Page 43 of Twisted Legacy

“No, Thea. I chased you like you were prey trying to avoid getting devoured by a predator.”

Something about that phrasing emboldens her. She straightens her spine and says, “So you caught me and beat me! What kind of sick fuck-.” She launches at me again. I let her get a few swings in before turning her away from me, pinning her arms to her side with her back to my chest. That makes her freak out even worse. But I don’t let her go. I will, but right now she’s gonna listen.

I inhale her scent. She still smells like warm apple pie. My lips graze her ear as I speak. “There are so many things I have done, will do andwantto do to you, Thea. I fantasize about hearing you scream. I get hard at the thought of your tears. I want to break you into minute particles and watch you reform again. But I promise that when I do, you will remember and enjoy every single part of it.” As I talk, I relax my grip on her, but keep her pulled close.

“You’re delusional if you think I’d like any of that.”

“What I think is that you’re a person who would enjoy making me work for what I want.”

“After everything you’ve already done, and after what you just said, why should I believe you aren’t the reason I wound up in the hospital?”

“Believeme?You shouldn’t. You should believe yourself. But first, you’ll have to stop lying to yourself and pretending you’re okay, when I can see plain as day that you’re scared out of your goddamn mind.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

I bury my nose in her hair, filling my lungs with her scent. God, I’ve missed her smell. “I understand more than you think, Thea.”

Reluctantly, I let her go, and back away, giving her space. “I know where we were when I started chasing you, and I know the direction you were heading when I let you get away. I don’t have any more details other than that -yet-, but when you’re ready to walk through that night, let me know, and I’ll help you.”

I tip my chin, signaling for Finn to move. He steps aside, giving her a wide berth so she can leave the room. When she’s gone, he pulls his beanie off his head and scrubs a hand through his unruly curls. “Damn man. Do you think it was smart to tell her about chasing her when the plan was to lower her defenses?”

“Thea needs something to pull on. A reference point to start unraveling the details of that night. I’ve given her one and offered to help her look for more clues.” I close my eyes, imagining I still feel Thea’s presence in the room, even though she’s long gone. “It’s fine if she wants to fixate her anger on me for now.”

“Let’s see if you’re still saying that when she tries to cut out your entrails.”

“Thea fights because she’s used to fighting about everything, and because mentally it makes sense that we’re her attackers. But shestoppedfighting while I was talking to her, and didn’t move from my embrace until I was the one putting space between us. Logic says we’re her enemies, but eventually, her brain will catch on to what her body already knows.”

“Which is?”

“That I’m not the threat buried deep in her mind that she’s too afraid to face.”

Chapter27

Finn

I’ve finally got someone to interview. Carter thought Pax dragging Thea away and us not asking questions meant the incident in the dining hall was forgotten. As if we’d just drop it. If someone dared him to say that shit to Thea, I want to know who it was. I slip inside the warehouse, letting the heavy door bang shut behind me. I’ve given him all day to hang around and think about what he’s done. He should be ready to talk by now.

“Thank you for waiting.” I smile up at him, letting him see that this is just a friendly little chat. His wrists are cuffed together and he’s suspended by a chain attached to a hook on the ceiling. His ankles are zip tied together, so he can’t do something stupid, like kick me. “I won’t take up too much of your time. You just answer a few questions and you’re free to go.”

“Sure man. Whatever you want to know.”

It’s a good thing he wants to get right down to business. I’m having dinner at my parent’s house, and don’t want to be late. “What I want to know is who was there the night you attacked Thea.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t attack her.”

“You told her you did.”

“Like I said, it was a joke. Just a joke.”

“Right. Then I’ll have the joke writer's name.”

“Finn, man… I can’t tell you that.”

My brows shoot to my forehead. That’s not the answer he’s supposed to give me. “Why not?”

“Because it was a dare and, based on the rules, we’re not required to disclose that information.”

He’s spouting game rules to me? Like I’m supposed to give a shit about how many points he racked up by traumatizing my girl? We’ve gotten soft. I can see it now. These punks aren’t as afraid of The Trium as they used to be. I was hoping he’d just feel chatty, and I wouldn’t have to get persuasive.

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