Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,98

but I cannot. So this is the way it must be.”

I shook my head, refusing this fate, but I could see the decision in all of their eyes. They didn’t like this any more than I did, but they were still going to do it. Kyan would once again have to give a piece of himself to the people he’d been desperate to escape for so long and it cut into me like a blade tipped with poison, the initial slice just giving way to more and more agony. I didn’t want that for him. I didn’t want him to be forced into a life or position that he’d been so adamant he didn’t want. I couldn’t bear the idea of him sacrificing his dreams and hopes for me. The price was too fucking high. I turned away from them, unable to stand there and just take it as they outvoted me and left me with no fucking say in the matter, marching to the door and heading out. I ran down the staircase, full of raging energy that wouldn’t dissipate.

I needed some space. I was so goddamn angry. They couldn’t just discount my opinion like it meant nothing. How could they just outvote me like that? They called me their queen, but when it came down to it, my demands meant shit. They put me above all else and dismissed my feelings on the matter because they decided their lives held less value than mine. But fuck that. This relationship wasn’t equal and I wasn’t going to stand for it. I knew they wanted to protect me, but what about me protecting them? I couldn’t let Kyan give more than he already had to his family. The more he owed them, the deeper their claws got into his skin. And eventually they might get so far beneath his flesh that he wouldn’t ever be able to get free of them. The O’Briens were like a splinter, inching its way deeper and deeper into him and I feared the man he’d be forced to become if that sliver of rot made it to his heart.

I marched across the foyer and through a set of double doors, finding myself in a wide, carpeted stairway and heading up, the urge to punch something rushing through me. At the top of the stairs, I found a little bar with couches and a long window at the far end of it that looked down over the street. I moved to sit beside the pane in a large armchair, gazing down at the road below as my pulse beat fiercely in my ears.

My breaths came heavily as I tried to get my anger under control, but it wouldn’t ease. Was this how my life was going to be with them? All four of them ganging up on me every time they made a decision which was ‘in my best interest’? It was fucking infuriating. I wasn’t going to be the priority in our tribe. Didn’t they understand that I wanted to take care of them just as much as they wanted to take care of me? And by taking that decision away from me they were essentially trapping me all over again.

The door opened but I didn’t look around to see who had followed me. Whoever it was had made a poor life choice because they were about to get the brunt of my rage if they expected me to come around to agreeing to this. “Go away,” I said icily.

“No,” Monroe spoke and goosebumps raised along my arms and neck, but I didn’t turn to face him.

“Yes,” I demanded.

“I don’t want to argue,” he said placatingly.

“Well that sucks for you, because I do. So if you’re gonna stay then you’d better glove up.”

“Funny you should say that.” The pink and black boxing gloves he’d gifted me dropped into my lap and I finally turned to look at him, finding him strapping on his own.

“I came for a fight, princess, just not the kind you’re looking for.” He smirked and the sight angered me further.

“I’m not playing games, Nash,” I growled.

“Come and show me how much you’re not playing games,” he taunted, his words designed to poke at me. And dammit, it was working.

“Fuck you,” I snapped.

He moved in front of me, jabbing his boxing glove against my cheek and I bared my teeth.

“Fuck. Off,” I snarled and he did it again. “Nash! I’m not in the mood.” I aimed my boot at his dick