Page 74 of Wicked Brutal

Victor sounds almost bored. “Pennington was careless.”

“So was Lucian.”

“Lucian was arrogant.”

“And Hartley?”

Victor laughs quietly. “Hartley was stupid.”

My fingers stop against the edge of my plate. Dad doesn’t laugh. “That’s a lot of people around Edgewood suddenly becoming careless, arrogant, and stupid.”

Victor looks at him. “Not this again.”

“I pay attention.”

“To teenagers?” Victor leans back. “Roman, they’re high school boys.” Dad says nothing, and Victor stares at him, then laughs. “You’re serious.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Dad takes another drink. Victor shakes his head. “You think five teenagers are responsible for what happened to those families?”

“I think the same five teenagers keep standing close enough to watch.”

“The Harrington boy?” Victor asks.

Dad’s expression changes. “Him especially.”

My stomach drops. I keep my face on Tobias’s bread fortress.”

“Walter has connections. Ryan is smart. Curious. He spends too much time digging into things that don’t concern him.”

Victor glances at me. “Alison knows him.”

I let another second pass before looking up, like I’ve only half-followed the conversation. “Who?”

“Harrington.”

“Ryan?”

“Yes.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s an asshole.”

Tobias immediately looks at me. “Bad word.”

“Do as I say, not as I do.”

Victor laughs, and Dad doesn’t correct me this time.

“Are you friends with him?” Victor asks.

“No.”

“Spend time together?”

I make a face. “Why would we?”