Page 97 of Heartless Legacy

Tonight is my first challenge since coming back. I blow out a steadying breath. I followed the instructions and entered the Employees Only area of the bar with the password I received. Now, I’m standing in a dressing room, frowning at the choices of outfits with my name on them. I guess my league stylist is back in rotation. Only this time she’s picked out a shit ton of lingerie and underwear, giving off a sense of virginal innocent that I would never choose for myself.

There was a notecard with my name on it pinned to one of the outfits. Inside were two lines.

Put on an outfit

Go to room 7

Room seven. In Nag’s Creek, that was the high tipper room. I wonder if the person running the club here has it the same way. I’ve stalled long enough. Waiting any longer won’t turn these slips of material into something less opaque, ruffly, white or pink.

It’s a challenge and if this is the one that finally gets the council to stop being suspicious of me, then I need to excel at whatever it is. I strip out of my clothes and put on the pink babydoll teddy with the thong, and shove my feet into the six-inch heels. Here’s hoping I don’t break my damn neck walking to the room.

Luckily, it’s a quick trip down the hall. The bottom half of the room has black paneling, the top half is mirrored glass, with curtains you can close to give the people inside a sense of privacy. There’s a guard posted in front of every door. The one in front of room seven isn’t wearing the club t-shirt. He must be personal security for someone inside.

He pushes open the door, revealing three league members sprawled out on the sofas. They eye me the way they did when I was going through Indoc. I thought I was done dealing with these assholes when Deacon became my mentor.

“Prospect LaReaux.” Councilmember Burke beckons me into the room. “Welcome to your loyalty challenge. The purpose of tonight is to prove your utmost respect and allegiance to The League of the Daggered Raven. It will begin the moment you affirm and accept the challenge, and will continue until we all deem it over, by unanimous decision. You will serve us drinks, dance for us, and whatever other options we decide as entertainment.”

He glances over at the other two men, who nod their agreement. “This challenge will be indicative or your genuine desire to return to your previous involvement level within The League of the Daggered Raven.”

What kind of shit is this? “The tribunal has already reinstated me.”

“They have reinstated you, at thebottomof the leaderboard. You need to earn your points back.” He frownsin disappointment. “And I must say, questioning a council member.” He tsks. “You’re not off to a good start.”

The other two shake their heads as if I’m the most pitiful thing they’ve ever seen. “This is the danger of letting prospects pick their mentors. Had you been forced to keep the one assigned to you, you wouldn’t be in this position now.”

Forced to keephim,since he was the one assigned to me. I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t have been in this position now. I would have been here sooner. Just like when I was going through indoc, his attention isn’t on me. It’s on my tits.

He finally drags his gaze to my face, trying to pretend like drool’s not pooling on the side of his mouth. Dance, serve andentertain, which I’m sure is a poorly coded word choice, for take my clothes off. I swallow back the nerves and bile. I can do this. I have to do this. Iwilldo this, because I’ll be damned if this fucker undermines my plans.

“I apologize esteemed council member Burke. I meant no disrespect. I was just asking for clarification. I’ve clearly misunderstood the decision rendered at my tribunal.”

He gives me a pacifying smile that saysof course your small girl mind didn’t understand. I understood. He’s just trying to take advantage of what he thinks is my desperation to prove my loyalty. I am desperate, but not for the reason he thinks. So I’ll do this and he’ll go on the list of people I’ll be taking down when the time comes. “I am ready and await your instructions, esteemed council member Burke.”

He smacks his palms together and rubs his hands back and forth. “Excellent. I think we’ll all start with a drink.” He gives his order and points towards the door. I teeter over to it on the heels. Room seven comes with bottle service, but he’s declined it. Is he really that determined to turn me into his servant? Or is it the humiliation he’s after?

I take my time walking so I don’t twist my ankles. He’ll be lucky if I don’t drop the drinks on my way back. I resist the urge to look up towards the second floor of the vulture’s nest where the club owner and manager would sit. Further behind it, on the same floor, is the office.

Instead, I take in the dance floor, noting the similarities and differences to the place in Nags Creek. I finally make my way to the bar, and come around to the side where the servers place and pick up their orders. The bartender looks at me in confusion when I give mine. “You don’t work here.”

He presses the earpiece in his right ear, then turns to the bar to make the drinks. I guess whoever is in his ear just told him I’m on shift for tonight. I take the tray, carefully balancing it as I hold it high and weave through the bodies back towards the private rooms. Once again, the guard at the door holds it open for me. He doesn’t speak, barely looks at me. I could be invisible for all he cares. My feet stall a few steps inside. There are two more guests in the room. Now I’ve fantasized about having a group of men salivating over me, but those men were significantly younger, and assholes that I was actually attracted to. The friends Leonardo Burke has brought to this party do absolutely nothing for me. One of them already has his shirt unbuttoned and there’s an unmistakable bulge in his pants.

I swallow back the bile in my throat and let none of the disgust I feel show on my face. Forcing my feet to move forward, I hand out the drinks. The two newcomers already have drinks in their hands. Hopefully, they won’t be sending me back out anytime soon. The fifth guy has his back to me. When he finally turns around, my stomach plummets. It’s the guy from the time my challenge was to dance for a group of men. He smiles when he sees me. That twist of his lips tells me all I need to know. I won’t be leaving here tonight without getting naked.

Finn

I was hoping for a quiet evening in, but a boyfriend’s job is never done. Thea left the dorm later than usual and it wasn’t to go to any of her usual spots. She’s up to something. The late night rendezvous, vague responses and continuing to keep her distance, don’t work for me.

Whatever she’s up to, I want to be up to it with her. Holden is the resident genius, but I’m smart enough to work out that whatever she’s doing has to do with The League. She’s sneaking around like she was when she was trying to get meritoriously promoted to second-year prospect.

I watch her slink through the dark towards the bar that she’s still not old enough to be in. She rolls her shoulders and straightens her spine before pulling open the door and stepping inside. If I go in there, I’ll stand out like a sore thumb. Thea’s in her favorite leather jacket, jeans and boots. My outfit screams prep school elite. I was feeling very aristocratic today. I didn’t know following Thea would lead me to the sleazy side of town. Oh well, I own my shit and my knife fits in with any environment.

I walk into the bar, scanning the crowd. I spot her slipping through a door in the back and follow. Someone steps in front of the door as I approach, arms folded across his beefy chest.

“Excuse me.” He blocks my attempt to step around him and jams his thumb towards the sign that reads, Employees Only.Unless Thea is suddenly working here, she’s not an employee, and she definitely walked through that door. I look from him to the sign again, and then around the bar. Well, Iguessthat couldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities. She likes to make her own money, and she worked at the hotel before finding out she was related to the owners.

“My friend’s back there.”

He drags his eyes over my outfit. “I doubt that.”

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