Page 24 of Forget Me Twice

“Thought what?” I probe.

“Nothing. So you don’t know how it works around here,” he states like it’s a foregone conclusion.

I perk up. Shit. I didn’t even have to needle him for leads. I try not to look too enthusiastic.

“Well, obviouslySloaneand her twat brigade run things around here. So I guess there goes my lifelong cheerleading aspirations.” I purse my lips in a mock pout.

He’s the opposite of impressed. Jesus. He’ll be a tough nut to crack.

“Yes and no. Sloane, Parker Hall, and Dakota and Reid Adams have a lot of pull. But they’re not in charge. They’re popular, but just as firmly under the Rox Boys’ thumbs as anyone else around here,” he answers, rather darkly.

His affect before had been flat and bored, but there is a subtle hint of anger laced there now.Ooh, someone who isnota fan of the school’s bad boys? Any information will be unfiltered and uninfluenced by his distinct lack of hero worship.

Perfect.

“Rox Boys?” I ask sweetly, feigning complete and utter ignorance. Man, my acting chops are improving. I could join the Theater kids at this rate.

He grunts and looks around, checking the nearest desks. Nobody is paying us any attention though. In fact they seem to be pointedlynotacknowledging my existence. Instead, they’re all busy chatting in groups or flicking through their texts while the teacher continues to write on the chalkboard half of the interactive wall that each of the classrooms here seem to have.

Nonetheless, he lowers his voice as he continues. “Tristan Sinclair. Callum Jameson. Lake Miller. Atlas Rhodes. They’ve got the whole damn school, including the teachers, in their thrall. It’s like a fucking wolf pack around here with the way things are. They bark, they growl, everyone bares their throat. Everyone wants to fuck them or be their best friend. Rumor has it they are into some shady shit, and that reputation is how I guess they keep everyone in line.”

I didn’t expect to get that much out of him. Wren seemed so reluctant to even talk to me. Then I almost giggle at the disgust on his face. He’s into some shady stuff too, but the difference is he doesn’t have the fan club. What I can’t tell is if he directly resents their popularity, or if he just doesn’t tolerate the bizarre hierarchy he finds himself subjected to.

I mean, itispretty fucking weird.

Four high school seniors with an entire school community at their beck and call. My research so far has shown no tangible links, but there isno waythey aren’t tied up with the Strange Aces.

Tristan has access to a sizable trust fund, but they still could not have manufactured this kind of pull on their own without a sponsor. They must have a connection to the MC, still hidden well enough so as to not leave a paper trail.

I wonder if Sebastian knows something we don’t, and that’s why he’s so adamant on me turning them into Gray Men. Seems surveillance and cyber deep dives aren’t going to be enough. This is going to require boots on the ground.

I also still need to get close enough to check them over for hidden Ace tats.

Such a hardship.

“So, how do the girls fit into the picture?”

Wren is still utterly unimpressed with me if his continuing glares are anything to go by. “The girls help keep the sheep herded in exchange for scraps of affection. They’re all Prefects. The eight of themarethe Student Council.”

I snort. The Student Council information I already knew; it’s the social drama and gossip I’m after. Saves me hours scrolling through Instagram, trying to read the nuance in filtered photos taken by a bunch of drunk teenagers.

“Scraps of affection? I thought Sloane and the dark-haired one must have been a thing, the way she was pissing all over the dude's leg at the lockers.”

“Oh Tristan fucks her, but they aren’ttogether. The Rox Boys fuck indiscriminately, but none of themdate.”

Oh she mustlovethat.It was easy to tell Sloane thought Tristan was hers and hers alone.

I go to open my mouth, eager for more intel, but Wren cuts me off sharply. “I don’t know what Sloane has planned for you, but just keep your head down and stay away from them.” He turns towards the front again.

Dismissed.

Alrighty then.

With that, I let Wren get back to the lesson. I know full well he has a grade point average to maintain in order to keep his scholarship.

I, on the other hand, do not, as I’m notactuallygraduating. I just have to play the part of the dutiful senior student. I already have the syllabus and texts read and memorized so I can better spend my school hours observing the animals in their natural habitats—the classroom, the dining hall, sporting events.

Since I’m looking for targets with marketable academic, sporting and social skills, the best way will be to watch them interacting during their normal daily routines when they don’t realize they still need to be performing for their peers.

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