In the dimly lit office of Carter Riether's headquarters, Lucas sat across from two of his best men, Derek and Brian, the tension palpable as they discussed their next steps in the search for information about Faerie. The office was adorned with sleek, modern furnishings, and the city skyline glowed through the expansive windows, a stark contrast to the gravity of their conversation.
"Listen, we need to know everything about her," Lucas said, leaning forward, his hands steepled in front of him. "Carter's furious that his son is dating a scholarship girl with a criminal father. We have to dig deeper."
Derek nodded, tapping a pen against his notepad. "What's the plan, then? We can't just walk up to her and ask questions. She'll smell the rat a mile away."
Lucas smirked, his eyes narrowing as he formulated his thoughts. "We follow her. Let's see where she goes after school. If she's hiding something, she'll slip up eventually."
Brian leaned back in his chair, a hint of skepticism crossing his face. "You really think that's all it'll take? Just follow her around like a couple of wannabe detectives? What if she's not as easy to track as you think?"
"She's a scholarship kid," Lucas shot back. "She'll stick to a routine. Just keep your eyes peeled. We'll be at the academy tomorrow morning, and we'll watch her every move. If she uses the bus, we'll follow her from there."
"Sounds good," Derek replied. "What if she takes a different route?"
Lucas shrugged, dismissing the concern. "We'll adapt. She won't be able to hide for long. Trust me, boys. We'll find out where she lives, and then we'll know everything we need to know."
---
The following day at Hera Academy unfolded as usual, but tension simmered beneath the surface. Faerie navigated the hallways, her heart racing from the weight of her secret life. She had no idea that Lucas and his men were observing her, blending in with the crowd of elite students and faculty.
As the day dragged on, Lucas kept a close watch on Faerie from a distance. He noted her interactions, the way she laughed with friends, and the subtle glances she shared with Felix. The jealousy simmered inside him, mixing with the urgency of their mission. After the last bell rang, he motioned for Derek and Brian to follow.
Faerie stepped out of the building, her shoulders relaxed but her gaze darting around, as if sensing something amiss. Lucas instructed his men to stay out of sight, blending into the throngs of students heading toward their usual modes of transportation.
"She'll probably take the bus," Lucas said under his breath, maintaining a watchful eye. But as they followed her through the parking lot, anticipation building, Faerie suddenly paused and glanced over her shoulder. The men froze, their hearts pounding.
To their surprise, a sleek black vehicle rolled up to the curb. Faerie walked toward it with a confident stride, a stark contrast to the way she'd been earlier. The car door opened, and she slipped inside without hesitation.
"Is she serious?" Brian whispered, his jaw dropping. "She's not taking the bus?"
"No," Lucas muttered, frustration boiling inside him. "This changes everything. Who's picking her up?"
They hurried to the edge of the parking lot, watching as the luxurious vehicle pulled away. Lucas's mind raced as he contemplated their next move. "We have to follow them," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Let's get to the car."
They jumped into their vehicle, quickly starting the engine and tailing the black sedan as it weaved through the streets, leading them away from Hera Academy. Lucas's heart raced as they drove, the sleek lines of the car disappearing around corners, but they stayed close behind, refusing to lose sight of their target.
The streets began to change, morphing from the familiar surroundings of the academy into a more affluent area of the city. Lucas gripped the wheel tighter, his thoughts racing. Who was Faerie connected to? Where was she going?
Finally, the black vehicle slowed and came to a halt in front of a towering, luxurious penthouse building. The men shared glances, the reality of the situation settling in like a thick fog. This was far beyond what they had anticipated.
"Holy hell," Derek muttered, his eyes wide. "She's living here?"
"Let's see if she knows anyone," Lucas instructed, narrowing his gaze at the building. They watched as Faerie exited the car, a confident smile on her face as she greeted the doorman, who stood at attention, a friendly demeanor that contrasted with their prior beliefs about her.
"Who the hell is she?" Brian asked, leaning closer to the window, desperate to catch a glimpse of Faerie as she walked confidently inside.
"She's clearly more than she lets on," Lucas replied, determination etched on his face. "We need to find out who she's connected to, and we need to do it fast."
They parked a few blocks away, keeping the penthouse in sight. As they settled into their car, Lucas pulled out his phone and started dialing.
"Get ready to dig into her background," he ordered. "I want everything you can find—who her friends are, who she's living with. We need to understand the game she's playing."
"Consider it done," a voice responded from the other end, and Lucas hung up, glancing back at the building.
Minutes passed, and Lucas felt the weight of urgency press down on him. "She's playing a dangerous game, and we're going to find out how deep it runs. I want eyes on this place. We can't let her outsmart us again."