I blinked at Gabi like she'd just read my mind or something.
"Only people who aren't what they seem."
That line just kept echoing in my head. I gave her a nervous laugh and mumbled something under my breath and quickly grabbed my stuff. I needed air. Like actual oxygen. My brain was still spinning from the mysterious brother showing up out of nowhere.
How did RedHalo not know who he was?
How was I the first to figure it out?
Why did he talk like some poetic ghost who only appears under full moons?
I needed to focus.
Except I couldn't.
Because I had Psychology class next.
With Cassien.
The human headache.
I walked into class and there he was. Sitting in the back, legs stretched out like the chair was his personal throne. I took a deep breath and walked over.
"We should probably start working on the project," I said.
He didn't even look at me. "Mm."
"That's it? Mm?" I said, already annoyed. "We're supposed to be partners."
"And?" he said, standing up. "We're not doing it here."
I blinked. "Where are we doing it then?"
He looked at me, like he was deciding if I was annoying or just stupid. "My place. After classes."
Wait. What?
"You want me to come to your house?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged. "You asked where I was going. Don't follow me if you don't want to."
And then, of course, he just walked out.
No explanation. No directions. Just gone.
I just stood there like an idiot, trying not to scream.
But also... wasn't this exactly what I was supposed to do?
Get close. Get inside. Get answers.
Because one of the Vanelli brothers had something.
An artifact.
Stolen from someone dangerous enough that RedHalo sent me to retrieve it.
They didn't tell me what it looked like, only that I'd know it when I saw it.
And one of the brothers was hiding it.
I just had to figure out which one.
So after my last class, I found Cassien waiting by his bike. He handed me a helmet without saying a word. And I just... took it.
Was this smart? Definitely not.
Did I get on the bike anyway? Yup.
His house wasn't even a house.
It was a literal mansion. Like something out of a magazine. Huge black gates, a driveway that looked longer than my hometown, and a front door that probably cost more than my scholarship.
I tried not to look shocked.
I failed.
Inside, everything was shiny. Like expensive shiny. Marble floors, gold lights, art frames on the walls that probably meant something deep, but mostly just made me feel poor.
Cassien tossed his keys on the table and walked ahead without looking back. "We'll work upstairs. Don't touch anything."
I followed slowly, trying not to act suspicious even though my eyes were darting around like crazy. Everything smelled expensive. The walls were tall. The furniture was fancy. Even the air felt rich.
As we walked up the stairs, I caught a glimpse of a room down the hall.
Ryles was there. Sitting on a couch, laughing into his phone.
And next to him...
Hoodie. Mask. Calm eyes.
The third brother.
Matteo.
He looked up for a second. Our eyes met. I quickly looked away and pretended I wasn't totally freaking out.
He didn't say anything. Neither did Ryles.
It was like they didn't even care I was there.
Weird.
Cassien led me into a study. It was nice, obviously. Books everywhere. A huge window. A desk that looked like it came from a movie set.
I sat down like a normal person. Or, I tried to.
But my eyes kept moving.
Bookshelves.
Cabinets.
Desk drawers. Nothing obvious, but I couldn't help it, my brain was scanning everything.
Could it be in here?
Was he hiding it?
Then I felt him watching me.
Cassien turned slowly, his eyes narrowing a little.
Not angry. Not surprised. Just... sharp. Like he saw through people without even trying.
He didn't sit.
He didn't blink.
He just said: "What exactly are you looking for, Samantha?"
My heart dropped.
And I suddenly forgot how to breathe.