Page 17 of Merciless

“I can’t tell you until you prove I can trust you with this knowledge.”

“Is it illegal?”

I grin. “Yes.”

Her eyes widen. “And you want me to be a part of that?” She shakes her head and waves her hands in front of her when I nod. “Absolutely not.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“It means I’m not helping you, and you’re not helping me.” She steps away from me. “Besides, I don’t believe for a second you’d be safe from the person who⁠—”

Eden’s eyes widen a fraction, and she swallows hard.

I step closer, my eyebrows furrowing. “Safe from the person who . . .?”

She eases backward, and I watch as she mentally thrusts invisible walls around herself to protect her from whatever she was about to say. “I just can’t help you, okay? So stay away from me.”

She rushes to get away from me.

I’ll need to try harder to earn her trust. I have seven days to charm her, and she’ll demand more work than anyone else would.

I walk away from the doors and head toward the elevators that will take me to the elite dorms. My smile grows with each step I take. Slipping my hand out of my pocket, I hold the spare key to Eden’s dorm in front of me.

I’m not deterred by Eden’s no. She’ll come around and beg me to help her; I’ll make sure of it.

She’s the frightened bird wandering too far into the snake’s den to realize that she’s in danger.

And she’ll beg for help from the very person who started all of this.

CHAPTER 8

ASHER

DAY 1 OF THE BET

“Are you about to leave?” Elijah strolls into the dorm kitchen and pulls a chilled glass from the mini fridge.

Something’s bothering him.

My twin never drinks unless something or someone is getting under his skin.

I’d ask what happened, but I have shit to do. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m still upset about the bet he made with his friend. It shouldn’t surprise me that my brother would take away my shiny toy. He’s done this shit since we were kids. I love him, but the bastard knows I don’t like to share.

I stuff the tools I need for my mission into a black duffel bag, then grab the balaclava from the couch’s armrest. I have an idea of what I want to do.

“Did you hear me?” Elijah’s voice cuts through my wandering thoughts.

I raise my head to glare at him.

Of course I heard him, and he knows I’m about to leave. He saw me when he first strode into the room with a smug look on his face.

Elijah pours two knuckles of whiskey into his glass. “Make sure no one dies.”

I roll my eyes and zip the bag before hooking the strap over my shoulder.

No one will die tonight. They’ll just wish for it before I’m through with them. Unless I’m caught sending this message, I plan for this to be stealthy and quick, giving me some alone time with our little stepsister.

She won’t know.