The Tormentors (Prey Series #1)

9. Tristan

I stride up the stairs to the school roof, our usual hangout spot. Pushing open the door, I spot Brian and Asher lounging on the brown sofas facing each other, with a black table between them. "Where'd you disappear to?" Brian asks, though I'm sure he knows where I've been. I shrug, dropping down beside Asher, who's absorbed in his phone.

"Just checked on Newbie. Thought I'd give her another chance to reconsider," I say, leaning back with a grin. "Let's see if she's smart enough to take our offer."

The idea of her being our little pet is enough to make me turn on. The way her eyes were shooting daggers in mine her pink lips set in a thin line and her slightly messy hairs. She looks so fucking hot when she is angry.

Brian scoffs. "She's a fool. Doesn't matter what she chooses; she's not getting away either way." He tries to sound indifferent, but I know these two bastards are just as excited as I am.

Brian shifts his attention to Asher. "Did you find anything on her?"

Asher finally looks up from his phone, pausing whatever game or deep research he's into. He's the best at digging up information-he knows exactly where and how to find things, even if it means hacking or poking around in dark webs.

"Her background's... weird," he says, sounding almost unsure.

I raise an eyebrow. "Weird how?"

He leans back, tossing his phone onto the table. "There's barely anything on her. She's from Vegas, her parents do low-key jobs, and she's only been in L.A. for about a year. No siblings, no close connections, and she lives alone in an apartment." That last detail makes Brian and me exchange a look.

"Lives alone, huh?" I say with a grin. "Share her location."

"Send it in the group," Brian adds. I knew he'd want to keep tabs on her too, maybe even pay her a visit someday.

"Already did," Asher says, still focused on the phone. Then he pauses, looking at both of us with a little more intensity. "But doesn't her background seem too... clean? Like it's blank. Almost like someone went in and wiped it."

I lean forward, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Asher shrugs, looking thoughtful. "I mean, no friends, no records, no ties in Vegas. It's almost like she popped up out of nowhere, with someone covering the trail."

I roll my eyes. "Come on, it's probably nothing. She's just a regular girl-lives a regular life. Why would anyone waste time wiping her history?"

Brian nods, smirking. "Yeah, Tristan's probably right. She's nobody special. Just another girl in the wrong place, with a wrong attitude."

Asher shrugs, finally refocusing on his phone. I lean back, checking my phone, when a new notification pops up with a soft ping.

A girl with light blonde hair softly curled at the ends, dressed in a pink body con dress and heels-Flora Westwood, my cheater, gold fucking digger ex. Her hand is wrapped around the elbow of the boy standing next to her, smiling at the camera in a tailored black suit. Edward Bernard.

❰ "Edward Bernard and Flora's ceremony will be held tonight at eight. This engagement has raised attention in high society. Edward Bernard, the CEO of the Bernard brand, and the only daughter of the owner of Arnemor Company, have been dating for two years and are finally getting engaged. Though they're young, love doesn't about age." ❱