Page 102 of Ruthless Legacy

Even something as simple as how she answers a question from anyone she encounters. Since she’s not privy to the identity of any league members, she has no way of knowing that the next three days are one big test.

She has to get through this part on her own. Once she does, The League will assign her a mentor and that person will guide her through everything else. Mentors don’t want their mentees to fail, because it reflects badly on them. Other than the challenges, we know what to expect.

I spot LJ on the other side of the room dressed in black slacks, a white shirt, and a black necktie. All the other pledges are too. They’re bussing tables and serving food. It must be their service week. That’s how Beta Psi and the Zeta Nus differ from the other Greeks on campus. We hold fundraisers and silent auctions that people donate to and then give the money to scholarship program. We don’t actually serve anyone.

The pledges look like they’re having fun. I walk over to her and ask, “Is Thea okay?”

She blinks at me, mouth gaping open. I get it. I’ve never talked to her before. But I need to know how she is. Not how she looks, but how she actually feels. She’d tell LJ the truth.

“She’s fine. Tired and submitting her course work. She won’t be at lunch today. She got food delivered.”

I duck my head to hide my smile. It’s not fast enough.

“Wait. Did you send her food?”

“Thank you for the update.”

I look at the table. I see people handing the pledges poker chips. There’s another table where they’re being sold. I walk over, buy a hundred dollars’ worth, and give them to LJ.

“What’s going on over there?” Finn asks when I get to our table.

“Thea ate, and she’s getting caught up on her schoolwork.”

He says, “That was a good idea you had about sending her food.”

“Your idea about it being brunch from that diner was a good one, too.”

He leans back, looking smug. “Look at us, being awesome at taking care of our girl.” He looks around and says, “These guys would never.”

I point out, “We were those guys and we never.”

He looks at me, a somber look on his face. “You were never that guy Holden and I never wanted to be. Our parents believe in love and romance. We just never had the right girl before now.”

“You still think Thea’s the right girl?”

“Don’t you?”

I jerk my head to the left. I do, but it’s not unanimous, and if Pax doesn’t get on board, what we think won’t matter.

I look over at my oldest friend. I wish I could read his mind. We used to talk about everything, but in the past year he’s become less forthcoming. It’s more than the deal he made with Eloise. He’s stopped sharing his personal thoughts and feelings about anything important. It’s like he can only think about our status as legacies and our ranks in The League.

They call me robotic, but he’s the one acting like a heartless machine.

His father, Malcolm, is on the pledge committee and is his mentor. We should have some inside information as to what’s going on. We don’t. Pax hasn’t even bothered to ask and we haven’t asked him to. He’s been clear about how he feels about Thea pledging.

Someone asks what time we’re all meeting up for dinner. I don’t want to be bothered. Finn and I share a look and he says, “Come whatever time you want. The Trium has other plans.”

Pax waits until we’re alone to ask, “What plans?”

I answer, “None. I just don’t feel like sitting around them for dinner.”

Finn adds, “Let’s do pizza and wings. Make sure one is supreme and get some lemon pepper wings.”

“Since when do we eat lemon pepper?”

Finn smiles. “We don’t, but Thea does. It’s her favorite.”

“And why are we including her?”

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