the current incumbents. I look around to see if Mayor Boeman is here. He’s one of the older league members who should be relinquishing power but refuses to do it.

“Gentlemen.” Inglewood says, “Welcome to kickoff night.” I share a look with my friends. They’re just as clueless as I am. “It’s a longstanding tradition that the prospects be tried, tested, and proven before they join our ranks. We have thrown this little get together, to celebrate our young men and women being one step closer to that milestone, and to recognize the start of a new pledge season.”

When he says women, the doors open behind us, and my confusion increases as some of the wives and daughters enter the room, accompanied by a few other women I’m sure are professional entertainment.

“We have a fine selection of treats for you tonight. Any item you may desire. And as always, we leave the negotiations up to you.”

My father steps away to talk to a league member, giving me and the guys a few minutes to talk.

“Is this what I think it is?” Holden asks.

Finn waggles his brows. “If you think it’s a sex party, then yeah. It is.”

We’ve heard about these events happening. But why are the wives and daughters here? “We don’t have to…” My statement gets cut off when an elder approaches us with a drink in his hand.

“Gentlemen. It’s good to see you among us tonight.” He’s smiling at us like our presence is the best part of his day. “I hear you’re doing amazing things on campus and currently rank higher than anyone else ever has in those little games.”

Finn responds, “Appreciate that, sir.”

He waves his hand at the room. “Your first kickoff night?”

I answer confidently, “We throw a party on campus for pledge season.”

He cracks a smile like he’s humoring me. “Ah. Yes. Many Rho Beta Psi traditions are influenced by The League. But I’m sure you’ll see that nothing is quite as good as the real thing.”

“We’re just happy to have been invited.” I say, because it’s expected.

He looks down at our hands. “Where are your drinks?”

“Oh, we weren’t planning to drink tonight. We have classes tomorrow.”

He laughs, and his smile brightens. “Nonsense. Everyone participates.” He waves a server over and passes each of us a glass. Raising his in the air, he toasts, “To be reborn.”

We do the same and take a drink. His eyes light up. Then next thing I know, we’re surrounded by women. “I leave you in capable hands.”

I’m looking around the room, trying to take it all in and figure out just what the hell is going on, when Finn chuckles. I turn back towards him, giving him a questioning look. He tips his chin towards the door. “Isn’t that…”

“Miss Griffin. Our tenth grade biology teacher.” Holden says, finishing Finn’s statement. We watch as she walks up to one of our classmates, drapes her arm across his bicep, and leads him towards the exit.

I watch a few more people get escorted away. The reality of this night settling in on me as I watch Sarah Withers. Someone who is maybe four months past her eighteenth birthday, smiling up at Councilman Heart. His smile is lecherous and nausea inducing. His eyes fixated on her breasts. I shift my gaze over to her parents. When Sarah takes a step back, putting some space between herself and the councilman, her father all but pushes her into the creeps arms. She’s a legacy daughter. Last year her father was in negotiations to have her marry some acne faced runt. He isn’t a legacy, but his father is influential on Wall Street. I thought the deal was all but done. So what’s going on here? Sarah glances nervously over at her parents, before pasting another smile on her face and letting Councilman Heart lead her out of the room.

My dad walks back towards us, motioning for me to join him away from my friends. I hate talking to him away from them, but I can’t cause a scene. When we reach the hallway, he opens a door and ushers me inside.

“I won’t keep you long. It’s your first kickoff night. You should experience everything it has to offer.”

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