Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,149

bullshit regalia, we would be able to move around more freely, hiding in plain sight and the chances of being caught would lessen substantially.

I pushed the door open, but just as I did, it was practically yanked from my grasp as someone inside pulled on the handle too.

My heart leapt as I came face to face with a man dressed in a cape and black mask and as he spotted me, he yelled out.

I dove on him, my hands latching around his throat as I squeezed hard, cutting off that sound and stumbling back into the room with him. We slammed into a wall and he kicked and flailed as my hands stayed locked tight around his throat and I fought desperately to keep him silent.

The door closed behind me as the others chased us inside and we were plunged into total darkness as the man I was choking punched my ribs with savage blows. But I just took the fucking pain of them because I knew the moment my hold failed, he'd scream bloody murder and bring this whole place down on our heads.

I grunted as he hit me again then he began clawing at my gloved hands, trying to prise my grip from his throat. But I couldn't let go. I wouldn't. And as the lights suddenly flicked on and I met his grey eyes through the holes in his expressionless mask I saw true panic and desperation there.

I gritted my teeth and held on tight as I squeezed and fucking squeezed and when he finally stopped struggling and fell still, I dropped him with a curse.

"Do you think anyone heard that?" I hissed, turning to find the others watching me.

"I think they'd be here by now if they had," Saint replied after a beat and we all agreed with that.

Nash started grabbing cloaks and tossing them to us to put on over our black outfits and my hands shook a little from the adrenaline of the fight as I fastened mine around my neck.

A gold and black skull mask was pressed into my hands and I looked up to find Tatum standing before me, her eyes wide and full of fire.

"You saved our asses there, golden boy," she teased, tiptoeing up to press a brief kiss to my lips before stepping back and pulling her own mask down over her face.

"All in a day's work, sweetheart," I replied, glancing at the body I'd left slumped on the floor before fixing my own mask over my features and drawing my hood up. There was a time that I would have freaked the fuck out over what I’d just done, but not anymore. I’d learned the hard way what it took to survive in this world and I was ready to do whatever it took to make sure we did.

"Take note of each other’s numbers," Saint commanded and I looked at the golden number 327 stitched onto the breast of his cape. "We don't want to accidentally shoot each other."

Monroe laughed like that was a joke, but as I looked between the other Night Keepers and our queen, I had to admit that it was pretty hard to recognise who was who beneath the masks and capes. But I was so in tune with all of them that I very much doubted I'd get them confused with anyone else even so.

Kyan grabbed the dead guy and shoved him beneath the rack of cloaks, kicking his feet out of sight so that it was impossible to see him beneath the hanging black material and we quickly flicked the lights back off and headed out into the building again.

"This way," Kyan said, striding off down the dim corridor like he owned the place and we followed on after him past oil paintings and closed doors, through several twists and turns and up a flight of stairs.

"Gentlemen!" a voice called out from behind us and we stilled as we turned to look back at the man in a black mask who had paused at the foot of the stairs to call out to us. "Oh, and lady too," he added, noticing Tatum amongst us. "The meeting is already underway and the Grand Master-"

"We are well aware," Saint barked in his most entitled dickhead voice. "Is it your job to question us, or are you here to serve?"

"No, Master," the man replied hastily, cutting a bow to us like we were lords or some shit from Bridgerton. "I just wanted to be sure