Twisted Games

Twisted Games Vanderwild Bay Prep Book 1 Kristin Buoni Copyright © 2023 by Kristin Buoni & Stella Hart All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Contents Note from the authors Prologue 1. Amerie 2. Jensen 3. Amerie 4. Amerie 5. Amerie 6. Amerie 7. Amerie 8. Amerie 9. Jensen 10. Amerie 11. Amerie 12. Jensen 13. Amerie 14. Amerie 15. Jensen 16. Amerie 17. Jensen 18. Amerie 19. Amerie 20. Jensen 21. Amerie 22. Amerie 23. Jensen 24. Amerie 25. Jensen 26. Amerie 27. Twisted Elite Preview About the Author Note from the authors Vanderwild Bay Prep is a dark high school bully romance duology. It contains certain elements that some may find offensive or disturbing and is recommended for readers over eighteen. Prologue August 12th, 2008 “Fucking hell.” Robert stepped through the huge, ornately-carved wooden doors of the Cliffside Drive mansion, eyes wide with awe as he took in the grandeur of the place. The foyer was enormous, with a ceiling that seemed to stretch all the way into the rafters of the towering home. The walls were adorned with dark wooden paneling and oil paintings depicting stern-looking characters from historical times, and the floor was made from cold, gleaming black marble that sent a chill into Robert’s feet despite his thick boots. To the left, a wide wooden staircase swept upwards, disappearing into the shadows of the second floor. “Daddy?” Robert felt a tug on his jacket sleeve and looked down. A pang of guilt bit at his guts at the sight of the wide, expressive eyes that met his. “Sorry, baby. Daddy accidentally said a bad word,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean for you to hear. Don’t repeat it to anyone, okay? Especially not the man we’re seeing today.” His daughter nodded. “Okay, Daddy.” Robert squeezed her hand and returned his gaze to the foyer ahead of them. A burnished bronze chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room. Despite that, the place somehow seemed frigid and unwelcoming. The sound of footsteps dragged Robert’s attention back to the staircase. A tall, imposing figure appeared at the top, half-hidden in shadow. “Mr. Warnock,” a deep voice said. “Welcome.” The figure stepped downward, revealing a well-dressed man in his sixties. Robert swallowed hard at the sight of him. Michael Carruthers. Not only did he own the colossal house he was currently standing in, he also possessed a significant share of the real estate in the surrounding areas. “Thanks for having me here, Mr. Carruthers,” Robert said, hoping his voice wasn’t quavering too much. “You can just call me Robert.” “Very well.” Carruthers reached the bottom of the staircase and flashed a thin smile at him. “I see you’ve brought a young guest with you.” “Sorry. Couldn’t find a sitter.” “That’s all right. I love children. It’s just a shame my granddaughter isn’t visiting today. She could’ve played with your daughter.” Carruthers knelt before the girl in front of him, smile widening. “What’s your name, little one?” “It’s Amerie,” the girl said, smiling shyly. Carruthers raised a brow. “Anne-Marie?” “Amerie,” Robert repeated. “Her mother saw it in a magazine and thought it was nice.” Carruthers nodded. “It is nice. How old are you, Amerie?” “I’m nearly this much.” Amerie proudly held up four fingers. “Four.” “I see.” Carruthers stroked his chin. “You know, when I was your age, I loved to explore places and hunt down old things. I bet you love to explore too. Am I right?” Amerie looked at her father for reassurance. He briefly nodded, so she looked back at the old man in front of her and nodded too. Carruthers smiled again. “Well, then… I think I have the perfect place for you to explore while your daddy and I have our meeting. It’s right next to the room we’ll be sitting in, so your daddy can easily keep an eye on you. Does that sound good?” Amerie nodded excitedly. Carruthers drew himself back to his full height and nodded at Robert. “Shall we?” Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed back up the stairs. Robert took Amerie’s hand and followed the man, heart pounding in rhythm with his footfall on the hardwood risers. “I apologize for making you come all the way out here,” Carruthers said over his shoulder. “My office is being fumigated today, so I couldn’t hold any meetings there.” Robert gulped nervously and coughed to clear his throat. “That’s fine, Mr. Carruthers. Your house is spectacular.” “Thank you. It’s been in my family for three centuries, if you can believe it.” “Very impressive.” Robert took a deep breath as they reached the third floor landing. Next to him, Amerie was staring down the hall with wide-eyed wonder. “It’s like a palace, Daddy,” she whispered. “So big.” Carruthers overheard and chuckled as he twisted a key in a nearby lock. “It is, isn’t it?” he said. “My granddaughter is far less kind. She pointed to a haunted house on her cartoon the other day and said, ‘That’s your house, Grandpa!’.” Privately, Robert agreed with the granddaughter. The soaring, opulent mansion was probably a dream home for some people, but there was something strange about the place beyond all the glamor and prestige; a chill in the atmosphere that settled into his skin like damp from a winter fog. It reminded him of a graveyard. Always bleak and miserable no matter how much light made its way into the space. The door in front of them opened with a soft creak. Carruthers ushered them inside. “This is my study,” he explained. “Don’t worry, Robert. I have backup copies of all my files from the office in here, so we won’t miss anything.” “Great,” Robert muttered, twisting his fingers together