Page 66 of Ruthless Legacy

Finn chuckles, and Pax swears. They already see where I’m going with this. “I think I shall take your suggestion. You and your friends can go back to the future ex wives table.”

“What? But, why?”

“You just said people who are sickened by a Trium’s presence shouldn’t be acknowledged. I hear how you and your friends talk about me. See how you all turn your noses up when you think no one’s looking. How you all fight not to be paired with me at social events. Since I disgust all of you, you’re removed from this table.”

“I understand if you decide to oust my friends, but Pax is the one who gave me a permanent seat here.”

This is it. This is the moment Pax shows where he really stands. This is the moment that will permanently change everything between us. Eloise just did the unthinkable. She alluded to Pax’s power, superseding mine. She’s suggesting that he’s our leader. I don’t know how it happened with the other Trium. I don’t know if my father could pinpoint a moment when the first crack formed. But I know this is that moment for us.

I keep my face impassive, letting none of the strain I feel show. I pretend to be calm while I wait. I don’t look at anyone but Eloise as the seconds tick by, the tension stretching around us.

Pax’s voice is calm. But each word leeches the color from Eloise’s face. “Finn, what time did you say we’re going to Thea’s room to draft that memo?”

“We hadn’t settled on a time yet.”

Staring across the table, I say, “I think I just saved us some ink. No need to add Eloise and her friend’s names to the document since I already said, Get. The. Fuck. Up.”

They scramble to their feet, pushing and shoving each other out of the way. “Now, I understand having to explain this sudden change to your parents may be embarrassing, and may come with consequences, so I’m willing to give each of you an opportunity to earn another invitation to sit here. In one week increments.”

Thea snorts as she shovels the remains of her cheese fries in her mouth.

Chapter29

Thea

My phone rings as I’m pulling into the parking lot of Wolfe Pack, with another unknown number. I’ve been getting them with more and more frequency. I answer, ready to annoy the little customer service agent, trying to sell me something.

“Thank you for calling wonderland, how may I direct your call?”

The recording repeats the same thing that was on the three invitations I’ve received and trashed.

An Unkind Family Disappoints,

Treacherous Friends Betray,

A Conspiracy to Offer a Bond

That cannot be Severed, Forsaken, or Changed

There’s a set of coordinates, a date and time

I repeat the words, trying to decipher their meaning. I head inside, giving a quick wave to Tank as I drop my stuff near the ring, before going to the treadmill to warm up. It’s not until I’m in the ring sparring that an answer comes to me.

At the end of my workout, I take off without talking to Deacon. If I’m right, about what I think this riddle means, my neighbors are the ones with answers.

After a quick shower, I bang on Finn’s door, then Holden’s, and finally Pax’s. They all open their doors at the same time.

“Floor meeting. Right now.” I announce, as I shove into Finn’s room, and plop down on the couch.

“What’s wrong, Pet?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I already said we’re having a floor meeting. Now, can you hurry the other two up? I have things to do when we’re done.”

He darts out into the hall and comes back with Holden and Pax in tow. Pax grunts, “What’s so damn important? Did you stub your toe, or lock yourself out of your room?”

“You know what, Pax. I don’t like your attitude. You’re lucky I’m not excluding you from this session.”

He stands with his back against the wall. “You can’t exclude me. Even if I didn’t show up to whatever this is, they’d fill me in on everything.”

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