Page 159 of Ruthless Legacy

I feel it. The weight of the target on my back getting heavier. I haven’t felt this kind of pressure in a while. I settle into it. It’s like putting on a favorite sweater that’s been packed away for a while.

The guys told me not to store my challenge items on campus. I already knew that, but I liked letting them think they were helping me. They can’t help me with this, though. I’m being watched. I know people are waiting to pounce on me, as if my lone wolf status makes me the easiest person to come after for challenge points. Everyone else on the list is working in groups.

I hum as I make my way to the dorm, pretending to be caught up in the music on my phone. What I’m really doing is keeping an eye on the group loitering in front of the building.

They live in a different dorm and have no business being this close to Vale Tower without an invite. It’s been three days since the alert. I don’t know why they waited this long to make a move. Not everyone received the advice or listened to the advice about not hiding their stuff on campus. I’ve been careful to take things that won’t be easily missed.

I watch as my fellow Prospects check behind trees and under the trashcans near the building. As if I’d be stupid enough to hide my loot in those places. They spot me heading towards them, and walk off in another direction.

Through the glass doors, I see more people in the lobby, hanging around the elevator. I chuckle at that. Like I’m gonna let them ride up to my floor with me. The residents of Vale Tower rarely use the side door, because they like to be seen, and the front door is closest to the store and elevator.

I used the door because I like anonymity, especially on days like today. I slip through the door and walk over to the stairwell. Ten floors on foot, it is. I’m between the sixth and seventh floor before I hear footsteps on the stairs above me.

“You sure you saw her? Okay. Thanks.”

I turn to go back to the sixth floor. It should be safe to use the elevator now. I turn the handle quietly, opening the door open. I come face to face with the guy from the club.

“Where is it?” He snarls.

There were much easier points to acquire, but once I put a name to the face, there was no way he wasn’t ending up on my list. I guess now he’s here to return the favor.

“It what?”

“I know it was you!”

“Yeah, it was me at the club and I still don’t work there.”

“Don’t play with me. I know you’re the one who stole my challenge item.”

“Your car was stolen? Shit, you should call the police. I suggest the Canyon Falls police department. When this happened to me, the campus cops were less than helpful.” I snap my fingers. “Or you know it might not be stolen. Mine wasn’t. Turns out they towed it off campus. Something about a computer glitch and erroneous information on my student account.”

He inches closer. “Don’t play with me. I want my challenge item you took.”

“What’s the year and color of your Challenger? I’ll keep an eye out for it.”

“You know, the rules say I can steal your items or get you to submit the game. Once I do that, you’re done for.”

I smile. “Well, I’m always up for a game. The question is, why would I need to play against you when I’ve already won?”

“You haven’t won anything, yet.”

“You’re here bitching about misplacing something important to you. That tells me you need whatever this thing is, so you’re not reshuffled. I don’t have that issue, so yeah. I’m winning.”

He takes another step forward. “They were right. You do think you’re better than everyone else. I wouldn’t even need to participate in this challenge if you would’ve just took your damn clothes off. That’s fine. I’ll fix that right now.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Why does everybody say that? I don’t think I’m better than everybody else. I think I’m better than the tiny brained assholes who have nothing better to do with their time than to put me down. And as for my clothes. You lack the requisite skill set to convince me to take them off.”

“You’ve got a real smart mouth for a dead bitch walking. What happened to you on Mayhem Night will feel like a warmup of what you can expect as a prospect if you don’t give up those points and let them drop you from the roster.”

For every step towards me he’s taken, I’ve mirrored with one step back. Now we’re outside the view of the door. I inch down the steps towards the fifth floor. He smirks at me.

I’m good at reading body language, trying to interpret the meaning behind the words and recognizing when people are bluffing. He’s not. The lights flick off and he says, “Not so cocky now, are you, little bitch?”

I keep my voice even, not letting him sense the panic skirting along my spine. “News of my past, present and future demise have been greatly exaggerated.”

I shrug off my backpack, discretely pulling my knife from under my sleeve, prepping for his attack. The space around me gets warm. Arms circle around my neck from behind. My body locks up, but then Finn’s scent envelopes me. Holden and Pax take up position on either side of me.

The lights come back on, and Finn purrs, “Hey, Reggie,” as he runs his knife down my cheek. Reggie’s eyes widen, his hands fly up as he takes a step back. Finn continues, “I couldn’t help but overhearing your question, and to answer it,no. She’s not full of cock right now, but between the three of us, she’s got plenty on reserve.”

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