Page 79 of Cruel Legacy

The elevator stops at the lobby. I hear the girlish shrieks before the doors even open. They run around like they’re trying to be modest, when the whole point of these mornings is so we see them.

I glance over at Holden. He’s unimpressed with the amount of flesh walking around here.

Maybe Finn and I need to schedule something for him. We keep a copy of an NDA ready to go just in case things go off the rails, but Finn and I never leave him alone, so we can make sure that doesn’t happen.

I trail him to the lounge area and sit down on the couch facing the hall. Holden’s on my right, and Finn’s sitting with his legs draped over the arm of the accent chair on my left.

Today, he’s dressed like he’s in prep school. White shirt, navy blue blazer, black slacks, a striped silver and blue tie, hanging loosely around his neck, and his ever present beanie on his head.

I take in the girls drifting past, giving a knowing smirk to the one who didn’t even bother to tie her robe. A blatant invite if I’ve ever seen one. She takes a step towards me.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” My eyes flick to the left where Eloise is standing. She must’ve just gotten off the elevator. She moves closer, getting in the girl’s face. “I asked what you think you’re doing?”

The girl doesn’t answer. She pulls her robe closed, holding it with one hand, as she tries to step away. Eloise grabs her by the robe, tearing it open further.

“Oh, no you don’t, you sneaky little bitch. You came to my dorm trying to catch the eye of The Trium. Now you’ve got it, but you’ll walk out of here with your bloated belly and every inch of your cellulite on display.”

Eloise’s friends step closer, grabbing at the girl too, like they’re the evil step-sisters. Seconds later, her robe is ripped in several places, barely covering anything.

The girl’s gaze swings to me before she lowers her head and runs out the front door. She doesn’t live in this dorm? I guess that explains why I didn’t recognize her from any of the other mornings. It’s a shame that I didn’t get her details.

My phone pings with a message from Holden. I look over at him and meet his knowing gaze. He’s sent me a copy of the girl’s Prospectus profile. I check her stats. I can work with it. “Thanks, man.”

I put my phone away when I see Eloise walking towards us, and grab my coffee from the table in front of me, taking a leisurely sip. She greets me and Holden.

I give a half hearted chin tip, but Holden doesn’t even look up to acknowledge she spoke to him. Finn has this weary look on his face as she squeezes into the small space beside him on the chair.

“Can you believe her, babe? Coming over here trying to blend in? As if I don’t know each and every person that’s housed here. And she was wearing a robe that went out of style two years ago. Nobody’s wearing Keiko Couture’s winter 2019 line anymore.”

“Pajama’s go out of style?” Finn asks, deciding to humor her for a few minutes.

“Of course. Sometimes faster than clothes. She really thought one of you was going to think she looked sexy in that?”

He and I share a look. We both thought she looked hot. Guys are easy. Show some skin, smile and let us know you want us and we can make it happen.

I’m just about to say that when the elevator arrives again. Thea walks out, and I lose my train of thought. Now here’s a girl that needs to be humiliated and chased away. No matter how we’ve come for her, she’s found a way to adjust and come out unscathed. Unbothered.

That’s the part that’s pissing me off the most. The chip on her shoulder. The I don’t give a fuck attitude. Her willfully and blatantly challenging us at every turn. The longer she walks around here with her nose in the air like she’s made of teflon, the more people talk about us losing our edge. I can’t let anyone at this school think The Trium aren’t the scariest people on campus. Her behavior will not go unpunished.

She sees me looking at her and sticks her tongue out like she’s a five-year-old. It’s all a game to her. Holden’s hand on my arm is the only thing keeping me from launching out of my chair.

I turn to tell him I’m good so he can release my arm. His attention is on Thea, too. Darkness dancing in his gaze. Checking my right, I see Finn’s eyes following her out the door as well.

He’s looking at her like she’s his favorite chew toy, locked behind a glass case. I know he’s been playing this weird little game with her, but I can’t just come right out and tell him to put an end to it.

Finn will need a reason why he can’t have fun with her, and I can’t exactly tell him that she might be here to compromise a future member of the league.

His eyes sweep around the room before settling on me. He gives me a cocky grin, acknowledging that he knows I caught him looking. It doesn’t matter if he’s hot for Thea. Nothing can ever come of it. None of us are capable of having more than flings. We can’t afford to get attached to anyone or anything that jeopardizes the blood oath we made to each other. It’s us, The Trium, above everyone and anything else.

Chapter37

Pax

While Finn was tailing Theona around school the other day, Holden was installing a security camera outside her door. This way, we’ll be able to see who’s coming and going from her room.

A whistle blows, intruding on my thoughts. We’re in the back of one of the freshman dorms watching a flag football game. Finn’s sitting on a picnic table swiping his thumb across his phone, and Holden’s fiddling with his tablet.

“Anything else from your dad about Thea?” Finn asks, taking a break from whatever he’s typing.

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