Page 157 of Heartless Legacy

“Oh no, snowflake.” He crooks his finger, motioning for me to come back over to the desk. “Being part of this organization isn’t all about fun, theft, and fighting. This is your mess. You’re gonna sit in on this phone call and listen to what he wants us to do to clean it up.”

The theft and fighting are the best parts. I’m not built for admin work. That’s why Sasha is such a good partner. She loves spreadsheets and charts. Dropping down into a chair, I grouse, “Don’t call me snowflake.”

Finn

I’m dreaming. It’s the hottest dream ever, of a sexy woman decked out in black with blue eyes, knocking me to the ground, then climbing on top of me to do wicked, filthy things to my body with my blade held to my throat. There’s a whirring sound and a hiss that sounds like steam, cutting into my dream, and the sound of my name goes from a throaty warm feminine tone to gruff gravel. I go to roll over to get more comfortable, but I don’t have use of my arms. My eyes pop open. I’m not in a fluffy bed of silk. I’m on my side, face smashed to the floor.

“Good, you’re finally awake.” Pax says from somewhere behind me.

I wiggle my wrists, feeling that they’re bound together behind me. I work my hands along the rope, searching for the knot. It takes a while and my wrists are rubbed raw, but I finally slip my hand free and gingerly push myself to a sitting position,massaging the tender flesh of my wrists, trying to restart the circulation in my hands, as I look around the space. Pax is now in front of me, his hands zip tied behind his back. Holden is slumped over on my left. Whatever they gave me, they must’ve doubled the dose for him.

Looking over at Pax, I say, “His insomnia’s been bad this week. I hate to wake him.”

He answers, “He’ll hate being this vulnerable in a strange place even more.”

Pax calls Holden’s name. Keeping a healthy distance from him, I use my feet to jostle his leg. He finally wakes, wincing as he realizes his hands are tied. I walk over to free his ropes, then coil it around my hand. Both of the ropes swung together will make a decent weapon in a pinch. Upon closer inspection, I see Pax’s zip ties are more like polycarbon handcuffs. Those are gonna be a little harder to help him break out of.

“Any ideas where we are?” Holden asks.

Looking through the window of the room we’re in, I respond, “A warehouse.” I can make out two people in the middle of the warehouse floor. One of them looks up and jerks his chin. The second guy turns to look at me as well before they both head our way. “And we’re about to have company.”

When they enter the room, neither of them comment on the fact that Holden and I have our hands free. “Let’s go.”

This is the second time I’ve been drugged and transported somewhere. I’m really getting sick of this shit. Sizing them up, I determine we can take them, even with Pax’s hands cuffed behind his back. They both chuckle and the one who spoke says, “I wouldn’t try that if I were you. Things will go from friendly to antagonistic and I’m not so sure you want that to be the nature of our relationship going forward.”

Is he mocking us? Out there might be more things we can use as weapons. There’s definitely a door. I like our chances betterwith more space to move around. I look over at my friends and we silently agree to go with them.

Once we’re on the first floor, I search for the exits. Over by the huge roll-up door is a group of men dressed like the ones leading us through the warehouse. In the middle of that group is a head of red streaked hair. Its owner turns at the sound of our footsteps. Violet eyes clash into mine. I thought I imagined Thea at the hospital after I was hit from behind. But she’s here. Okay, first things first. We need to get her away from them.

“Thea.” Pax steps towards her, clearly thinking the same thing I am. She turns to the guy standing next to her. “Really?” She throws her hands up, in a what the fuck gesture. “You grabbedhim?”

The guy says, “Better safe than sorry.”

“If you wanted to feel safe, Finn and Holden should be zip tied too.” My head glitches. Why is she chastising them like they’re naughty first graders that started a food fight?

“Safe for you, Thea.” The guy explains. “The other two seem to have slipped their ropes, which the skinny one has hidden in his pockets, and given who the big one’s father is, we used cuffs, because we’re not giving him a chance to get his hands on you. If he tries, he’ll be taking a nice,longnap.”

He smiles. Is that what I look like when I’m about to cut someone? The guy goes on to say, “I’ve been dying to see the new subcutaneous implant in action. I finally got the go ahead with this one.”

Thea rolls her eyes at him, a clear warning in her voice when she says, “Do notpush that button.”

His smile grows wider. “Who says I have the button?”

I’ve had enough of their friendly banter, and Pax has, too. “Who the fuck are you people?” He growls, taking a step toward them. The group shifts with military precision, forming a barrier between Thea and us, guns raised.

I hear myself saying, “Get away from her.” I realize she’s not in any danger, but my mind is having trouble understanding why she’s over there with them and not standing next to me. “Thea, come over here.”

The guy who seems to be in charge says, “She’ll stay right where she is.”

He thinks I care that they’re armed? They’re waving guns around with my girl standing right there. That makesthemthe threat. I take a step toward them. The one with the smile isstillsmiling.

“Yes, please do. Fiiinnn-ley.” He lowers his gun and hands it to the guy standing next to him. “I’ll even make it a fair fight.” He says, pulling out two knives and offering one to me.

“Put that away,” Thea orders, pressing through the bodies. “There’s no need to break out the hand-to-hand combat skills.” She glances over at us. “Right now.”

Smiley is unperturbed by her rebuke. “But I think it’ll be the perfect ice breaker, don’t you?”

Faster than I can blink, she has her knife to his junk. “You’ll need some iceon thisif you don’t stop swinging it around. Still want me to break it?”

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