Page 47 of Cruel Legacy

I swipe my key against the access panel and look over at the door across from mine, staring at the handle as if it’s gonna swing open at any minute. “Just unlucky, I guess.”

“Girl, everyone and I do meaneveryonewould kill to live next door to The Trium.”

With a flourish of my hands, I say, “Let the bloodbath commence. I’d be happy to swap places with the winner.”

LJ heads straight for the balcony when we get inside. I know what she’s probably doing. Looking over the side, to see if she can catch sight of them. I don’t need to go out there, because I know there’s probably some bullshit going on.

I thought things couldn’t get worse after that first night with Finn and his music, but I was so, so wrong. Now, I avoid my balcony when he’s home.

“What’s Finn doing? Is he cleaning knives?” I shrug, even though she’s not looking at me. “Holy shit. Is that Holden? How did I not know he’s thishot?”

I grunt a response. How did she not know? The piercings and muscles are the first thing I noticed about him. The second was how smart he is. That hot brainiac combo makes me weak in the knees.

Today was definitely one for the books. The teacher was doing a recap of last week’s lesson and we were all assigned a problem we had to teach to the class. Holden was called on first.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the way his shirt stretched across his back while he was writing on the dry erase board, or the look on his face when someone asked a question. Those piercings, those eyes and that voice. Soft, deep and a little scratchy. Like his vocal chords are fashioned out of gravel. Dude is sexy as hell when he’s in teacher mode. I kept zoning out of the lesson because I was imagining him making me stay after class for extra credit.

I shake off the memory. It’s girl’s night and torturing myself with lust filled thoughts of men I can’t have. Correction, men Idon’t want, is a waste of time.

The semester’s just starting and going to these pre-pledge events with LJ is the perfect opportunity to find someone to use for a little pillow party.

Once I do, the Holden lust haze will fade away. Okay, somaybeI have a little Finn lust happening, too. He’s annoying when he’s with his buddies, but he’s also fun. Racing back to campus? Come on, there was no way I could say no.

“I mean, we all say he’s cute. They all are, but I kinda thought he was just shy all the time.” LJ continues to ramble on, even though I haven’t answered. “But here he is, walking around with no shirt on like its nothing.”

He’s shirtless? That’s new. But nope, not. Gonna. Look. A few seconds later, she squeaks and gasps. I look up in time to see LJ leaning forward, balancing on her hips and teetering over the edge of the railing. I hurry out the door to grab her before she slips into the space between our balconies and gets stuck or plummets to her death. Big mistake. I should’ve let her fall out of the nest, because now I’m in range of what I didn’t want to see.

Finn is really putting on a show. He’s gone from buffing his blades to showing his ass. As in, he’s not just shirtless. He’s in the doorway, completely naked.

There’s no way he didn’t know LJ was watching. Because he can see out the patio door just as easily as we can see in. Despite my good intentions, I look down. Is that a shadow on his leg or is that his dick?

Holden’s standing next to him. He’s still got his pants on, but he is definitely missing a shirt. Is that a nipple piercing?

I drag LJ back to safety and into the apartment. She keeps looking back over her shoulder, so I close and lock the door, and draw the blinds shut. We do not need any problems.

She flops down onto the couch, her eyes darting to the door. “What do you think is going on over there? You know, I heard orgies and stuff are part of being a Wren. Do you think that’s what’s happening?”

Where does she hear this shit? For someone who’s not a part of that world, she sure knows a lot about what’s rumored to happen in it.

“Whatever they’re doing is none of my business.”

It’s really not. I don’t care what they’re up to. Although I am a little disappointed about Holden’s participation in an orgy. I liked that he seemed a little anti-social like me.

I should know better than to build someone up in my head. The reality of them is usually a huge disappointment. “Did you want popcorn?” I ask, changing the subject, and refocusing LJ on why we’re here.

“Ooh, yes, and do you have caramel topping?”

I make two batches of popcorn. One with extra butter, one with caramel topping. I settle next to her on the couch, an amused smile on my lips as she tosses chocolate candy bites into her bowl. She must have a great dentist to combat all the sugar she consumes.

We’re just settling in to watch the movie when I remember I tossed my phone on the patio chair, when I thought LJ was falling to her death.

I slip outside to grab it. I straighten from bending over and freeze in place. Finn is outside on a massage table and he’s not alone. The three of them are lying on their backs, with nothing but a towel draped over their hips, getting rubbed down by women wearing barely there bikinis.

The women are working their lower halves and it looks like they’re on their way to happy endings. I scan my eyes down their bodies, taking note of the intricate ink patterns on Holden’s left forearm. Pax’s entire body is a canvas of tattoos from his neck to his hip. Finn has the least amount of tattoos.

These guys are ridiculously hot, and I’m going through a drought. That’s the only reason I’m standing here watching them get rubbed down in oil.

I drag my eyes from their pecs and abs, back up to their faces. They’re all leaning on their elbows, looking at me.Shit. I just got busted perving on their bodies.

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