Page 11 of Merciless

Jasper guffaws. “You’ve clearly never had beer goggles before.”

Derrick’s expression twists into confusion. “What the fuck are beer goggles?”

Everyone at the table laughs except for Asher, Derrick, and me.

“No, I’m serious,” Derrick growls. “What the fuck are beer goggles, asshole?”

Jasper laughs with a shake of his head. “Meaning you can get it up for anyone with a few drinks. Jesus, man. I thought you weren’t this naïve.”

Derrick’s cheeks turn bright pink, and he grumbles, “Whatever,” before downing the rest of his beer.

“There’s no way anyone has done anything with her,” Katie says. “If she spread her legs for them, she’d curse them or give them some kind of disease.”

Asher scowls at Katie before turning his gaze to Eden. Much like I did earlier, he tracks her throughout the room, watching her and ignoring the conversation.

I watch him, too intrigued by his interest in her. Maybe he’s searching for more to use against her, like what we had planned. But his earlier reaction still doesn’t sit right with me.

“I’ll degrade her while I fuck her,” Derrick says.

Raising an eyebrow, I turn my head toward him. “You really think she’d sleep with you?”

“What do you mean?” Derrick scoffs. “That I’m not good-looking enough for your sister?”

“Stepsister,” I say, “and yeah, maybe that’s what I’m saying.”

Katie frowns at Derrick.

A muscle in Derrick’s jaw flutters. “You think you’re better looking?”

“No. I know I am.”

He bares his teeth. “Then how about you sleep with her since you’re better looking? Go ahead, fuck your sister and make an embarrassment out of her.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that a dare?”

“Yeah, it is. If you can get her to sleep with you in seven days, I’ll give you whatever you want.” He laughs and leans back in his seat with his arms folded across his chest. “So how about it, hm? Since you’re better looking.”

“You really want to make a bet with me?” I relax in my seat and glance at Asher white-knuckling the table.

“The real question is if you want to make the bet with me, Astar,” Derrick says. “You’ll end up losing. I may not know the girl well, but I can bet that she wouldn’t sleep with you.”

“What will I get when I win?”

“Bragging rights for ruining your sister’s reputation.”

I shake my head. “Not good enough. You said I can get whatever I want.”

Derrick purses his lips, thinking over what he’ll give me, but I already know what I want.

“Your Mazda.” I lean forward to rest my forearms on the table.

Derrick’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “I’m not giving her up for anything.”

I smirk and raise an eyebrow. “I thought you were sure I’d lose this dare.”

“You’re right.” He shrugs to appear nonchalant, but he’s not fooling me. He’s coiled like he’s ready to snap. “You won’t win this, so why the hell not? I’ll give you the Mazda, but you’ll have to prove that you slept with her. You have seven days, starting tomorrow.”

I shrug, leaning back in my seat. “Then it’s a deal.”