Page 199 of Heartless Legacy

“No, I haven’t.”

“Do you think it’s real?” I ask when he’s done.

He sighs. “I don’t know how to answer that.”

“With the truth.”

“Yes, Thea. I think it’s real. Originally, The Triumvirate were the three men who came up with the idea of The League of the Daggered Raven. Over time, the title became a moniker for the offspring of the top donors to the school. Initially, there were four names that met that top donor milestone, and they were called the Quadrumvirate.”

“Sure. I know that part. That’s the fourth bedroom in Vale Tower that everyone is so precious about.”

“It is. Eventually, the trinity group created a fourth position within The League of the Daggered Raven to accommodate their neighbor. That familial line died off, so the legacy heirs of the top three donors became known as the Triumvirate once again. Those names coincide with the names on the wall in The Tomb.”

This history lesson is a waste of time. “Rhodes, Sullivan, and Cox. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The old bastards paid for a school,created a secret club, and stayed in control. What I want to know is why my mother would think this was worth hiding.”

“So impatient,” Alexz teases.

“Just not in the mood for a boring ass history lesson.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s all I can offer you. As for what Hailee was doing with it, and why she hid it, I can’t say. I’ve dispatched a team to check out all the places your team building clues led you to, but can you think of anywhere else she might have been?”

“Not at the moment, but we’re going to New York to check out the town where the archives used to be. I’ll let you know if we find anything.”

Chapter 110

Finn

“That doesn’t bother you?” Pax asks me, pointing to the sedan idling at the curb where Thea’s still talking to the driver. Probably going over her pickup time for today.

“Why would it?”

“Because you like your freedom, and all of this seems pretty restrictive. You’re surrounded by guards that don’t like you, who keep their fingers on their triggers. That can’t be easy.”

He’s right. I basically live in enemy territory with no backup. At any moment Thea can turn on me and refuse me access or tell them to take me to this box I keep hearing about. I don’t know if it’s a location or an actual box, but it sounds horrifying, and the constant tension of will they kill me or won’t they, is the coolest shit ever.

“I’m back to driving myself to school most of the time. On campus, they’re invisible, and at home, as long as I’m not upsetting Thea, they ignore me.”

He frowns at me. “They get involved in your fights?”

“We don’t fight. We disagree, and yes, sometimes they show up and ask if I need to be eliminated. They’re very, veryprotective of her peace.” I take in his posture and face. “You’re on edge.”

“I am,” He says with a curt nod.

“Why does Thea having guards bother you?”

“It doesn’t. I’m happy she has them to protect her from anyone they think is a threat.”

Ah. Right. He’s on the threat list. “You’re okay, Pax. They’re not gonna murder you in your sleep.”

“You sound awfully sure about that.”

“I am. If they thought you were a danger to her, they would’ve done something about you in Tijuana, or when she tried to kill you in your room, or any of the other days you’ve been near Thea. They’ve done their homework on all of us and have been spot on with their threat assessments.” Patting him on the back, I assure him, “You’re fine. Eloise is the person you should worry about.”

He sighs. “That’s exactly my point. She’s my companion, so if they come after her, they’re coming after me.”

“Only if you’re defending her.” I take a moment before asking, “Will you defend her?” Holden and I told him we’re getting rid of Eloise one way or the other. If that means orchestrating a situation and letting Thea’s bodyguards step in and handle it, so be it.

He says, “I’m keeping up appearances, because I have to, but you know how I feel about Thea.”

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