Page 98 of Heartless Legacy

“Don’t let the sophisticated threads fool you.”

“They don’t. That’s how I know you don’t have any friends back there.”

I don’t know what the fuck he means by that. Am I too suave looking or not suave enough? I take a minute trying to decide the best way to deal with this obstacle. I could offer him money, but something tells me he’s not into bribes. If he was, he wouldn’t be an effective guard at the door.

We could fight, but it’d get bloody. I do another quick scan of the bar.Verybloody, and not knowing who or what is behind that door, I don’t want to risk putting Thea in any danger.

So I do the only thing that makes sense. I go to the bar and wait.

Chapter 59

Deacon

The message that comes across my phone has me grinding my teeth, to keep from saying something to alert my coworkers that something’s wrong. I felt comfortable showing up for tonight’s faculty dining out, because Thea was supposed to be safely tucked away in her dorm. But now, I’ve got a message that she left the dorm and headed towards the southern strip. Her final destination was Club Luminosity.

She went through the adjoining bar, but the person trailing her sends me pictures from inside the club next door. I zoom in on the person they focused on in the picture. Dammit! Thea’s not out for a night of rebellion. This is a fucking challenge.

I make my excuses about an early training session and hurry to my car. I pull onto the street and make an immediate U-turn, pointing my car toward the south side of town. The guard we have on Thea will intervene if he has to, but then his cover will be blown, which could put her at risk. I ignore the speed limit, hoping I get there before that happens.

The drive takes tens minutes but feels like an hour. Skidding to a stop, I hop out of my car and shove my way inside the club, pushing people out of the way as I make my way towardsthe back room. A server calls out, “Hey, you can’t go back there without paying first.”

“I’m not here for a dance. I’m here to pick up a friend.”

“I’ve got this,” Thea’s guard says, pulling out his wallet. Thankfully, these guys know how to blend in. The server waves me through. I give a cursory look into the rooms. I don’t want to see shit. I’m just looking for Thea. I find her and them in room seven.

I choke out the guard at the door and let myself into the room. They’re so caught up in what they’re doing that they don’t notice me leaning against the wall with my arms folded across my chest. After a few seconds of watching them paw at Thea, I say, “Good evening, gentlemen.”

Leonardo Burke springs to his feet. “What- what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, but the answer seems obvious.” I point to his unbuttoned fly. “What’s not so obvious is why LaReaux’s here.” I address my next words to her. “Did you get a job and forget to tell me about it?”

Someone walks up behind me and drawls, “That’s what I’d like to know.”

Where did he come from? I don’t risk taking my eyes off the men in front of me as Finn steps further into the room, his attention fixed on the guy holding onto Thea’s arm. “Oooh goody.” He coos.Fucking coos.“I love a lap dance. Looks like I’m just in time for the party.” He traipses in and plops down on the seat next to the guy.

Burke says, “Young Finn, this isn’t a party. This is official league business, and neither of you has the appropriate clearance level to be here.”

“But a first year does?” Finn beats me to asking the question. “And this guy? Who the fuck is he? I’ve never seen him at any league events.”

“Prospect LaReaux is here on a challenge.”

“A challenge?” Finn says as if he’s unfamiliar with the word.

He looks over at me for clarification. He’s a sarcastic little shit, but this time, I’m enjoying his antics. I ask, “What kind of challenge requires the prospect to be in a sheer teddy, and see through heels in a room alone with five men?”

I make a big production of pulling out my phone and scrolling through it. “I didn’t get any messages about a challenge.”

“We are not required to notify you of the details of the challenges.”

“I’m not asking for details. I’m saying I didn’t get any alerts that a challenge was scheduled for tonight.”

Finn pipes up, “Neither did I.”

Burke says, “This is a first year challenge, Finley.”

Finn nods, “Right. Right. Righto.” Then his brows furrow. “My vision must be failing, because I didn’t see any other first years with their tits out on my way in.”

He’s moved even closer to Thea and the guy who is still holding onto her. I know how that’s about to end. Finn looks at each of the men in the room and asks, “Is anyone gonna introduce this guy before things go any further?” He juts his chin toward the older man whose dick is out of his pants. “Him too.”

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