Page 112 of Cruel Legacy

I’m almost to the door when she calls out to me. “Thea.”

“Yeah?” I stop, half facing her, half facing the door.

“Are you avoiding me?”

I wouldn’t call it avoidance. I’d say I’m being respectful of her space, not wanting to add to her trauma. “No.”

“It feels like you are. We haven’t talked all week and you keep rushing off when I get close to you.” She drops her voice. “Is it because I wasn’t helpful?”

I frown at her question and shift around to face her. “What do you mean?”

“That night. I was in the corner crying and screaming when you were fighting those guys. If you’re mad at me about that, I get it.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. Shit, this is why I’ve been keeping my distance. I didn’t want her having to see me and think aboutthem. “I’m not tough like you and you could’ve been killed. Because of me.”

The tears slip free. No. Na, ah. Not fucking happening. She has nothing to feel guilty about. “LJ, none of that was your fault.”

“You told me you didn’t think I should go out with the pledges that night. That you had a bad feeling, and I didn’t listen.”

I did say that, and I hate that my gut feeling was right, but this isn’t her fault. She should be allowed to hang out and not worry about the pledge masters putting her in a fucked up situation like that.

The other pledges have been tight-lipped about their chastity vows, but I get the feeling LJ and I got the extreme version of the test. I just can’t figure out why.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be part of a group or club. I was wrong for letting you go alone. If I had been there… Look, if anything, you shouldn’t want to be aroundme, after the way I talked to you and let that bastard think you were my bitch.”

She steps closer, grabbing my hands, her eyes wide and clear. “I would be your bitch every day, Thea. If you hadn’t of shown up I’d have been forced to…”

I pull her in for a hug. I know what she’s thinking, and that’s what scares me, too. She’s saying she forgives me. I don’t think I deserve it, but I’ll never make her sorry for giving it to me. I know how hard it is to forgive. I struggle with it. What am I saying? There is no struggle. I hold on to a grudge the way a dog holds onto his favorite chew toy.

“I’m gonna teach you how to fight, so you don’t have to feel like that again. I can’t promise you’ll always win, but you’ll learn enough to temporarily disarm your attacker and have a better chance at getting away. And I’m getting you a knife. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend. I call bullshit. Knives are. Don’t fight me on this, LJ.”

She wraps her arms around me and sniffles into my neck. “I won’t.”

* * *

Pax

“Do you have an update?”

I muffle my groan. This is what I get for not looking at the Caller ID before answering my phone. I’ve been avoiding my father just because I knew this would be the first question he’d ask. No, Ido nothave an update. My plan has gone to shit since Thea dropped out of pledge season after her chastity vow.

If someone’s trying to reshape alliances, it might be time to bring it up with the high council. We still haven’t found anything useful on her.

If she’s a threat, like he suspects, whoever she’s working with has covered her tracks well. This might be above my pay grade. It’s definitely a fucking waste of my time and talents, and boring as hell. We’re back to following her around. I’ve been letting Finn take my turns.

I’m probably gonna have to jump back into the rotation. Every day it becomes more clear that he’s taken more than a casual interest in her.

I can’t deny that she’s a hot piece of ass, and ordinarily I’d tell him to go for it, but if dad’s intel is correct, this girl’s existence here could signal trouble for us and the other prospects. No matter how much I hate this assignment, it’s my job to make sure we’re protected.

“Actually sir, I was gonna contact you about this, to request permission to expand my search into the people who pay her tuition.”

“Why would that be of any interest to you?”

“You always say follow the money. The background data we have on Thea is slim. There’s no record that she had connections to anyone in Canyon Falls until she moved here. Whoever she’s working for is probably using this so-called aunt and uncle to cover their tracks.”

He doesn’t answer. After a few seconds, I press the issue. “Dad?”

“Make quiet inquiries only. You know how tricky it is when it comes to the residents of Canyon Falls.”

A lot of the residents get alert notifications to warn them when someone submits a public records search on them. It’s a more secure way to control the information that’s available to the public and protect their privacy. I already know to proceed carefully, but I acknowledge my father’s warning, knowing he sees it as a sign of respect.

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