Heartless Legacy (Heartless Heirs of Canyon Falls #4)

110. Finn

Chapter 110

Finn

“ T hat 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, very protective 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.”

“That’s your problem. I know how you say you feel, but you need to get to work on letting Thea know how you feel about Thea.”

“I’m trying.”

“Don’t try. Do. And go big with it.”

“We’re on our own with this.” Deacon says for the umpteenth time, meaning there will be no guards accompanying us on this trip.

“I know, I know.” I roll my eyes at him. Geez, he’s so anal about this. “We’re here because we’re following up on clues for the team building challenge and if we get caught, we don’t want anyone accusing Thea of violating the oath of secrecy.”

“She hasn’t broken it.” I remind him, “The guards don’t participate in league challenges and if they did, I wouldn’t give a shit.”

Deacon repeats my words. “I know. That’s why I haven’t evicted you yet.”

“From our apartment?” I snort. “Good luck with that.”

“Thea’s apartment. Hers is the only name on the lease.”

Staring at him, I point out, “You’re talking about paperwork and legality. One phone call will fix that.”

“Not this time you entitled little shit, and don’t even bother trying to test that theory.”

I study his face and body language. He seems awfully certain that a bribe won’t get me what I want. “Did you already bribe the leasing office not to update the paperwork?”

He walks off instead of answering me, and I can’t press for answers, because the person we’ve been waiting for is finally here.

“How’d it go?” I ask as I approach Holden and the rest of the group.

“It’s still quiet on campus. If any of the other teams have figured out their clues, they’re keeping it to themselves.”

Taking charge, Deacon says, “Alright. We’re on the clock. Everyone knows what they have to do?”

We confirm we know our jobs, then exit the parking lot in five-minute increments, each heading to a different location. Pax is heading to the bar, because his tattoos will stick out near the garden party crowd. Holden’s on library duty. I’m heading to the small college campus, and Deacon and Thea have the fun part of our outing. They’ll be strolling around town and getting lunch.

She looked adorable in her sweater dress and cardigan ensemble. Paired with sneakers instead of boots, it’s stylish but also practical for all the walking around she has to do. I’m dressed in a hoodie and jeans to blend in with the other college students. In the off chance someone else from Canyon Falls is here, I don’t want to be easily recognizable, so my signature beanie is tucked away in my backpack. I might forego wearing it more often because Thea’s fingers seem to find their way into my hair more often. She gives great scalp massages.

“Hi. How can I help you?” The secretary asks, smiling up at me.

“Hello. I certainly hope so. I’m in town visiting for a few days, and I know I probably should have called first, but I was wondering if there’s anyway I could join a campus tour. My parents are moving here and they’re having trouble of letting go, so I promised to at least consider transfer options.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, we don’t have a tour scheduled for today. It’s our spring break and campus is empty right now.”

“I understand. From what I’ve seen so far, I can tell it’s a beautiful campus, and everyone seems friendly. The people I passed on my way here and on campus were smiling way more than I’m used to seeing back home. My mother says this town is pretty special.”

“It is. We love our town and the faculty and students take great pride in our campus.” She pauses a moment, then says, “You know, if you can wait a bit, I might be able to find someone to show you around. It won’t be an official tour, since the academic buildings are closed. But you could see the campus, gym, residence halls. The things that the students still have access to.”

I give her my megawatt smile. “That would be amazing.”

Pax answers the door to room 315. I drop my backpack by the couch and continue through to the adjoining room, where Thea’s flipping through a magazine on the couch.

“Were’s Deacon?,” I ask.

“He went to the gym.”

“For a workout?”

“Yes, and to get some gossip about the town. Gyms, hair salons, barbershops, and the farmer’s market are always top tier sources of information in small towns.”

“What about Holden?”

From the doorway, Pax answers, “He’s following another lead.”

I sit next as Pax asks, “How did it go on campus?”

“Uneventful. From what I can tell, there’s no league presence on campus.”

“You’re sure?”

“My tour guide was very chatty and thorough. She took me to all the most popular hangout spots and a few unpopular ones, too. There are no tunnels, or markings showing secret access points near the administration buildings or faculty houses.”

Thea says, “That’s good news, but also adds another layer of confusion to this whole thing. Why were the archives here?”

“Location? It’s a cute little town in the middle of nowhere. The people are so wholesome. I doubt there’s anyone here breaking in and stealing information, and anyone from out of town would fall under immediate suspicion, because they’d stick out like a sore thumb.”

Thea jerks her chin towards Pax. “Like him?”

“Yes, Pet. Exactly like the walking art project.”

“Funny.” Pax says, taking a seat and pulling out his phone. “What should we get for dinner?”

“How would I know?” I toss a couch cushion at him. “I don’t actually have parents moving here.”

He says, “You mean your chatty tour guide didn’t give you a list of places the students eat at out in town?”

“She mentioned the club down the highway, and a few bars. One place is hosting karaoke tonight, starting at nine. I told her I might check it out.”

Thea flicks the page in her magazine. “Karaoke, huh? At nine?”

“That’s right.”

“Will she be singing or just sitting in the audience?”

Shrugging, I answer, “I have to show up to find out that answer.”

“Right. Which bar is it?”

Pax grunts, “We’re not going to karaoke, Thea.”

“You don’t have to come. You weren’t even invited.”

He points out, “Neither were you.”

“Finn was.”

“He’s not going either.”

I interrupt their bickering and ask, “Who says I’m not? It sounds like a cool little spot and another opportunity to get information on the town.”

Pax huffs, “Whatever, man. If you’re down for a bar fight, so am I. But if we’re supposed to be keeping a low profile, I don’t think letting Thea get close to the girl who was hitting on you is a good idea.”

“Nobody was hitting on me. I made sure to keep my charm to a minimum.”

“You look like you just stepped off the pages of a Gap ad. You might not have encouraged it or noticed it was happening. But if she went out of her way to tell you about karaoke tonight at nine, she was flirting.”

The magazine pages flip three more times. I think Thea ripped that last page. “Pet. Are you feeling stabby, right now?”

“Nope.”

I can’t control my grin. “You are, and you know that’s a million times more effective at catching my attention than whatever her name’s lame attempt at asking me on a date was. But Pax is right. We can’t get into a bar brawl here.”

“Who said anything about a brawl?”

“No stabbing. No one-punch knockouts, no choke outs. Nothing. We’re not leaving the hotel tonight.”

“We need to eat, Finn.”

“We will, but we don’t need to leave to do it. What about the diner down the street? You like spots like that.” I say, to distract her from whatever she’s planning.

As I’m talking I’m searching online for a menu. “Oooh. It says their most popular menu item is their double-decker barbecue bacon, pepper jack turkey burger and loaded cheese fries with a chocolate shake. Doesn’t that sound good?”

She says, “I know what you’re doing, Finn.”

“Trying to feed you?”

“Trying to distract me from the fact that you went on a job and came back with a date.”

I love that she’s jealous. I’ve had girls be jealous before, but that was annoying. That wasn’t about me. It was about them, their egos, and what being seen next to me would do for them. But Thea, she’s the stab you in the eye kind of jealous and that makes me feel wanted.

Pulling her into my arms, I ask, “Are you even listening? Pax had to point out I got asked out on a date. I didn’t even know it was happening. If I had, I would have told her no. Now if you want to go to karaoke to listen to horrible singing, or because you think we might get more intel, then we can. But no, I’m not taking you out to hurt that poor girl. If you need to fight, we’ll move the furniture, and you and Pax can go at it. I’d love to see you do that thing with your legs around his neck again.”

Her lips twitch, and she says, “Make the fries and shake a large please.”