Page 145 of Cruel Legacy

I finally look at the guy who’s underwhelmed about the party fare and atmosphere. My breath gets trapped in my chest. I know exactly whose daddy this is. This is the head asshole thirty years in the future.

“As this is my first Canyon Falls anniversary party, I have nothing else to compare it to, Mr. Cox.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve talked to so many of you girls this evening, so forgive me if I don’t remember your name.” He murmurs, “Though I should definitely remember someone as alluring as you.”

“Nothing to forgive. This is our first time meeting.” I shift my food to my left hand and hold out my right. “Thea LaReaux.”

He takes it, but his attention isn’t on my hands and manicure. It’s aimed lower. He finally drags his eyes up from my exposed leg to my face. It’s taking everything in me to keep the booze down.

“Now that I have your name, it and its owner won’t be far from my mind.”

His comment is above board, but the icky feeling I get says his true thoughts are anything but. His grip tightens when I try to pull my hand from his. Instead of showing fear or disgust, I do the last thing he thinks a woman would do. I hold his gaze and squeeze his hand right back.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pax, Finn, and Holden staring at us. I can feel their anger from here. Tomorrow they’ll be some new level of drama and I’m sure I’ll hear all about how I had the audacity to talk to a parent above my station.

Malcom Cox just stares down at me the way I do my opponents in the ring. He’s looking for a sign of weakness. Waiting for me to act like all these other sycophants and probably ask for a job or offer to blow him. “I’ve heard interesting things about you. Any truth to the rumors?”

His voice is smooth now, as if my question has opened the door to us flirting. “Depends on what you’ve heard.”

His grip loosens, and he strokes a thumb along the back of my hand. I barely contain my snort. He’s delusional if he thinks he’s charming my panties off. “Oh, the usual stuff. Your family is a bit of a legend around here. Powerful friends. Owns a lot of businesses. Donates to the school.” I say as if it's inconsequential. Because to me, it is.

“You don’t sound impressed to be in my presence.”

“That’s because I’m not.”

He loses the jovial smile. “You’re not? Might I ask why?”

I shrug. “Unless you’ve found some way to cure cancer or hangovers or even how to put your pants on two legs at a time, you’re just the same as everyone else, except for the extra dollars in your bank account.”

I can see he doesn’t like the idea that I think he’s a basic dick. Like father, like son.

The mayor approaches before he can say anything else. I pull my hand away and dart to the other side of the room to eat my food.

I talk to a few more people who drift by and have another drink, but I keep Daddy Cox in my sights.

Something tells me if he corners me again, our conversation won’t be as friendly.

Chapter61

Thea

Ineed a break. I’ve smiled and talked and danced with Austin and his friends, while enduring the whispers and scathing looks from Eloise, her friends and their parents. Now, I’m tapped out.

LJ noticed I’m running on fumes, seconds away from relinquishing the grip on my tongue, so she sent me to get some air. I didn’t want to wander around outside her house alone, so I’m wandering around the inside of her house.

I’ve finally found the room she suggested I use to decompress. As soon as the door closes behind me, some of the pressure in my chest deflates.

I love a good party, but constantly having to answer who I am and where my parents are is wearing on me.

I don’t care if people know I grew up in foster care, but the pitying looks I get and the way the women gripped their purses and their husbands tighter grates my nerves. I don’t want their diamonds or their old ass men.

I’m standing by the window overlooking the Dahlia garden when the door opens. I turn and see Finn coming into the room. “Naughty, naughty, Pet. Are you snooping through the Breland’s home?”

I don’t need any new rumors getting started about how I was casing the joint. “I’m taking a break from all the fancy, fancy. LJ told me to use this room.”

He reaches up to loosen his tie as he approaches me. “We’re hiding out then? I don’t blame you. That dresshasbeen causing a lot of problems tonight,” he says in that voice he uses when he’s reciting poetry.

“With who?” I ask, moving over to the bookshelf to read the titles. He steps behind me, his hands latch onto my hips, before sliding under the slit of my dress and resting on my thigh.

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