Page 106 of Twisted Legacy

It’s a smart move, Laurent making tonight his reintroduction to The League. The families will spend the next few weeks thinking about it, but he won’t have to answer any questions about Thea’s disappearance right away. What is he going to say? The League’s stance is that he’s provisionally reinstated, but that doesn’t mean they don’t suspect he had a hand in her identity being hidden away.

They settle in a corner in the back of the restaurant, but I can still see Thea’s profile from where I’m sitting. Her hands are clenched in her lap. I assume it’s because she’s sitting with her back exposed.

I take in Moira and Scott Hughes’ posture, too. They’re good actors, pretending to be perfectly calm but their micro expressions belay the strain they’re feeling. My father’s laughter draws my attention back to my table, and I catch Finn and Pax staring in the same direction I was. Malcom takes a sip from his glass, sits it on the table, then steeples his fingers together. This is his signature move before he says something boastful.

I catch Pax’s eye. He gives a small shake to his head. He doesn’t know what his father is about to say. That means it’s probably got nothing to do with us, so I tune out and dig into my food, keeping an eye on Thea through my peripheral vision.

“We’re nearly done with our investigation. I finally tracked down the last witness and will interview them when we get back from our trip. I expect to announce good news at the New Year's ceremony. We can finally move forward with the official advancement of last year’s prospects and start planning this year’s induction ceremony.”

That gets my attention. I notice he said a lot of he did this and he did that, even though it was supposed to be a team effort. It’s like this with all the former Trium members. It’s like they graduated and no longer remember what it’s like to work together. Everything’s a competition.

I glance over at my father. He doesn’t seem bothered by Malcolm’s announcement. Finn’s dad rolls his eyes and shakes his head. I’ve heard him say on more than one occasion that Malcolm has never played well with others.

Pax, Holden and I give the expected platitudes and then the wives dominate the next thirty minutes of conversation, talking about the stores they’ll visit and massages they’ll be getting on vacation, while the men are off golfing, smoking cigars and sipping brandy.

Whatever they’ll be doing, I hope they have fun. I don’t mind hanging out with my family, but this year I have plans of my own. Plans that include the woman across the restaurant. I don’t know what’s happening over there, but I can read her body language well enough to know things are about to turn violent. She’s gripping her fork like she’s considering using it as a weapon.

That wouldn’t go over so well in this room, with anyone other than Finn. If we don’t intercede, everyone in attendance tonight will see just how Thea reacts when she’s feeling threatened. I, for one, don’t care. If whatever the older Laurent is saying is hurting her, he deserves to get stabbed, but it’s not the first impression Thea wants to be making to the rest of this room.

* * *

Holden

I snag Pax’s attention and subtly tilt my head in Thea’s direction. He rolls his eyes and I arch a brow. Finn picks up on what we’re doing and tilts his head towards me. Pax jerks his chin, and Finn excuses himself from the table. Eight minutes later, he’s back, and settles in his seat as if he doesn’t know what’s about to happen.

At family dinners, all phones should be on silent or vibrate, but of course there are always people who forget to turn them off. The first two go off in quick succession. The combined buzzing of the rest adds to the noise, amplifying the sound.

Chairs push away from the tables, the younger diners offering hasty goodbyes. Nobody wants to miss out on the pop-up party they’ve just got notifications for. The guys and I remain seated, finishing our meals, pretending like we have nothing to do with the hasty retreat of our school mates.

Ten minutes later, we rise from our seats, wish our parents a safe trip and stroll over to Thea’s table. Finn smiles at the adults and offers a greeting. My attention is on Thea. I stand at her back, hoping it will settle her nerves a bit.

I study Moira, and Scott Hughes and the older gentlemen. The Hughes’ brows pinch and they share a look when Finn says, “Thea, we need to head out now or we’ll be late.”

He doesn’t say anything else, offering no further explanation about what we’ll be late to. I wait to see if she’ll push back the way she usually does. Does her discomfort here outweigh the animosity she has for us? I doubt she sees this as the rescue attempt it’s meant to be.

Pax’s voice shows he has no patience for the delay. “Let’s go, Thea.”

She must really need an escape because she pushes her chair back without hesitation. The older man says, “Theona, we’re in the middle of dinner.”

“Right, but you know how much I hate to be late. Oh wait, you don’t, but I’m sure Scott and Moira can fill you in on everything they know about me and ya’ll can make up the rest. Enjoy your steak salad.”

She marches towards the door ahead of us, and I can’t help but admire the confidence she displays as she walks by the tables filled with influential people from our world. Thea didn’t grow up here with our privilege, but she’d fit right in if she ever truly embraced the life before her.

When we’re in front of the restaurant, she says, “I don’t know why you guys showed up and crashed my awkward family dinner, but whatever shit you’re getting into tonight, just scratch me off the list.”

Finn holds out his phone. “There’s a pop up party and you’re my plus one.”

“No, thanks.”

Pax says, “That restaurant is full of some of the most influential people in town. Since you never looked at your phone and left with the other legacies, we had to come get you. Now you can go with us, or go back in there and publicly declare that you’re not one of us. I promise the decision they’ll make regarding your family will be swift and loud and long lasting.”

“First of all, they’re not my family, second it’s just a party. Those happen all the time.”

“Tonight is a statement to the parents in there that we’re united on campus, and you’ve already seen what happens when you broadcast that you’re not one of us. Trust me, if the parents think that’s your stance, things will get much, much worse.”

She huffs out, “Fine. I’ll meet you back on campus.”

Finn snorts. “Oh no, Pet. You’ll be riding with me so I can make sure you show up to the party.”

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