Page 21 of Ruthless Legacy

Chapter Seven

Verity drops me off at home and I head into the kitchen to tell Edith all about my first day before I head up to my room. As soon as I shut the door, I pull off the stifling uniform and head straight for the shower. As the water cascades over me, my thoughts drift to Archer and the fact that he already belongs to someone. My mind flicks through some of the girls at school and I wonder which one of them is his.

I change into sleep shorts and a vest top and settle down on my bed to get some homework done. Only my first day and I already have four pieces due in later this week. There’s a knock on my bedroom door and Edith pops her head inside.

“Can I come in?”

“Of course,” I reply, smiling and gesturing for her to enter.

She sits on the edge of my bed. “I just thought I’d let you know I’ve just heard from your grandfather, and he will be here on Friday. He’s just wrapping up some business in London and then he and Lexi will return to Hawk Manor.”

“Lexi?” I ask. I haven’t heard her mentioned before.

Edith’s mouth pinches. “Yes, your grandfather’s partner. Her son, Chester, will also be with them. He’ll be enrolling with you at the academy.”

“Oh, okay. How old is he?”

“Seventeen. So, he’ll be in your year.”

I can tell from her tone of voice that she doesn’t think much of Lexi or her son Chester. I get the feeling that Lexi is probably young enough to be my grandfather’s daughter.

Edith pats my leg. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to retire for the night, but just call me if you need anything.”

“Edith,” I shout as she heads to the door, “thank you for making us feel so welcome.”

She beams at me. “Oh, honey. We’re thrilled to have young ones in the house again and looking at your brother is like looking at your father when he was younger.”

“Do you have photographs of him when he was a child? It’s just I’ve never seen any. He never spoke about his childhood or his family.”

A look of sadness crosses Edith’s features. “Ah, yes, I’m sure I can dig out the albums for you. We can all have a look together.”

“I’d like that,” I tell her with a smile.

“Now, don’t stay up too late,” she tells me, giving my hand an affectionate squeeze. “If you want any supper, just call me.”

“Edith, I can make my own supper. Seriously, go home and rest. By the way, do you live here or in the village?”

“We have a little cottage on the grounds, my dear. Your brother is in his room getting his homework done too.”

“Thanks Edith. See you in the morning.”

“Sweet dreams, my dear.”

After she leaves, I feel an ache in my heart. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to have someone genuinely care about me, like Edith does. We will finally meet our grandfather this weekend. I’m not sure how I feel about his impending arrival. I’m naturally curious about him, but I can’t help that feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that tells me there is a reason my dad left this place and never looked back.

I awake bolt upright in the darkness of the night and rub my eyes. My vision adjusts to the dark and my breath stops in my chest when I see the silhouette of someone sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room. I’m dreaming, right? There isn’t really someone here in my room with me. I rub my eyes and when I look again, there is a male figure looming at the end of my bed. I go to scream, but a hand clamps over my mouth and I’m pulled out of my bed and onto my feet. Fighting whoever is holding me prisoner, I’m pushed forward until I’m standing before the stranger. He’s wearing a mask over his face. A white mask that looks sinister against the darkness.

“Time to see just how tough you really are,” he tells me in a cold and calculating voice.

I’m hauled through the house and down the stairs. I fight them every step of the way, but it’s no use. As much as I hate to admit it, they’re stronger than me. I’m under no illusions about who the three guys are behind the masks. It’s Savage and his aces.

“Let me go, you arseholes,” I hiss as they bundle me into the boot of a car and close the door. The engine starts, and the car takes off. I try my best to untie the rope that holds my hands behind my back, but it’s no good — its tied too tight. I’m fuming. How dare they steal me from my bed in the middle of the night like this.

The car comes to a stop after what I guess to be about ten minutes, and I hear the car doors opening and closing. I growl when the boot is opened, and I’m hauled to my feet by Seb. His mop of blonde hair, giving him away despite the mask.

“Now, now, little kitty. Play nice,” he taunts me as he pulls my back flush to his chest. Archer comes in front of me, his body pressing flush to my front so that I’m sandwiched tight between the two of them. He runs a lazy, cold finger up my thigh, stopping at the hem of my shorts.

“Time to see if you have what it takes to be an Ace.” His gaze skims down my body and pauses on my pebbled nipples. “Does this turn you on, princess?” he asks with an evil smile.

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