Page 181 of Ruthless Legacy

“Don’t play games with me, Tink.”

“But it’s so much fun, Saint.”

“That’s how you want to play this, forthem? After that shit that went down with you and your friend?”

His eyes flick over my shoulder again. It’s all fun and games when he’s pet name dropping, but a pissed off Saint has no business looking LJ’s way. I snap my finger in his face. “Nah, ah. You’re talking to me, tough guy.”

He drags his attention away from her and back to me. “This is how I play itfor myself,Saint. Not anyone else. Or has your time here made you forget who I am?”

He swirls his finger in the air with The Skullz sign to wrap it up. His crew shuffles out. He’s walking backwards and says, “Alright, Tink. If you say you got this, then you do. But if you change your mind and need an out, you know the cost, and how to reach me.”

He turns, his second falling in behind him. Guarding his back.

LJ comes to stand next to me and slumps against my side. I lock my arm around her to give her support. She whispers, “What the hell is wrong with me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mouthed off at a gang member at my crossover celebration.”

“I know.” I have a huge grin on my face. “It was perfect.”

“Thea, it was reckless and dangerous. What if The Lady Lions drop me after this? What if I’ve just painted a target on my back?”

The party goers seem oblivious to what was happening and if they know, they won’t say anything. The Trium will make sure of it. I drag her towards the drink table. I think we both could use one.

That horrified and embarrassed look returns when I tease, “Oh, I think Saint would definitely be interested in paintingsomethingon your back.”

Chapter72

Finn

Iflick my switchblade open and closed, working through the events of tonight. Thea stabbed Mikey.

Not once, while I listened to that guy threaten to expose her secret, did I care about her explanation of why. If she did it, he deserved it. We don’t ever need to mention it again.

The tattooed gang members showing up on campus looking for her. Thatisan issue we need to discuss.

She’s sitting with her back against my headboard. The twin blades I gifted her on her lap.

“Is he an ex?”

“Who?”

“The blonde-haired gang leader.”

She barks out a laugh. “God, no. Why would you ask that?”

“The two of you looked pretty chummy, and the stupid one kept saying he’d expose your secrets if you didn’t do what he wanted.”

“And you think having an ex who’s in a gang is a secret I’d be afraid to have people know about?”

“It would explain your rule on not dating. You know, if he wasn’t willing to let you go. Don’t gang girlfriends always belong to the gangs, no matter what?”

“You tell me. Will companions always belong to The League?”

“The League isn’t a gang.”

“Neither are the Inferno Skullz. Or at least, they’re not supposed to be. The history of their organization is complicated, and it’s none of our business.”

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