Page 189 of Heartless Legacy

“Yeah, well, if that’s true, you’ll happily spend every second of every day proving it.”

I look over at Holden, who nods in agreement and says, “The first thing you’re gonna do is help us sabotage your contract with Eloise.”

Thea seems better. She’s smiling and joking with her friends, and sassing Finn and Holden every time I see them with her. They’re doing exactly what they said they were gonna do. Openly pursuing her, no matter what anyone else thinks.

They’ve tried to include me in their interactions and conversations, but it’s not as easy as it was before. Part of that is on me. I don’t feel I have a right to her smiles or to be a part of her happiness, because I haven’t done anything to earn it. I want her to choose to be around me because she wants to be. Not because Finn and Holden drag me along.

I watch as she carries her tray to her table, but instead of eating right away, she turns to look at ours, frowning at me, then at Holden. I expect her to dismiss us both, but she keeps staring until Holden looks up from his phone. Then she’s looking at me again. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. I don’t know what I did in the last two minutes to piss her off.

She leans over and whispers something to LJ, then leaves the table, carrying her food outside. Holden’s on his feet, seconds later following her. My curiosity gets the best of me. I go outside too, and find them sitting at a table far away from the other students.

Holden looks my way, but Thea turns his face back to her and leans in closer, whispering against his ear. He shakes his head while she nods hers. Then he’s gripping her jaw and leans in, kissing her. He’s gonna leave fingermarks on her face if he doesn’t ease up.

Before I can move to intercede, his grip loosens, his hands moving to cup the back of her head. When they break apart, some of the tension has bled from his features. Thea wraps her arms around him in a hug, then pushes her tray towards him before climbing to her feet.

She walks past me. HerI hate youlook is back in place, as she says, “He’s fine, but I don’t suggest you let anyone get too close to him for the rest of the day.”

“You said he’s fine.”

“He is, and everyone else will continue to be fine, as long as you keep the grabby hands away from him.” She sighs, and someof the hostility drains from her voice. “Just block for him, Pax. He’s not in the right head space to play companion today, and he refuses to skip the rest of his classes. So I’m asking you to be a good friend and keep people away from him. Please.”

This is why I don’t deserve her. I realize how much it must’ve taken for her to ask me to help. “I will.”

Chapter 105

Deacon

Finn’s brought a guest home. Holden is siting on my couch, looking at me with just as much resigned acceptance as I’m showing him. I’m struggling not to comment, but Thea is not. “Somebody better start talking fast.” Glancing at her phone, she says, “The guards will be here in five minutes and will treat this as a hostile event.”

I laugh when Finn says, “It’s not a hostile event. I invited them over.”

“If Thea says it’s a hostile event, it is. Your presence is tolerated here Finn, but she can raise or lower the threat level, and revoke your access to the building any time she wants.” Pointing to the Holden, I say, “And she hasn’t given him the all clear, so like she said, talk fast.”

“You said you have something to ask me?” Thea prompts, eyeing the two of them warily.

“It’s more like something to tell you.” Holden says, reaching down to pick up his backpack. “We’ve made some progress on the team building challenge.” Looking at me, he says, “You wanna come closer to see this too?”

Finn flicks on the television and says, “You can cast it on the television. The firewalls here are better than the ones you set up at the dorm.”

Holden looks surprised. What does he think we’re doing here? This place is for Thea’s safety. That includes internet safety. Operations would have a fucking meltdown if there’s even a hint of vulnerability. That includes her social media posts and emails getting hacked by a neighbor.

Holden’s laptop screen appears as he explains what we’re looking at. “I think the reason everyone is struggling with the team building challenge is because it’s a challenge-within-a -challenge. The collaboration efforts should be with multiple committees. We started with your clue, Thea.” He clicks forward through his PowerPoint slides, explaining how it tied into Finn’s missing desk and a safe deposit box, before finally reaching the last slide with a question mark on it.

Nobody says anything when his presentation is over. Finally, I break the silence. “That’s it?”

He counters with, “Did you want more?”

“I was expecting a big reveal. You put a lot of work into this presentation, not to have anything to show us. If everything’s connected, what is the challenge item, and how do the rest of the members of your team get credit for it?”

Holden’s looking at Thea when he says, “There are no other members of the team.”

Her response is immediate. “How many times have I told you? I’m. Not. On. Your. Team.”

He shrugs, “Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve said it. We hit the reset button every time you cum around my dick.”

I do a double take. Did I hear him correctly? I haven’t interacted with Holden much, but he’s always been the quiet one in any group. To be honest, I’m not even sure what I imagined their interactions to be like. I know all about the little predatorprey games they play, but for some reason I never considered that dirty talk was included.

“Just because your memory oozes out of your penis doesn’t mean mine does from my vagina.”

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