Page 47 of Heartless Legacy

“Forced?”

“Fine, I charged them for my services, and the currency was the use of their systems for thirty days, so I could find you.”

“Now that you’re here, on a scale of one to ten, how disappointed are you?”

“In you for trying to cover up your trauma or because you’re trying to push me away?”

“I’m not trying to push you away.” I grumble. “I just can’t let you get close. Physically.”

He sighs. “When have I ever made you think our relationship was purely physical? We’ve been here before, Thea. My dick won’t fall off while I’m waiting for you to deal with touch again.”

“You’ve gotta be tired of this.” I mutter, “I know I am.”

“The situations we keep finding ourselves in? You’re damn right I’m tired of it, but that’s not a reflection of how I feel about you. I’ll never get tired of you. Now if you want to end things because you don’t want me, or because of my family’s history with yours, or my ties to this place or The League, just say so.”

“I don’t wanna end things. I’ll never get tired of you, either.” I might not know shit else about myself right now, but I know that.

“I’m happy to hear that. For everything else, we’ll come up with a plan and deal with it.”

The coastline comes into view as the ship slowly makes its way to port. A few days ago, Alexz announced we’d be pulling into port to trade out seventy-five percent of the crew. The next batch will float for three months, then swap out with a crew in Italy. He says the rotation keeps everyone alert and excited about doing the job.

We’re docking in Oregon, then flying to the west coast base for the Phoenix Foundation, which by vague description is located in Montana or on the Canadian border. Between the description of glaciers and ranches, I’m confused about which one it is.

Alexz hasn’t mentioned his research project again, and neither have I. Right now, I have no interest in dealing with any of that, and I’m happy to never go back to Canyon Falls. I’ve gotten used to the rhythm and routine of the ship and the people who work here. A few of them say they live within commuting distance to the offices, which means Wolfe and I can find a place to live, too.

Things are a little strained between us, since I unloaded all my trauma on him and basically declared a moratorium on sex. But he stayed, instead of flying off on the chopper, that was heading to Los Angeles.

The tug boats come alongside, gently guiding us through the channel to our slip. I watch the port crew catch the ropes thrown out through the little port holes and tie us snugly up against the pier. The crew onboard is excited to see land. They’ve got their bags lining the passageways, waiting for the captain to announce we’re free to disembark.

The boat will remain here for three days, refueling, and restocking. The replacement crew is already on the pier waiting to take our place. Of the twenty-five percent who won’t be leaving, they’ll stay on until Italy, because that’s their home portor because they plan to vacation somewhere in Europe during their off time. It’s basically getting paid to travel.

The captain comes over the intercom and declares we’re free to leave. I hurry to my stateroom to gather my things, doing a last-minute check for anything I might have forgotten to pack. Not that I have much. I have the clothes Alexz provided and some things from the ship’s store, but all of that fits in one little duffle bag. Wolfe’s bag is like mine, but his is filled with the standard issue crew shirt and pants and workout clothes. When you live at sea, there’s not much need for a full wardrobe. I like the simplicity of it.

We’ll be among the last group to depart the ship because we’re flying with Alexz to the headquarters and it’ll take a while to get his security team in place. I suspect he’s being extra vigilant because I’m here. That makes me feel a little better about leaving the ship. So does the bulletproof vest he and Wolfe insisted I wear and the ball cap that will help hide my face.

As a bonus, I’m sporting a blonde wig and novelty contacts in a warm shade of brown, to help make it harder to identify me on facial recognition software as we pass through airport security. As for my identification, I trust Alexz when he says the forgery is good enough to withstand scrutiny, and that our security check will be quick because we’re flying a private jet.

A knock sounds on the door, and Wolfe swings it open, revealing Kendall in the hallway. “We’re ready.”

I nod, pick up my duffel bag and follow him down the passageway and up to the top deck, where Alexz joins us. After another round of security checks, we walk down the brow and onto the pier, and are quickly ushered into the waiting SUV.

We speed out of the port and toward the airport where the plane will take me even further away from my previous life.

Chapter 30

Pax

As I sit at the table across from the families I’ve known and shared meals with for years, I think back to last Thanksgiving break, and compare how fundamentally different my life was then. Not better, just different from how it looks now, and I realize just how much I took what I had for granted. The friendships, the respect. The love and admiration of others. I thought I’d always have it. That I was owed it, and now, I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror, because I didn’t deserve it. I wasn’t owed anything. I had those things because people chose to give it to me. Now they just tolerate me.

I wouldn’t call what I’m experiencing a fall from grace. If anything, I’m more popular among the legacy families than I was before. My father’s been networking his ass off. On the outside, it looks like he’s lobbying for support for new recruitment initiatives and challenges, but he’s really stacking the deck in his favor for when he makes a move against my grandfather. The topic that’s winning him those votes is the council’s supposed failure to properly vet Theona LaReaux.

Of course, he’s had to modify his smear campaign. He can’t mention the stabbing, or that he has her locked away.Hadher locked away? I’m still not sure which it is. So instead, he’s merelypointing out that she’s unreliable, untrustworthy, and that she took off mid challenge with her other challenge items in tow.

I like the idea that no one can claim Thea’s points because her challenge items are still in play. It’s like a final fuck you to us all. Eloise leans over and asks, “What’s so funny?”

I hadn’t realized I was laughing out loud. I school my features and lift my glass to my lips. “Nothing. Just something I was remembering.” I nod at Mr. Charles to continue speaking. That’s another difference from last year. Eloise is sitting on my side of the table and I have to pretend to be interested in what her daddy has to say about our upcoming union.

Progress has slowed in our contract negotiations. At the beginning of the month, Mr. Charles added a stipulation for a minority share in stock in our company. Dad offered two percent. I’m not sure if he was being funny or not, because two percent is laughable. Yes, we’re supposed to have the better end of all deals because we’re elevating Eloise’s status but Mr. Charles is also right for wanting assurances we’ll go through with the marriage and that his daughter will be taken care of in case I have a roving eye after she gives birth to a male heir.

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