Page 53 of Cruel Legacy

Clenching my phone in my fist, I say, “My license isn’t suspended, and I don’t know what check was supposedly done, but I can’t show a suspended license in California because my license was issued inNevada.”

“That’s not what it shows here. Your parking pass has a California license and picture.”

I pull out my driver’s license. “Does whatever you’re looking at look like this?” I ask, thrusting it at him.

He shrugs. “Nope. But I have to go by what’s in the system.”

“Your system is wrong.”

“You’re only allowed to have one license and if you live here, you’re expected to change it within ten days, if you’re a resident of the state. So the fact that you didn’t turn that in or do it isn’t proof of anything. You’ll have to go to the DMV to straighten it out. And remember it’s seventy-five dollars per day for storage on the tow lot.”

I refrain from explaining that, as a student, I’m not required to change my license. I haven’t registered to vote here. So Nevada is still my state of residence. “What about my original application? Won’t that prove what I registered the car with?”

“Yes, but the copies of those applications are at our central office. It’s closed until Tuesday. You can put in a document request. That’ll be thirty-nine, ninety-nine and you have to allow six to eight weeks for delivery.”

Someone comes in behind me and he moves over to help them. I huff out a frustrated sigh, certain I’m not going to get any further with him. I’m working out a plan and scrolling through my phone, trying to find the number for the central office, when I see the time. I have a little less than an hour to get to the post office. I pull up a ride share app, hoping someone is close by.

Thankfully, there is, and I make it to the post office with twenty minutes to spare.

It’s not until I’m back on campus that I really start to think about the string of bad luck I’ve been having lately, with computer systems. It can’t be a network error if I’m the only one affected. These are targeted attacks. Finn’s words come back to me.Option two.

He couldn’t fuck with me in class, so he’s messing with my privileges on campus. I’m gonna murder them,afterI walk the ten flights of stairs, since my elevator code isn’t working. I’m in a pissy mood and feeling stabby when I bang on Finn's door.

He answers, wearing nothing but a towel. I force my gaze to stay on his face and not his perfectly sculpted abs or that deep delicious V.

“Hello, Pet.”

“I’m giving you one warning. You’ve had your fun. Now stop fucking with my shit.” He frowns, feigning confusion. “Oh, cut the innocent routine. You suck at it.”

He smirks, proving me correct. I’m going through all of this because they’ve somehow messed with my student file.

“Have you learned your lesson, Pet?” He asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

I slap his hand away and warn, “This is a courtesy visit, Finley. Back off.”

“Or what?”

I step into his space, waiting for him to look down at me. I walk my fingers up his chest. He catches his bottom lip between his teeth, thinking I’m suddenly ensnared in his gaze.

I pull his door closed with my other hand, and step back, taking his towel with me. I hear the lock engage and twirl the towel around in the air. “Keep fucking around with me and find out.”

Chapter27

Thea

It’s been a hellishly weird week. I got my car back yesterday, with an apology from the campus police department about the mix-up, and an email a few days ago saying my meal account was corrected. I still haven’t gone to the dining hall to find out. I’ve been living off the groceries LJ brought me and basically avoiding the whispers that have been following me around school.

I don’t give a shit about gossip, but there’s nothing like eating a meal in peace. I’ve cooked for us most of the nights, not wanting to use her food solely for myself when I didn’t need it. Plus, I like hanging out with LJ in my room. She seems to like it too, seeing how she doesn’t have a kitchen, and I do.

I would’ve cooked tonight too, but LJ had a study group. Rather than hang out at the dorms, I decided to take my aunt and uncle up on their dinner offer.

The chicken parmesan was delicious. I’m scraping the last bit of sauce and cheese off my plate, wondering if I can get Cora alone to ask for the recipe. When dessert is served, my aunt pushes her chair back and stands, going to grab something from the corner of the room. She comes back over, dropping a glittery pink box on the table in front of me. It’s really pink. Andglittery. I lean away from it, feeling a rash coming on. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

I do, trying to avoid getting glitter on me. My eyebrows inch up as I look over at my aunt.

“I, uh, noticed your favorite jacket is leather, and worn, so I got you a new one.”

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