Kings of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #1) - Caroline Peckham ,Susanne Valenti Page 0,162

eyes. “Objectively,” I said airily, fighting a smirk.

“Do you think he’s attractive?” he asked and I fought a blush as I nodded.

“So he’s not a Night Keeper and he’s not on the football team…” Monroe frowned at the pool, his brow creasing.

“He’s not on the team, no,” I gave him a clue with my heart thundering in my chest and he looked to me with his brow lifting. He couldn’t ask me anything else anyway.

“Wait, is he faculty?”

I bit into my lip to stop myself from laughing. “You’re out of questions.”

“Well who was it?” he demanded, moving onto his hands and knees and crawling toward me with a threat in his eyes.

My laughter died away at the intensity of his gaze and I shook my head, my lips firmly sealed.

“It was me, wasn’t it?” he asked in a low growl and I continued my silence.

He reared over me, capturing my wrists and pinning them down to the mat. “I can always force you tell me.”

My breathing became shallow, my cheeks burning as he stared down at me, exuding power. The scent of pine sailed from his flesh and I longed to rear up and see if he tasted as good as he smelled.

Headmaster Brown’s voice burst over the tannoy and Monroe lurched away from me like he’d just been caught leaning over a murder victim.

“The quarantine period is now over. Thank you for your cooperation. You can now return to your daily routines and classes will resume as usual on Monday morning. You will be relieved to hear that no cases of the Hades Virus emerged during this time. So Everlake Prep is a safe haven once again.” The line cut and I drew myself up to sit, my heart sinking in my chest.

Everlake might have been a safe haven to the rest of the school, but my greatest fear lived beyond these walls.

Monroe gathered up his bag and tossed the empty Jack Daniel’s bottle inside before frowning over at me. He opened his mouth to say something when a loud knocking came from the front of the gym.

My blood chilled as I rose to my feet, grabbing my gym bag and hooking it over my shoulder.

“I’d better give you my number,” Monroe said in a serious tone and I took out my cellphone with a nod. He took it, keying it in and forwarding himself a text so he had my number too. He passed it back and I read the name he’d saved it under.

“Nash?” I looked up.

“That’s me.” He shrugged and a smile hooked up my lips. I like it.

“Shouldn’t I give you a code name like Daddy Bear or something?” I teased and he smirked at me, sending a bolt of electricity through my body.

“I’m not gonna dignify that with an answer,” he said, trying to fight away his smile and appear professional, but I didn’t buy it.

More knocking came from outside and I sighed as the air became fraught with tension once more.

“Do what we discussed.” He schooled his expression and I nodded firmly. I could screw with these assholes until their little unit fell apart. I just hated to leave the sanctuary of this place and face reality.

We headed out of the pool room and the air grew colder as we approached the front doors. Saint, Kyan and Blake stood beyond the glass, scowling in at me like reapers come to collect a soul. And I guessed in a way, they had.

Monroe unlocked the door, yanking it open and heading outside.

“Thank fuck for that,” he said, heading past them and striding off in the direction of Maple Lodge where the staff resided.

Saint stalked forward with a menacing look, raising his palm beneath my mouth. “Spit,” he commanded and I half considered actually spitting at him instead of what he wanted. But I didn’t think he’d believe there’d been a miscommunication. I spat my gum into his hand and he tossed it into the bushes, his eyes remaining on me the whole time. “I don’t like gum,” he said simply. “It makes you look like a prom queen from some eighties chick flick.” He turned his back on me, striding away and I glared at his back with venom in my eyes.

Blake’s gaze skipped up and down me then he sneered and headed away. Kyan took my arm like he thought I might run, but there was no point in that. Besides, I was armed with tactics now. Going along with these bastards was just