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“Figures he’s the captain. He’s really good-looking.”

“Right? Total heartbreaker, though.” She leans in closer. “Guys like him are basically impossible to get anywhere near. He’s got girls throwing themselves at him all the time. But he’s the look but definitely don’t touch type.”

“Yeah, I figured.” I shrug, even though I have to stop my eyes from wandering back to him. “Guys like that are always more trouble than they’re worth anyway.”

And I mean it. The last thing I need right now is to get tangled up with some soccer captain who collects girls like trophies, no matter how ridiculously nice his face is. Not to mention his body. I came here to study, and a guy like that is exactly the sort of distraction I promised myself I’d stay away from. I’ve worked too hard to throw it all away on a pretty face and a charming smile that he probably gives every girl in the room.

“Come on,” Aniyah says, grabbing my wrist. “Let’s go find a drink before we both die of thirst.”

As she tugs me through the crowd, I can’t help glancing back over my shoulder one more time. Jayden’s eyes seem to be right on me, but the second our gazes meet, he turns right back to his friends, as if he wasn’t looking at all.

Oh well. He’s got the whole room to look at, and I just happened to be in his line of sight. A guy like that doesn’t focus on girls like me, and I’m not even sure I’d want him to. I sneak one last look back anyway, just to be sure. He’s not looking at me.

See? Nothing. It was just a coincidence.

Aniyah glances back at me, raising her eyebrows, so I shake my head before she can ask anything. I’m pretty sure there will be plenty of cute normal guys here to meet. Popular soccer bad boys are a no-no.

Chapter 3

JAYDEN

VERONICA’S BACK WITH her friend and looking at me again. I steal glances at her when I can while letting the guys talk over each other about our next game and whatever else, and I half listen, nodding along. Girls lean closer, and one of them keeps touching my arm, but I barely pay attention to her anyway.

My attention is fully on Veronica. So she’s noticed me. No real shock there, because, what girl doesn’t? Still, it makes the whole thing easier when the target’s already looking my way before I’ve even spoken to her, because half the work’s done for me before I start.

And she’s even hotter in person than in the photos. I have to stop myself from staring at her plump ass and the tight top that pushes her breasts up really nice, which makes me want to cup them and squeeze because I’m sure they would feel good.

I could go over to her right now. Plenty of guys would. But a guy like me wouldn’t chase some freshman at a party. Well, maybe just to fuck, but then my whole plan would fall through. And if I give her too much attention, people are going to talk and I don’t need that.

I’ve already gotten myself into her history elective, so when I turn up next to her in class, I’ll make my move. Although, now that I think about it, there’s no reason to wait for class to start either. The whole point of the process is breaking her before she even realizes what’s happening to her, so the sooner I get a real read on what she’s made of, the better off I am. I can start the job tonight if I want. I just have to do it without going anywhere near her.

I can’t make any mistakes, because it’s the first real task Supreme has given me. Once Veronica heads for the stairs, I follow her with my gaze. The bathroom’s up there, and this might be my chance, or at least it’s worth a shot. I grab a beer bottle off the table and head after her, making sure no one really notices I’m doing it. Everyone will think I’m just going to the bathroom too or whatever.

I leave plenty of space between us as I climb the stairs after her. She doesn’t look back, which is good, because the last thing I need is her catching me right behind her. When I reach the top, the hallway is almost empty.

Veronica slips into the bathroom and the door closes behind her. Good. There’s a couple pressed up against the wall and going at it as if they’ve completely forgotten anyone else exists, and they’re a problem, because I don’t need any witnesses.

“Hey, you two waiting for the bathroom or something?” I ask.

The guy pulls back from the girl and narrows his eyes at me as if he can’t figure out where I came from. “Uh. No, we’re good.”

“Then get the fuck out of here.”

The girl tugs at the guy’s sleeve and mutters something to him, and they slip away down the stairs without another word, leaving me alone in the hallway.

I glance down the hallway both ways one more time to be sure. No one’s in sight. The bathroom door’s still shut. I grip the bottle by the neck, taking a step toward the door, and swing it hard against the wood.

The glass shatters with a loud sound, which I’m sure will scare the hell out of Veronica, and glass pieces scatter everywhere. There’s a bedroom right next to the bathroom, its door cracked open, so I slip inside, pulling the door shut behind me, and press my back to it to listen.

A grin tugs at my lips. Veronica’s just heard a bottle explode against the door, so she’s got to be freaking out, too scared to even open the door because she has no idea what’s waiting for her on the other side. Maybe she thinks someone’s out there trying to get to her. If she ever felt safe at Blackerville, she won’t feel like that anymore. Her flinching on the slightest sound and thinking she’s someone’s target will make my plan easier.

A grin spreads across my face. Any second now she’s going to crack the bathroom door open with a shaking hand and peek out into the hallway, see the mess all over the floor, and bolt straight for the stairs to find her friend.

It always starts small like this. Breaking someone doesn’t happen all at once. A scare here, a rumor there, and a few people turning on her until she’s wondering what she did wrong... Now seriously? Where is she? Has she fainted in there from pure fear?

I hear the door getting yanked open.

“Who the fuck did that?” she yells. “Are you all drunk out of your minds? Someone could’ve gotten cut! What is wrong with you people?”