Page 150 of Ruthless Legacy

I hit rewind when a streak of purple whizzes by. It’s an ATM camera at the Bianchi Hotel. The knot in my stomach loosens a little. At least now I know she’s okay.

I check a few more camera angles. With that many prospects on that side of town, it’s a pretty good bet that there’s a challenge happening. I wish I had access to their security feed so I can see and hear what’s going on, but it’ll take too much time to set up an access point on my phone.

I text the guys and let them know where she is. This is inconvenient for Pax. I wonder if it’s some kind of challenge for him too, to see how he handles things. He should be by Thea’s side, but he can’t interfere with whatever the league has her doing.

I’m heading towards town when Finn texts and says he and Thea are heading back to school. We agree to meet in Pax’s room. I stop for food on my way back to campus.

I’m juggling four bags of food when I step off the elevator and have to balance them in one hand to let myself into Pax’s room. From the sounds of things, Finn and Thea are back and something’s set her off. Probably Pax.

I kick the door shut behind me, heading straight for the kitchen.

“I don’t give a damn how things usually work. I’m not your property. I’m not gonna be checking in and out with you every time I leave the dorm.”

“Get it through your head. You can’t leave without me. If I have to cuff your ass to me. I will.”

She throws her hands up. “What about my classes? Are you gonna sit in on them, because I’m not skipping? Oh. You didn’t think about that part, did you?”

She looks over at me. “How did you and Finn deal with your forty-eight hours?”

Finn says, “Eloise and I were still in high school. We had parental supervision on her side.”

“Holden?”

I continue unpacking the food and say, “Nothing. I didn’t care if she survived those first two days.”

I fix Thea a plate and carry it over to her. “Here. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

She takes it with a smile. “Thank you.”

“Where are you going?” Pax asks when she gets to the door.

“My room to shower, eat, and sleep. Or am I not allowed to be alone in my dorm room?”

She slams the door behind her.

Pax turns to us and says, “You two talk some sense into her.”

* * *

Pax

I’ve spent the last three days wasting time; tracking my wayward companion around campus and town. I tell her to stick close to the dorm, and not to leave without telling someone, and she turns around and does the exact opposite.

I understand her not wanting to feel confined.Restrictedis what she calls it, but I’m trying to keep her safe, and I can’t figure out why she won’t let me.

Tonight, I don’t have to go far to find her. She’s on the roof of the building Finn uses to get some distance from life. I reset the brick that’s propping the door open and cross over to where she’s sitting. There’s an unopened bottle of bourbon next to her, so I’m guessing she hasn’t been up here long.

“Is your phone broken?”

“Nope.”

“It must be, because you didn’t text or call and tell me you were leaving your room.”

“That should tell you something.”

“It does. That you enjoy pissing me off.”

“Or that three days surrounded by the three of you hovering, is suffocating me, and I needed a second to myself.”

---